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Best Jazz Bassists?

#2
There are a number of skill sets that any jazz musician has to be able to deal with at a very high level, the players whose work affects us most deeply are those who can speak that language in such a way that they touch on moments of both personal and universal beauty, but do so in a way that show the beauty of the language itself. It's not about "best", it's who is saying something to you, in that moment, that helps coalesce meaning from chaos.
 
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#3
Ed Fuqua said:
There are a number of skill sets that any jazz musician has to be able to deal with at a very high level, the players whose work affects us most deeply are those who can speak that language in such a way that they touch on moments of both personal and universal beauty, but do so in a way that show the beauty of the language itself. It's not about "best", it's who is saying something to you, in that moment, that helps coalesce meaning from chaos.
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Exactly. It's the difference between someone yelling, "Blah blah blah blah!" and someone saying something eloquent, at just the right moment (or framing someone else's statement so that it becomes intelligible).

My personal favorites? Just off the top of my head: Oscar Pettiford, Ray Brown, Richard Davis, Israel Crosby, Ron Carter, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden.
Those are all double bassists. I suppose Steve Swallow is my favorite electric bassist who plays jazz.
 
#4
Michelin97Bass said:
Hey there folks
I was wondering in your honest opinions, who is the best bass player in jazz music? When I say best, it can be technically, or groovy, or whatever - who do you like in jazz ?
Thanks:bassist::hyper:
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Paul Chambers for melody.

Ron Carter, Charlie Haden for tone.

Stanley Clarke for lines. Dave Holland for Conference of the Birds.

Jaco you know already.

Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen has just about perfect intonation.

There are a ton of good players nobody has ever heard of too.
 
#7
I'm mainly thinking in terms of upright jazz bassists:

Dave Holland: great upright tone, note choice and something about his rhythmic feel that I love as well

Ron Carter: creativity in walking lines

Christian McBride: great groove and monster at soloing

Chris Minh Doky: awesome tone and intonation, very melodic in soloing

Chris Wood: Not as technical as some but creates a great groove and plays with a lot of style

Paul Chambers: not too flashy, but solid walking lines and interesting solos

Eddie Gomez: love his work with Bill Evans, very different approach to bass, lots of fast ascending lines, interesting rhythmic ideas, seems to think outside the box

Stanley Clarke: not the greatest tone on upright but still plays with his own style; really like his electric playing with Return to Forever
 
#9
dbass87 said:
Dave Holland: great upright tone, note choice and something about his rhythmic feel that I love as well
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...and his pianoless 5-tet...Holland & Billy Kilson/Nate Smith propel that group.



Chris Wood: Not as technical as some but creates a great groove and plays with a lot of style
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"Not as technical"? I used to think that, too. Maybe on EB...on URB, he has mucho technique...a virtuoso, IMO.


Eddie Gomez: love his work with Bill Evans, very different approach to bass, lots of fast ascending lines, interesting rhythmic ideas, seems to think outside the box
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...always liked Gomez, too (especially his Steps Ahead-era..."Pools", anyone?) Gomez' tone, though, is not really my cup o' tea. You definitely know it's him, though.

Couple mote for the list-
Ben Allison
Arild Andersen
...both with new albums out.
 

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