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Does anyone know who's playing with James Brown here

60bass

60bass

Gold Supporting Member
Apr 24, 2005
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#1
Can anyone ID who is playing with James Brown in this clip? He used so many different bassists throughout his career that I have no clue who this is. You can't really see him very close in this video. But you can sure hear him. He's in the mix and doing it proud. Totally funky and you'd expect nothing less from any bassist backing up James Brown. Enjoy


 
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#2
While not that particular show, a Invalid Link Removed that same year (1981) lists both David Weston and Fred Thomas on the personnel roster.

Here's the full show, if anyone wants to see if he intros the band at some point:



Freezing the video ~9:31, the camera hangs out next to the bass player for a few measures, and he looks like Fred Thomas to me.


In any case, here's the second show that night:

 
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#3
Screengrab of the freeze-frame:


JB Bassist Northsea 1981.jpg
 
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#4
Winslow said:
While not that particular show, a Invalid Link Removed that same year (1981) lists both David Weston and Fred Thomas on the personnel roster.

Here's the full show, if anyone wants to see if he intros the band at some point:



Freezing the video ~9:31, the camera hangs out next to the bass player for a few measures, and he looks like Fred Thomas to me.


In any case, here's the second show that night:

Click to expand...

I'm surprised I didn't think the check there myself for a listing. after looking at the sex machine video I posted again and after doing some searching online of those to bassists. I'm more inclined to lean towards it possibly being David Weston. I'm only basing that on the fact that when I look at pictures of him online he is using a white or blonde Jazz Bass which looks exactly like the one in this video. The online pictures I saw of Fred Thomas. He was playing a sunburst Jazz Bass and blonde or white ones were P/J's since they don't really show the bassist very clear. It honestly could be either one of them

Whoever it is that is some excellent playing.
 
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#7
60bass said:
I'm surprised I didn't think the check there myself for a listing. after looking at the sex machine video I posted again and after doing some searching online of those to bassists. I'm more inclined to lean towards it possibly being David Weston. I'm only basing that on the fact that when I look at pictures of him online he is using a white or blonde Jazz Bass which looks exactly like the one in this video. The online pictures I saw of Fred Thomas. He was playing a sunburst Jazz Bass and blonde or white ones were P/J's since they don't really show the bassist very clear. It honestly could be either one of them

Whoever it is that is some excellent playing.
Click to expand...
Fred has used both a P and a J.
He's playing a sunburst Jazz on JB's Soul Train set.
The North Sea set, he's playing a sunburst P with two afro pick stickers on the body.

1746865996264.png
 
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#9
60bass said:
Can anyone ID who is playing with James Brown in this clip? He used so many different bassists throughout his career that I have no clue who this is. You can't really see him very close in this video. But you can sure hear him. He's in the mix and doing it proud. Totally funky and you'd expect nothing less from any bassist backing up James Brown. Enjoy


Click to expand...

Too fast and too many notes…

;)😁
 
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