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Fav 70's Disco and Funk bassists

#161
DWBass said:
Dexter! One of the best slappers in that time period! Mid 70's-mid 80's.
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WELL ! although the tread was asking about the Funkateers on bass during the 70's I guess it's okay to mention the early to early mid 80's because it was a couple cats who were still trying to steer the funkateer ship.and the one that comes to mind is Orlando Philipps of the group Star Point.He was Basically out of the church but nonetheless he more than held his own.Mike Wiley (a very dear friend of mine who has gone on to be with Lord..RIP my brother) of the Dazz band was over the top also.He was as dedicated to his craft as anyone I had known.
 
#162
If we're going to mention the '80's, then I gotta give props to Mikey Hay from the Culture Club. Say what you will about the band, but he was amazing! :hiding:
Back to the '70's, how about the guys that played with Zapp, People's Choice, and Brass Construction?
As for the Mike Wiley (Dazz Band), those double thump (not thumb!) octave walk ups he did in the bridge on "Let it Whip", puts him on the list. When I heard about his passing, I was totally shocked. RIP.
 
#163
Woodchuck said:
If we're going to mention the '80's, then I gotta give props to Mikey Hay from the Culture Club. Say what you will about the band, but he was amazing! :hiding:
Back to the '70's, how about the guys that played with Zapp, People's Choice, and Brass Construction?
As for the Mike Wiley (Dazz Band), those double thump (not thumb!) octave walk ups he did in the bridge on "Let it Whip", puts him on the list. When I heard about his passing, I was totally shocked. RIP.
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He sure as hell was ! If you really would like to hear a real good SR4 tone then Mikey would be the player to listen to.Now here is what was amazing to me Mike at a totally different approach to 2-hand tapping even back then (remember we are talking 79-82) that people and other players did not even know how to respond to it so much so that it would litterally "piss off the other guys in the band because they didn't know that he was doing a technique that was not new,but it was still very differen't and to most a very unorthodox way to play the instrument,now here is the shocker I asked him were did he learn that technique and of course I said Billy Sheehan ( we really didn't know of stu hamm during this period) he said no although he did get to see Billy do it he said :When we were in Va. I was looking at this cat doing this technique with incredible articulation and thump (because thats what we called slap back then) with incredible speed so I ask him who was this cat he said he is not known yet but I think he will be and so I said Mike, who ! he said his name is Bill Dickens.

Man I truly miss this Brother.
 
#164
pyrohr said:
Im gonna go out on a limb and say his name is Jerome Peaster. I remember something of that nature. I had the oppurtunity (sp) to play with Keith the keyboardplayer and lead voice on "must be the music" back in the 80's. Real funny dude! Secret weapon came from the same projects in Brooklyn that im from. Darren Stewart (conga player) was my sisters Godson. He is currently in prison for killing his wife (so sad) I grew up with her brothers.
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I ran into my old guitar player (also from my old projects) and he said indeed secret weapons bassist name is Jerome Peaster and he also came from Buswick Houses in Brooklyn like the rest of us!
 
#165
hope this thread is still active, 'guess there are almost all cool cats mentioned in that tread, but I'm searching for the name of the bassplayer from "Mothers Freedom Band". they released only one record in the 70's "cutting the cord" on platinum. the lines are very tricky and tasty, so he fonk'd up.....
does anybody know the name oft this incredible player??
 
#176
Did mikey Haye play on "do you really want to hurt me?" I love that bassline. Also, did anyone mention the Meters? I love their groove, it is tight. All I did was study the old funk players like Larry Graham. I also had the pleasure to trade slap licks with some great gospel players when I was up in tallahassee fL. I had to put that stuff on the back end when i got hired to play in a rock band, it didn't fit the project, but now I have gone back to musical freedom and play all those licks again.


a little off topic...if you ever get "400 degreez" by Juvenile...that bass player (funky fingers) really kills on that album..just funky as hell.
 
#177
Great thread guys, I've just discovered it today.

Some of the guys I respect the most as far as late '70s early '80s funk goes are (in no particular order, sorry if a lot have been quoted already):

Leon Sylvers III (I think he plays on The Whispers Imagination/this kind of lovin albums) just listen to the bass line of a tune like "imagination" - great slap work

Marcus Miller - he did great work with Bernard Wright on the 'Nard album and the early Tom Browne albums... in fact I prefer his early works compared to what he's doing now.

don't kow his name - the guy or guys who played with Jeff Lorber, some of the material is cheesy but there are nice tunes with great funky basslines...

Nathaniel Phillips of pleasure - IMHO "Glide" is one of the top 3 funk tune of all times ! Too bad only two CD's have been re-issued...

Bernard Edwards (CHIC, Sister Sledge...) - he's the master!

Stanley Clarke - he's more of a fusion/jazz cat but he can be quite funky as well - i.e. his works with George Duke

Louis Johnson - I learned to slap with his first video... just listen to him with George Duke, Michael Jackson or the Brothers Johson... he's one of the big names!

Paul Jackson - he is the Headhunters sound!

Rocco Prestia - I've never been a fan of the guy's tone but I really dig his playing

Sekou Bunch - just listen to the first Don Blackman album... I thought it was Marcus Miller at first but his tone is more dry and he has a different style of slapping...

Also the bass players from band like Aurra and Cameo...

Hope I'm not forgetting anyone... anyways keep the names coming.
 
#179
Ari said:
Great thread guys, I've just discovered it today.

Some of the guys I respect the most as far as late '70s early '80s funk goes are (in no particular order, sorry if a lot have been quoted already):

Leon Sylvers III (I think he plays on The Whispers Imagination/this kind of lovin albums) just listen to the bass line of a tune like "imagination" - great slap work
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Leon and his brother Foster are excellent bassists. Very clean, tight in the pocket, playing. I believe Leon did the majority of The Whispers' hits(It's A Love Thang, And The Beat Goes On, etc). Wrote a few of them as well.
 

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