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Which bass player

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Greg Cohen. If he's the bassist of choice for both Tom Waits and John Zorn than he's the man for me.

If I just wanted to get my funk on, the answer would be George Porter Jr.
 
tal wilkenfeld....do you really have to ask why?

tal.jpg


84063485_w2nx93lt__dsc8297e7x5copy.jpg
 
I pose this question because, as a bassist (primarily), I'd like to know what sort of things guitarists (not sure I can really call myself one, but that's another matter entirely) look for in a bass player.:rockon:

From my limited experience and point-of-view, it seems most guitarists that I've played with are fine with my bass playing, but drummers seem to really like it.
 
warren0728 said:
tal wilkenfeld....do you really have to ask why?

tal.jpg


84063485_w2nx93lt__dsc8297e7x5copy.jpg
Click to expand...

OK Warren, I was going to just quote your text part, but...how could I not show these pics again?

I'd love to play guitar with Tal, and maybe not for the more obvious reasons (I'm quite attached to Mrs. NWB), but because she can groove really well and is very adept at playing off what the guitar is doing.
 
NWBasser said:
From my limited experience and point-of-view, it seems most guitarists that I've played with are fine with my bass playing, but drummers seem to really like it.
Click to expand...

The second half of that statement speaks volumes. If you and a drummer can lock in a groove, that should be precisely what an accompanying guitarist looks for in a bass player. It's why I love George Porter so much.
 
Pino Palladino. He's completely full of awesome. Dude is solid as a rock and still keeps it interesting.
 
Jaco P.

If you need to ask why, you'll never get it anyway..
 
Easy, though somewhat obscure. There's this guy from the pacific northwest by the name of Jason that can slap bass, play guitar, and drink 'irish car bombs' until the cows come home. :dude

rachelle_irish_car_bomb.jpg
 
broke okie said:
... or maybe John Entwistle of the Who. Wow!
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If we're including the deceased, my answer would be different. If it could be any bass player, past or present, it'd be Charles Mingus.
 
Zip said:
Jaco P.

If you need to ask why, you'll never get it anyway..
Click to expand...

Jaco was an amazing player. I'm not so sure I'd want to play guitar with him though. That would be more than a bit overwhelming. I doubt I could hang with him for more than a measure.
 
vroomery said:
Pino Palladino. He's completely full of awesome. Dude is solid as a rock and still keeps it interesting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I'd put Pino and maybe Rocco Prestia near the top of my list because they lay out such a strong groove that would give me a lot to work with on a guitar.:dance
 
bcdon said:
Easy, though somewhat obscure. There's this guy from the pacific northwest by the name of Jason that can slap bass, play guitar, and drink 'irish car bombs' until the cows come home. :dude

rachelle_irish_car_bomb.jpg
Click to expand...

You're too kind sir!:beer:
 
Any bassist who can figure out the key, hold the tempo/rhythm, and come up with riffs.

I've jammed with a lot of bassists who, when I come up with some riff, either can't stay in the key or can't figure out a good bassline or groove to play under/over it. Maybe that's my fault, but I'm usually playing 3-chord riffs that aren't complicated.

As a guitarist, I'd really love a bassist who knew when to sit back and when to do something more flashy, as well as someone who can shoulder the load of keeping things intact rhythmically instead of relying on the drummer to do 100% of that.
 
Eric said:
Any bassist who can figure out the key, hold the tempo/rhythm, and come up with riffs.

I've jammed with a lot of bassists who, when I come up with some riff, either can't stay in the key or can't figure out a good bassline or groove to play under/over it. Maybe that's my fault, but I'm usually playing 3-chord riffs that aren't complicated.

As a guitarist, I'd really love a bassist who knew when to sit back and when to do something more flashy, as well as someone who can shoulder the load of keeping things intact rhythmically instead of relying on the drummer to do 100% of that.
Click to expand...

Sweet! I think you really caught what I was getting at Eric, i.e. what sort of elements do you look for in a bass player.

BTW, I love playing to 3-chord riffs. It opens up all sorts of fun things for the bass.

Knowing when to cut back and when to cut loose comes from close listening to the other musicians. That sort of listening is a rare thing in a lot of players, bass and otherwise.
 
I'd probably say Rudy Sarzo. He was a big influence on me when I played bass. He played on just about every important album and/or with every important band in the hard rockin' 80s. He also seems like a down-to-earth kind of guy.
 
Way to many guys to name in full but these 4 guys would be head of the list.
1. Larry Graham (Funk)
2. Stanley Clarke (Jazz & Funk)
3. Ron Carter (Upright everything)
4. Philip Lynott (Rock)

but any member of SWM (Clarke,Wooten,Miller) would do as well.
 
MAXIFUNK said:
Way to many guys to name in full but these 4 guys would be head of the list.
1. Larry Graham (Funk)
2. Stanley Clarke (Jazz & Funk)
3. Ron Carter (Upright everything)
4. Philip Lynott (Rock)

but any member of SWM (Clarke,Wooten,Miller) would do as well.
Click to expand...

Great list, particularly Carter. Of the dozens of amazing bassists to play with Miles, to me none was better than Carter. That second great sixties quintet was capable of anything. Carter also did a great album with Bill Frisell and drummer Paul Motian and played bass on the McCoy Tyner album Guitars which featured Frisell, Marc Ribot, John Scofield, Derek Trucks and Bela Fleck. The guy can play with anyone.
 
I like funk, but if I'm playing it, I'd rather play bass myself. I can't play funk guitar to save my life. Funk bass is way cooler anyway.
 
marnold said:
I'd probably say Rudy Sarzo. He was a big influence on me when I played bass. He played on just about every important album and/or with every important band in the hard rockin' 80s. He also seems like a down-to-earth kind of guy.
Click to expand...

Many years ago I saw Rudy play a casino gig with BOC. He's definitely a great player although the sound guy royally screwed his tone. No bottom and whispy, nasally bass??

After talking with him after the show I'll certainly agree that you're right that he's a super-nice and down-to-earth guy.
 
I need to be better before I go and select a bass player. I can't think of anybody who deserves to endure playing with me, except my local music store manager who asked me to be in his band.
 

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