Double Bass Who changed double bass ( like jaco )

[rickwolff]

I don't have the historical knowledge of many of the other posters here. When I started playing jazz I was influenced primarily by Ray Brown with the various Oscar Peterson groups.

My next influence was Eddie Gomez playing with Bill Evans. I saw them live and asked Eddie on a break to come down and take a look at my bass which I had stowed in the coatroom. I've always regretted that I didn't ask him to sign the bridge.

But the bassist who really made me drop my jaw in amazement was NHOP. The first solo of his I heard with Oscar I just went WHA............

It didn't take me but a moment to realize I would never be playing in the same musical universe as NHOP, so I have largely gone back to appreciating players who spend a little more time on planet Earth. I'd have to say my current main influence is Christian McBride, though I think of him as more of a traditionalist - evolutionary, not revolutionary. Christian sites his main influence as Ray Brown so it has kind of brought me full circle.

 

[garrett2]

I'm surprised that so many people mention NHOP. I think of him as a great player and a technical master, but not as someone who really changed the role of the bass or transformed how we think of it. But maybe I'm not seeing something or misunderstanding the Jaco comparison. I mean if we are talking sheer technical virtuosity combined with musicality my vote is for Rinat Ibragimov.

 

[shwashwa]

in my opinion the 2 "shots heard round the bass world" at the time, who did something very different than what came before, were blanton, then lafaro changed it again.

 

[Bruce Calin]

Just today I heard a Blanton- Ellington record I had never heard before: "Plucked Again" from 1939, the first of their several duets, and the first ever jazz bass & piano duet, at the ever- popular "fox trot" tempo. IMO it reinforces the idea that Blanton really did turn things around for bass. His boppish lines and great sound must have blown minds back in the day. Other later players might have amazing chops or advanced ideas but to me Blanton really had a whole new concept at the time of what was considered possible for jazz bass. It's like Bottesini for classical players. Nobody had thought of this stuff before because they couldn't. It took a truly original musical mind- like Jaco.

 

[Lee Moses]

Here's video from @pdbass that serves as a great introduction to Jimmy Blanton:

 

[HateyMcAmp]

If I had to chose one for this analogy, I’d have to say Blanton. He is the one who fully established bass as a solo instrument in jazz. I think an argument can be made for Oscar Pettiford’s “jazz cello” work and Scott LaFaro as well.

 

[elberon]

There are many players who pushed bass technique forward by building on those who came before them but only a few that took that quantum leap forward into the unknown. When that happens it causes musicians to completely reassess what they’ve been doing previously and take the new path if it’s even possible. I look at Debussy as that figure (Stravinsky and Schoenberg to a lesser degree) in Western European classical composition and maybe The Beatles/Jimi Hendrix in popular music.

Jaco was unique enough in his approach that when he came on the scene it set such a high standard for electric bass that it seemed unreachable to most players. He also projected a rock star aura with Weather Report that gave the group a mass crossover appeal that they had not enjoyed previously. Think of musicians like Paganini for violin or Liszt for piano. Technical paradigm shifting popular superstars. Is there anybody like that for double bass? I don’t know.

As much as I respect Jimmy Blanton, Scott Lafaro, and all the rest do you know anyone who isn’t a bass player, jazz musician, or dedicated fan that’s even remotely familiar with them as they would be with Jaco? Not saying Jaco as a musician is any better than them (I personally prefer the Weather Report albums before and after his involvement) but his arrival on the scene was a real phenomenon for the electric bass that had no comparable precedent that I know of. I’m certainly no jazz or double bass historian though.

Ultimately much of what we’re discussing is at least a little subjective as well as speculative because many have their own well informed opinions on a site like this.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

I mean if we are talking sheer technical virtuosity combined with musicality my vote is for Rinat Ibragimov.

I agree Rinat Ibragimov is a beautiful musician. Technically is he better than Bozo Paradzik or Edicson Ruiz or some others? I don’t know.

Did any of these players change double bass playing like Jaco changed electric jazz bass playing, as the op enquired? Perhaps Gary Karr is ‘the shot the world heard over’ for double bass (a quote by Joni Mitchell about Jaco). It was for me in 1972 when my pro orchestral teacher, with a twinkle in his eye, put on Gary’s first record at my lesson. We sat back and were blown away.

We are fortunate for so many great players today.

 

[garrett2]

I completely agree. I just meant if you are distinguishing Jaco by technical skills, which I don't think is what the OP was doing, then there are classical musicians who mop the floor with everyone. Jimmy Blanton though, like Charlie Christian on guitar, is someone who changed the game in a different way.

I agree Rinat Ibragimov is a beautiful musician. Technically is he better than Bozo Paradzik or Edicson Ruiz or some others? I don’t know.

Did any of these players change double bass playing like Jaco changed electric jazz bass playing, as the op enquired? Perhaps Gary Karr is ‘the shot the world heard over’ for double bass. It was for me in 1972 when my pro orchestral teacher, with a twinkle in his eye, put on Gary’s first record at my lesson. We sat back and were blown away.

We are fortunate for so many great players today.

 

[logdrum]

For the Arco side it's Rabbath and performance wise Renaud. Scott La Faro and the first guy who used DB for the earliest bands in New Orleans, then La Faro for the soloing aspect.

For me present day, its Daniele Roccato.

 

[Bruce Calin]

It would be interesting to have Mr. Goldsby weigh in on the OP's original question. He literally wrote the book.

 

[stuntbass77]

There are many players who pushed bass technique forward by building on those who came before them but only a few that took that quantum leap forward into the unknown. When that happens it causes musicians to completely reassess what they’ve been doing previously and take the new path if it’s even possible. I look at Debussy as that figure (Stravinsky and Schoenberg to a lesser degree) in Western European classical composition and maybe The Beatles/Jimi Hendrix in popular music.

Jaco was unique enough in his approach that when he came on the scene it set such a high standard for electric bass that it seemed unreachable to most players. He also projected a rock star aura with Weather Report that gave the group a mass crossover appeal that they had not enjoyed previously. Think of musicians like Paganini for violin or Liszt for piano. Technical paradigm shifting popular superstars. Is there anybody like that for double bass? I don’t know.

As much as I respect Jimmy Blanton, Scott Lafaro, and all the rest do you know anyone who isn’t a bass player, jazz musician, or dedicated fan that’s even remotely familiar with them as they would be with Jaco? Not saying Jaco as a musician is any better than them (I personally prefer the Weather Report albums before and after his involvement) but his arrival on the scene was a real phenomenon for the electric bass that had no comparable precedent that I know of. I’m certainly no jazz or double bass historian though.

Ultimately much of what we’re discussing is at least a little subjective as well as speculative because many have their own well informed opinions on a site like this.

That’s the sad thing is more should be recognized!!! Jaco was unique but so were so many others. I don’t think we can say one person was the greatest in a musical comparison as it’s all subjective in all things art and music. I do think some stand out and it’s hard to dispute their contributions. I want to listen and find those who are “different” and really stand out for their contribution to taking what can be done to another level. I still think one can say more with 3 notes compared to 30. I still love to hear a musician who makes me stop and really listen to what is being played and how. Lots of good players being mentioned here !!!! I have my work cut out for me regarding those to study next. I have moved away from 35” five string basses and onboard preamps and moving more toward flats and and passive. Using my fingers to achieve what I use to have a preamp do. I also think nothing comes close to a passive tone and double bass is the definition of “passive”. Wish I started out on double bass. Maybe I’ll try fretless again someday but it will be a semi hollow body and piezo pickup or just a single P pup ( trying to get an organic tone as nothing electric comes close to double bass ).

 

[damonsmith]

If you are looking for harmonics and all that stuff check Jiri Slavik.

Stefano Scodanibbio, Fernado Grillo and Mark Dresser are the true innovators where harmonics and the double bass are concerned.

 

[damonsmith]

I don't think it means to play like Jaco, but that Jaco made a huge leap for that instrument. One very out player that hasn't bean mentioned, is Barry Guy, possible the most innovative bassist ever. Renaud Garcia-Fons & Adam Ben Ezra have really adapted incredible technical and put them in service of music that can reach more people.

 

[damonsmith]

As far as contemporary classical bass playing, no one has made more impact than Bertram Turetztky. Between cataloging all the possible sounds he could find in the book The Contemporary Contrabass" as well commissioning new works for solo bass as well as duos and chamber work no one has had as much repertoire generated for the instrument.

The book really served as a handbook for composers to write with as wide of a sonic palette as possible while remaining playable.

Bertram Turetzky - Wikipedia

 

[stuntbass77]

Renaud Garcia-Fons




(just a few examples..)

Wow, his mastery of the instrument is almost enough to make own want to burn their own instrument