This whole "best" thing is very subjective... Others would say Jameson was the best or flea, there's no accounting for taste...
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Geddy Lee, best bass player.
- Thread starter BassismT20
- Start date
Welcome to TB.
You just started a best bass player war.
He's one of my FAV'S but not the best.
You just started a best bass player war.
He's one of my FAV'S but not the best.
My 2c
So subjective, is he the best bassplayer (of all)? Not likely. He's good at what he does in the band he's in (same with flea).
For me he's in the top 200 but he's not number 1. Any 'top' poll would surely include Victor Wooten, Jerry Jemmott, Paul Jackson, Anthony Jackson, James Jamerson (there are more) and I rate them all higher than Geddy Lee in terms of what I value in a bass player. If you were including double bass players then I'd put Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Red Mitchell, John Patitucci all ahead of him too.
So subjective, is he the best bassplayer (of all)? Not likely. He's good at what he does in the band he's in (same with flea).
For me he's in the top 200 but he's not number 1. Any 'top' poll would surely include Victor Wooten, Jerry Jemmott, Paul Jackson, Anthony Jackson, James Jamerson (there are more) and I rate them all higher than Geddy Lee in terms of what I value in a bass player. If you were including double bass players then I'd put Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Red Mitchell, John Patitucci all ahead of him too.
Sorry Haji, but compared to you, my bass playing is horrendous. Geddy heard my playing once and suffered testicular tortion from his fits of laughter. I have yet to live down the embarrassment. Excuse me while I hang my head in shame.
drool
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Welcome to TB. That's quite a debut message, opening a can of worms to see if anybody reads the threads here.
These type of questions are more appropriate on a site for 13 year old girls - like, "is Justin 'Beaver' the cutest guy ever?" Nobody is the best bass player because it is just a matter of opinion. The whole idea of musicianship as a contest with a winner is pretty sad.
Definitely the best bass player in Rush. ...and Rash ...and Les Claypool's rolodex.
Great bass player, but I'm a lot more impressed with his ability to play bass, sing, whatever he does with foot pedals, and probably sell t-shirts and hot dogs at the same time!
Tired of the "music as competition" thing. I love Geddy's playing, and his playing and music are huge inspirations for my own playing and music, but I'm not going to worry calling him "best." There are so many great artists and virtuosos and innovators in the history of our instrument, it's absurd to me to label one player as "best".
Let's forget about categories and labels and forced competitive rankings and just enjoy, feel, and be inspired from the music made by musicians like Gary Weinrib, (aka "Geddy Lee").
Let's forget about categories and labels and forced competitive rankings and just enjoy, feel, and be inspired from the music made by musicians like Gary Weinrib, (aka "Geddy Lee").
"One of" for sure. And certainly original to say nothing of prolific.
But just "best"?
I don't think that word, by itself, works in the context of a music discussion.
Best "at" - or best "for" - or best "with" might be meaningful. But flat out "best" period? Can't say I ever met a bassist that "just best" applied to.
Maybe we should just discuss Geddy without assigning him a class rank. I find him to be an interesting bass player even if I'm not much a fan of Rush or their music.
But just "best"?
I don't think that word, by itself, works in the context of a music discussion.
Best "at" - or best "for" - or best "with" might be meaningful. But flat out "best" period? Can't say I ever met a bassist that "just best" applied to.
Maybe we should just discuss Geddy without assigning him a class rank. I find him to be an interesting bass player even if I'm not much a fan of Rush or their music.
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Spot on. What a waste of time I.M.H.O. What are we talking about here, some sport? Do we have stats to bicker about?
Marc
Even though I no longer call him "the best," I still acknowledge that he is the reason I took up bass in the first place!
That's what I was trying to say. No one I know of can do what he does. That's why he's the best in my opinion.
Welcome to TalkBass! !!!!!!
There are literally thousands of bass players here from all over the world. Some are not even fans of prog rock at all, much less Rush. So whenever you throw out the word "best" in the midst of such a diverse crowd prepare for flames.
But still, glad you're here!
There are literally thousands of bass players here from all over the world. Some are not even fans of prog rock at all, much less Rush. So whenever you throw out the word "best" in the midst of such a diverse crowd prepare for flames.
But still, glad you're here!
Yeah lol, I see that now. Different type of musical community than I'm used to, but ya know.
I agree. Jaco was the greatest player I ever heard...until I heard Victor Wooten. That doesn't mean Jaco wasn't great, it means there are other great players in the world too. (Sure Jaco is a special case since he was a pioneer, but you get my point). Just take a look at YouTube. There are so many ridiculously talented players out there it's impossible to be the best. You will never know the names of most of them. There's some 8 year old kid out there that one day will make people's jaws drop the way Victor Wooten, Michael Manring or countless others do now. I was on the checkout line at IKEA one day and they had a little three piece jazz band playing in their cafe area. The bass player was playing an old Fender Precision Fretless with a maple fingerboard and he was unbelievably awesome. I mean, a ridiculously great player...playing in a friggin' IKEA. There's always somebody better, and then there's always somebody better than that guy.
Stick around. Trust me. There's plenty of Geddy fanhood going around. Plus (like me) you'll learn a lot and broaden your horizons as well.
