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Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang)

Mr_O'B

Mr_O'B

Feb 22, 2015
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#1
Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool & the Gang is one of the most underrated bass players.

He is a great example of a bass player who doesn't display extraordinary chops, but
is one of the best bassists at creating memorable/hit basslines.


I will put his body of work against any past or present bass player.
Too many to list, so I provided a few of the most memorable basslines created by Mr. Bell

Examples:

Jungle Boogie


Fresh


Celebration


Get Down On It


Too Hot


Ladies Night
 
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#4
Mr_O'B said:
I see that you are also a big fan of Mr. Bell. You posted two classics! :)
Click to expand...
Yes, Kool & Gang was my second concert, own a lot of their records and watched them a lot on the Midnight Special and Don Kirshner In Concert. Great music and great memories. I played Trombone back then and loved the horn section. But Robert Kool Bell and Louis Johnson are the reason I play bass.
 
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#5
You guys rule

Always loved that band and a real groove player.
I'm not sure that people don't recognise or love his work, it's just that when the topics come up in here the usual names that that roll off the tongue are the big ones which we all know and can't argue with.

Kool guy
Kool band
 
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#14
Love this guy!

He's one of the reasons that I play the bass today! I wasn't alive when Kool & The Gang were popular, but my parents kept one of their "Best Of" CDs around all the time, and for some reason the bass lines are so prominent and addictive, even though they're so simple, I still can't figure it out!
 
#15
phew :nailbiting:... when i saw the title of this thread on the main page, i thought another bassist / musician had passed.

saw kool & the gang back in '81 at the old circle star theater in redwood city, ca. tix were my junior high grad present.

most excellent show. they were tight as a drum. i can still hear and see them in my mind's eye doing 'morning star' amongst others.

the dazz band opened up for them and their bass player had a slap solo that warped my little mind. needless to say, woodshedding was in the cards the next day to get my thumbwork going!
 
#16
bubba-b said:
phew :nailbiting:... when i saw the title of this thread on the main page, i thought another bassist / musician had passed.

saw kool & the gang back in '81 at the old circle star theater in redwood city, ca. tix were my junior high grad present.

most excellent show. they were tight as a drum. i can still hear and see them in my mind's eye doing 'morning star' amongst others.

the dazz band opened up for them and their bass player had a slap solo that warped my little mind. needless to say, woodshedding was in the cards the next day to get my thumbwork going!
Click to expand...
Mr. Bell is alive and well. It dawned on me that the man doesn't get the credit and respect that he deserves.

I'm excited to know that you guys respect his incredible body of work.
 
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#17
Kool Bell is definitely a funky groove player from back in the (my) day. :thumbsup:
OTOH, there was a time when I would have gladly chewed off my arm rather than play another go round of Celebration. For regular working cats in the 70's, that tune was on every gig.
I think that the track Fresh is actually a key bass line though. Either that or a unison/doubled line with keys and bass.
Just sayin'
 
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