Victor Wooten
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hieronymous
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I respect Victor is a great player and has awesome technique, but endless soloing and incredible speed isn't what it's all about for me and his choice of musical style isn't my thing either.
There's a DVD out ...bass day '98 and Victor plays some wonderfull stuff on there...his rendition of Norweigan Wood is amazing.
Having said that,the best player for me on that DVD is Francis Rocco Prestia....no self indulgent soloing and endless tapping tequniques, but some good old fashioned groove holding down the bottom end.
Victor is a great player no doubt but as we all know you don't have to be a teqhnique wizard to be a great player.
There's a DVD out ...bass day '98 and Victor plays some wonderfull stuff on there...his rendition of Norweigan Wood is amazing.
Having said that,the best player for me on that DVD is Francis Rocco Prestia....no self indulgent soloing and endless tapping tequniques, but some good old fashioned groove holding down the bottom end.
Victor is a great player no doubt but as we all know you don't have to be a teqhnique wizard to be a great player.
I agree Martin. Even though I love an individualist, less is more sometimes and just how that bass fits in the whole package is what really makes it for me.
I wish there were more people out there that excited me today. I look at new contemporary guys and it's hard to get excited.
I love to see great players live, but personally, with Jamerson, Jaco and John gone, will never see the people again who I regard as true innovators, and that's sad...
I wish there were more people out there that excited me today. I look at new contemporary guys and it's hard to get excited.
I love to see great players live, but personally, with Jamerson, Jaco and John gone, will never see the people again who I regard as true innovators, and that's sad...
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david_schwab
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Victor is a great player, but except for the Flectones, I never got into him much. I like slapping, but I'm not into "gimicky" things like tapping.
Lately my favorite virtuoso bass player is Jeff Berlin. He does a solo bass (with drums) rendition of Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" which is just amazing. I thought it would have been cheesy, but it's not. Amazing tone also.
He sounds like several basses at once! And no tapping!
Lately my favorite virtuoso bass player is Jeff Berlin. He does a solo bass (with drums) rendition of Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" which is just amazing. I thought it would have been cheesy, but it's not. Amazing tone also.
He sounds like several basses at once! And no tapping!
I have to agree that it's how the bass fits into the whole package, although that can be as true of a soloist like Stanley Clarke as a more supportive (?) player like a Jamerson. One of my all time favourite albums is Stanley Clarke's brown album, which is still very much a solo bass album. I think the bassists I admire are all, with the possible exception of John McVie of Fleetwood Mac and Family Man, very aggressive, upfront and yes, busy. That's what usually draws me in. Squire, Lee, Entwistle, Clarke, King, Foxton, Burnel, Lemmy etc. And Leroy Gorman of Bow Wow Wow...
I think one of the main things though is that innovators like Jaco, Entwistle, Jamerson et al were generally "born" in periods of great musical change and at the start of new musical directions (and obviously contributed to their evolution). I think there are still innovators out there, but they tend to be creating in less mainstream musical areas. Take someone like Les Claypool; although hardly "new", he's as innovative a player as I've ever seen. The problem with Les for many people is they don't like his style of playing or his music, but that has no bearing at all on whether or not he's a true original, which I believe he is. Also you have people like Squarepusher, who are pushing bass boundaries but in a form of dance music which is not heard by too many. I'm sure there will be more innovative players; the current intense cross pollination of styles is bound to throw up a gem here and there, although whether the state of the music industry ever enables us to see them is another matter. I tend to be more amazed by local players I see, some of whom are extremely original but will never make it and so be seen by a wider audience. That is truly sad....
Oh, and back to a previous name I mentioned, I have yet to hear anyone else who sounds even vaguely like Leroy Gorman, and yet he is it completely unheralded and indeed largely unheard of. One of my all time favourites though.
I think one of the main things though is that innovators like Jaco, Entwistle, Jamerson et al were generally "born" in periods of great musical change and at the start of new musical directions (and obviously contributed to their evolution). I think there are still innovators out there, but they tend to be creating in less mainstream musical areas. Take someone like Les Claypool; although hardly "new", he's as innovative a player as I've ever seen. The problem with Les for many people is they don't like his style of playing or his music, but that has no bearing at all on whether or not he's a true original, which I believe he is. Also you have people like Squarepusher, who are pushing bass boundaries but in a form of dance music which is not heard by too many. I'm sure there will be more innovative players; the current intense cross pollination of styles is bound to throw up a gem here and there, although whether the state of the music industry ever enables us to see them is another matter. I tend to be more amazed by local players I see, some of whom are extremely original but will never make it and so be seen by a wider audience. That is truly sad....
Oh, and back to a previous name I mentioned, I have yet to hear anyone else who sounds even vaguely like Leroy Gorman, and yet he is it completely unheralded and indeed largely unheard of. One of my all time favourites though.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
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david_schwab
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Hey Shaun, I'm another Gorman fan! And of course that is *the* classic Clarke album.
I have to agree with your post. I think in my time at least, bass players who played Ricks were into that busy, upfront style of playing. I know I was, and still am.
Ricks w/Rotosounds had a more modern sound at the time, and were anything but traditional. I grew up with Motown, and I love Jamerson and his tone, but I wanted something different... and still do. The first time I heard Stanley was one of those moments of thinking "wow, listen to the sound of that bass!" ... and of course hearing Squire for the first time was like that too.
Another favorite and fairly unknown bassist is Mick Karn. And I still listen to Gentle Giant at least twice a week.
I have to agree with your post. I think in my time at least, bass players who played Ricks were into that busy, upfront style of playing. I know I was, and still am.
Ricks w/Rotosounds had a more modern sound at the time, and were anything but traditional. I grew up with Motown, and I love Jamerson and his tone, but I wanted something different... and still do. The first time I heard Stanley was one of those moments of thinking "wow, listen to the sound of that bass!" ... and of course hearing Squire for the first time was like that too.
Another favorite and fairly unknown bassist is Mick Karn. And I still listen to Gentle Giant at least twice a week.
David, I have to agree with you about Mick Karn; a truly unique voice and marvelous player. And I'm extremely pleased to hear that you've not only heard of Leroy but are a fan..I thought I was the only one!
Yep, *the* Clarke album, for me at least; there's some fabulous music on there as well as some fabulous playing. The first time I heard that album I was speechless; it didn't leave my turntable (remember those?
) for some time. I suspect that many players were drawn to Rickenbackers, certainly from the 70s onwards, for the aggressive, up front sound exhibited on so many records; from bands like Yes, Purple and Rennaissance, to bands like the Damned, the Jam and Motorhead, although as evidenced by many Forumites there are those who follow a more McCartney/Jamerson-esque vein too.
As for Gentle Giant, I haven't heard them in ages.....possibly a few CDs for the Christmas list there!
Yep, *the* Clarke album, for me at least; there's some fabulous music on there as well as some fabulous playing. The first time I heard that album I was speechless; it didn't leave my turntable (remember those?
) for some time. I suspect that many players were drawn to Rickenbackers, certainly from the 70s onwards, for the aggressive, up front sound exhibited on so many records; from bands like Yes, Purple and Rennaissance, to bands like the Damned, the Jam and Motorhead, although as evidenced by many Forumites there are those who follow a more McCartney/Jamerson-esque vein too. As for Gentle Giant, I haven't heard them in ages.....possibly a few CDs for the Christmas list there!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
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david_schwab
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Bow Wow Wow was always one of my favorite bands. Not taking anything away from Flea, but Leigh Gorman was really the first using that kind of slapping in a rock sense. They've been playing around lately... too bad Matthew Ashman passed away in '95.
Then and now:
Leigh and Annabella Lwin
Oh and the Jam.. now there's a classic Rick sound if I ever heard one! (now I have Pretty Green stuck in my head!)
Then and now:
Leigh and Annabella Lwin
Oh and the Jam.. now there's a classic Rick sound if I ever heard one! (now I have Pretty Green stuck in my head!)
David, couldn't agree more re the Flea thing, and I'm not taking anything away from him either (I love RHCP). But if you listen to Throw Away Your Television on the last album that could be Bow Wow Wow. Also I know John Frusciante is a big Matthew Ashman fan (that being the reason why he bought his Gretsch White Falcon). I saw BWW in around 82, shortly before they split up, and at the time I expected them to be poor live, but they were fantastic. Nice to hear someone else likes 'em too!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
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david_schwab
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sabbath_of_bass
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I love RHCP. Flea is great. Have any of you ever heard Philosopher kings? They are a canadian band.. GREAT BASSIST. I love him. I love the whole band. I heard one cd and I swear i listened to it every day for like 3+ months. They are just awesome. He can be one of those less is more players. Alot of feel and suchi n the song. Good timing. He also does a mixture of playing. Some of the songs even have a stand up in them. I just thought it was awesome.