• From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Re: bass players

I recently picked up a copy of Grand Funk's 3-CD set Thirty Years of Funk: 1969-1999 and it rekindled my love affair with Grand Funk in general and Mel Schacher's bass playing in particular. It was Mel's bass playing that inspired me to pick up the bass in the first place. There are more technically skilled and/or innovative players (ie: Jaco) that I respect and appreciate, but a lot of that stuff leaves me cold. I like bass that creates a mood within the music that is consistent with the song itself. I like a bassist who can push, pull or drag a song when necessary, and not always ride the pocket - but that when it is poket time, fill it right up the the top.

To me bass is an emotional and passionate instrument who's role in music is greatly underappreciated and misunderstood. Mel's playing - especially when GFR was a 3 piece pre-Craig Frost, is amazing. His interpretation of his instrument's role within the band and how he really carried a lot of underlying melodies is truly exceptional. Another favorite of mine is Geezer Butler. Some of the other greats have already been mentioned here such as Ox and Allan Woody. Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee and John Paul Jones are/were three more tremendous talents on bass. Leon Wilkerson was an underrated great bass player, and Paul McCartney was/is one of the most melodic bassists you will ever hear. Lastly, when it comes to talent and ability, I do believe Eric Czar is more than worthy of being included in this list.

  • geob
  • geob
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  • From: Eugene Oregon
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 109

Re: bass players

Stu, have you checked out the bass player in the band Dicky Betts And Great Southern? I have seen alot of music and this guy is at the top and no one knows it.....  Pedro Arevalo may be the best bass player next to eric Czar.........

  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: bass players

Have to love John Paul Jones...today is Jack Bruce's birthday and Paul McCartney is the master of melody. Even though Paul was quite popular as a Beatle and a songwriter, I don't read a lot of hype about his bass playing.  He has a new album coming out next month.  Eric Czar is a huge talent!

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  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: bass players

geob, I like Pedro....What about Duck Dunn..he was fun to watch and the guy from the Stray Cats..He would play standup that kicked butt!!!!!

  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Re: bass players

geob wrote:

Stu, have you checked out the bass player in the band Dicky Betts And Great Southern? I have seen alot of music and this guy is at the top and no one knows it.....  Pedro Arevalo may be the best bass player next to eric Czar.........

Thanks George. I'll have to check him out more. He played with Devon Allman's Honeytribe as well.

  • Registered: 2006-09-21
  • Posts: 17

Re: bass players

bogie wrote:

Glenn Hughes, period. For those of you who don't know who he is, he replaced Roger Glover in Deep Purple in 1974. The albums Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste the Band are all fine examples of his work. If you want what I consider to be the Rock album of the year for 2006, get his latest Music For The Devine. For me, he is the guy in that genre.
In the R&B(Motown Old School) genre, I would call out the late James Jamerson.
In Jazz I would go with Ray Brown.
In Blues Tommy Shannon is hard to beat.
Believe me, the list goes on and on in each of these, but these are the guys that come to mind right now. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the upcoming tour.
By the way, Mark Epstein is a great player and I very much enjoyed playing with him. Carmine Rojas is amazing and really pushes me as a player, I am interested to see what his influence does to me and to Joe as well. Take Care,

Bogie

Hey! What about me?! big_smile

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: bass players

Hey Geob,

Look at message nr. 9 above. Pedro was already mentioned before. Read your post my friend!!

We in Holland know a lot about music too.

Just kidding!!

Andre Wittebroek.

  • Registered: 2007-02-17
  • Posts: 94

Re: bass players

In addition to Pedro, also check out George Potsos. He's actually the bass player for Honeytribe. When Pedro plays, it's slide guitar. George is about like a performance artist playing the bass. He is pretty awesome!

Just helping to spread the word about going to see GOOD bands and GOOD live music as often as possible!!!

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  • Registered: 2006-07-11
  • Posts: 1,247

Re: bass players

This isn't a new guy like the post asked for but I have to put another one of my all-time favorites,  Bob Daisley.  You can still check out some of his stuff if you haven't already.  He's wicked.

"Holy Toledo"  -  Bill King   "Just Win Baby" - Al Davis  "The Autumn Wind" - Steve Sabol
  • From: Frederick County, MD
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 857

Re: bass players

Jane:  I'm not much of a fan of Widespread Panic (though I love Jimmy Herring who recently  started playing guitar for them) but I've heard/seen a bit of the stuff Schools did with the "Deep End" projects with Gov't Mule (after their original bassist passed) and he is definitely pretty good.  Check out the 2-CD/1 DVD "Deepest End"...it's definitely some of the coolest jamming with some of the best players in the business.

Keep on rockin' the blues...

CarljMD

Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues
  • Tara
  • Tara
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  • From: Boston
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 163

Re: bass players

Tommy Shannon

Billy Sheehan

Jason Newsted

Got to give kudos to Biscuit Miller.

Aram Bedrosian, solo bassist opened for Joe at the Higher Ground show, was pretty good.

WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE~~~JIMI HENDRIX

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  • Issy
  • Issy
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  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2006-04-25
  • Posts: 337

Re: bass players

do you know t.m. stevens ?

it's very entertaining when he's on stage and cool music
a mix of funk and metal big_smile

http://www.myspace.com/tmstevens


issy : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3TTKfPzkN0  BCC - Song of yesterday live !

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  • Jess
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  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 312

Re: bass players

I think we have to add Tal Wilkenfeld to this list, she tore it up at Crossroads.

-Jess
Check out my band Beth and The Black Cat Bones http://www.myspace.com/bethandtheblackcatbones
Also my own page for my guitar playing http://www.myspace.com/jesszub
  • Registered: 2006-06-16
  • Posts: 465

Re: bass players

Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band is the BEST young electric bassist alive, hands down.  his mastery of the instrument is astonishing.  Check him out with the Allmans or his own band Oteil and The Peacemakers, The Aquarium Rescue Unit and supergroup Frogwings (with John Popper, Derek Trucks and more).  I reccomend Oteil & The Peacemaker's record "The Family Secret" , the ARU's record "In A Perfect World" and the only record by Frogwings called "croakin' at toad's".   He can not only slap, tap, and shred on the bass, he can groove!

ps.  the bassist for Robert Randolph is Danyel Morgan, not Marcus Randolph as listed above (Marcus is the drummer, though both are cousins of Robert).

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  • Dino
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  • Registered: 2006-05-28
  • Posts: 373

Re: bass players

Johnny B Gayden.  If you have Blind Pig record from the first 15 years, you have Johnny.

And

Melvin Gibbs

  • From: Charlotte
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 2,350

Re: bass players

Vette335 wrote:

Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band is the BEST young electric bassist alive, hands down.  his mastery of the instrument is astonishing.  Check him out with the Allmans or his own band Oteil and The Peacemakers, The Aquarium Rescue Unit and supergroup Frogwings (with John Popper, Derek Trucks and more).  I reccomend Oteil & The Peacemaker's record "The Family Secret" , the ARU's record "In A Perfect World" and the only record by Frogwings called "croakin' at toad's".   He can not only slap, tap, and shred on the bass, he can groove!

ps.  the bassist for Robert Randolph is Danyel Morgan, not Marcus Randolph as listed above (Marcus is the drummer, though both are cousins of Robert).

Just saw the ABB this past Friday and Oteil can indeed play.  Like Berry of old he doesn't just have fillin sound but really plays like a lead.  He is also a good drummer!

Music is good for the Soul...
  • Registered: 2007-02-17
  • Posts: 94

Re: bass players

I don't see Tony Levin listed on here. Gosh, we've seen him with Yes (or rather, Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe), with Todd Rundgren, and at least two other times, I'm forgetting which bands. I think he's back on tour with Peter Gabriel right now. He's pretty awesome.

Any unknown, who hopefully will become known in the future, is a guy named Justin Powell. He was playing with Tony Tyler Trance and just left to form Fly Brothers. They are just getting started, very young, but he's an incredible bass player.

Saw Oteil a couple of weeks ago. He's great in ABB, but you've got to see the Peacemakers. With only 3 people, sometimes a fourth, he really stands out there!

Just helping to spread the word about going to see GOOD bands and GOOD live music as often as possible!!!

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: bass players

Victor Wooten is huge

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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