What's so special about Larry Graham?

[selowitch]

This post is eerily similiar to the Entwhistle thread.

Entwistle (no “h”).

 

[Fudgebass]

I'm not the biggest funk/r&b fan out there, but I can see why people like Rick James, Bootsy Collins, Bernard Edwards and the likes.

I can even see why people like James Jamerson, although I think he's seriously overrated.

But I don't understand why Larry Graham is so highly regarded here on TalkBass and in the media. I listened to Sly and The Family Stone and Graham Central Station top songs on Spotify and watched a few videos on YouTube. Sure, he has that sort of thumping technique and a few fills on "Thank You," but is that it? I guess he did come before Rick James et al., making him a pioneer?

I'm being serious here. I'm not trolling. What am I missing?

He literally invented slap bass.
The Mans' a genius

 

[Squidrush]

I think his contribution to the slap bass history is unmistakable and well documented but I think his conventional bass playing is also really outstanding as evidenced on the first 3 Sly albums. Check out Ride the Rhythm (Dance to the Music LP) or the title track of the Life album for just a couple of examples. His lines on those albums are very creative, strongly executed, and to my ears are right on par with people like Weeks, Jamerson, and Dunn from that era.

 

[knight of ni]

Since this thread is somewhat active again, here is a great Bootsy video featuring Larry Graham (and Wynton Marsalis !!!) published end of november.