Hi all! I'm new to these lower realms. Ah, who inspired me? Well, my best friend was the one who got me to thinking about bass, so let's start with him. Once the seed was planted, I began to notice that many of the songs I liked were bass driven.
One of the first that caught me was Mel Schacher on Grand Funk's red album. He was one of the first to bring the bass out of the background. The second album that I remember for its bass noteriety was "The Romantic Warrior" by Return to Forever. Stanley Clarke's lead bass interplay with DiMeola and Corea on the cut "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant" is nothing short of epic.
Being from Chicago, and spending many hours in the local blues clubs, there are two local bass players that have inspired me. Willie Dixon had it goin' on! There's a reason the Chess brothers gave him so much creative freedom. Meanwhile, another local bass player was making a name for himself as one of the original Ice Breakers, Albert Collins' blues band. Aron Burton went on to be the house bassist for Alligator records, fronting his own band, and today, out of retirement, he can be found backing up Liz Mandeville Greeson.
Of course I could not send this post off without mentioning the great James Jamerson. I only wish that he had gotten the recognition that he deserved while he was still alive. That is surely one of music's great tragedies!
The father of slap, and the bottom end under Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham, is another bass player who deserves many accolades.
So, that leads me to the present. I really like the work that Rhonda Smith is doing, especially her solo effort. She's done some great stuff with Prince, but its when she gets to lead the show that she really shines!
There's so many more that I could mention, but I know that I would invariably leave someone out, so I'll end here.
Rob
