Double Bass Aaron Bell, Kay player

[Steven Ayres]

In running the background on a Kay bass owned and played by Aaron Bell in the '60s, I pulled up this recording from '62 with Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Elvin Jones. You can test your ears on whether he's playing the Kay, and enjoy how he's working with Elvin, who is nearly everywhere but the pulse. I think it's a great example of the sort of ensemble work that puts the bass squarely at the center.

 

[unbrokenchain]

Sounds like a Kay to me. Either way it's good music! Thanks for bringing this one to light

 

[mdcbass]

"I think it's a great example of the sort of ensemble work that puts the bass squarely at the center."
Somebody had to be there! Maybe Elvin didn't feel like playing a ballad that day. He was much more restrained on this record.

 

[834federal]

I think Jimmy Garrison's ballad playing is some of the baddest s**t I know