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Best Bass Solo Ever???

#21
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
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I whole heartedly agree!! The fact that the guitar joins in halfway through would indicate someone actually wrote that!
 
#24
WJGreer said:
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.
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Why even mention it? Best bass solo ever... not best improvisation ever. And how would you even define improvisation? Does every note have to be spur of the moment? If you come up with an idea, how long does it have before it goes from being improvised to being composed?

The Havona solo is an incredible musical statement, why even bother bringing up anything else about it unless trying to analyze it?

I just don't get it
 
#27
JHL said:
The Havona solo is an incredible musical statement
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I agree and said so in my post above.

JHL said:
why even bother bringing up anything else about it unless trying to analyze it?
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Because:
  1. In my view, the only thing more incredible than being able to write and play a solo like that one is the ability to channel that kind of music from your soul to your instrument at the spur of the moment, and do it a little differently but no less compellingly every time.
  2. A lot of people think that in the context of the musical style in which Jaco played, that he must have done the latter, when in fact according to most reliable sources he did the former.
This is a discussion forum, for sharing of information and opinions. I am doing a little of each.

As for the definition of improvisation, I'm not going there again because that is where the conversation usually degrades.
 
#29
Oteil Burburidge plays a song with soulive, i dont know the name of it, but i downloaded it. Its by far, the best bass work ive ever heard, the most interesting and well placed solo ive ever heard. Has you on the edge of your seat everytime you listen to it. If you download, do a search for "oteil soulive" and you should find. Its well worth it, i think hes my favorite bass soloist.
 
#30
Spinal Tapper said:
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.
QUOTE]

Actually, there is no slapping, no tapping and (certainly) no crapping on "Havona". If you haven't done so already, check it out...

And as far as "obtainable" solos go and having the patience & technique to achieve them... practice, practice, practice! :)

Isn't that what playing is all about... getting better?

Anyways - my vote is still for "Everything Is Everything"! :spit: :D
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#35
Good topic!


My favorite Victor Wooten solos are all ones that he played his 6-string Joe Compito bass on, oddly enough. That bass + Victor = the best bass tone ever :D

"Mudslingers of the Milky Way", "Next", and "Sleeper"

Also, Scott LaFaro's solo to "Gloria's Step", off of the Bill Evans: Live at the Villiage Vanguard album. His solo on "Milestones" too, and pretty much every other solo Scott takes on that album :D

Brian Bromberg's solos on "The Days of Wine and Roses", "The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers", "Bolivia", "I'll Remember April".

Damian Erskine's solo on "Steps" and "Spain"

Edgar Meyer's solo on "Palmyra" (quite possibly the most emotional and moving bass solo...ever :eek:)

Jaco's solo on "Used to be a Cha Cha"

Cliff Burton's solo(s) on "Orion" :smug:


Those are the main ones that come to mind at the moment...
 

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