JSngry Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Wilbur Ware, made readable for your listening pleasure! Quote
HutchFan Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) I've been working on a 1970s jazz project lately, immersed in music from that decade. So I'll focus on some of my all-time faves who were active during that time: George Mraz I love his incredibly fluid, singing (!) bass lines. His work with pianists Richie Beirach, Roland Hanna, and Tommy Flanagan is particularly special -- but his presence on any session guarantees a high degree of musicality. Samples: Listen to his playing on Beirach's Elm (ECM) or Hanna's Sir Elf Plus 1 (Choice). (Mraz is the "plus 1".) Buster Williams Such a big, juicy, elastic (but not rubbery) sound! Another guy that makes me want to hear any record as long as he's playing on it. For example, listen to Timeless Heart by the Timeless All Stars on -- you guessed it -- Timeless Records. The interplay between Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, and Buster is friggin' sublime. Buster's record Griot Liberté (HighNote) is top-shelf too. And he's more than just a great bass player. His compositions are fantastic too. Cecil McBee I dig Cecil's toughness and propulsiveness. He can play pretty, but he seems to be at his very best when he's tearing it up. I've been listening to Roy Brook's The Free Slave (Muse/32 Jazz) a lot lately, and his playing lifts the music so much! Another favorite record with Cecil is Larry Willis' Steal Away (Audioquest). It's a drummer-less record that features Willis, McBee, and Gary Bartz. It's a really special, BLUESY record. And they play McBee's great tune "'D' Bass-IC Blues"! Sam Jones Listen to the first Eastern Rebellion record (Timeless). Or check out Von Freeman's Doin' It Right Now (Atlantic). Just yesterday, I was talking about how much Jones' bass playing on that record made me sit up and say, "Wow!" Richard Davis Listen to Davis' playing on Andrew Hill's records. Judgment (Blue Note) is probably my favorite, but don't overlook Nefertiti (East Wind) from 1976. Or listen to Davis on the famous recordings with Dolphy & Booker Little at the Five Spot. Or check out Davis' own Epistrophy & Now's the Time (Muse) with Clifford Jordan and Hannibal Marvin Peterson. Phew!!! Some bass playing that's in the HEAVYWEIGHT division! Edited May 30, 2015 by HutchFan Quote
soulpope Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 I've been working on a 1970s jazz project lately, immersed in music from that decade. So I'll focus on some of my all-time faves who were active during that time: George Mraz I love his incredibly fluid, singing (!) bass lines. His work with pianists Richie Beirach, Roland Hanna, and Tommy Flanagan is particularly special -- but his presence on any session guarantees a high degree of musicality. Samples: Listen to his playing on Beirach's Elm (ECM) or Hanna's Sir Elf Plus 1 (Choice). (Mraz is the "plus 1".) Buster Williams Such a big, juicy, elastic (but not rubbery) sound! Another guy that makes me want to hear any record as long as he's playing on it. For example, listen to Timeless Heart by the Timeless All Stars on -- you guessed it -- Timeless Records. The interplay between Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, and Buster is friggin' sublime. Buster's record Griot Liberté (HighNote) is top-shelf too. And he's more than just a great bass player. His compositions are fantastic too. Cecil McBee I dig Cecil's toughness and propulsiveness. He can play pretty, but he seems to be at his very best when he's tearing it up. I've been listening to Roy Brook's The Free Slave (Muse/32 Jazz) a lot lately, and his playing lifts the music so much! Another favorite record with Cecil is Larry Willis' Steal Away (Audioquest). It's a drummer-less record that features Willis, McBee, and Gary Bartz. It's a really special, BLUESY record. And they play McBee's great tune "'D' Bass-IC Blues"! Sam Jones Listen to the first Eastern Rebellion record (Timeless). Or check out Von Freeman's Doin' It Right Now (Atlantic). Just yesterday, I was talking about how much Jones' bass playing on that record made me sit up and say, "Wow!" Richard Davis Listen to Davis' playing on Andrew Hill's records. Judgment (Blue Note) is probably my favorite, but don't overlook Nefertiti (East Wind) from 1976. Or listen to Davis on the famous recordings with Dolphy & Booker Little at the Five Spot. Or check out Davis' own Epistrophy & Now's the Time (Muse) with Clifford Jordan and Hannibal Marvin Peterson. Phew!!! Some bass playing that's in the HEAVYWEIGHT division! !! Quote
LouisvillePrez Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 Which ballads stand out for their bass lines? Quote
JSngry Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 Try Ray Brown on the two ballads on Way Out West. Quote
Peter Friedman Posted June 3, 2015 Report Posted June 3, 2015 Just this morning listened to a wonderful solo by Ray Brown on Lullabye Of The Leaves" It is from - James Williams - Magical Trio 2 on EmArcy. The drummer is Elvin Jones. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted June 3, 2015 Report Posted June 3, 2015 Just because the subject is bass players, I will never forget the time I took NHOP to Andy's (Chicago club) to hear/meet Truck Parham. Truck never forgot the meeting and NHOP just thought he was an old time guy. Quote
JSngry Posted June 4, 2015 Report Posted June 4, 2015 Was this before or after NHOP became an old-time guy himself? Bass lines on ballads - Ron Carter on any Miles ballad, especially the standards. Especially. so much of the musicalgoodwill that Ron Carter has squandered over the years exists in no insignificant part becuase of those ballads. Quote
Larry Kart Posted June 4, 2015 Report Posted June 4, 2015 Just because the subject is bass players, I will never forget the time I took NHOP to Andy's (Chicago club) to hear/meet Truck Parham. Truck never forgot the meeting and NHOP just thought he was an old time guy. Geez -- You should have taken him to hear Larry Gray. Quote
Mark Stryker Posted June 4, 2015 Report Posted June 4, 2015 Ron Carter on "Born to Be Blue" w/Eddie Harris in '65:. Less adventurous than w/Miles -- not appropriate in this context -- but absolutely perfect in every way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdV6zlP3kyc Quote
Peter Friedman Posted June 4, 2015 Report Posted June 4, 2015 Interesting that on the same tune - Born to Be Blue - on Dexter Gordon's "Lullaby For A Monster" , NHOP plays beautifully. Quote
soulpope Posted June 5, 2015 Report Posted June 5, 2015 Interesting that on the same tune - Born to Be Blue - on Dexter Gordon's "Lullaby For A Monster" , NHOP plays beautifully. !!! Quote
JSngry Posted June 5, 2015 Report Posted June 5, 2015 I always dug how the bass line on this one integrated itself into the horn arrangement. Mulligan as arranger, never mind the trappings, the arranging mind was being used in some pretty un-obvious ways. Quote
randyhersom Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 My favorite bassist is whoever's playing with Walt Dickerson. Particularly on the Steeplechases he always draws out creativity and lyricism from his bassists. Lisle Atkinson never did anything else close to the profound contributions he makes to Peace. Rudy McDaniel's exquisite electric bass guitar cuts anything he would do in the next decade after changing his name to Jamaladeen Tacuma. And Richard Davis was the greatest, I have been waking up to Divine Gemini since I discovered CD alarm clocks. Other highlights are Charlie Haden on Prayer, a duet from Keith Jarrett - Death and the Flower. Buster Williams playing throughout Mary Lou Williams - Free Spirits, and Juni Booth's propulsive groove on McCoy Tyner's Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit from Enlightenment. Quote
soulpope Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 My favorite bassist is whoever's playing with Walt Dickerson. Particularly on the Steeplechases he always draws out creativity and lyricism from his bassists. Lisle Atkinson never did anything else close to the profound contributions he makes to Peace. Rudy McDaniel's exquisite electric bass guitar cuts anything he would do in the next decade after changing his name to Jamaladeen Tacuma. And Richard Davis was the greatest, I have been waking up to Divine Gemini since I discovered CD alarm clocks. Other highlights are Charlie Haden on Prayer, a duet from Keith Jarrett - Death and the Flower. Buster Williams playing throughout Mary Lou Williams - Free Spirits, and Juni Booth's propulsive groove on McCoy Tyner's Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit from Enlightenment. agreed .... Quote
soulpope Posted June 19, 2015 Report Posted June 19, 2015 Jean Jaques Avenel !!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-xOMO0kEMM Quote
soulpope Posted June 19, 2015 Report Posted June 19, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Wkcdt-Suc more Avenel .... Quote
corto maltese Posted June 19, 2015 Report Posted June 19, 2015 Russell Thorne I played Joe Daley Trio At Newport '63 last night and I fully endorse this nomination. Quote
HutchFan Posted June 19, 2015 Report Posted June 19, 2015 My favorite bassist is whoever's playing with Walt Dickerson. Particularly on the Steeplechases he always draws out creativity and lyricism from his bassists. Lisle Atkinson never did anything else close to the profound contributions he makes to Peace. Rudy McDaniel's exquisite electric bass guitar cuts anything he would do in the next decade after changing his name to Jamaladeen Tacuma. And Richard Davis was the greatest, I have been waking up to Divine Gemini since I discovered CD alarm clocks. Other highlights are Charlie Haden on Prayer, a duet from Keith Jarrett - Death and the Flower. Buster Williams playing throughout Mary Lou Williams - Free Spirits, and Juni Booth's propulsive groove on McCoy Tyner's Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit from Enlightenment. agreed .... I'd never heard Free Spirits before. Just listening to "Ode to Saint Cecile" on YT now. Wow! What a TIGHT trio! This record goes right to the top of my "to get" list. Thanks for the heads-up!!! Quote
Jim R Posted October 16, 2015 Report Posted October 16, 2015 Somehow I missed this thread until now.  I was pleased to see that one favorite of mine, NHOP, was mentioned several times.Quite the encyclopedia here.  I thought I might see at least one comment about the great Aladár Pege, but unless I missed it, he doesn't seem to have been mentioned. Quote
Peter Friedman Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 Recently heard the George Cables Trio live with George Mraz  on bass and Lewis Nash on drums.The trio was outstanding, but as this is a bass thread will focus on Mraz.George is perhaps my favorite living bass player, and the way he played with the Cables Trio verified for me, that opinion. His rhythmic feeling, his choice of notes and his sound were perfect. Some bassists annoy me with their attempt to wow us with their technical prowess. I wonder if they think the bass is actually a guitar. The main thrust is to play lots and lots of high pitched notes often as fast as possible. My personal enjoyment comes from hearing  many low bass notes as the name of the instrument suggests. I want the bass player to understand that their role, in most settings, is to provide support to the soloist and group, not try to overshadow the soloist and become the dominant voice.Mraz plays the bass the way I like to hear it. All parts - rhythm / note selection / sound/ feeling / support for the soloist - are ideally balanced . Of course all of this is just my personal view. There are likely many who have a quite different opinion. Quote
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