Can we rant about the whole idea of music being a competition? "Best bassist" begs the question "for what?!". Best bassist to drop into a big-time world tour with four days notice and one day of rehearsal for a prog rock headliner? Best bassist to soulfully support intimate and personal songs sung by the singer with only a guitar as other accompaniment. Best bassist to inspire and challenge the current rock guitar hero? Best bassist to craft perfect basslines for pure pop music? Bassist able to play the most notes in three seconds? Best bassist for the Chicago Symphony, or for Chicago? Best bassit for James Taylor or for the James Gang? Best bassist for Neal Peart, Neil Young, or Neil Sedaka? Where does someone like Paul Simonon fit in with someone like Victor Wooten, and how do they fit into a competition with Duck Dunn, Larry Graham, Tim Crommerford, Leland Sklar, Squarepusher, André Gouche, and Tim Drumond?
And how'd one judge it? Flashiest, fastest, most in tune, coolest looking, ugliest, loudest, etc.?
Sorry, music ain't a competition.
John
