Help to ID Herb Ellis's bassist

Alembic83 · #1 03-24-2011, 11:00 PM

Hello there, I'm trying to ID the bassist for Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel as they play the "Flintstones" theme...I'm not sure of the year, late '70s or early '80s?

I'd like to know the bassist's name for my Aria bass blog. He's playing an SB-1000.

Here's the video:
YouTube - Barney Kessel & Herb Ellis - Flintstones Theme

They sure do play fast!!

Thanks for any help!

Will Kelly · #2 03-25-2011, 07:58 AM

No clue. Nice clip. They sure are hoofing it!

JTE · #3 03-25-2011, 08:35 AM

DANG!!! Nice stuff! Herb and Barney were having fun with each other!

I THINK it's Charlie Byrd's brother, Joe on bass. Looks sorta like him, and he was the bassist for "The Great Guitars" which was Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd, and Herb Ellis. Thing is, most of the pictures of Joe Byrd I've seen he's playing an Ovation semi-hollow body bass (sort of Ovation's version of an EB-2 or the Guild Starfire).

John

Alembic83 · #4 03-26-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

DANG!!! Nice stuff! Herb and Barney were having fun with each other!

I THINK it's Charlie Byrd's brother, Joe on bass. Looks sorta like him, and he was the bassist for "The Great Guitars" which was Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd, and Herb Ellis. Thing is, most of the pictures of Joe Byrd I've seen he's playing an Ovation semi-hollow body bass (sort of Ovation's version of an EB-2 or the Guild Starfire).

John

Thanks for your info, I think you are right! The comments section seem to confirm your guess on this clip as well. You can also see him a little better here...It's another great clip!

YouTube - Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd Medley

Thanks again!

PhatBasstard · #5 03-26-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

I THINK it's Charlie Byrd's brother, Joe on bass.

I believe you're right.
I have a much more recent Charlie Byrd Trio gig on DVD and that certainly looks like a younger version of both of them on the YouTube clip.
The DVD is a little hard to listen to at times as Joe plays upright the whole time and unfortunately is rarely in tune. He sounds very good on the electric here though.

I was extremely fortunate to have Herb Ellis as a clinician my freshman year in college (83/84) and actually got to play with him a little. I've been playing The Flintstones theme ever since. I was very saddened by our recent loss of him.