My experience is that the optimal bass instrument depends pretty strongly on the ensemble and instrumentation.
For Big Band, my experience was that the bass guitar did the preferable task of driving the horn sections. My last Big Band gig in Phoenix actually auditioned me solely on bass guitar, since they had arrived at the same conclusion.
Small format Jazz combos can somewhat go either way. If you are lower volume, and primarily covering trad Real Book pieces, nothing beats a great upright. The upright tends to have a broader tone, and fulfill the supportive role in a much more satisfying way. Plus, you can arco solos.
But, smaller combos with higher volume instruments performing fusion tend to be better served with various versions of bass guitar.
From my experience, there is no one size fits all.
My last comment is that Jazz gigs of whatever flavor have become far less common, at least in my current hood. They do exist; but, WAAAY more musicians competing for them than available gigs. And those I've seen / heard have been pretty relegated to musical wallpaper; which is wholly better than Muzak, but still kind of unfortunate.
Of all the Jazz ensembles, Big Bands of various flavors were always my fav. Just nothing like big hitting horn sections. Sadly, paying 15 to 25 musicians for gigs these days has become impractical in most cases. Sigh.
For Big Band, my experience was that the bass guitar did the preferable task of driving the horn sections. My last Big Band gig in Phoenix actually auditioned me solely on bass guitar, since they had arrived at the same conclusion.
Small format Jazz combos can somewhat go either way. If you are lower volume, and primarily covering trad Real Book pieces, nothing beats a great upright. The upright tends to have a broader tone, and fulfill the supportive role in a much more satisfying way. Plus, you can arco solos.
But, smaller combos with higher volume instruments performing fusion tend to be better served with various versions of bass guitar.
From my experience, there is no one size fits all.
My last comment is that Jazz gigs of whatever flavor have become far less common, at least in my current hood. They do exist; but, WAAAY more musicians competing for them than available gigs. And those I've seen / heard have been pretty relegated to musical wallpaper; which is wholly better than Muzak, but still kind of unfortunate.
Of all the Jazz ensembles, Big Bands of various flavors were always my fav. Just nothing like big hitting horn sections. Sadly, paying 15 to 25 musicians for gigs these days has become impractical in most cases. Sigh.
