Bassists with Eric Clapton

[JTE]

Did Pino play the fretless part on Tears in Heaven?

The MTV "Unplugged" version is Nathan East playing a fretless acoustic bass guitar. I haven't heard the original studio version from theovie in so long I don't recall there being a noticeable fretless part on it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The MTV "Unplugged" version is Nathan East playing a fretless acoustic bass guitar. I haven't heard the original studio version from theovie in so long I don't recall there being a noticeable fretless part on it.

The video on YouTube has the same prominent part.

 

[Herrick]

Before Cream, they'd both played in the Graham Bond Organisation.
From interviews, it sounds like they were both at times, let's say, difficult...or, if you'd prefer, deserving of a good kicking.
It's that whole 2 alpha males thing.

Baker got Bruce fired from Graham Bond, and Jack said "at the point of a knife, actually". They had a difficult relationship ship from the start, but Clapton didn't know that when he told Baker he wanted Bruce. Baker was reluctant due to the ongoing conflicts, but agreed that Bruce was the best bassist for what they wanted to do and reluctantly agreed.

Ah. I didn't know they encountered each other before Cream.

 

[dougjwray]

I've always found it interesting that Cream was Ginger's idea, and he didn't want Jack in the band, but Jack proceeded to compose almost all of their material (with Pete Brown as the lyricist), play all kinds of additional instruments in the studio (cello, acoustic guitar, piano, organ, harmonica, recorder...) and clearly dominate the lead singing, all the while cementing his reputation as the "first virtuoso of the electric bass", as Jeff Berlin said.
As mentioned earlier, Ginger, the business manager of the Graham Bond Organisation, personally fired Jack at knifepoint from that band for playing too loud and busy. I wonder if he ever told Clapton, "I guess you were right."

 

[MartinzeBassman]

Of the bass players that Slowhand have played with I prefer Jack Bruce. But if we are looking at his bass players as a solo artist I like Carl Radle or Nathan East the most. Radle for his effective blend of blues, country and rock, East for his melodic grooves. Clapton was at his best in Cream but I think his solo career is a bit boring, but I like the bass playing.

 

[burk48237]

Jack Bruce
Rick Grech
Carl Radle
Nathan East
.....
Willie Weeks
Stevie Winwood

My observation. Jack Bruce was an equal voice in the band. Since then, Eric's .bassist have kept it solid, but nothing flashy

Man, I would argue that Nathan East's and Willie Weeks work with Clapton has been plenty of flashy with great taste on their live stuff. Just listen to East's double stops in Bell Bottom blues on the live "one more car, one more ryder" or the Steve Winwood/Eric Clapton live in Maddison Square Garden! Eric has a monster band lately, Steve Gadd and Nathan East, there isn't much better than that. James Taylor is another one that hires the A-list sidemen.

 

[Peterson]

Jack Bruce..He Played Circles Around Eric Clapton

 

[Bob_Ross]

It is wrong to say Jack Bruce was EC’s bass player. The correct statement is EC was Jack Bruce’s guitarist.

[insert apochryphal Charlie Watts story here, punchline is "He shaved!"]

I just auditioned for a Clapton tribute - everything from Cream and Beatles (Guitar Gently Weeps) through his 80s hits

I'm trying to imagine the cojones on the guitarist who fronts a Clapton tribute band...

 

[bobyoung53]

Baker thought Jack played too loud and too busy.

Baker was still crying about Jack's volume during their comeback concerts, Jack was a saint to put up with him. There's a video on youtube where Ginger just gets up off his drums and walks off the stage he gets so frustrated with what's going on at a Jack Bruce tribute concert, to be fair it did seem like a big overblown thing with too many people onstage at the same time but come on, grow up. Ginger was very talented and actually wrote more great songs for Cream than Clapton did but he was about 2 years old emotionally, most junkies are.

 

[bobyoung53]

Yes, Steve Winwood's main instrument is probably keyboards, but he's also an excellent guitar player and has sometimes played bass and drums in the studio. Add to that his great singing and writing abilities and you have one helluva talented musician.

Winwood played most of the bass on several early Traffic albums, yes, he's a monster.