Anthony Jackson

Presently, he plays Foderas. I don't know how far back the affiliation goes, so he could have been using something else for "Electric Anthology".

I've never heard Jackson use any sort of effects with bass. He does, however, use a pick fairly often.

 

more specifically, there are two basses with his name on them...there is the anthony jackson contrabass, which is a 6 string double cut away bass, and the anthony jackson sig model, which is a single cut away 6 string...honestly, i think they are horribly lacking in the aesthetics department. they sound great, though.

 

When he worked with DiMeola in the late '70s, A.J. used his Precision and his Carl Thompson contrabass.

Given that he used a phaser on much of his work with DiMeola, I wouldn't be surprised if that sound is just phaser + fuzzbox.

 

Actually AJ used a Jazz Bass, aka Working Girl,for most of his work with DiMeola and sessions during the mid to later 70s and early 80s. During that time he was working with Carl Thompson and later with Ken Smith on the ContraBass model, it wasn't until much later that AJ started working with Fodera on his signature model. He used phase shifters and flangers a lot as well as a volume pedal..

 

Ever heard "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays?

That's AJ on a Jazz with a flanger. Groundbreaking song for bassists.

Also check out his work with Chaka Khan. Lots of low end work with effects.

 

I got into his work with Eyewitness, Michael Camilo and latter-day DiMeola, which is about as pure a bass sound as you can get. Thanks for the recommendations; I'll check them out.

 

Listening to the sound sample on CDNow, which is pretty low-quality, it does indeed sound like a J bass, and for most of the sample it is doubled by a keyboard. Sounds like there might be some phaser or flanger on the bass by itself however. Pretty tight attack too, so maybe a pick.

 

Are you sure he used a Jazz on "For the Love of Money?" I remember him saying in his Bass Player interview that he used his Precision, but I may be wrong.

 

That sounds right to me too, I remember that.

 

Don't forget about AJ's stellar playing with Steely Dan/Fagan-

"Glamour Profession"
"My Rival"
"IGY"
"Ruby, Baby"

One of my prized possessions-
...a 3-cd Live In Germany set(BOOT; stumbled onto this unknowingly)of AJ, Steve Khan, & Dennis Chambers.

 

You have to listen AJ with Michael Camilo!!

 

We have! Anbody else have French Toast? An early effort featuring AJ, Camillo, & a host of other NYC studio heavyweights?

On a related thread, there was talk of Trio Live in Tokyo... AJ w/ Gadd & pianist Michel(RIP)Petrucciani. I mentioned a 2nd disc with that same rhythm section + Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone called Both Worlds. I sampled some sound bites @Tower Records...very similar to the Michel Camillo stuff(must be the something about pianists named "Michel"!).

More Latin stuff with AJ-
Check out Roland Vasquez.

 

Don't know why I said a Jazz, it was a Precision... I meant to say Fender (I have "Jazz" on the brain) I've been slipping a lot lately.