You Know, Speaking of "best" Bassist...

[bovinehost]

I just don't believe in this crap. I really don't - it's not like tennis, is it? Where Jeff Berlin takes on the ghost of Jaco Pastorius and the winner has to compete against Rocco?

No. So stop it. I mean, go ahead, I'm not going to delete the thread or anything, but really - what are you thinking? BEST at WHAT? Jazz? Samba? Upright? Extended range? Punk?

So I'll tell you what. There are some guys out there who really float my boat. "Best"? I don't know and I don't care, but something about how or what they play inspires me.

1. Nick Lowe. You are never, ever going to be as cool as Nick Lowe, and neither am I, and he plays bass like a freakin' madman with his hair on fire. I loved Rockpile live. I even like the little bass thingy Nick does on "(I Love The Sound of) Breaking Glass".

2. Kasim Sulton. Started with Todd Rundgren & Utopia when he was like ten years old or something, and man, I was JEALOUS. Then I saw him live, ripping up all this wild techno-rock stuff like mad on an ugly old dog of a P-bass, and I thought, "Yeah, okay, he deserved it more than I did." The guy sings like a bird, too.

3. Bob Nyswonger. Mainstay of the Raisins, then the Psychodots then (Adrian Belew and) the Bears. Yeah, I know him, but I am still in awe of the things he's done while I was at home, wanking away to some Shawn Colvin CD. If you haven't heard any 'Dots and you like rockin' American Smart Pop, go get you some. And the Bears? Get out. Bob's getting it done with plain-jane MIJ Jazz Specials, too - the ultimate non-gear whore. (He liked the Bongo I loaned him, though.)

4. Murray Hammond of the Old 97s. You want rockabilly? You want Texas pop? You want a guy who can really make a crappy bass sound GREAT? Murray rules.

5. Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five. I never imagined I would be a fan of a guy who uses fuzz boxes and a Gibson bass, but his work with Folds was always top notch. Plus, here's what he said about "Brick", which was pretty popular, I guess: "We're capitalists, and we love money. And we want your money. How many people you think are listening right now? I want a dollar from every one of them."

Okay, that's enough for now.

 

[maddog]

I dig people sharing their favorites. Usually, there is one or two bassists I've never heard of and I go check out their stuff. Get to hear some new music and get some new ideas.

With you on the rankings tho'. How about a deathmatch to settle it once and for all.

MD

 

[Freddy-G.]

These are the guys that inspired me to play bass:

Chris Squire (Yes)
Jeffrey Hammond Hammond (Jethro Tull)
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Trevor Bolder (David Bowie)
Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper's bassist for the first 5 or 6 albums)
Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)
Roger Glover (Deep Purple's bassist) (Smoke on the Water, dude!)
Kasim Sulton (I learned the bass to 2 or 3 of those Rundgren albums)
Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever)

I could go on and on.

 

[AnthonyD]

When I saw that resurrected thread my immediate thoughts were “Best bassist? How would I know – could be some yet to be discovered kid in some shed in the back of his house.”

And further to this point, Jack begins this thread with five bassists I’ve never heard of!

For me, the following bassists got me going and helped shape my style of play:

• Gene Simmons – Kiss – The reason I picked-up a bass guitar in 1977 at the age of 12
• Paul McCartney – The Beatles
• Steve Harris – Iron Maiden
• Geddy Lee – Rush
• Jack Bruce – Cream
• Grahm Maby – Joe Jackson

Not necessarily the “best bassists” in the world, but for me, these were guys that helped form my belief that the bass is an equal if not more important component of the group. The bass is an instrument that deserves attention and distinction in the mix and not simply some “follow the kick-drum” background device.

Ever saw the lead-guitarist get people moving on the dance floor!?

Anthony

 

[maddog]

When I saw that resurrected thread my immediate thoughts were “Best bassist? How would I know – could be some yet to be discovered kid in some shed in the back of his house.”

The discussion Napolean Dynamite style:

Maddog: John Smith is pretty much the best bass player ever.
Adelucia: Maddog, like anyone can even know that.
Lord Bovine: You know what, Maddog? You can leave.

Yes, true geekdom at its best

Gosh!
MD

 

[cgworkman]

My answer is always this:

It depends on what mood I'm in when you ask.

 

[TheAntMan]

2 weeks ago my wife and I were in the local Mega Dollar store when I noticed a couple of racks full of CDs. I picked up about 15 of them ($15 for 15 CDs!!!). In the mix was one called "Wood" by Brian Bromberg. All I can say is WOW!!! What a great bassist!!!

I went back and picked up 2 other CDs by him that were in the rack. JACO and Choices. Fantastic stuff. He does everything. Acoustic, Upright, Electric, fingerstyle, bow, slap, you name it.

So, as far as the "best"? There is always something new out there, just don't stop listening

 

[Psychicpet]

Jack, yet again, I bow at your coolness.. frickin' NICK LOWE!!!!!!! that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! (ok, the commas are due to the Sleeman's Honey Brown...great CDN beer btw) anywho, Mr.Hyatt's "Bring the Family".... PERIOD!


oh ya, did you ever get that disc?? any comments? useful?? and.... what beer from the land of proper beer would you like me to bring if this thing does go down in SLO this summer? I know you're the Maestro of Martini , the Viscount of Vodka but man, Canada makes good beer... and Rye, so what'll it be?

 

[JB1]

Well said once again Jack.

There really isn't a best bassist in the world, there never will be.

It's all subjective and we all have our faves/opinions/reasons.

That's what makes things so interesting, no? What would it be like if we all agreed?

Wel, this thread wouldn't be here for a start.......

 

[Psycho Ward]

Hey Jack, speaking of Ben Flods Five, I did a gig last night with Eddie Walker their old drummer. very nice guy and a hell of a drummer. He lives here in GSO.

On bass players I'm a big fan of George Porter Jr.

Psycho

 

[Father Gino]

I have to agree about the relative uselessness of the concept of "best" artists of any sort. Who's better, Jaco or Duck? How can you compare them? They'd both sound pretty odd if they traded bands.

Furthermore, a lot of times, it's not the individual musicians that I'm listenning to, it's the whole band. Bass players are good or bad to me if the band sounds good. They're good because they're playing whatever is needed to make the song cook. Sometimes just playing the root is what's called for and doing otherwise would be bad.

 

[barkatozz]

Furthermore, a lot of times, it's not the individual musicians that I'm listenning to, it's the whole band. Bass players are good or bad to me if the band sounds good. They're good because they're playing whatever is needed to make the song cook. Sometimes just playing the root is what's called for and doing otherwise would be bad.

Well...in that case.....I'm a Kansas(Dave Hope-Billy Greer), Rush(Geddy), Sabbath(Geezer), Ozzy(Bob Daisley) kinda guy.