Perhaps that is the key. With that horn
section, at that time especially, the whole rhythm section best give up some real estate.
section, at that time especially, the whole rhythm section best give up some real estate.
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Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang)
- Thread starter Mr_O'B
- Start date
I think he was the perfect player for that band. Anyone else would have been more "look how hot I am" and "check these funky licks out" which would have taken away that fat groove he laid down. Sure, they went mainstream when JT arrived but selling a boatload of records is cool too. I'm sure his bank account is good to go because of that. 
I played Jungle Boogie in high school pep band. What a time to be learning slap bass!
Honestly, yeah, the 80's version of the band was not the same as the late 60's-70's version of the band funk wise. They adopted a more commercial approach. There was money to be made. They added a new lead singer and the rest is history. They basically abandoned funk for pop. Their very early works were most definitely jazz/funk based though. Long before Hollywood Swinging and Jungle Boogie. But hey, people evolve and change.
Bottom line is that they were successful for a very long time with quite a lot of Top40 hits. Simple basslines? Sure. Most Top40 hits are simple songs with simple basslines. How many successful bands had less than stellar musicians? 100's.....1000's.......does it matter how good a bassist Kool was? He did and continues to do his job.
Are you focusing on the music or just the bassist? The songs were good. No matter whether funky or not. No matter whether Kool played simple or not. The songs wouldn't be the same with any other basslines!
Most of Kool & Gang's song were centered around his basslines (funky or not/ simple or not)!
Many of the greatest bassists (ex. Paul McCartney, Sting, Meshell Ndegeocello, etc.) don't display extraordinary chops.
Extraordinary chops aren't what makes a bass player great!
As the OP, I will say it again, "His body of work speaks for itself!"
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Sure the music was popular, but so is "Gangnam Style".
I am focusing in on the bassist (this is Talkbass, is it not).
I was responding to words like "influential" and alike. Honestly, as an R&B, Soul and Funk freak, Kool had zero influence on me. Actually, I make a point NOT to play like that.
Honestly, Peter Tork had a bigger influence on me than Kool did.
Playing and listening to music is a privilege (ask any deaf person) and life is too short to like things cuz someone says we should.
I think we kind of piss on that privelidge when we half-step or mail it in.
Again, IMHO.
IMO, Kool always hit exactly where he needed to hit.
"Jungle Boogie" is easily one of the funkiest songs I've ever heard (and I was born in 1962, so I grew up on the funk). That song didn't need so much as one more note or beat played by any of the musicians, including Kool. I love the fact that Kool made sure everything fit, and I'm assuming he was the leader of KOOL and the Gang, so he must have had a lot of input into the overall sound. And do we really know the extent of his virtuosity? Maybe he chose not to play any busier on those classic records simply because he didn't think it would fit.
"Jungle Boogie" is easily one of the funkiest songs I've ever heard (and I was born in 1962, so I grew up on the funk). That song didn't need so much as one more note or beat played by any of the musicians, including Kool. I love the fact that Kool made sure everything fit, and I'm assuming he was the leader of KOOL and the Gang, so he must have had a lot of input into the overall sound. And do we really know the extent of his virtuosity? Maybe he chose not to play any busier on those classic records simply because he didn't think it would fit.
I saw a Marcus Miller interview and he talked about playing "Kool's" basslines as a youngster! Marcus credits "all bass players" who influenced him into becoming the well rounded bass player that he is today!
I love Luther Vandross' music from the early 80s! I had no idea that Marcus Miller was Luther's friend, co-producer and bass player on Luther's early albums.
I was not interested in jazz until about 5 yrs. ago., so I had never heard of Marcus Miller. He became my favorite bass player without me knowing that he influenced me during the 80s and was associated with Luther's early 80s sound!
"A bass player does not have to emulate another bass player to be influenced by the bass player!"
I love Luther Vandross' music from the early 80s! I had no idea that Marcus Miller was Luther's friend, co-producer and bass player on Luther's early albums.
I was not interested in jazz until about 5 yrs. ago., so I had never heard of Marcus Miller. He became my favorite bass player without me knowing that he influenced me during the 80s and was associated with Luther's early 80s sound!
"A bass player does not have to emulate another bass player to be influenced by the bass player!"
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I did an arrangement of "Jungle Boogie" for the ad hoc ensemble of friends that performed a few numbers at my wedding, and I couldn't agree more: All I had to do to make that number be a standout throwdown was transcribe exactly what Kool & The Gang played and then just hang on for the ride. You think the bassline is simple [sic], check out the guitar part! One note...but that one note is just covered in stank!
Yeah, not many guitarists can truly play funk guitar. Many come close but it ain't quite right. Gotta learn how to really chop those notes off in the right place.
This is one of the 3 bonus tracks on the CD (not on the original album). When I bought this LP in 1977 it made quite a big impression. And still sounds okay almost 40 years later.
Definitely an influence on me - I had a Kool and the Gang greatest hits album when I was a teenager in the 70s - used to groove to that a lot. Such memorable grooves in those classic tunes - the just get imprinted on you, and that's a good thing
Happy Birthday, Kool!
