Jazz Bassist/Composers

.matthew e wengerd. · #1 10-14-2006, 04:07 PM

I am in the theoretical framework stage of graduate research on the shift from bassist to composer in jazz. I will be asking questions like: What makes a bass player write? What makes their writing unique? Do they become bandleaders? Why? Do they branch out to other instruments? Why? How does composing effect their bass playing?

What I would like is names. Tell me of bassist composers in the jazz idiom. I have a few in my head already.

I will update this list as recommendations are added:

Ben Allison
Avishai Cohen
Todd Coolman
John Clayton
Charlie Haden
Dave Holland
Scott LaFaro
Todd Coolman
Edgay Meyer (he's on the edge of "jazz", as far as my reseach is concerned)
Chales Mingus
John Patitucci
Mike Pope
Rufus Reid (I have read mention that he is working on composing)

Thanks in advance!

Aaron Saunders · #2 10-14-2006, 04:12 PM

You're missing probably the biggest name in bassist bandleaders since Mingus! Dave Holland, man

. Can't talk about bass player-composers/band leaders without mention of this guy.

Edgar Meyer doesn't play jazz -- classical and bluegrass are his bags. I've heard he has apparently "played jazz," but it was written out, not improvised.

EDIT: As far as unique writing and whatnot goes, I'll do what I can to contribute a bit.

Mingus was an innovator with harmony and structure. Mingus tunes are notoriously complex with often several pages devoted to each tune, including mixes of through-composed sections and total improvisation. Also note that unlike may composers, Mingus wrote in every key. It's not at all uncommon to hear a Mingus tune in Bb minor. As far as branching out -- he played the piano beautifully, and actually recorded an album called "Mingus Plays Piano" with a particularly wonderful version of Body and Soul.

Holland...I'm more familiar with his quintet, so I'll keep my comments to that. IMO, a huge part of what makes his group unique is the instrumentation. Instead of a pianist, he has a vibraphone/marimba player. Instead of the standard frontline of trumpet and tenor sax, he has a trombone player and tenor sax. It really colours the compositions in a very different way. That said, his compositions also often have complex structures (similar to Mingus) but are also commonly in odd-meter. Last night they played a tune called "Lucky Number Seven" when I saw them -- unsurprisingly, it was in 7/4

. Another tune, "Global Citizen," used to drive me nuts because it only drops a half-beat or so off of the end of each phrase -- just enough to give it this unexpected "oof!" to it.

I haven't heard enough compositions by the others mentioned to really comment. That said, John Clayton co-leads a couple of groups, Charlie Haden leads the LMO, and Patitucci (while being a popular sideman with guys like Wayne, Herbie, and Chick) has recorded several albums as a leader as well as Rufus Reid. For a bassist-composer to get their music played, generally they form their own band.

Clay_Bass · #3 10-14-2006, 04:13 PM

Avishai Cohen
Dave Holland
Scott LaFaro(not much published work but what is well known is amazing)
Christian McBride
Todd Coolman

.matthew e wengerd. · #4 10-14-2006, 04:40 PM

a) Oops! Holland was supposed to be up there. I have his big band "What Goes Around" (I think that's the name), which also has vibes up front.

b) It's a pretty tight definition of jazz that leaves no room at all for Meyer. I never said what side of the edge he's on

Actually, I am planning on placing him in an "other considerations"-type section. While what he does may not be "jazz" to most people, it is very relevant to the topic in my head.

c) Clayton's website bio says one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Clayton-Hamilton was that the Basie Band just wasn't right for the music he'd been playing.

d) How could I forget Cohen?! He's one of my favorites!

YMMV

jallenbass · #5 10-14-2006, 06:12 PM

Ben Allison

christoph h. · #6 10-14-2006, 06:42 PM

Mike Pope - his second CD mostly features his acoustic bass playing in different formats.

I don't want this to sound like a commercial, but since I'm a bit tired, take a look and listen to some clips here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikepope

musicman5string · #7 10-15-2006, 08:24 AM

I wouldn't necessarily categorize Todd Coolman and Rufus Reid as "composers"; there is very little actual recorded composition by either; certainly none of it well known. Same can be said for Scott LaFaro; Scott never had the chance to lead a group, and has two compositions to his name, albeit they are well known.

Some names you should mention along with Mingus, Holland, and Patitucci are:

Oscar Pettiford
Jaco Pastorius
one could also argue for Marcus Miller as well.

There are a ton of jazz bassists who have made their own recordings and led groups, but to me, you've got to be careful how you use the word "composer" as oppossed to "tune writer".

oliebrice · #8 10-15-2006, 09:51 AM

Drew Gress writes some beautiful stuff, all 3 of his own a;lbums have a lot of original compositions and the last Ravi Coltrane album has gorgeous ballad DG wrote.

jsbarber · #9 10-15-2006, 10:17 AM

At the risk of getting flamed, I'll mention the Steve Swallow article that appeared about 6-12 months ago in Bass Player. Much of the article deals with Steve's interest and efforts in composition. Given the types of questions you're looking into, I think it is definitely worth a read. (Also, Bill Evans chose to record at least one of Swallow's tunes, as I recall.)

Jim

.matthew e wengerd. · #10 10-15-2006, 11:58 AM

Ah...I should add that, for the sake of my research, I will be limited to double bass players.

musicman5string · #11 10-15-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbarber

At the risk of getting flamed, I'll mention the Steve Swallow article that appeared about 6-12 months ago in Bass Player. Much of the article deals with Steve's interest and efforts in composition. Given the types of questions you're looking into, I think it is definitely worth a read. (Also, Bill Evans chose to record at least one of Swallow's tunes, as I recall.)

Jim

Yeah, I would include Steve Swallow on the list.

Eddie Gomez has written some nice tunes, although none of them are well known. Every time I hear a tune of his though, I am impressed.
Ron Carter has led his own groups for a long time now, and has written a bunch of tunes, although I'm not a fan of his writing.
Sam Jones has some tunes to his credit, as does Red Mitchell.

jazzbass72 · #12 10-15-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .matthew e wengerd.

Ah...I should add that, for the sake of my research, I will be limited to double bass players.

Yeah, like Steve Swallow has never played the double bass in his lifetime

Michael Glynn · #13 10-15-2006, 02:33 PM

Someone mentioned Red Mitchell. I think he is a good one to look at because he actually wrote lyrics for a lot of his songs. I would probably make some connection between that and his "lyrical" playing style.

Chuck Israels has written a number of compositions for big band and smaller groups.

Jaromir · #14 10-15-2006, 03:12 PM

Marc Johnson!

Kam · #15 10-16-2006, 07:06 PM

Anthony Cox

Nadav · #16 10-16-2006, 08:28 PM

I believe Omer Avital composes for his group as well.

Pcocobass · #17 10-16-2006, 09:13 PM

Did anyone mention Ray Brown yet? He has a lot of compositions and some killing arrangements.

WillBuckingham · #18 10-17-2006, 12:01 AM

A list of bassist who don't compose would probably be shorter . . .

Mingus Fingus · #19 10-17-2006, 12:55 AM

I've been checking out Chris Lightcap and Scott Colley's albums lately. Both are great composers...Lightcap's albums Lay-Up, and Big Mouth are both good. Colley's Subliminal is one of my favorites for both writing (bass player or not) and playing.

Bruce Lindfield · #20 10-17-2006, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Glynn

Someone mentioned Red Mitchell. I think he is a good one to look at because he actually wrote lyrics for a lot of his songs. I would probably make some connection between that and his "lyrical" playing style.

Yeah - I like the albums where he is leader of his own trio.

How about Eberhard Weber - he has had a long career as a composer and his compositions take in Jazz, Classical and his own unique type of music ...

Henri Texier is a French Bassist who has lead his own groups which have included such famous guests as Joe Lovano!!

The European tradition might be interesting to compare as Jazz DB players in Europe have often been more involved in a Classical or Folk tradition ...?

So - Arnie Somgyi is a British-Based DB player who leads his own groups and writes all the material and has Hungarian roots -

In 2004 he formed IMPROVOKATION - a ten-piece Anglo-Hungarian band combining leading improvisers from both folk and jazz worlds. Launched at the Cheltenham International Festival the band headlined at Ronnie Scott’s for a week and then toured the regions to enthusiastic audiences. Improvokation’s debut CD, ‘Star Mountain Sessions’ was the Observer CD of the week and received extensive radio play. In November 2004 the band appeared as part of the London Jazz Festival.