Best Living Jazz Bassist
Arnie Williams -- Wed, 08/02/2006 - 09:43
I was at Book People in Austin several weeks ago and the wife of the late Charles Mingus was in the store giving a reading of her latest book on life with the great bass performer/composer.
Having taken an interest in electric bass myself of late, I've been wondering who some of the current greats are.
On my commute to work and back I've been listening to Marcus Miller's Silver Rain, and I'd have to say that it's incredible. Is Miller the current-day Jaco Pastorius?
I also picked up Kyle Eastwood's Paris Blue, on which he plays both stand-up bass and electric bass (fretted and fretless, if my ears don't deceive me). The album is hauntingly beautiful. His famous actor father contributes his "whistling" to one tune, and his precocious 12-year-old daughter contributes a piano composition intro to another. But Kyle himself has a thorough command of the bass "cool" jazz idiom.
Who do you consider key bass players out there today and what are some of the recordings you'd recommend?
--Arnie Williams, Managing Ed., TPV
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I would never assign the term "best" to anyone living or dead; no matter what one's musical expertise, it assumes you've heard everything, and most haven't. Moreover, it washes over the distinctiveness that makes the great individuals unique.
That said, I'm not particularly struck by Marcus Miller, but I do think the following jazz bassists--all living--are quite exceptional.
William Parker
Dave Holland
Gary Peacock
Charlie Haden
Martin Altena
Eddie Gomez
Cecil McBee
Tatsu Aoki
Peter Kowald
Kent Kessler
Many of these artists have been covered in the TAS Music section in some way or another over the past several years.
Bob Gendron
Music Editor, TAS and Playback
I second Eddie Gomez.
As far as "the new Jaco", you might have a listen to Richard Bona.
And on the big ol' acoustic bass Marc Johnson is pretty great as well. I haven't picked up his latest yet - "Shades of Jade" - but it's on my shopping list. He did a couple records in the mid 80's that I like a lot - "Bass Desires" and "Second Sight" - both with John Scofield, Bill Frissel, and Peter Erskine. I think they're both still available on ECM. Great stuff.....
Gents-
To BG's list I'd presume to add Christian McBride. "Gettin' To It" is a favorite album and for the audiophiles reading it includes a final track bass solo that is great for showing off a fine hifi. "Fingerpaintin'" and "Sci-Fi" are two others I'd recommend with the caveat the musical territory expands considerably between the three.
He's played on many excellent albums by other artists in the last decade plus, and his credits include work with many of the best young lions. I see he's on a new Chesky album with the great Jimmy Cobb and Cedar Walton where he revisits his straight-ahead jazz roots. As a traditionalist, I'm hoping this signals a return to the lineage of Mingus and Brown. His amazing tone and rhythmic sense are what immediately stand out about his playing and I'll bet Chesky does great service to it on record.
smiles,
Scott
well for electric bass which i think you have more of an interest in...
jazz
Jaco Pastorius: the greatest of all
Stanley Clarke: i actually prefer his acoustic bass playing
Victor Wooten: technically there may be no comparison
Marcus Miller: the meaty tone is his calling card
Gary Willis: check out his solo and work with Vital Tech Tones: not as great as above but XXXX good
Brian Bromberg: Can play anything but sometimes he doesn;t really have much to say musically: but technique is amazing
rock/pop
Les Claypool: u really need to check him out, both music and bass playing are out of this world!
Flea: yes from the red hot chilli peppers...dont let the antics get in the way and listen closely to what is doing
I agree with the comment that "best" is not appropriate in this context; it's not a 100-m dash with a clear winner !
The recommendations in the thread are a mix of electric and acoustic basist (with some doing both), but tend to veer towards the recent (Mingus excluded and he was in a category by himself, whether as a bassist or as a composer).
Some of the bass players I would add to the ones already recommended are Anthony Jackson, Jeff Berlin, Steve Swallow, Roy Babbington, Richard Bona, Percy Jones, Dominique DaPiazza, Mo Foster, Dave Holland, Avishai Cohen, John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, Ron Mathewson, NHOP, Charnet Moffet, Jack Bruce, Jonas Hellborg, Rob Wasserman. Some of these are better known for their double bass work, but they've all played electric (at least a little for some).
Some of the new young ones that have impressed me are Esperanza Spalding (though I can't remember if she plays electric) and Tal Walkenfeld who hails from Australia.
I'm definitely missing lots more, but these come to mind right now. I've stayed clear from many of the worthy names associated with bebop, swing, hard bop or some of the experimental 60s.
Finally, re Marc Johnson, he is currently touring and recording with Brazilian pianist (and occasional singer) Eliane Elias. I believe they are parthers if not married. Did a recent Bill Evans album - highly recommended.
Enjoy!
We should probably add Marc Egan to the list. Great player....
and Tony Grey - bass player with Hiromi. Phenomenal!
.. and I forgot Christian McBride. He was on top form last night with the Corea/McLaughlin Five Peace Band :)
I would add Hans Glaswischnig, who has recorded with Miguel Zenon among others, and Bob Cranshaw, Sonny Rollins' bassist of choice for many years.
I've listened to and enjoyed many of the bassists listed above, but four more I'd like to add to the list--in the spirit of bringing some very distinctive favors to the mix--are Tony Levin, Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Michael Manring, and Eberhard Weber. Some albums to use for "bass tasting" (not an exhaustive list, just some personal favorites):
Tony Levin *
--King Crimson, Discipline
--Peter Gabriel, Secret World Live
* One interesting twist is that Levin not only plays conventional electric basses, but also the highly touch-sensitive Chapman Stick, which offers a whole new gamut of bass textures and timbres to savor.
Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez
--Buena Vista Social Club's eponymous album
--Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez's debut solo album, Cachaito
Michael Manring
--Michael Manring, Toward the Center of the Night
--Michael Manring, Drastic Measures
Eberhard Weber
--Eberhard Weber, Colors of Chloe
--Ralph Towner, Solstice
With all four of these bassists, there's more to the game than raw chops (though Manring is capable of fretless pyrotechnics few others could even begin to approach). These players are masters of feel, flow, textures, timing and (in some cases, at least) inventive and unstoppable grooves.
Chris Martens, Editor, Playback
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Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
No Ron Carter?
Well the focus was on electric bass ... Ron Carter would definitely qualify in the acoustic category.