Who is Your Favorite

[cannonball-addict]

Thought this would get a lot of people involved. My vote goes to Steve Swallow because I can actually digest what I'm hearing - with Jaco I can't do that. On that note - Jaco comes second and Anthony Jackson is a close third.

I included some mainly acoustic guys who have picked up the electric or fretless electric axe from time to time.

Matt

[connoisseur series500]

I didn't vote because I'm not too fond of electric bass.

I do like electric piano, however. Howzabout starting a poll on electric pianists?

[Bright Moments]

abraham laborial. you have to SEE him, not just hear him!

B-)

[Alon Marcus]

Jaco!

He is the single most important musician who played that instrument. Ron Carter and Holland are personal favorites of mine as musicians, but their playing on the electric bass is not very impressive or important. The truth is, that the upright bass is a different instrument and being a specialist there doesn't automatically make you a good electric bassist. Apart from knowing to walk and improvise you must be familiar with how the instrument sounds and responds. You have to spend a lot of time with the electric bass to really get to know his sound possibilities.

Swallow is a good player. He contributed an approach of playing very smooth sounding and swinging walking lines.

But Jaco, he discovered new possibilities that people didn't know about. His playing is funky and soulful and he also was a hell of a bandleader and composer.

Edited November 27, 2004 by ztrauq22

[mikeweil]

Monk Montgomery as the pioneering player on that instrument should have been in there. He was great and swung the most of 'em all

I always prefer an acoustic, I have to admit.

Italian Dario Deidda has impressed me lately.

James Genus has a great sound on Steve Masakowski's first Blue Note CD. Fuller and warmer than most.

[mikeweil]

I used to really dislike the sound of electric bass. But I was fortunate to play with some great practioners of the instrument on the local scene - they gradually undermined my prejudice by their musicianship.

One thing you cannot get with an electric is that woody, percussive attack. That's why Cuban and salsa bassists prefer the upright baby bass.

Where's Mr. Bassman? I learned a lot from him about these things!

[DrJ]

Well, I voted for Swallow. I've been really appreciating how musical he makes the e-bass sound in listening to Gary Burton's RCA stuff from the later 60s lately, DUSTER, COUNTRY ROADS AND OTHER PLACES, etc. He has a really remarkable dynamic range on the instrument, not just loud and louder. I like the fact that he doesn't try and emulate an acoustic bass either, he has a truly original sound.

Jaco was of course a true pioneer, and at his best nobody could really touch him, but sadly I feel that there is a lot more evidence of his bombastic, show-offy side left to posterity than his musical side.

I know he's not strictly a jazz bassist, but I've also always been very fond of Daryl "The Munch" Jones' playing, he's forceful at times but usually with a purpose, and quite musical.

Finally, what about Bob Cranshaw? I have been appreciating his fine electric bass playing with Mary Lou Williams on some of her Smithsonian-Folkways reissues (e.g. Zoning, Black Christ).

[Joe G]

Steve Swallow is a favorite of mine, and Jaco gets props in any list like this. A few that aren't on up there whom I like are Jeff Berlin, Richard Bona, Kai Eckhardt, and Gary Willis. Christian McBride is much better doing double-duty than Holland or Carter.

[pryan]

Jaco. But I admit I'm not as "in the know" about e-bassists as other instruments.

[kh1958]

I did see Jaco one time, but the best jazz electric bassist I've seen in my opinion is Jamaaladeen Tacuma.

Others I've enjoyed that come to mind are Albert McDowell (with Ornette), Gerald Veasley (with John Blake, McCoy Tyner and with Joe Zawinul), Mark Egan (with the Miles Evans Orchestra), John Lee (with Dizzy and with McCoy Tyner), Bruce Johnson (Ronald Shannon Jackson), Melvin Gibbs (Ronald Shannon Jackson and Oliver Lake), and Richard Bona (Mike Stern). Also, Tyrone Brown (who plays a hybrid) (with Max Roach and Odean Pope).

[cannonball-addict]

I agree Tyrone Brown is a BAD MF.

[Soul Stream]

Bob Cranshaw. Maybe not groundbreaking enough for many, but for my money he swings like few others on the electric bass.

Edited November 28, 2004 by Soul Stream

[brownie]

Donald 'Duck' Dunn!

OK he is not really jazz but I don't think electric bass and jazz mix that well!

And I wish many jazz bands would swing as much as Booker T and the MGs!

[Harold_Z]

Bob Cranshaw does indeed swing...and is also a good example of if the player swings he will swing regardless of whether it's an upright or Electric.

I didn't vote in the poll - there are too many good players to narrow it down to a few - and ultimately I don't really believe in best. Again -too many great players.

Among the missing greats are James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Bob Bushnell, Monk Montgomery, Duck Dunn, Louis Satterfield for starters.

Electric bass is a special case. It's unjustly maligned and currently is very out of fashion in jazz circles. The instrument is suffering for the sins of players who have been thrust on jazz gigs who had no business being there. It's the player - not the ax. You CAN swing on an electric bass.

There is a real dichotomy in electric bass playing. You have two things happening. You get the (old school) guys (like Jamerson, Rainey, Cranshaw) who bring an upright consciousness to the electric. They are primarily interested in being part of the rhythm section and grooving heavily and are not really into soloing and the incredible technique that Jaco brought to the table. The electric bass in these (old school) hands is an alternate to the upright. However - all props to Jaco and guys like Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten. Their phenomenal chops and solo concepts are wonderful and awesome.

I play electric bass professionally and I would put myself in the old school bag. I dig the hell out of Jaco -he was a phenomenon, but if I wanted to be upfront as a soloist I'd pick up a guitar. I like playing time and groovin' behind the soloists or singers. In the meantime - Jaco played his ass off - so I'm not putting it down -I'm just saying that I DO NOT have THAT concept for the instrument - and probably most guys pre Jaco agewise don't. Which is not to say that I can't appreciate that kind of playing - indeed I love it.

Edited November 28, 2004 by Harold_Z

[mikeweil]

Charnett Moffett - another bad mofo.

[cannonball-addict]

So - it's Steve Swallow and Jaco - neck in neck!

[king ubu]

If Melvin Gibbs is mentioned, how about Kim Clarke? She's great!

My personal favourite I suppose is Steve Swallow. Though having Jaco in such a poll makes it hard to choose.

Outside of a strict jazz realm, it would have to be a choice between Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins. Love that old school sound on the old Sly Stone recordings! And love Bootsy's space bass...

[mikeweil]

Among old school soul bassists, I like Jerry Jemmott the best.

[Chuck Nessa]

As an answer to the topical title: The dead guy to your left.