Who did the most for bass evolution ?

[Fuzzbass]

Anyone who doesn't own "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" needs to go git it (IMO). In that book, many top bassists including Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, and John Entwistle state that they were influenced and inspired by James. Bassists like Jaco and Victor and Anthony Jackson are a natural evolution of Jamerson expanding the role of electric bass.

 

[Philbiker]

For me it would be 1st Larry Graham, because there's no other person who invented a technique wich is used by 90% of all bassplayers (slapping and popping).

Um.. slapping and pooping is used by nowhere near 90% of bassplayers. (and thankfully so)

I was just reading this over and I noticed how I misspelled "popping". I'm going to leave it be because I think it's funny!

 

[Herm]

Originally posted by electricdemon3
Of the ones you listed, James Jamerson. However, I am surprised that I always see his name when I almost never see the other two bass players of his time who are in my opinion equally as important to the evolution of bass playing. Carol Kaye and Donald "Duck" Dunn!

And Joe Osborn

 

[dancehallclasher]

Originally posted by Disco_Dave
Paul Simonon of the Clash definitely helped to give Bass Playing a "cooler" reputation, I think that's almost as important as playing evolution, as some kids won't pick up the bass unless they think it's a cool instrument to play.

good point, doesn't get much cooler than the cover of London Calling!

 

[tummage]

Well since I'm the only one who voted for Stanley Clarke, let me Champion his cause.
~Acoustic and electric virtuosity
~ Signature tone
~fingerstyle and slap as music not just an effect
~solo, improv- let his work speak for itself
~mainstream--Strawberry letter--bass for the masses
~jazz,electric,funk,mainstream-master of all
~sideman and headliner-grasp of the role of bass

This is not to detract from anyone certainly Jaco deserves his accolades, but the evolution of bass,
ask a non musician to name a Jaco tune.
James Jamerson wins there.
Ask a newbie and they'll probably say Flea.

Stanley Clarke showed us that bass was more than just a supporting instrument and was at the forefront of it's initiation as a lead voice.
Acoustic Jazz to electric then popular music, bass wasn't much more than just root five and basic walks before Stanley stood up and showed us it had a commanding presence in all forms of music.
Just my opinion,
tummage

 

[Wrong Robot]

ya know I voted jaco, and I believe jaco to have done the most for evolution...but I think one person who has been mentioned but overlooked is Les claypool, I'm not really a primus fan anymore, and I don't really listen to claypools stuff anymore, but the biggest point on why jaco did the most was for his role in bringing bass into the spotlight....I think that Claypool helped to KEEP bass in the spotlight, surely after jaco bassists were being heard more, but claypool inspired a whole new generation of bassists to be in the spotlight, and I think that is very valid in terms of evolution.

but in all honesty, Mark hoppus has really done too much to mention.

 

[Wrong Robot]

Originally posted by Philbiker
Um.. slapping and pooping is used by nowhere near 90% of bassplayers. (and thankfully so)

I was just reading this over and I noticed how I misspelled "popping". I'm going to leave it be because I think it's funny!

the funny thing is that I overlooked your mistake till I read your after thought on the subject.

 

[Nick man]

Me too.

Peace
Nick

 

[AMJBASS]

Pops Foster and Blanton started it all. They originally brought the bass into solo contexts. Without them who knows where we would be today.
Sure Jaco and Jamerson were originators and innovators on the electric bass, but there wouldn't be an electric bass if it wasn't for guys like Foster, Blanton, and the first Swing bassists. There wouldn't have been a need for a louder bass instrument. Like Ed said, we would all be playing tuba! Who did Jamerson and Jaco grow up listening to?

 

[Stachio]

I might get seriously flamed for this but don't take it the wrong way : I think Jaco pretty much killed the electric bass. At least for jazz. I don't see it evolving much after him.

Otherwise, another vote for Leo.

 

[Pabrika]

Jaco, okay.... Clarke.... DEFINATELY..... But where is the godfather? Where the heck is MINGUS?!?!? HE is responsible for changing the basses role in music, and in a band. He eats the rest alive. Period. No he didn't slap, no he didnt tap, no he didnt plug in.... but HE re-defined the role of the instrument and stands HEAD AND SHOULDERS above EVERYONE mentioned as a composer, and musical visionary. Let's give credit where credit is due peeps..... Must have Mingus= "Blues and Roots" and "Mingus Dynsaty." Take a listen and be humbled.... Jaco who.....? Stanley Wha.....?

 

[BassPlayerGush]

ya gotta give credit to the man that started the entire evolution of the crazy idea of the "electric bass".... leo fender

 

[heath_the_great]

well i would say
flea, les claypool, cliff burton and jason newstead

 

[FiedelP]

The consumer-electronics industry, that finally made the bass audibly. So at least the last world war, 'cause all consumer electronics are just a waste or a side effect of war-technology.
Don't call me a cynic, but I think somehow this is true. In another way you could turn this around and say, when the hifis were prepared to reproduce low frequencies or at least fake low frequencies with psychoacoustics, we were somehow out of the game cause synth-basses and sequencers replaced the bass in most popular music.
Dirk

 

[haplo07]

Originally posted by Brendan
Yup. Leo Fender pretty much got the ball as we know it today rolling.

I agree completely. though, I'm not sure if that was what the originator of the thread had in mind when he asked who contributed more to bass evolution. i think they were looking at bassists more than the electric bass' inventor, but don't you guys find it funny that for all the Leo contributed to the world of music with his guitars and basses that the man was a radio repair man that couldn't play a note on either guitar or bass? that is what i have heard anyway. when he started he probably didn't and learned from there and he pratically invented (not sure if he was the firs, but i know he made one before he started Fender) the lap steel guitar before giving us the instruments we know today. just a lil one to grow on moment. Leo was man that was nothing short of amazing. Here's to you Leo.

 

[haplo07]

Originally posted by FiedelP
The consumer-electronics industry, that finally made the bass audibly. So at least the last world war, 'cause all consumer electronics are just a waste or a side effect of war-technology.
Don't call me a cynic, but I think somehow this is true. In another way you could turn this around and say, when the hifis were prepared to reproduce low frequencies or at least fake low frequencies with psychoacoustics, we were somehow out of the game cause synth-basses and sequencers replaced the bass in most popular music.
Dirk

replaced? ah i wouldn't say so. attemped to replace i would say so. at any rate any "most popular music" i don't consider music anyway, but i do think you have a point on everything else. i mean look at tuperware for example; they started with a form of plastic based on the insalation coating for radars mounted in alied planes during WWII.

 

[haplo07]

I have been reading some more of this thread cause it really interested me. and i am some what shocked no one has said anything about Geddy Lee. at least i haven't seen a mention. he's a great player in his own right and while some may feel he hasn't done anything to inovate he has inspired many to take up bass and he has a tone as well that has inspired many. to say the least he has changed the view of the bass playing singer as some a one note thumping fill in for the bottem end to being a real bassist behind the mike. playing lead guitar while singing is damned hard. impossible for some. i think what Geddy Lee's playing while singing is even harder and he deserves some mention. Rush kicks ass!!! Another mention i want to give is to Chris Squier (do i have that right?) of Yes. what can i say about him that isn't said by saying he's awsome? at least i think so. later ppl. peace.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Any Bassist that has the Heart and courage to be themselves.

 

[FiedelP]

Maybe in Europe the pop-market looks a bit different. But you could just say: Discos have replaced live concerts. And the teeny-stars of today usually don't even pose with gitars or basses anymore.For a lot of people it's no longer cool to pose with a gitar. Even in other music the role of the string-bass has changed being used for another purpose than just adding the low end. (In all the above, the generalization is as wrong as every generalization is). I know that there is a lot of interesting music out there that's still made in the traditional way. But who would have guessed 20 years before, that once you would call this "traditional"?
On the other side since years, every stupid consumer audio seems to have an extra bass knob or two. It's hard to find a walkman or even a 10$ headphone that doesn't say ultra-low bass or something like this. People have subwoofers in their home and you all might know, what kind of sound even the cheap plastic hifis push through the air etc.
Not to mention how Dolby has changed the role of the sound in cinema. What happened that people desire low-frequencies in a way it never happened before. And in a lot of music like Drum&Bass or techno it's nearly beyond good and evil. And in a way this really changed the way, people experience music, it's more and more physical and less spiritual.
Dirk

 

[Listen]

where's tony levin?