Best Bass Solo Ever???

[Hopps]

Is anyone here into Scott Lafaro? In his unique approach to jazz, almost everything he plays sounds like a solo, but he is still tight as a part of the rhythm section.

So, perhaps his solos on Gloria's step are my favorite

 

[Hopps]

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

"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

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 )

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

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


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

How did I not see your post?! I love BB's playing on Wood and Wood II... very inspired.

 

[acleex38]

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

Should have remembered that one - it tops Havona for my personal taste.

And "Gloria's Step" is awesome - also check out the Larry Coryell album Spaces for Miroslav Vitous bowing on a recording of the piece.

 

[Sterrrling]

Those are all great solos...I'd like to throw my hat into the ring and add some of Jason Newsted's solo work in as well.

 

[Lokire]

Is anyone here into Scott Lafaro? In his unique approach to jazz, almost everything he plays sounds like a solo, but he is still tight as a part of the rhythm section.

So, perhaps his solos on Gloria's step are my favorite

Probably my absolute favorite upright jazz bassist of all time

And check out Niels Henning's solo here:


One of the best upright solos I've heard in recent months. So confident, smooth, and classy! I really need to get some albums with Niels on them...

Sometimes I wish everything was still in Black and White. So much cooler

 

[Baryonyx]

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.

That track and "Elektric City" were what made me sit up and listen to JP! His rendition of a Bach Predlude was also beautiful.

 

[cosmicevan]

my musical tastes have drastically changed in the past 15+ years of playing, but Cliff Burton's "(Anaesthesia) Pulling Teeth" is responsible for me spending my hard on earned cash on a bass instead of a guitar. This is far from the 'best bass solo' in my opinion, but this is definitely the most influential solo to me (as it got me playing bass).

Current musical tastes would have to throw my vote towards many of Jaco's amazing solos as well as Geddy's work. Favorite bassist to watch/listen to when dropping a solo live has to be Chris Wood. His ability to keep the pulse while exploring the unusual and the groove during his upright solos just blows my mind right out the side of my head.

 

[Jazzomaniac]

My favorite is Jaco's solo on "(Used to be a) Cha-Cha".

Among his live, improvised solos I really like
his solo on "Zores Mores" from the album "Trilogue"
With Mangelsdorff & Mouzon, his solo on
"Dolphin Dance" from Live In NYC Vol. 7
and his solo on "All The Things You Are"
from a bootleg recording with Pat Metheny
in 1975.

 

[Lokire]

If you are referring to the purpleheart fretless, isn't it a 5er?

He has a that fretless 5-string and a 6-string fretted as well.

 

[funkybassplayer]

He has a that fretless 5-string and a 6-string fretted as well.

Very cool. All i had seen him with is the purple heart 5er. Sounds so good!

 

[Hopps]

Probably my absolute favorite upright jazz bassist of all time

And check out Niels Henning's solo here:


One of the best upright solos I've heard in recent months. So confident, smooth, and classy! I really need to get some albums with Niels on them...

Sometimes I wish everything was still in Black and White. So much cooler

Have you seen the Oscar peterson Dvd with Ray Brown and Niels H? It is a must own for all fans of jazz, and especially bassists who are jazz fans. Thanks for the link! I saw this on youtube a while ago, but I forgot all about it. NH looks crazy young.

 

[GreyBeard]

Teen Town

 

[Tin-Foot Paul]

There are a lot of good ones out there. Here are two cool ones that mean a lot to me (not claiming they are the greatest):

Rockette Morton's solo on Bellerin' Plain from the Captain Beefheart/Magic Band album Lick My Decals Off, Baby.

Charles Mingus solo on Tensions from his album Blues and Roots

 

[No4PCs]

Stanley Clarke solo in " Overjoyed " is one of the good ones, huh?

 

[Hopps]

Sorry to drag this upright bassist thing out, but everyone should check out Niels and Ray playing this beautiful tune with Oscar... talk about great bass solos!



and Tin foot paul, tensions is such a great song! Kudos for great taste.

 

[Hoover]

speaking of upright players, there's a Sonny Rollins recording of "Softly, As A Morning Sunrise" with Wilbur Ware on bass, in which WW plays one of the most thoughtful, tasteful, economic yet richly fertile solos I can recall. Just incredible connection to the song, as if he were trying to remember the melody from beyond the grave rather than just blowing over the changes. Sublime.

Best electric bass solo? Eh, I dunno. I've heard some seriously impressive stuff by Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Berlin that probably qualifies...but not nearly as definitively as the Wilbur Ware example.

 

[Marcury]

Too many to declare a best, but some favorites are:

Jack Bruce on Zappa's Apostrophe, Jack Casady on Mann's Fate (first Hot Tuna album) and +1 to aforementioned Lafaro, Minus and Ware.

 

[hauntedoak]

cliff burton's solo in Solnahallen 26 september 86. the recording captured the live feeling for sure!

 

[DistantTremor]

Well, there's this:

And some bass licks that open up a song (like Calm Like a Bomb by RATM, or Schism by Tool) really set the song up well.

 

[bottomzone]

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!

One of my favorite solos, to, featuring the great Ralphe Armstrong-who is also a virtuoso on upright! Here some of my "best bass solos ever":

-Ralphe Armstrong on "Sunset Drive" with Jean-Luc Ponty
-Stanley Clarke on "School Days", "Romantic Warrior", "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Part 1 and 2)" and "Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra" (with my favorite guitar solo of all time by David Sancious)
-Danny Wilson on "Can't Get Enough" with the Jeff Lorber Fusion
-Larry Graham on "Victory"
-Louis Johnson on "Stomp" and "Celebration" with the Brothers Johnson
-Bunny Brunnel on "Ivanho"
-John Entwistle on "My Generation" with The Who
-Jeff Berlin on "Water on the Brain" with Alan Holdsworth
-Brian Bromberg on "Oriental Ho-Down" and "Mushy Tushy"
-Jaco Pastorius on "Teen Town"
-Jimmy Johnson on "Heavy Metal Fatigue" with Alan Holdsworth
-Byron Miller on "Reach For It" (The entire song is a bass solo!) with George Duke.
-Alphonso Johnson on "Impressions" with Didier Lockwood
-John Patitucci on "Got a Match" with Chick Corea Electrik Band


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!