10 Legendary Bassists

[kai_ski]

Anybody else seen this article? A friend showed it to me today. Not exactly written by bassists for bassists, but some good descriptions and videos for the general public. These are some great ambassadors of the instrument (in rock related genres.) Any players you would add?

http://sneakmove.com/2010/01/10-lege...nd-bass-solos/

[5StringBlues]

Derek Smalls - He wrote this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTPQ...eature=related





Edit: Squire,Bootsy.

[lunarpollen]

It's a shame that Leigh Gorman is not on that list.

http://popup.lala.com/popup/50468468...OwqmEyjjqmvEFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x28Il3P2q0Q

[Nurb]

I would add Marcus Miller to that list, but as you say it's ok for the general public, shows that bass isn't just about playing root notes behind the guitars.
Rant:
Some people in the comments below the article say that Flea shouldn't be on that list. They're so wrong. Flea is certainly one of the most famous and influential non-singing bass players in the world, he fully deserves to be on this kind of list.

[eggfan]

Chris Squire, Willie Weeks
Edit: If it was trying to be a more comprehensive list, I'd say Stanley Clarke is a glaring omission, but I think it's basically supposed to be a Rock bass list with Victor being a multiple genre guy and Jaco sneaking in there because of his (and Weather Report's) quasi-rock star status in the 70's.

[JimK]

I didn't view the list...if Clarke isn't on it, then c'mon.
Clarke had more "Rock" things than Jaco...Clarke employed Rock guys like Jeff Beck & Ray Gomez on his records. Clarke played in Animal Logic w/ Stewart Copeland, Clarke played in the New Barbarians with Keith Richard (IIRC).

Funny, too, 'cause I was just re-reading a Downbeat article from '79. In short, it was Zawinul & Jaco blasting Downbeat for the 1-star review of Mr. Gone.
The interviewer commeted how WR has Big Band-ish voicing on the record...live, though, there's a heavy Rock feel especially in the bass & drums.
Jaco went off...sayin' he doesn't do Rock music...which is white British music. He sez it's R&B & not Rock that the interviewer was hearing.

[HanibalSpector]

Originally Posted by JimK

I didn't view the list...if Clarke isn't on it, then c'mon.
Clarke had more "Rock" things than Jaco...Clarke employed Rock guys like Jeff Beck & Ray Gomez on his records. Clarke played in Animal Logic w/ Stewart Copeland, Clarke played in the New Barbarians with Keith Richard (IIRC).

Funny, too, 'cause I was just re-reading a Downbeat article from '79. In short, it was Zawinul & Jaco blasting Downbeat for the 1-star review of Mr. Gone.
The interviewer commeted how WR has Big Band-ish voicing on the record...live, though, there's a heavy Rock feel especially in the bass & drums.
Jaco went off...sayin' he doesn't do Rock music...which is white British music. He sez it's R&B & not Rock that the interviewer was hearing.

I agree
Stanley Clarke has influenced alot of rock players and metalheads. Not just jazz guys.
I thought many of his albums were more rock orientated than jazz anyway, such as. 'Rocks pebbles and Sand, Modern Man, Find Out etc and also some of his later music with Ritchie Kotzen.

[Shaun_Bass0]

My vote goes to Colin Grigson (Rik Mayall)....GENIUS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUepU...rom=PL&index=4

[JimK]

Originally Posted by HanibalSpector

I thought many of his albums were more rock orientated than jazz anyway, such as. 'Rocks pebbles and Sand, Modern Man, Find Out etc and also some of his later music with Ritchie Kotzen.

Yes...& I had forgotten about Vertu.

[eggfan]

Originally Posted by JimK

I didn't view the list...if Clarke isn't on it, then c'mon.
Clarke had more "Rock" things than Jaco...Clarke employed Rock guys like Jeff Beck & Ray Gomez on his records. Clarke played in Animal Logic w/ Stewart Copeland, Clarke played in the New Barbarians with Keith Richard (IIRC).

Funny, too, 'cause I was just re-reading a Downbeat article from '79. In short, it was Zawinul & Jaco blasting Downbeat for the 1-star review of Mr. Gone.
The interviewer commeted how WR has Big Band-ish voicing on the record...live, though, there's a heavy Rock feel especially in the bass & drums.
Jaco went off...sayin' he doesn't do Rock music...which is white British music. He sez it's R&B & not Rock that the interviewer was hearing.

OK, I'm down with Stanley Clarke being a glaring omission.

Funny thing about that Jaco interview, though -- Jaco was clearly influenced by Jimi Hendrix.

[gkbass13]

man...the list comes up short in regards to marcus, stanley and maybe even oteil. 3 giants in my opinion.

and ****, what about BOOTSY!?

[JimK]

Eggfan said-
"Funny thing about that Jaco interview, though -- Jaco was clearly influenced by Jimi Hendrix".

I would say so & The Beatles (I assume)...too bad Downbeat didn't mention that.
I know R&B/Soul, island musics, & Jazz were his thing, still...

On a tangent-
Downbeat has recently released a book with some of their old & great interviews.
http://www.amazon.com/DownBeat-Great...4528897&sr=1-1

I recall reading that particular Weather Report rebuttal back in the day & it made me squirm. Jaco & Joe were really coming off as...arrogant?
Wayne Shorter & Erskine couldn't get a word in edgewise.

[CapnSev]

I would definitely pull out Cliff Burton and insert Bootsy Collins.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I would definitely pull out Cliff Burton and insert Bootsy Collins.

Seriously, Cliff was a good metal bassist, but hmmm... top 10?

[the general]

no james jamerson on there? what the f**k? besides him i think i'd add eric wilson of sublime, geezer butler of black sabbath, mike gordon of phish, phil lesh of grateful dead, and jack bruce of cream. but overall i think the list was pretty good

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by the general

no james jamerson on there? what the f**k? besides him i think i'd add eric wilson of sublime, geezer butler of black sabbath, mike gordon of phish, phil lesh of grateful dead, and jack bruce of cream. but overall i think the list was pretty good

'xactly. You can tell this was not written by a bass guy.

[kai_ski]

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

'xactly. You can tell this was not written by a bass guy.

right. i'm under the impression that it was written by a guitarist, or a non-musician journalist/blogger.

the term 'legendary' is very subjective among different people.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by kai_ski

the term 'legendary' is very subjective among different people.

Absolutely. I couldn't have said it better myself. That's the thing about the arts. What I like isn't necessarily what you like. That's why I've never been a big fan of lists when it comes to the arts, unlike, say, sports, which is quantifiable and lends itself to lists (all-time home-run or touchdown or goals leader).

[kai_ski]

I'd also like to point out that this list is called "10 legendary bassists," NOT top 10, or 10 most legendary. He just came up with 10 that he thinks are legendary. there are definitely names I would add and remove, I just thought it was interesting to see what the general public views as legendary when it comes to Rock bass playing.

[DylanB]

I love how they reference Billy Sheehan's work with Steve Via.

Spellcheck is not always your friend!