Teena Marie, along with Chaka Khan, really seemed to bring the best out in bassists, and in the case of Anthony Jackson, the best is very good indeed.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Teena Marie and Anthony Jackson
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Teena Marie, along with Chaka Khan, really seemed to bring the best out in bassists, and in the case of Anthony Jackson, the best is very good indeed.
Brilliant, as always.
Younger players that are sleeping on him are really missing out on something special. Anthony was semi-local when I was growing up. Every single accomplished bass player that I knew, along with lots of other musicians, spoke of him in the very highest regard. I figured if all these heavyweights were talking this kind of stuff about an electric bass player, it would be in my best interest to check him out. I bought the records and this is where I got hooked.
There are a few very recent photographs of him at a birthday celebration in NYC. He'd been ill for some time but looked very good in the photos. Even if his musical activities are limited now, his past body of work is formidable and he certainly made his point. Even if he never helped push the extended range bass guitar into public acceptance, there are not many players whose decades of work with numerous noted artists defines what the finest in world-class bass playing is. He's literally one of the most important players to pick up the instrument since its inception.
Younger players that are sleeping on him are really missing out on something special. Anthony was semi-local when I was growing up. Every single accomplished bass player that I knew, along with lots of other musicians, spoke of him in the very highest regard. I figured if all these heavyweights were talking this kind of stuff about an electric bass player, it would be in my best interest to check him out. I bought the records and this is where I got hooked.
There are a few very recent photographs of him at a birthday celebration in NYC. He'd been ill for some time but looked very good in the photos. Even if his musical activities are limited now, his past body of work is formidable and he certainly made his point. Even if he never helped push the extended range bass guitar into public acceptance, there are not many players whose decades of work with numerous noted artists defines what the finest in world-class bass playing is. He's literally one of the most important players to pick up the instrument since its inception.
Last edited:
Teena 's music is one of the reasons that I play bass. Anthony is one of the true masters.
But I must admit that when it comes to Teena and her bassist, Allen McGreir is my favorite. His bass lines grooved so hard.
Anthony brings a more elegant soulful touch. Allen brings that sophisticated funk.
Yes, when I think Teena Marie, I think McGrier and his Stingray. AJ is sophisticated indeed.
I love AJ's 'call and response' bass line in that first tune (Playboy) The unison playing with the horns at 4:00 and then his signature re-harmonization of passages from about 5:00 onward ( as the tune draws to a close ) are the icing on a very delicious cake.
Last edited:
Cultural aversion to 80s music right now, a bit in the world but definitely on this board. It's too bad because there was a load of good bass work done in that period.
That "Playboy" bassline sounds like it was a double humbucker bass with roundwound strings, mixed right up front. All the things that are revolting to the ironic beard crew now, but excellent playing for sure.
That "Playboy" bassline sounds like it was a double humbucker bass with roundwound strings, mixed right up front. All the things that are revolting to the ironic beard crew now, but excellent playing for sure.
The bass was possibly an early Fodera AJ Signature or it was his "Working Girl" Jazz Bass modified to handle his low tuning.
Always great, I dig how they let the guitar do the pops on Playboy. I met Teena Marie at a gig when the Starchild album with Lovergirl broke huge, she brought her whole posse out here to celebrate. She was very nice and very tiny, huge voice though!
" I like sophisticated funk"
"I live on Dom Perignon , caviar, filet mignon, and you can best believe that's bunk. Here's what I'm talking baby …. SQUAAAAARE BIZ!!"
