Listen to Robben Ford and the Blue Line, I think Roscoe Beck is one of the best players out there, my personal favorite influence. For cover talent how about Will Lee. He covers everybody else night after night in front of millions plus holds down a respectable Beatles cover band with a Rick. He also backs almost every award show on the tube, very versitle. Fast and technical lacks a certain musical feeling. Listen to Dream Theater's John Myung if you want your money's worth of notes. When he matches runs note for note with Pettruchi, it's almost seamless.
Face it, there's so many talented players out there, it's hard to say who's better at what. Each generation builds on the influence of the past. There's 13 year olds out there right now learning thier chops that have never heard of The Ox, Geddy, McCartney, Sqiure, et al. We players of a certain age can no more relate to what's going on now, than kids can care about what happened 35 years ago.
Epiphany
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
First of all, thanks Bob, that's very interesting. I would say my definition of Rock (assuming I had to define it,which is something I don't really like doing; it's all music to me!)is probably rather broader, but I see where you're coming from. Nice to hear your take on it.
Secondly, Wes, I agree completely. I'd say the majority of my favourite players are 70s guys, but that's because they were there when I first started getting excited about music and they were my inspiration, probably one of the reasons why most of my favourite music is from that period. That's something I'm sure many of us would say, that their favourite music remains the music they listened to when they first really got excited about music. I think the music that really grabs you first is the music that stays with you for life, but I think the trick is not to let that be the only music for you. I hear something new I like pretty much everyday, and I hope that continues to be the case. I always try and remain open; you never know what you might hear that may knock you flat.
When I see some players in their teens today, they're light years ahead of what was about when I started. A while back I watched a local band playing jazz and jazz funk; the bassist was 17, but was incredible. Fantastic tone, tremendous chops, great groove and drive, great note choice, everything. Could improv, solo, the works. And I go in guitars shops sometimes and see kids of 14/15 who are fairly passable on the instrument, which has got to be a good thing. There also seem to be so many kids interested in playing the guitar/bass, which is great.
I think ultimately there's no such thing as who's better at what, other than who's better at being in the band they're in. Imagine Jaco in Motorhead, or Lemmy in Weather Report; John Entwistle in Fleetwood Mac, or John McVie in the Who. I love all those players, but would they cut it in that environment? I don't think so. And ultimately, nobody is better at being you than you are. That's why I love Jaco and John McVie equally, despite them being worlds apart technique-wise.
Secondly, Wes, I agree completely. I'd say the majority of my favourite players are 70s guys, but that's because they were there when I first started getting excited about music and they were my inspiration, probably one of the reasons why most of my favourite music is from that period. That's something I'm sure many of us would say, that their favourite music remains the music they listened to when they first really got excited about music. I think the music that really grabs you first is the music that stays with you for life, but I think the trick is not to let that be the only music for you. I hear something new I like pretty much everyday, and I hope that continues to be the case. I always try and remain open; you never know what you might hear that may knock you flat.
When I see some players in their teens today, they're light years ahead of what was about when I started. A while back I watched a local band playing jazz and jazz funk; the bassist was 17, but was incredible. Fantastic tone, tremendous chops, great groove and drive, great note choice, everything. Could improv, solo, the works. And I go in guitars shops sometimes and see kids of 14/15 who are fairly passable on the instrument, which has got to be a good thing. There also seem to be so many kids interested in playing the guitar/bass, which is great.
I think ultimately there's no such thing as who's better at what, other than who's better at being in the band they're in. Imagine Jaco in Motorhead, or Lemmy in Weather Report; John Entwistle in Fleetwood Mac, or John McVie in the Who. I love all those players, but would they cut it in that environment? I don't think so. And ultimately, nobody is better at being you than you are. That's why I love Jaco and John McVie equally, despite them being worlds apart technique-wise.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
If I had to pick my all time favorite, my opinion of the all time best and most influencial bass player, it would have to be James Jamerson. He was ubiquitous on AM radio when I was a kid and even though Motown was not my natural first choice of music that I loved by a long shot (The Beatles and British invasion were number 1) He was just so damn good I ended up invariably loving that music. He WAS Motown, all those songs are based on the bass. I still kind of marvel at his bass lines and how he transfered his upright style to the electric bass and almost always plucked with one finger which is why it is so hard to try to recreate his lines correctly and make them sound right. I don't consider him to be a rock bass player at all BTW. I agree musicians usually sound best in the element in which they learned and came to prominence in, especially if they were young and stayed with one band their whole lives like Entwistle did. That is why it is almost impossible to replace players like him in bands like The Who. On my level if I quit a band the incoming bass player will influence the band and it will be a different sounding band, with The Who the incoming guy will have to try to recreate Entwistles lines and styles that evolved over 40 years, believe it or not it would probably be easier for people like us who have listened to them and played many styles to do that than someone like Dino Palladino (or whatever his name is, I remember him as the fretless Musicman guy on top 40 hits) who has developed a certain style over a period of years and is known for that style. but bands like that almost always hire well known players that can do the job rather than take chances and look for an unknown who is on fire.
Yeah, James was fantastic, one of THE all-time greats.....
I actually know of one or two enormous Entwistle fans who can do a mean impersonation of him, partly because they're familar with every nuance of his style as it evolved over the years. I think with someone like Pino, they knew he's technically good, very professional, and would be easy to work with. And maybe they didn't want to risk treading on John's memory by having someone too similar....tough call really.
I actually know of one or two enormous Entwistle fans who can do a mean impersonation of him, partly because they're familar with every nuance of his style as it evolved over the years. I think with someone like Pino, they knew he's technically good, very professional, and would be easy to work with. And maybe they didn't want to risk treading on John's memory by having someone too similar....tough call really.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."