Isn't it a marvelous world to step into?
What kind of music do you like KG?
If it's jazz, there are so many great places to start you can hardly go wrong.
Some contemporaries I like are [all these guys are on upright]
Marc Johnson -- try Bass Desires, look for him on CDs with John Abercrombie, a 2nd generation, post-Miles jazzer with unique sensibilities.
Ron Carter -- Lord, I don't know were to start ... someone? Bass and I, mostly mainstream jazz and pretty much the epitome of the best of the breed
Paul Chambers -- OK you have to have Miles "Kind of Blue" in any case so take advantage and get a lesson in modal play from the master. Walking over long slow measures is no mean feat
John Patitucci -- Sketch Book, Hudson Project, dozens more. He's a new generation, post-fusion kind of guy
Dave Holland -- Prime Directive [I still think it's the best of his ensembe recordings], Extensions [that CD absolutely BURNS, but it's getting harder to find], Question & Answer [with Pat Metheny], dozens more, his background is in bop and post-bop electric jazz
Charlie Haden -- Beyond Missouri Sky [pensive duets with Metheny -- OK I have a bias for guitar jazz] Liberation Music Orchestra, he did two with Bill Frisell and Ginger Baker. He's very lyrical, very deep roots in the tradition
Scott LaFaro -- his work with Bill Evans set the standard for the role of bass in jazz trios. Buy Saturday at the Village Vanguard if you buy nothing else.
Going back, you can check out some Elington and Basie recordings, because alot of what we hear now started there. But the problem is that the bass is buried in most of those early recordings and it takes a practiced ear to pick it up.
You'll probably hear lots more ideas. Gather some names, do some shopping (find the discounts and stock up).
I wish I could recommed some good blue grass bassists. I've only recently woke up to that genre and don't know much about it.
Drop us a line and let us know what you get.
Enjoy,
John
on my face through the whole song! I must get his CD
