Sixteenth note fingerstyle funk

[dlloyd]

I'm looking to expand my knowledge of this style of music. I haven't exactly listened to too much of it in the past, but the way my band is going, I ought to start studying it.

I'd quite like to have a list of, say, ten players and one or more pieces that typifies their style.

Copy, paste and amend this list...

1. Jaco Pastorius: Come On, Come Over; ?
2. Rocco Prestia: What is Hip?
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?

[KuMBye YamALaWd]

1. Jaco Pastorius: Come On, Come Over; ?
2. Rocco Prestia: What is Hip?
3. James Jamerson: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
4. Chuck Rainey: Kid Charlemagne
5. Paul Jackson: Palm Grease
6. Bootsy Collins: Sex Machine
7. Wilton Felder: I Want You Back
8. Jerry Jemmot: Memphis Soul Stew
9. Flea: If You Have to Ask
10. Jerry Scheff (Hyper-Boogaloo type funk): Polk Salad Annie (one of the Live Elvis versions)


..

[dlloyd]

Thanks, I'm not familiar with too much of that, but the tracks I do know aren't really what I'm after.

I'm specifically after music similar to the tunes I mentioned, with fast, sixteenth note basslines, rather than the eighth note funk of Jamerson. Style-wise, more along the lines of soul/jazz/funk style than RHCP.

This might be easier if we limit it to one addition per poster.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I don't think there are many who play constant streams of 16th notes - might be boring? But rather this usually refers to lines which use the occasional 16th notes (and or rests) , to spice up the line and make it funkier!!

Having said that... Gary Willis might be a candidate - although I'm not sure what would be a typical track - JimK could tell you....

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by KuMBye YamALaWd

3. James Jamerson: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

not Jamerson, and aside from a few fills, not 16th notes either


here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet:

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury & The Blockheads... bass player was Norman Watt-Roy

[JimK]

Originally Posted by KuMBye YamALaWd

3. James Jamerson: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Which version? The Stevie version is (supposedly) Bob Babbitt & doesn't really qualify as 1/16th finger funk.
Something like "Darling Dear" on the J5's Third Album or the bulk of Stevie's "IWMTLH" may qualify.

"Kid Charlemagne" is a great example of Rainey's finger funk...check out "Green Rearrings". Same album as "KC".

The Bootsy stuff like "Sex Machine" is also good.

dlloyd-
I know you said "...fast, 1/16th note basslines"-
Sometimes, it's all about the feel & the subdivsions...in other words, it may not be a steady stream of 1/16th notes as "What Is Hip"?; it's possible to have many rests/ghosted notes, too (e.g. "Sex Machine", "Palm Grease").
If you want the steady stream-
Rocco is your man...TOP has probably dozens of tunes that should sate your appetite.


BTW, another Jaco classic is "Barbary Coast" from WR's Black Market.

Other guys that play in this style that lean towards the Jazz/Fusion side-
Stanley Clarke
Alphonso Johnson
Jeff Berlin
Randy Tico
Will Lee
Neil Jason
Jeff Andrews
Marcus Miller
Gary Willis
Anthony Jackson
Tom Kennedy
Fima Ephron
Matt Garrison

[Bruce Lindfield]

As to actual albums...I was thinking maybe Rocket Science by Tribal Tech - unless there are better examples...?

I was also thinking about some of those early Brecker Brothers albums - but not sure which one?

[Murf]

As much as Jamerson is my personal BASS GOD I dont think he was the bassist on "signed, sealed delivered"..it was either Babbit or Nathan Watts I think.

Also I cant believe no-ones mentioned Randy Hope Taylor ...especially on Incognitos "always there"

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

As to actual albums...I was thinking maybe Rocket Science by Tribal Tech - unless there are better examples...?

Any & all of TT's albums. "Face First" sounded like a Jaco thing...later read that Willis said it was a Paul Jackson thing.

Originally Posted by Bruce

I was also thinking about some of those early Brecker Brothers albums - but not sure which one?

...the albums with Will Lee or Neil Jason.

[Matt Till]

Listen to more Rocco, "There is only so much oil in the ground" is probably my favorite funk bassline.

[Stewmc5222]

for finger funk in the 16th note stylee, I'd definitely check out Jaco's killin' work on "River People". too tasty!

[loopus]

what about Lee Sklar playing "Stratus" on Billy Cobham's Spectrum?
Smooth and tasty

[PastorofMuppets]

Rocco Prestia

He has a quote on the biography section of his website that just urkes me. Here it is.

"The Living Legend…the King…the Ultimate….all quite lofty accolades, but nonetheless deserving.

Francis Rocco Prestia came to initial prominence during the mid to late sixties as the sonic knockout punch behind the 10 piece soul funk horn band TOWER OF POWER.

Up until Rocco kicked the door down, the role of the bass as an instrument and, more personally, the role of the bassist as a musician, was to musically do little more than to unobtrusively hold down the root of the composition. To the listener, bass was the blump, blump sound that was occasionally heard in the background of cool records. Jerry Scheff, bassist for Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney of The Beatles, Donald "Duck" Dunn and James Jamerson were hailed as "the cats of the day" – all very traditional players repetitiously setting the pace for the pack."


Geez what a cocky statement. He needs to get over himself. I know he can play. Trust me. I know he needed a new liver. I know that he couldn't then and cant now out groove jamerson nor were any of those mentioned just repetitiously setting the pace for the pack. He goes on in his bio page to say this:

"Great players will come and go. However few will ever possess the creative genius required to actually reposition the target.

Francis Rocco Prestia is indeed an icon…..the Father of Modern Bass, an American treasure, and there isn’t much more to say about him as a musician. It’s pretty much all been said in cover stories, feature articles and headline interviews printed in countless major music magazines around the world."

As a person, the man is as humble and unassuming as any human being could be. He presently resides in L.A., a devoted father.


I just lost a huge amount of respect for him as this bio makes him look like a huge ego maniac. Father of modern bass, give me a break. He can play but the true great players are humble and very quick to point out that they are still learning and growing.
I wouldn't pick him as my bass idol if I were you. He is a great player but his ego is through the sky

[MrLenny]

Tower Of Power- What is Hip- Bass Player- Rocco Prestia
Ultimate 16 note drill. It will wear you out if you can play it.

[threshar]

That is quite interesting.

I have the Rocco bass day vid and he was quite humble and didn't seem cocky at all. I wonder if someone else wrote that bio on his site...

man.. so much funky groove on there...

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by PastorofMuppets

I just lost a huge amount of respect for him as this bio makes him look like a huge ego maniac. Father of modern bass, give me a break. He can play but the true great players are humble and very quick to point out that they are still learning and growing.
I wouldn't pick him as my bass idol if I were you. He is a great player but his ego is through the sky

I highly doubt he speaks in the third person... I highly doubt he wrote that. In fact, with inteviews I've seen with him and so forth, he seems rather humble. Musicians rarely write their own bios.

[JJBACOOMBA]

when I hear " Finger Style Funk", I always think of Rocco.

[PastorofMuppets]

i would not be happy having that out there representing me
i know he didnt write it

thats not the point
its on his site

ive not met him but father of modern bass

gimme a break

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by JJBACOOMBA

when I hear " Finger Style Funk", I always think of Rocco.

+1
Also
Paul Jackson
Anthony Jackson
Pino Palladino
Jeff Berlin
JACO

[Dbassmon]

Verdine White Earth Wind & Fire
Get Away
Jupiter and many others