Early swing-era bassists

[Nick Ara]

I've recently been offered a chance to back up a female vocal trio who specialize in Boswell Sisters' tunes. I've tried tracking down who played bass on those songs from the 20's and 30's and the best I could do was to come up with several bassists who played with the Dorsey Bros. Orchestra. None of their names seem familiar to me and I was wondering if anyone could help me. Were there any "luminaries" from those days who might have sat in on those early 78's?

I will say this: My how bass playing styles have changed since then!

[Eric Jackson]

John Goldsby's book includes a fair bit on the early swing bassists such as Pops Foster, Welman Braud, John Kirby and more. I don't recall any mention specifically of the Boswell Sisters. Could be tough going trying to find info on those guys. The bass was usually poorly recorded and little in the way of credits accompanied the recordings.

"I will say this: My how bass playing styles have changed since then!"

Sure have. Once again, Goldsby's book discusses this. (Every bass player should have this book, IMO.) The early guys played with gut strings, mile-high action and no amplification. Their technique was nowhere near as developed as bassists today, their sound was usually thumpy with little sustain, and their lines were harmonically very simple. But they sure got the job done rhythmically. Check out some early Basie recordings with Walter Page.

[Nick Ara]

Originally Posted by Eric Jackson

John Goldsby's book includes a fair bit on the early swing bassists such as Pops Foster, Welman Braud, John Kirby and more. I don't recall any mention specifically of the Boswell Sisters. Could be tough going trying to find info on those guys. The bass was usually poorly recorded and little in the way of credits accompanied the recordings.

"I will say this: My how bass playing styles have changed since then!"

Sure have. Once again, Goldsby's book discusses this. (Every bass player should have this book, IMO.) The early guys played with gut strings, mile-high action and no amplification. Their technique was nowhere near as developed as bassists today, their sound was usually thumpy with little sustain, and their lines were harmonically very simple. But they sure got the job done rhythmically. Check out some early Basie recordings with Walter Page.

Eric, Thanks.
I'm familiar with John Goldsby from his articles in BP, of course. I'll definitely pick up his book too!

[Peter Dalla]

Originally Posted by Eric Jackson

The early guys played with gut strings, mile-high action and no amplification. Their technique was nowhere near as developed as bassists today, their sound was usually thumpy with little sustain, and their lines were harmonically very simple.

Or Jimmy Blanton's solo on BODY AND SOUL.

And then tell me the part about his technique "being nowhere near as developed" again.

[Eric Jackson]

Originally Posted by Peter Dalla

Or Jimmy Blanton's solo on BODY AND SOUL.

Or Jack the Bear.

Originally Posted by Peter Dalla

And then tell me the part about his technique "being nowhere near as developed" again.

Agreed. But Blanton wasn't typical of swing-era bassists. He was an innovator, he was one of the first to step up and solo melodically, and use the second octave. He played something other than the typical walking line solo or "Big Noise from Winnetka" type novelty.

And yeah, it's amazing what guys like Pettiford could do with gut strings and high action.

[nicklloyd]

(My apologies to those of you that have read this before, but..)

Nick, check out Thelma Terry. She's not a big name contributor in the history of upright bass, but she could play and arrange! And she makes great wallpaper...

www.redhotjazz.com/terry.html

That website is also a great resource for early jazz/blues, if ya hadn't seen it already...

[olivier]

Originally Posted by nicklloyd

(My apologies to those of you that have read this before, but..)

Nick, check out Thelma Terry. She's not a big name contributor in the history of upright bass, but she could play and arrange! And she makes great wallpaper...

www.redhotjazz.com/terry.html

That website is also a great resource for early jazz/blues, if ya hadn't seen it already...

Thanks Nick for this cool link.

[arto alho]

John Kirby, too. He was a very good player and wrote some nice stuff, very early.
He was pretty cool long before Birth of the Cool.
R2

[bass_means_LOW]

Originally Posted by arto alho

John Kirby, too. He was a very good player and wrote some nice stuff, very early.
He was pretty cool long before Birth of the Cool.
R2

I should say he could play. You don't become Fletcher Henderson and Chick Webb's bassist by slacking off!
Yes, His group was billed as "The Biggest Little Band in the Land." Another casualty of "the bottle." Died at age 43.

[Big Tony]

Some of the bass players on the Boswell Sisters recordings between 1925-36:

Joe Tarto
Arthur Bernstein
Dick Cherwin
Jake Garcia

Bernstein played on most of the sessions. He played a lot with Benny Goodman too.

[Phil Rowan]

Try to get ahold of some Teddy Wilson trio recordings, in particular the ones that have Milt Hinton on it. I think Mosaic might have a box set, but I could be wrong about that.

[JTGale]

Originally Posted by nicklloyd

Nick, check out Thelma Terry. She's not a big name contributor in the history of upright bass, but she could play and arrange! And she makes great wallpaper...

Nice wallpaper, indeed!

Here is another link to Thelma Terry, for those intrested:

http://www.2multiples.com/hotdance/thelma.htm

Enjoy!