Famous upright to electric players?

bassmonkeee · #1 02-10-2003, 09:28 PM

I'm sitting here listening to Ray Brown play electric bass on Quincey Jones' big band version of "Walking in Space" from "Hair." This is the only time I've heard Ray on electric, and it's pretty amazing to hear him on the plank--I assume it's a PBass, but I'm not sure. Still sounds like Ray, though.

I've also heard some rare occasions when Ron Carter played electric.

Now, I know Ray Brown and Ron Carter didn't give up upright for electric, but, besides Steve Swallow, are there many famous jazz players who went from upright to electric and stayed there?

I'm aware of Monk Montgomery playing with Lionel Hampton, and I know Bob Crenshaw plays electric with Sonny Rollins.

And, I also have a DVD with Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland where Dave switches between upright and a Peavey 4 string.

I'm just looking for some older examples if there are any, to hear the differences in their styles on the two.

Oh, I guess there was also that guy Jamerson at Motown. He seemed to have some success on electric after a great career on upright.

gweimer · #2 02-10-2003, 09:31 PM

I know that Tony Levin began as an upright player, and I think Jack Bruce may have done the same.

Andrew Jones · #3 02-10-2003, 09:35 PM

I believe sting started on double bass

AJ

Bruce Lindfield · #4 02-11-2003, 02:08 AM

Well the two obvious ones are Stanley Clarke and John Patitucci. Both have even designed Bass guitars! Stanley Clarke's DB playing on "Light as a Feather" is really stunning and I hear he's actually going back to more DB now!!

bassmonkeee · #5 02-11-2003, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield
Well the two obvious ones are Stanley Clarke and John Patitucci. Both have even designed Bass guitars! Stanley Clarke's DB playing on "Light as a Feather" is really stunning and I hear he's actually going back to more DB now!!

I can't believe I didn't think of these two.

thrash_jazz · #6 02-11-2003, 07:56 AM

Steve Bailey and Mark Fain.

Marcus Johnson · #7 02-11-2003, 09:46 AM

There's a tale that suggests thay Eddie Gomez left Steps Ahead when he was asked to play some slab (he refused). Kinda trying to hear in my head what EG on EB would sound like.

bassmonkeee · #8 02-11-2003, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marcus Johnson
There's a tale that suggests thay Eddie Gomez left Steps Ahead when he was asked to play some slab (he refused). Kinda trying to hear in my head what EG on EB would sound like.

If that's true, then he must have had an unhappy experience prior to that. I've got quite a few tracks of Eddie Gomez playing slab with Bill Evans. There are 6 duets on "Piano Player" that were recorded in 1970.

Christopher · #9 02-11-2003, 10:44 AM

Steve Swallow.

lermgalieu · #10 02-11-2003, 10:55 AM

In the Quincy Troupe Miles biography, Miles cites the fact that R.C. wouldn't quit double bass for electric as the main reason he ended up with a new bass player.

Bruce Lindfield · #11 02-11-2003, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christopher
Steve Swallow.

The original post said :

"but, besides Steve Swallow, are there many famous jazz players who went from upright to electric and stayed there? "

Christopher · #12 02-13-2003, 01:42 PM

I should have added a smiley.

I can't think of any besides him, and most of the people identified either didn't have much of a career on the DB before making their name, or still double on both instruments.

Ryan Berry · #13 02-13-2003, 01:54 PM

Hub from the Roots started on DB. I think he still plays it on some recordings but he has switched to electric bass guitar for live performances and most recording.

Don Higdon · #14 02-21-2003, 01:07 PM

Harvie S (Swartz)

Bob Cranshaw (whose sound I can't stand)

Peter McFerrin · #15 02-21-2003, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Higdon
Bob Cranshaw (whose sound I can't stand)

Hmm. To each their own--I like Cranshaw's tone on Sonny Rollins' Global Warming. Round but crisp.

Don Higdon · #16 02-21-2003, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter McFerrin

Hmm. To each their own--I like Cranshaw's tone

That's fair.
Part of it is that I just plain dislike the instrument in jazz.

Bonafide · #17 07-13-2003, 08:37 PM

James Jamerson. Personally I think he is worth mentioning since he hailed from the Detroit Jazz scene. His switch from DB to electric literally changed electric playing forever.

Bruce Lindfield · #18 07-14-2003, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bassmonkeee
...I know Bob Crenshaw plays electric with Sonny Rollins.

..(but)besides Steve Swallow, are there many famous jazz players who went from upright to electric and stayed there?

Oh, I guess there was also that guy Jamerson at Motown. He seemed to have some success on electric after a great career on upright.

Did anybody read the original post?

brianrost · #19 07-14-2003, 07:53 AM

As Bruce points out, outside of Swallow I can't think of a single jazz guy who dropped the DB entirely for EBG. Plenty of doublers, sure...

Bonafide · #20 07-14-2003, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield

Did anybody read the original post?

Doh!

My selective filters occasionally manage to miss the obvious.