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Who's Your Favorite Bass Players; Why?

I like Paul Chambers for his groove and arco. Sam Jones for his Time. Rufus Reid becaues he taught me. Jaco because of the absolute passion. Christian McBride because he's the MAN righ now--and he's the director of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific, which is my Alma Mater; Ron Carter because of everything he's recorded; George Maraz because of his soul; Richard Davis because of his intensiity; Reggie Workman due to his authenticity; Lonnie Plaxico because of his work with he Jazz Messengers; Scott LaFaro--BECAUSE HE'S THE BEST! (Eddie Gomez and Chuck Isreal are cool, too!). Who're you 'un?
crazy4blues
henryhk
648 posts
 
good call on Bootsy!, funky bass...especially during his James Brown days
dawgbyte's avatar
dawgbyte
290 posts
 
JAMES JAMERSON - backbone of the Motown sound and one of the original Funk Bros. He taught Jaco how to play, so that ought to tell something about Jamerson. He played electric bass with only his index finger, and called it his "hook". I've never seen anyone play like Jamerson... a true PIONEER.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
3,718 posts
 
Jack Bruce.
Went through all the posts...maybe 2 or 3 votes for Jack Bruce. Add mine to that sadly paltry number.
Amazing interplay with Ginger on live cuts as on Cream's "Goodbye" and "Wheels of Fire". Melodic, rhythmic, imaginative. Not to take anything away from Eric but to my mind they elevated him to another level. Without them, nothing he has done (with maybe the exception of his work on Derek and the Domino's comes close). After Jack remember Felix Pappalardi. Oh, and by the way how 'bout other bass players that can really sing...add Greg Lake. Independent of vocals, add Chris Squire and John Entwistle. Not to say the many others mentioned aren't superb musicians. Just talking personal favorites.
soundgasm
152 posts
 
tony levin
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath only mentioned once?
Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine not mentioned at all?

Both of these guys lay down the foundation of their bands. They're a bit like rhythm guitar players.

Rob Trujillo (current Metallica bassist) hasn't been mentioned either.

Others that have been mentioned -
Cliff Burton (hands down favorite) - YouTube "Cliff Burton For Whom the Bell Tolls" to see and hear this guy play. Everyone I showed it to couldn't believe what they saw.

Les Claypool - YouTube "Les Claypool Master of Puppetts"
Flea
John Paul Jones

Another not yet mentioned - Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead
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