Uber bassists- I don't get it.

[Paulabass]

Am I the only one who finds the quote "virtuosos" boring and just plain wanking? Michael Manring, Les Claypool, Stanley Clark, Alain Caron, Just about anybody who endorses Fodera, including Victor Wooten and many others.
I admire their proficiency, and technique, but then say to myself 'Now play a song'.
There are highly adept players I love- Phil Lesh, Chris Squire, etc. that CAN play that stuff, but somehow always keep the music first. I NEVER thought that John Entwhistle was wanking, no matter how fast he was playing. Mark King is about the only guy who ever slapped a bass that I could listen to a whole song.
I'm not saying everyone should play bass like Chris Hillman, or Timothy Schmitt, there's lots of room for advancing the art, but most hi-tech players sound like they are only playing to impress, not drive the song.
Discuss.

 

[DWBass]

All the bassists you mentioned above all play and can play simple even though they have chops galore. Wooten's got tons of tunes where he's just supporting.

 

[smeet]

So you don’t like something, and you want to make sure that lots of other people share your dislike of that thing. Why?

 

[Paulabass]

Not at all. I just said I admire their abilities, but the music leaves me cold- Discuss. Sorta the original purpose of a forum- The free exchange of ideas and opinions. Show me some great links to some of the named players and change my mind- I'm always open to learning something.

 

[Gorn]

I prefer Lyft bassists.

 

[smeet]

Not at all. I just said I admire their abilities, but the technique leaves me cold- Discuss. Sorta the original purpose of a forum- The free exchange of ideas and opinions. Show me some great links to some of the named players and change my mind- I'm always open to learning something.

I don’t have an interest in changing your mind about players with virtuosic technique. You hear what you hear, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But you are painting a lot of players with a broad brush. I’m pretty sure Victor Wooten (for one example) would do a great, grooving, and musical job if you hired him to play a country or classic rock tune. But so could a million other players. Victor can do many things most other players can’t. So he does. Nobody is required to listen to it if they don’t like it.

I understand, their technique leaves you cold. But it’s art, if you don’t like someone’s playing, you just don’t. I personally dislike Phil Lesh’s playing and tone. I’ve found things in his playing that I have learned from, and past that I just try not to listen to him when I can avoid it.

 

[Nashrakh]

My response:

The futility of comparing yourself to other musicians

(Even if only tangentially related to your point)

 

[Paulabass]

Smeet- You are correct, and if this turns into a bashing post I will delete it.

 

[Mushroo]

Hi Paula, great topic! I think we can have a good discussion and keep things civil.

This is the song that convinced me Michael Manring "has something to say" musically, and isn't just all about the chops. It's a tribute for his friend Michael Hedges (RIP).

 

[Roland GR 88]

If you're really curious just look up the discography of their work as sidemen. Stanley Clarke and Micheal Manring in particular are on hundreds of recordings simply playing what's required for the song and artist and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones weren't exactly showcasing Victor Wooten either, despite his talent.
Solo bass albums are a different breed and their sales figures go a way towards proving your point but as usual, there's more to the story....

 

[Cave Puppy]

Uber bassists - they play uber because they can, because it's there (like climbing Mt. Everest). I am of the same mind as you, though I'm glad all those folks you mentioned are out there doing their thing.

 

[40Hz]

So you don’t like something, and you want to make sure that lots of other people share your dislike of that thing. Why?

Sounds like a very roundabout way to say you don’t want to discuss or hear about the OP’s original question.

Why so combative?

 

[Jrussblues]

It sounds more to me like you don’t care for the type of music they play. You listed a bunch of top jazz players and les clay pool versus classic rock guys.
To me that’s like saying I don’t like bananas because they aren’t apples.
I do like some of those guys you have listed and I don’t really care for yes and the Grateful Dead.

 

[40Hz]

If you're really curious just look up the discography of their work as sidemen. Stanley Clarke and Micheal Manring in particular are on hundreds of recordings simply playing what's required for the song and artist and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones weren't exactly showcasing Victor Wooten either, despite his talent.
Solo bass albums are a different breed and their sales figures go a way towards proving your point but as usual, there's more to the story....

Bingo!

Solo albums and shows where said bassist has the spotlight are a totally different animal and need to be assessed using different standards.

A circus performer is probably perfectly capable of waltzing across a room with perfect grace and style. But when he or she is in the spotlight before a crowd that paid to get in, most attendees want to see them perform death defying feats on the high wire.

 

[GretschWretch]

I prefer Lyft bassists.

I prefer the old-school hitchhiker bassists, who just use their thumb.

 

[mellowgerman]

Am I the only one who finds the quote "virtuosos" boring and just plain wanking? Michael Manring, Les Claypool, Stanley Clark, Alain Caron, Just about anybody who endorses Fodera, including Victor Wooten and many others.
I admire their proficiency, and technique, but then say to myself 'Now play a song'.
There are highly adept players I love- Phil Lesh, Chris Squire, etc. that CAN play that stuff, but somehow always keep the music first. I NEVER thought that John Entwhistle was wanking, no matter how fast he was playing. Mark King is about the only guy who ever slapped a bass that I could listen to a whole song.
I'm not saying everyone should play bass like Chris Hillman, or Timothy Schmitt, there's lots of room for advancing the art, but most hi-tech players sound like they are only playing to impress, not drive the song.
Discuss.

I feel like we have very similar perspectives on this matter, but I suppose it all comes down to taste and what a person is looking for in music. I have a few friends that could sit all day and watch/listen while Victor Wooten tears it up on his Fodera. There's definitely a market and audience for it, I just can't get into it myself.

 

[Bassndrums73]

I can listen to super players and enjoy them when I’m in the mood for it. I liked Stanley with Return To Forever among other things he’s done. I can see Paula’s point though. I’m that way about music in general and not just the bass part. Sometimes I just like a good song where everything fits together like a glove and is well crafted but I can enjoy more complicated music also. Personally I can’t listen to much slap bass but that’s just my personal taste. I realize there is some talent there and work has to go into it to do it but it just doesn’t appeal to me.

 

[smeet]

Sounds like a very roundabout way to say you don’t want to discuss or hear about the OP’s original question.

Why so combative?

I was calling out a post I felt was intrinsically combative. Would you think it was combative if I started a thread saying how much I hated some genre of music (or maybe all players who play flats and don’t play fills)? Asking who else hates something you hate is not a neutral thing. Unfortunately I’m seeing more and more of this on talkbass, and yes, it bothers me.

Maybe a better way to phrase it would be to ask for examples of that genre that showcase musicality or whatever you feel is lacking in that style.

 

[lz4005]

Stanley Clarke and Micheal Manring in particular are on hundreds of recordings simply playing what's required for the song and artist .....

Not only that, but much of Clarke's film scoring work has no bass solos at all. In fact, it's usually low drones.

 

[Chad Michael]

Although I appreciate those who are exceptional @ the supportive role of bass, drums, guitar, keys, etc.

Once in a while, it is fun to hear some spit and fire. "how-dey-do-dat" ??? |c: ???