Gadd is kind of a wierdo. He doesn't do many interviews and is notoriously surly. Not a shock that he wasn't on there. I saw a Paul Simon concert recently on PBS and he was playing drums. Man, his African stuff was really crazy.
From what I've heard he never has really been that social. Gadd and Simon are responsible for two of the greatest grooves of all time. "Late In The Evening" and (obviously) "50 Ways..". The guy can do it all.
I have a friend with a Gadd instructional video that he insisted on showing me, and Gadd was giving the narrator the sort of evil eye that David Aldridge used to save for Mark Jones. Great stuff. Purdie is in rare form on the DVD, Cosby sweater and all. He explains the history behind his "Purdie Shuffle" on "Home at Last." A must see, surprising afterparty fodder for the black pants set.
I have to agree with a couple Jeff put up: Jaco and Geddy. What sticks out in my mind was Jaco with Al DiMeola, and Geddy on Hold Your Fire as well.
I don't recall a record where Jaco and DiMeola played together. Jaco got his start with Weather Report and played some with Joni Mitchell. DiMeola mostly used Anthony Jackson and, of course, he worked with Stanley Clarke (another MONSTER) in Return to Forever with Chick Corea and Lenny White. But, you are right. He was great. Another couple honorable mentions though they aren't exactly influences: Stanley Clarke - School Days, oh, mamma! Jeff Berlin - a real ******* as a person, but a great player Nathan East - his work with Clapton and Fourplay as well is great Victor Bailey - another obscure guy who is a terrific funk player Neil Jason - his playing on the Brecker Brothers' "Heavy Metal BeBop" record (with Terry Bozzio on drums) is 'nuff said Will Lee - not only great for his long-running stint on David Letterman but also because of his many sessions both as a bassist and baritone singer - the consumate professions (little known fact - he was born in Huntsville, TX and raised in San Antonio before moving with his parents who are both music professors to Florida) Marcus Miller - another funk/fusion God Doug Wimbush - crazy bass funk innovator Another influence I negleted to mention was Andy Taylor from Duran Duran and Power Station. The bassline on Rio is ridiculous. By the way, for a TREMENDOUS list of essential bassists of all time, check the link below: <a href="http://www.bassplayer.com/z2000/0001/cent1.shtml">A Century of Bassists from Bass Player Magazine</a> Pretty much the definitive reference.
A few people have mentioned Flea. Personally, I found him to be overrated as a player. His only real innovation was playing funk that guys like Louis Johnson, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham and Marcus Miller invented in songs that were mostly alternative and, at times, bordering on punk. His innovation was doing what others had done just in a style where it hadn't really been done yet, but, as a player, he really wasn't that incredible. Not to knock the guy. He has skills, but it was mainly the popularity of the Chili Peppers and the infamy of their performances that brought him notoriety. As a player, there are plenty of guys who play like him and do it better.
I dunno, while I love Jaco every time I listen to 'Kuru Speak Like A Child' off that album I get this big 'Starskey and Hutch' or 'Charlies Angels' car-chase vibe. The whole album is a little too very firmly rooted in the 70's. Also, I don't really see how anybody can consider 'wanky Bass solos' to be a good thing in anything but a Jazz environment. I remember somewhere, hearing that the drummer for some band or other responded to an add that read as follows: ''Wanted Drummer; no junior Ginger Bakers,' I think that the same thing applies to the Bass. It's really difficult to rank good Rock bass players and drummers without really working at it because the only time you notice them too much, they're making a fool of themseves. As an example, listen to Cindy Blackman's somehwat low-key work with Lenny Kravitz, and then go out and listen to some of her solo Jazz work. Listening to the rock stuff you'd never know how good she is cause the good taste not to try and be center stage. I look at the old-school Rock/Pop bass players and most of them branch out and start playing other things, like pianos and guitars. Paul McCartney's best solo work involves him on piano (i.e. Maybe I'm Amazed). The genus bassist of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, didn't even play bass on Pet Sounds! It was Karol Kaye and Glen Campbell and some others. Also, one name I haven't seen mentioned so far is: Bootsy Collins, though I guess he's kinda famous more just because he's a freak. But the man's got some funk. I'll never get tired of him with his 'Watch Out' line in the 'Groove is in the Heart' video for Deee-Lite. I feel the need to go to rehab after watching that video. Oh um, I also really like John Cale work with the Velvet Underground, though half of his 'bass' work was really playing a viola. But he was really good as using tritones and lots of general dissonance to create a unique sound for the time period. Oooh. I also really enjoy listening to Jack Cassady's counterpoint to Jorma Jaukonen's accoustic Hot Tuna stuff. Also, If I ever star in my own p*rn movie, it will be choreographed to Paul Jackson's work on Chamelion from Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters.
Cliff Burton His bass solos are still some of my favorites. I can now only wonder what he would have done if his life had not been tragically cut short. Also, you can't go wrong with Les Claypool (who, ironically, tried out for the open bass position after Cliff died). Les does some things on the bass that make me do a double take. By the way, Jeff, I think I was at that G3 concert you were referring to in which Hamm played with Satriani, Vai, and Eric Johnson. Being that it was G3, which didn't include Hamm, I thought it was odd that he got a bass solo. After the solo, I no longer thought it was odd. I found it very hard to believe that the man was doing everything he was doing with only two hands, but he was, and it blew my mind. The finger tapping thing is so impossible to even attempt, I worry that I might get arthritis before I turn 30 just from trying.
I mentioned Bootsy earlier, although I like his solo and PFunk work better, his real influence comes from those James Brown records he played on. I did call Jack Cassady "Paul," whoops. Either way, the man is great. I saw Hot Tuna in a bar a month ago, Jack played an ancient Gibson bass while Jorma was rocking the acoustic. One of the finest shows I've ever seen. And I got in free!
NOBODY likes King, from Level 42!?!? That was some serious playing, especially as he sung lead at the same time... Oh, yeah, who played Bass for Stevie Wonder, back in the days of 'Superstitous'? Some fantastic playing on that album, In my opinion... Also, my single favorite bass line is probably from the Stones' Under My Thumb...clean...
OK, this guy may not be easily comporable to anybody else mentioned here because he plays in what is considered a synth-pop/dance band, but I think <b>Peter Hook</b> of New Order is pretty amazing. In can't think of another band that uses the bass guitar the way they do. A lot of their songs will have a synth bass line with Hook playing the melody over it on electric bass. Do yourself a favor and check out the two-minute solo at the end the Substance version of "Perfect Kiss".
Probably Stevie Wonder himself. He's an amazing multi-instrumentalist (way, way better than Kravitz). Also, bass players should check out the keyboard bass lines that Wonder plays - great stuff. Jeff, I agree that active electronics aren't always so sterile sounding (I think Bartolinis and MEC pickups are pretty good sounding actually) but I've always hated the sound of EMGs in particular. Too clicky for my tastes. I know Victor Wooten records direct most of the time, and I think his tone would improve significantly if he used an amp. But of course he's going for clarity so the more he warms up his sound, the harder it will be to hear what he's doing. BTW, why hasn't anyone named Danny Partridge?
I bought a CD a few months ago that bass fans might want to check out: Gov't Mule: Off the Deep End vol.1 The story: Gov't Mule's bass player, Allen Woody, died in August of 2000. As a sort of tribute, the most recent CD (Deep End vol. 1) features some of the band's favorite bass players, each appearing on a different track: Fools Moon - Jack Bruce Life on the Outside - Larry Graham On the Banks of the Deep End - Mike Gordon Down + Out in NYC - Flea Effigy - Mike Watt Maybe I'm a Leo - Roger Glover Same Price - John Entwistle Soulshine - Willy Weeks Sco Mule - Chris Wood Worried Down with the Blues - Oteil Burbridge Beautifully Broken - Stefan Lessard Tear me Down - Bootsy Collins Sin is a Good Man's Brother - Allen Woody http://www.mule.net Truthfully, I don't know much about each of the players on there other than Flea, Bootsy, Stefan and Allen, but I do know that it's a neat CD . . .
<b>Also, I don't really see how anybody can consider 'wanky Bass solos' to be a good thing in anything but a Jazz environment... It's really difficult to rank good Rock bass players and drummers without really working at it because the only time you notice them too much, they're making a fool of themseves.</b> Really, there aren't many bass solos in rock or r&b. That is reserved mostly for jazz and fusion. They are just different styles with different needs. Generally, the best rock players are guys who know how to find a groove and still be creative. <b>By the way, Jeff, I think I was at that G3 concert you were referring to in which Hamm played with Satriani, Vai, and Eric Johnson.</b> No, I mean on records. He played on Satriani's "Flying in a Blue Dream" and Vai's "Passion & Warfare" and "Flex-able." He also toured with both of them at different times as their bassist. But, I agree he is pretty incredible. <b>Oh, yeah, who played Bass for Stevie Wonder, back in the days of 'Superstitous'?</b> That was Nathan Watts. He was also the long-time musical director for Stevie, a role that many bassists end up playing for solo artists. Watts was a very smooth player who took his cue from guys like James Jamerson who did most of the Wonder sessions when he was "Little" Stevie Wonder. By the way, I said "Andy Taylor" from Duran Duran when I meant "John". Oops. Andy was the guitarist. Too many damn Taylors in the same band (Roger Taylor - drummer) and none of them related.
Shhhhh.....Not so loud!! You mean to tell me that a dance/new wave band would have a great bass player?? I can't f*cking believe it! (For the record I'm being sarcastic - just still in amazement about....oh, forget it). You are absolutely right. I had forgotten about Hook. I had wanted to respond in this thread a lot earlier, but I hate to admit it...I don't know bass players that well compared to other musicians. Perfect Kiss may be my most favorite song by New Order although Blue Monday and True Faith give it a run for its money as does 1963. The whole "Technique" album is good as well...well, hell all the stuff by New Order is good, but that's just my opinion. Nobody else really jumps out at me that hasn't been mentioned already. However, I would like to mention Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots. Great bass work on their debut, "Core", an essential grunge CD.
