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Favorite Bass Solo(s)
- Thread starter alexssandro
- Start date
The opening solo on The Faces "An old raincoat won't ever let you down" . Ronnie Wood on this one.
Back in the day I was privileged and lucky to spend a few days hanging at the old Automatt, mostly with Randy Jackson and Narada Walden. If you haven't heard this, you're in for a treat. Solo begins 2:26:
A few come to mind:
Alphonso Johnson, on John McLaughlin's "Every Tear From Every Eye". Bass solo starts at 4:34 ...but there's so much wonderful multiway improvised conversation going on in this entire tune that it'd be a shame to just skip ahead to the bass solo!
Conversely, I would strongly advocate skipping ahead to the 5:40 mark on Stanley Clarke's "Concerto For Jazz/Rock Orchestra". The bass solo section from 5:40-7:40 is stunning, not so much for Stanley's bass per se but for the incredible telepathic rapport between Clarke, George Duke on Fender Rhodes piano, and Steve Gadd on drums. An astounding glimpse into improvisors with huge ears and copious chops interacting, provoking, cajoling, inspiring one another. I've been listening to this tune for ~40 years and my jaw still drops every time I hear this section.
(The rest of the tune aint too shabby either -- though I could do without the vocals -- but man, that two minute stretch is just sublime.)
Is this a "bass solo" or is it just a remarkably talented musician embellishing the melody? Who cares? This is quite possibly the absolute pinnacle of bass playing imho. Jeff Berlin, on Bruford's "Palewell Park"
Always enjoyed Partick O'Hearn's solo on this live version of "The Purple Lagoon" from Frank Zappa's Live In New York album...though I'll admit I'm torn; is it a brilliant example of a musician exploiting a limited set of materials via motific development? or is it just a guy rattling off a few variations of the same canned lick?Meh, it's fun to listen to either way. Bass solo is from 8:30-10:23 but check out the bass cadenza at the very beginning also!
And bravo to Les Ismoor for citing "Ashes Are Burning" !
There should be a mega triple like for your picking of Patrick O'hearn on the Purple Lagoon. I was at that concert.
And the Brecker Brothers playing is pretty amazing at that as well, oops, innocent derail.
1. Prakash John.... "Rock and roll" Lou Reed
2. Dennis Dunnaway...." Guttercat vs the Jets " Alice Cooper
3. Jack Bruce....." Apostrophe" Frank Zappa
2. Dennis Dunnaway...." Guttercat vs the Jets " Alice Cooper
3. Jack Bruce....." Apostrophe" Frank Zappa
Why do you taunt me?
Also was at the first two shows of the Lou Reed concert of which you speak.
This track is pretty much a vehicle for always stellar Jeff Berlin:
I don't know if a solo bass counts but Michael Manring's "Enormous Room" is pretty awesome IMO:
And definitely not a solo as such but John Giblin's superb fretless counter melody on Kate Bush's "Deeper Understanding" prompted me to write the only fan mail I've ever sent anyone:
I don't know if a solo bass counts but Michael Manring's "Enormous Room" is pretty awesome IMO:
And definitely not a solo as such but John Giblin's superb fretless counter melody on Kate Bush's "Deeper Understanding" prompted me to write the only fan mail I've ever sent anyone:
Gerald Johnson with Steve Miller Band on ShuBaDaDuMaMaMaMa...
It was on the album, I saw it on Midnight Special back in the day, killer then and now.
This is the best example of it I can find online... Go to 6:30. You're welcome. ;-)
It was on the album, I saw it on Midnight Special back in the day, killer then and now.
This is the best example of it I can find online... Go to 6:30. You're welcome. ;-)
Damn, beat me to it! Guess I'll have to go with this one. It starts at 1:20. Also be sure to listen to the whole song for the awesome jazz part around 5:50.
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Frederico solo at a 1:50 Hadriem at 3:20 - I have a favorite, who is yours. These guys are ridiculous
How about Adam Ben Ezra playing all this stuff at the same time. Killer
How about Adam Ben Ezra playing all this stuff at the same time. Killer
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Well, this got boring real fast, just like about all bass solos.
My advice on soloing: Just. Don't.
HA! Guitarists can solo, why would an octave apart prevent us from doing the same?
