Oh yes! He's great! I've been listening to their lp Send It for a while now. Check this song which was a hit. Gigolette featuring the late Teena Marie. Super funky!!
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One Bass Player You Think Is Underrated?
- Thread starter Funk$tar
- Start date
Oh yes! He's great! I've been listening to their lp Send It for a while now. Check this song which was a hit. Gigolette featuring the late Teena Marie. Super funky!!
Dunno if he's been mentioned yet, but I have always felt like Mick Grondahl (Jeff Buckley's bass player) was incredibly underrated. The bassline to Last Goodbye just fits so perfectly. Seriously, check that man out!
Tommy Shannon- Double Trouble.
To add to this, he is not fancy or in your face but he can walk you to the moon and back.
To add to this, he is not fancy or in your face but he can walk you to the moon and back.
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It's hard to say that someone who influenced me is under rated but I've not really seen much wrote of him on TB.
Andrew Levy of the Brand New Heavies. He has serious chops but what I really dig about his playing the most is the spaces he leaves and his phrasing.
Andrew Levy of the Brand New Heavies. He has serious chops but what I really dig about his playing the most is the spaces he leaves and his phrasing.
- Jan 12, 2011
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I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Bikki Johnson yesterday at Brubaker Guitars in Baltimore (Rosedale)MD.
When I think underrated...as in more people need to hear this player, they would have to appreciate him or her...I go straight to Dan Roberts...Bassist in The Crash Test Dummies. (Speaking of The Great White North...)
I believe the God Shuffled His Feet is one of the best 'bass player' albums I own. The guy is absolutely serpentine, as he wraps his lines around the melody...and then takes you with him to another place, completely. I failed to feel the same way about other CTD albums, but if you were allowed into the Hall Of Fame based on one, perfect performance, I'd nominate him.
Joe Jackson has had his share of hits...some might say more than his share...but I have admired him, and Graham Maby...since seeing them at the Syracuse Area Landmark Theater in1977. A friend had to buy my ticket 'cuz I refused to go see that 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?" guy. I own a bunch of Joe Jackson records, and the breadth and diversity of Graham Maby's bass playing puts him toward the front of my line for a Lifetime Achievement award.
Oh, yeah, Phil Lesh is still the most important bassist in the world where I live...
I believe the God Shuffled His Feet is one of the best 'bass player' albums I own. The guy is absolutely serpentine, as he wraps his lines around the melody...and then takes you with him to another place, completely. I failed to feel the same way about other CTD albums, but if you were allowed into the Hall Of Fame based on one, perfect performance, I'd nominate him.
Joe Jackson has had his share of hits...some might say more than his share...but I have admired him, and Graham Maby...since seeing them at the Syracuse Area Landmark Theater in1977. A friend had to buy my ticket 'cuz I refused to go see that 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?" guy. I own a bunch of Joe Jackson records, and the breadth and diversity of Graham Maby's bass playing puts him toward the front of my line for a Lifetime Achievement award.
Oh, yeah, Phil Lesh is still the most important bassist in the world where I live...
Haji
Supporting Member
Derek Blakey of Haji, formerly called Haji's Kitchen and as far as I am aware, not named after me...although that wouldn't be the worst thing ever. 
He is an amazing pocket player but really shines with tasteful runs and solos. He's so smooth it's often easy to miss how much he's doing.
He is an amazing pocket player but really shines with tasteful runs and solos. He's so smooth it's often easy to miss how much he's doing.
There are many but I'm gonna go with Mike Mills of REM. Excellent bassist with great feel and some real creative lines over the years.
Mike Mills with REM video
Mike Mills with REM video
Gary Willis (formerly of Tribal Tech, Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth etc). He gets very little coverage relative to his ability and part of it is that he is a very low key guy and also that he has been living in Spain for years now.
I'd definitely consider Martin Mendez of Opeth an underrated bass player. His playing, especially on the new prog-rock type stuff, always fits in well with the band but is able to shine through somehow. A very humble, yet amazing bassist.
Eddie Jackson of Queensryche would be my pick. He is a great example of a bass player that really developed his tone and technique with every record. He is a great bassist.
Paul Raven, whom I've just discovered died 7 years ago.
Killing Joke, Murder Inc, Ministry (after Paul Barker who's also underrated, but mostly for being half of Ministry and not just bass), Prong, and Pigface as well as other parts of the spun-off Chicago Invisible scene bands.
I also give a lot of credit to Mark Chung (Einstuerzende Neubauten) for predominately being the only "real" instrument surrounded by jet engines, angle grinders, and assorted shopping carts. The lines are stark, simple, and fit the atmosphere.
Killing Joke, Murder Inc, Ministry (after Paul Barker who's also underrated, but mostly for being half of Ministry and not just bass), Prong, and Pigface as well as other parts of the spun-off Chicago Invisible scene bands.
I also give a lot of credit to Mark Chung (Einstuerzende Neubauten) for predominately being the only "real" instrument surrounded by jet engines, angle grinders, and assorted shopping carts. The lines are stark, simple, and fit the atmosphere.
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Phil Spalding - www.philspalding.com/
On here, he seems to be known mainly for having been in GTR; Myself, I had first heard (of) him through Mike Oldfield as he was involved in his 'Crises' album (Amazing background info to 'Moonlight Shadow' on Phil's website, by the way). And it was only a month or so ago when I learnt he once was in the band 'Toyah' and has mainly been working as a session player since then, for Elton John, Robbie Williams, Ray Charles, etc.
He's a really nice guy, too! It was no trouble to him to answer some of my questions, on Facebook.
Cheers,
volker
On here, he seems to be known mainly for having been in GTR; Myself, I had first heard (of) him through Mike Oldfield as he was involved in his 'Crises' album (Amazing background info to 'Moonlight Shadow' on Phil's website, by the way). And it was only a month or so ago when I learnt he once was in the band 'Toyah' and has mainly been working as a session player since then, for Elton John, Robbie Williams, Ray Charles, etc.
He's a really nice guy, too! It was no trouble to him to answer some of my questions, on Facebook.
Cheers,
volker
