EBGists... who are your favorite URBists?

[Richard Lindsey]

I've asked this before, but not for a while, so it might be fun to hear some new answers (and some old ones, if previous posters wanna chime in ).

Basically the idea is this. To me, bass is bass, and though I don't play URB and never really wanted to (though I'm getting into ABG a lot these days), I've always been interested in and influenced by great URB players. I've always felt that we denizens of the low end could only benefit from checking out the other, uh, life forms that inhabit our zone of the sonic spectrum (URBists, tubaists, keyboard bassists, what have you).

So are there any URBists that you particularly dig, either as influences or just as bassists you enjoy listening to? It's not necessarily a "who's best" kinda thing, just people you especially relate to. I'll start:

Paul Chambers
Charles Mingus
Jimmy Garrison
Ron Carter
Gary Peacock
Red Mitchell
Sam Jones
Ray Brown
Ron McClure (maybe biased here because I took lessons from him, but IMO he's really a fine player and very much underrated)
John Patitucci
Ben Allison (partly for composing, admittedly)

Recently, I just discoverd a French player (not new, but new to me) who's interesting: Renaud Garcia-Fons. He plays a 5-string URB with an extra high string, and you can check him out on Nguyen Le's Bakida. Sick arco playing, just sick (an area where a lot of otherwise excellent jazz URBists are less excellent).

And the other day I was reminded of somebody who, for me, always kinda fell in the category of "I pretty much knew he was good but I didn't know he was that good": George Mraz. I was listening to a Jimmy Raney CD from about 1990, But Beautiful, and Mraz was both supporting brilliantly and soloing with great harmonic sophistication and melodic clarity.

So whom do you like?

[j-raj]

why not try this in the DB-side, Richard?

[j-raj]

for the record... I like these cats:

Avishai Cohen
Bruce Gertz
Neal Starky

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by j-raj

why not try this in the DB-side, Richard?

I've always felt that we denizens of the low end [HE MEANS ELECTRIC BASSISTS]could only benefit from checking out the other, uh, life forms that inhabit our zone of the sonic spectrum (URBists, tubaists, keyboard bassists, what have you).

That's why.

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally Posted by j-raj

why not try this in the DB-side, Richard?

Well, mostly because that would really only tell me which DBists other DBists liked, and I wasn't primarily interested in that for present purposes. Besides, I could really find that out any time, just by visiting their side. I was more interested in finding out what DBists, if any, we EBGists like. And also to suggest that if we don't like any, maybe we should.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

So whom do you like?

Pretty much all of the guys you listed. Also:

Dave Holland
Glen Moore
Dave Friesen
Eberhard Weber
Steve Rodby
Christian McBride
Eddie Gomez
Percy Heath
Stanley Clarke (like his URB work much more than the BG stuff)

Plus at least few hundred more.

There are some really fine players who hang on the Dark Side of TB too. I think the only one I've seen play live is Marcus Johnson, but he's smokin'.

[bucephylus]

Add to the first list:
Jimmy Blanton
Slam Stewart
Dave Holland
Charlie Haden
Eddie Gomez
Scott LaFaro
Edgar Meyer
Gary Karr
Marc Johnson
David Friesen
Ratso Harris
Milt Hinton

[James Hart]

Dave Holland
Chris Wood
Sebastian Steinberg
John Patitucci
Christian McBride
Reid Anderson

[Richard Lindsey]

Keep 'em coming!

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Dave Holland
Chris Wood
Sebastian Steinberg
John Patitucci
Christian McBride

I see you edited my thread title ... thanks! This is better and clearer.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

I see you edited my thread title ... thanks! This is better and clearer.

no problem... I think this is a good topic I'm gonna add it to the sticky FAQ post.

[Baryonyx]

Stanley Clarke stands tall as a favourite, though I much prefer hearing him on Electric.

Brian Bromberg is great too, as is John Patitucci.

[superbassman2000]

although i don't get too much into DB, i do really like Ray Brown, Mingus, Charlie Haden, Scott LaFaro, Gary Peacock and Jimmy Garrison

[Techmonkey]

The chap from the Phenomenauts is pretty awesome.

[Bassist4Life]

Scott LaFaro
Eddie Gomez
Chris Wood
Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies)
John Patitucci
Christian McBride
Brian Bromberg
Mingus

Joe

[christle]

Chris Wood
John Patitucci
Christian McBride
Charles Mingus

[WillBuckingham]

Paul Chambers. His contribution is unmatched.

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

Well, mostly because that would really only tell me which DBists other DBists liked, and I wasn't primarily interested in that for present purposes. Besides, I could really find that out any time, just by visiting their side. I was more interested in finding out what DBists, if any, we EBGists like. And also to suggest that if we don't like any, maybe we should.

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I've always felt that we denizens of the low end [HE MEANS ELECTRIC BASSISTS]could only benefit from checking out the other, uh, life forms that inhabit our zone of the sonic spectrum (URBists, tubaists, keyboard bassists, what have you).

That's why.

Ah so, I see... hey, thanks for setting me straight on that one...

[fraublugher]

since he doesnt get mentioned around here much [on either side of TB] i'll say :

Ali Friend from the now defunct -red snapper [UK band]

[JimK]

Meanwhile, new Dave Holland 5-tet album (Critrical Mass) due out TODAY.