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Best Bass Solo Ever???

Spinal Tapper

Spinal Tapper

Nov 15, 2007
6,797
348
Chicago
soundcloud.com
#1
IMO the bass solo on Egocentric Molecules (off Jean Luc Ponty's "Cosmic Messenger" album) is the best bass solo I've ever heard. Period.
It's crazy busy, yet seems to really "speak" to me. Quick, to the point, and leaves you wanting to rewind and hear it again.

Anyone else feel it? BTW, if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately! :D
 
#4
Spinal Tapper said:
IMO the bass solo on Egocentric Molecules (off Jean Luc Ponty's "Cosmic Messenger" album) is the best bass solo I've ever heard. Period.
It's crazy busy, yet seems to really "speak" to me. Quick, to the point, and leaves you wanting to rewind and hear it again.

Anyone else feel it? BTW, if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately! :D
Click to expand...

Nice pull. I've loved that one since I got that CD in 1993. One of my personal favorite fusion bass solos (with Jaco's solo on Havona, Clarke's on "After the Cosmic Rain", and

I won't give any one solo "best solo ever" - but that one is pretty sweet.
 
#6
I won't give any one solo "best solo ever" - but that one is pretty sweet.
Click to expand...

I agree. I mean, it can't possibly be the BEST solo ever, but I think it just moves me and motivates me more than any I've ever heard. That's what I think is the most important thing about soloing...many players just play notes and there's just something about the WAY it's played on that recording that just stands out to me amongs the 1000's of bass solos I've ever heard. Thanks for chiming in everyone!
 
#8
+1 for willys bad a## solo on everything is evrything
thats the solo that made me want to become a better player
he tells a story with a beginning, middle and end
very satisfying emotionally imo.

jenkzy
 
#11
Spinal Tapper said:
IMO the bass solo on Egocentric Molecules (off Jean Luc Ponty's "Cosmic Messenger" album) is the best bass solo I've ever heard. Period.
It's crazy busy, yet seems to really "speak" to me. Quick, to the point, and leaves you wanting to rewind and hear it again.

Anyone else feel it? BTW, if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately! :D
Click to expand...

Dude, You're the first person other than me who I know of that got into it. That violin work isn't bad either.
But the best solo???? Nahh There are just too many out there to say any one is the BEST!
Check out Stan's work on Vulcan Worlds with Chick Corea on the Where have I known you before album. I watched him play that one and stilll can;t believe it.
 
#13
mcrracer said:
Dude, You're the first person other than me who I know of that got into it. That violin work isn't bad either.
But the best solo???? Nahh There are just too many out there to say any one is the BEST!
Check out Stan's work on Vulcan Worlds with Chick Corea on the Where have I known you before album. I watched him play that one and stilll can;t believe it.
Click to expand...

I want to reword my title post...best "obtainable" solo. I like it so much cause it's just straight playing, no fancy slapping, tapping or crapping. Just notes, maybe a few chords. Know what I mean? Of course we could all say Victor Wooten's, Jaco's, or Stanley's solos are spectacular, but what standard bass player ever have the patience and technique to achieve them.

You guys are totally right though, there is no GREATEST bass solo. LOL - just thought I'd stir it up a bit.
 
#19
Spinal Tapper said:
IMO the bass solo on Egocentric Molecules (off Jean Luc Ponty's "Cosmic Messenger" album) is the best bass solo I've ever heard. Period.
It's crazy busy, yet seems to really "speak" to me. Quick, to the point, and leaves you wanting to rewind and hear it again.

Anyone else feel it? BTW, if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately! :D
Click to expand...


WOW. . . I haven't heard Ponty in so long. I need to give this a re-listen. . . . thanks for the reminder of this one.
 
#20
Bassman8416 said:
Jaco's solo on Havona :cool:
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I can't believe that I am going to crack open this can of worms again, but I somehow can't resist. The "Havona" bass solo is wonderful on many, many levels. However, most of the people who were close to Jaco have suggested that his famous solos were pre-composed and rehearsed, rather than improvised.

This does not detract from how great a musical statement that solo is, it's just a data point.

Another one that I really like is the John Patitucci solo on "Got A Match?", from the first Chick Corea Elektric Band CD. However I can clearly hear at least one punch in on that recording, so it's not entirely pure either IMO.

Others? How about the Geddy Lee bass breaks in "YYZ".

Gary Willis' solo from "Armageddon Blues" off his "Bent" CD.

The Kai Eckhardt feature "Babaluwaye" on the Vital Information CD "Fiafiaga".

Mark King and Phil Gould trading fours in the "Physical Presence" recording of "Mr. Pink".
 

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