Out from Jaco's Shadow - Page 2

bassplayer2106 · #21 01-13-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottgun

While I think he is arguably the greatest bassist of all time, I'm not so big on Jaco's original compositions. For me, "Potrait of Tracy" and others are great as etudes, but I never sit down and listen to them just for enjoyment. In fact, I doubt I would need more than one hand to count the number of Jaco originals I would listen to just for the heck of it.

Scott

I feel the same way about his compositions.

I'm not so sure about the greatest bassplayer of all time though, of his time sure.

Scottgun · #22 01-13-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer2106

I'm not so sure about the greatest bassplayer of all time though, of his time sure.

Hence my qualifier, "arguably".

Scott

mstott25 · #23 01-13-2007, 06:46 PM

I was real close to mentioning Richard Bona and Christian McBride. Christian McBride's fretless playing is either underrated or underexposed but he plays it like it's his main instrument. Richard Bona is one of the most talented musicians period. Mark Egan I'm not as familiar with as I should be. I bought an album of his when I was in college but don't remember it having much of an impact on me.

The only reason I didn't mention Richard Bona earlier is because honestly the only time I've heard him play fretless is when he's been covering tunes that Jaco played on. Bona is the man though.

Baryonyx · #24 01-14-2007, 04:55 AM

I heard that Egan used to be a bit of a Jaco clone back in the day, I might have to dig up a few of his older recordings to hear this.

bassplayer2106 · #25 01-14-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

I heard that Egan used to be a bit of a Jaco clone back in the day, I might have to dig up a few of his older recordings to hear this.

Don't forget that Jaco was a pioneer in the field of fretless playing. Hence a lot of people who started playing fretless after hearing him, tended to sound like him, until they found their own direction, there was no one else to lead the way.
Kind of like people leaving a factory after work, they all head for the gate, and then disperse on their own journeys.

gkbass13 · #26 01-14-2007, 07:26 AM

i abslutely love bona. his musicianship, feel, tone, phrasing, everythign is perfect to me. in regards to fretless playing he does have a very similar approach to jaco though, and yes, plays on a lot of tunes that jaco did originally. still oen of my favorites. steve bailey does his own thing, and does it phenominally. he and manring are the only 2 of the bunch mentioned thus far that write anything memorable to me,although willis has had some catching tunes as well. i still dont think that anyone can reach that same level of brilliance in playign and composing as jaco. just as there might be more technically proficient trumpet or guitar players in the world, you cant touch what miles and jimi did back in the day.

Red Wonder · #27 01-28-2007, 02:06 PM

What was great about Jaco was that he coupled that legendary phrasing with ^gasp^ stage presence. No jazz artist was as dynamic as Jaco and was a breath of fresh air indeed. He arguably singlehandedly brought in a whole new audience to the realm of jazz. I mean here's a dude doing backflips off his amp while playing the bass (to say the least.) On top of it all he's one of the most impressive musicians of the 20th century. An elite list and a bassist to boot!

fretlessspence · #28 01-28-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Caron is a terrific player but he's Canadian.

Will

HAHAHAHA! I Love it. Don't worry, the Canadians can't/won't really fight back.

Baryonyx · #29 01-28-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer2106

Kind of like people leaving a factory after work, they all head for the gate, and then disperse on their own journeys.

I'm not sure why, but that brought the tune "My Father's Shoes" by Level 42 into my head, probably something to do with the factory whistle. That said, I do see your point!

fretless Bob · #30 01-28-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Jaco had a unique voice on the instrument and he was a fantastic technician and composer.

I think most people have become aware that he wasn't really an improvisor. That is, he had a battery of melodic/rhythmic/harmonic devices which he could call up and string together very well...but even he admitted he largely wasn't improvising. I don't think that diminishes his talent all. He was an amazing musician.

To me, Willis nails the fretless sound but adds in that modern groove and bombproof improv skills.

Caron is a terrific player but he's Canadian.

Will

i do see that in Jaco's later career but not so much in his earlier stuff, but maybe i havnt gotten deep enough into it yet.

its funny i have this album with him and the headhunters, (Paul Jackson broke his arm so Herbie called Jaco to fill in) he throws in so many lines from his tunes, leven ones he hadnt written at the time.

real funny about the Canadians

Dave

Stingus · #31 01-28-2007, 05:03 PM

Can't believe Percy Jones has only been mentioned once!

Hardly a Jaco clone IIRC, he was a contemporary of Jaco's, if not played fretless before him. I love that his lines are a bit more angular, and his approach to harmonics is different.

Having said all that, my approach is much more guided by upright players; primarily Mingus and Paul Chambers.

Now, to paraphrase Jaco, the future of Fretless Bass is going to go back outside and have another coffee and La Gloria Cubana! LOL