Definitive fusion bassists thread....

jzucker · #1 05-17-2006, 11:13 AM

Kind of a weird topic since I hate labels like fusion. To me, labels are for mayonaise, not music.

Anyway, I have been grooving on Gary Willis' "No Sweat" and "Bent" the last couple days and it dawned on me that there are lots of great jazz oriented (Fusion?!?) bassists out there, some of whom I've only heard a couple times.

Could we come up with a list of players such as Willis, Jimmy Johnson, Daryyl Jones, Victor Bailey, Jaco, etc., and list the definitive records in which they lay it down?

For example, Darryl's laying it down behind Sting on a DVD I have but I don't even know if there's an audio CD available from those performances...

Anyway, i've already listed two must-haves:

Gary Willis - Bent, No Sweet

Thoughts?

wilser · #2 05-17-2006, 01:40 PM

so yee want fusion bassist, huh?

check out Dominic DiPiazza on FrontPage with Birelli Lagrane and Dennis Chambers. Also, some of the stuff he did with John McLaughlin.

Kai Eckhardt. with John Mclaughlin trio, live.

I recently rented an old DVD of young skinny Victor Bailey early on with weather report, you should check that out.

I actually prefer the old Tribal Tech records for a Willis dose (before they went Jam crazy instead of the thick arrangements).

Matteo Garrison baby! the disc where his face is split up in black and white. I also have a DVD/CD set that includes a live studio performance that just rocks!

I posted another thread where I mention Jimmy Johnson. No disc has ever recorded what he does live with the Holdsworth trio. This is Jimmy like you've never seen before. Be sure to check out Allan with this trio if they're comming to your town.

Jimmy Haslip. with the yellowjackets

Bunny Brunnel, the taxi cab record they have at the Carvin website.

have you noticed I'm not good at remembering record names?

jzucker · #3 05-17-2006, 01:48 PM

All good calls. I've got most of that stuff except possibly the Dominc Dipiazza stuff. Birelli plays fantastic bass too and I've heard that he actually prefers bass to guitar. I have not heard that Frontpage CD. I'll have to check it out.

Another guy is Jonas Hellborg ('nuther Mclaughlin alumni)

DWBass · #4 05-17-2006, 01:51 PM

Check out Victor Bailey on the Metro records. Metro is a band led by guitarist, Chuck Loeb and Mitchel Forman (keys). If you've not heard this band..............shame on you!

MysticMichael · #5 05-17-2006, 02:29 PM

I can't cite "the definitive recording" for each, but here are a few:

Ralphe Amstrong (Jean-Luc Ponty) - Cosmic Messenger
Alain Caron
Stanley Clarke (Return To Forever) - Where Have I Known You Before

MM

JimK · #6 05-17-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

For example, Darryl's laying it down behind Sting on a DVD I have but I don't even know if there's an audio CD available from those performances...

There is a 2-cd set of Bring On The Night. I've had it for many, many years.
A great solo by Kenny Kirkland on "When The World Is Running Down..."-
...this track is not in the movie/DVD.

Missing from the cd is "Fortress Around Your Heart" & "I Burn For You" is better on the DVD.

KeithPas · #7 05-17-2006, 05:07 PM

Alain Caron -Rythmn and Jazz
Jeff Berlin- Pump It and with Bruford-Gradually Going Tornado
I second Ralphe Armstrong with Jon Luc Ponty- Cosmic Messenger
Scott Ambush with Spyro Gyra
John Pattitucci- Chick Corea Electric Band and solo album-On the Corner

JimK · #8 05-17-2006, 05:12 PM

Lee Sklar-Spectrum (Billy Cobham)
Randy Tico-Harvest (Matrix)
Anthony Jackson-Eyewitness (Steve Khan & Eyewitness)
Jimmy Johnson-Mental Images or IOU Live (Alan Holdsworth)
Andy West-What If or Dregs Of The Earth (Dixie Dregs)
Jeff Berlin-Gradually Going Tornado (Bill Bruford)
Alex Blake-Total Eclipse (Billy Cobham)
Will Lee-The Brecker Brothers
Kim Stone-City Kids (Spyro Gyra)
Mark Egan-American Garage (Pat Metheny Group)
Max Bennett-Tom Cat (Tom Scott & The L.A. Express)
Gary King-New York Connection (Tom Scott)
Pops Popwell-Images or Those Southern Knights or Free As The Wind-Crusaders

Baryonyx · #9 05-17-2006, 05:14 PM

Jonas Hellborg-Too many definitive records to mention. I just got the Jonas Hellborg Group album "E" today. It's amazing.

Stuart Hamm-His work with GHS is brilliant, particularly on "The Light Beyond".

Stanley Clarke-His eponymous album has some cool jamming on it, he's really a fusion legend.

I could do on, should I? These guys are just my favourites!

predmachine · #10 05-17-2006, 05:15 PM

Don't forget Steve Rodby. He plays with Pat Metheny---a fair guitar player. LOL

smidgley · #11 05-17-2006, 08:50 PM

Phil Chen - Jeff Beck Blow by Blow

Wilbur Bascomb - Jeff Beck Wired

werbo1 · #12 05-17-2006, 09:13 PM

Stanley Clarke - Return to Forever. No mystery, 7th Galaxy,
solo Stanley - School Days

Petary791 · #13 05-17-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Ralphe Amstrong (Jean-Luc Ponty) - Cosmic Messenger

Agreed 1039%! "Egocentric Molecules" = Jazz Shredding at it's finest.

*mimics octave effect and envelope filter*

DWBass · #14 05-17-2006, 11:35 PM

Oscar Cartaya
John Pena
Alphonso Johnson
Steve Bailey
Adam Nitti
Nathan East

RHFusillo · #15 05-18-2006, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Max Bennett-Tom Cat (Tom Scott & The L.A. Express)

Yeah, old school, man! I love Max Bennett's playing.

I will mention two other old school (by which I mean pre-Stanley and pre-Jaco) fusion players:

Rick Laird - The Inner Mounting Flame (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
Michael Henderson - Tribute to Jack Johnson, as well as many other Miles Davis albums

Those two guys made it work while sandwiched between John McLaughlin and Billy Cobham -- no easy task!

Or how about the original fusion bassist:

Jack Bruce - Turn It Over (Tony Williams Lifetime, with John McLaughlin and Larry Young)

jerry · #16 05-18-2006, 06:04 AM

Anybody mention Percy Jones and Brand X yet?

jerry · #17 05-18-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

Check out Victor Bailey on the Metro records. Metro is a band led by guitarist, Chuck Loeb and Mitchel Forman (keys). If you've not heard this band..............shame on you!

Good Call DW! I also have a Metro album with Anthony Jackson on it.

DWBass · #18 05-18-2006, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

Good Call DW! I also have a Metro album with Anthony Jackson on it.

Yup! That's their very first one! They have 4 in total with VB on the next 2 and Mel Brown playing on the last one! Totally different vibe with Mel playing although he's a great player as well. Just not a good fit for Metro!

64jazzbass · #19 05-18-2006, 09:19 AM

Paul Jackson with the Headhunters!!!!!!!!! Seriously greasy fingerstyle funk on "Headhunters", "Thrust", and "Man-Child"?
(I think that's the name )

Juneau · #20 05-18-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 64jazzbass

Paul Jackson with the Headhunters!!!!!!!!! Seriously greasy fingerstyle funk on "Headhunters", "Thrust", and "Man-Child"?
(I think that's the name )

One of my favorites, that man can lay it down.

Matthew Garrison was mentioned before, but for a good example of some of his work, you might check out Future 2 Future DVD from Herbie Hancock. Matt tears up Chameleon!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry

Anybody mention Percy Jones and Brand X yet?

No, but they should have!! Pete Skjold turned me onto Brand X. Great band, great bass player, a little something for everyone on that one.