Solo bass recommendations

[D.D.]

I started this thread on another board and received quite a lot of great recommendations, but unfortunately didn't save them - so here we go again.

I have a few solo bass recordings (mostly ECMs) by Dave Holland, Miroslav Vitous and Gary Peacock. I like the concept a lot and would love to hear about other solo bass projects.

[soulpope]

there was a great solo recording by reggie workman in the late seventies on the japanese denon label, unfortunately this saw to my knowledge never release on cd-level.

speaking of denon (and this was released as cd), there is a great duo recording of randy weston and vishnu wood on bass, and the long bass solo cut featured is worth the price of admission alone.

finally (at least for today), there is a very interesting (brandnew)bass solo release by anthony cox title that & this on ht efrench sketch label. catch an earfull via

http://www.sketch-studio.com/sketch-jazz/sketch-jazz.html

hope this was of help, enjoy

emil

[walkin]

Barre Phillips has done some solo bass albums.

[Claude]

I think the John Coltrane Live in Japan 4CD set has almost one hour of Jimmy Garrison solos in the various tracks.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=10:50:12|AM&sql=A30d1vwpta92k

[walkin]

Yes,Jimmy Garrison plays long solo bass at the beginnning of Crescent and My Favorite Things on Live In Japan.There`s also a long solo at the start of Impressions from the Antibes concert from 1965.

[Jazzmoose]

I'm gonna catch shit, and I know this shows how shallow I am, but the only recommendation I can think of involving solo bass is: don't.

[Muskrat Ramble]

Not jazz, but hey: Check out some of Edgar Meyer's stuff. He's a virtuouso double bass player and composer who's known for both classical and bluegrass. There's been at least one disc of him playing Bach's (solo) cello suites on bass. I haven't heard it yet, but I can only imagine how cool that would be.

If you're looking for great bass-oriented albums in general, check out Bass Player magazine. They're always running articles and reviews on the great bassists in various musical fields, including jazz.

And this isn't solo, but be sure to check out the Mount Everest Trio's Waves from Albert Ayler on Atavistic for some great bass playing by KJell Jansson.

[Bev Stapleton]

I suspect I already made these recommendations on 'the other board' but don't miss Eberhard Weber's two solo outings. A bass player with a sound all his own.

[J Larsen]

Another nod of approval to the Coltrane "Live in Japan" suggestion. I really like that set.

More great (and perhaps overlooked) Garrison solos can be found on Archie Shepp's "Live at Donaueschingen". I don't know if anyone else agrees, but this albums contains some of my favorite Garrison. The album also features Grachan Moncur, Beaver Harris and Roswell Rudd, FWIW.

[clandy44]

Peter Kowald's Was Da 1st on FMP.

[D.D.]

Originally posted by Muskrat Ramble
Not jazz, but hey: Check out some of Edgar Meyer's stuff. He's a virtuouso double bass player and composer who's known for both classical and bluegrass. There's been at least one disc of him playing Bach's (solo) cello suites on bass. I haven't heard it yet, but I can only imagine how cool that would be.



I have only one Edgar Meyer CD - Unfolding. I guess it's one of his first recordings (1986, on MCA). Mind-blowing stuff! Unclasifiable ('academic bluegrass jazz'??). It has an overdubbed bass duo - I've never heard anybody playing bass this way. I wasn't even aware that such a high notes could possibly be extracted from double bass with such a clarity. The sidemen also shine (Bela Fleck is on it as well).
From what I know this is one of the few 'jazz' (aghhh, all these categories...) CDs of EM, and that's a shame - not only his chops are stunning, but his compositional thinking and improvisational skills are impressive. Highly recommended (although it might be hard to find, I guess it's long OOP).

[Mnytime]

Originally posted by clandy44
Peter Kowald's Was Da 1st on FMP.


A masterpiece by a legend who is no longer with us. :( :(


Some others

Barry Guy
Symmetries
Fizzles

Paul Rogers-Listen

Joëlle Léandre-No Comment

[omar zamora]

Kent Carter - Beauvais Cathedral

[Chuck Nessa]

You could do alot worse than the recent Okka Disk by Kent Kessler.

[soulpope]

again not purely solo, but recheck outings by the great jean jacques avenel.
he is featured to large extent on the steve lacy trios and most recently on the wonderfull fare well album from mal waldron aptly titled "one more time" on the french sketch label

best, emil

[bubber]

There's a french group called L'orchestre de contrabasses - 5 upright bass players, they're awesome - I heard them live last year, and they have quite a few records out. Jazz, classics, world, great instrumentalists, great music. Definitely worth checking out.

[Muskrat Ramble]

D.D., regarding Egar Meyer, be sure to check out his double-bass concerto disc. I don't have it yet, but I heard the world-premiere of one of his concerti for bass and orchestra on the radio in the 90's, and it was just stunning. Wonderful composition and playing alike.

[STAN TRACEY]

Pharoah Saunders "Thebi " LP has a nice bass solo by Richard Davis titled "Love"

[Hutch]

hey david!

what?!! no eberhard weber on ECM? somebody's gotta hear this guy play! he's amazing, albeit uncoventional.

[Pete B]

Ron Carter did a solo album, entitled, appropriately enough "All Alone". As a bassist, I find it fascinating. He goes pretty deep into his bag to provide a lot of variety in his approach to improvising over standards, and his technique and ideas are remarkable. It's not a gimmicky album, it's quite listenable.

I seem to remember some marvelous Oscar Pettiford solo features, specifically his take on "Willow Weep For Me" could serve as a paradigm of what a bass solo should be - gorgeous.

Rob Wasserman did a very impressive solo lp for Rounder - not strictly jazz per se but a fine recording.

I've heard praise for the recordings of Aladar Pege, but what I've heard of him was tough sledding. Very inventive, technique almost beyond belief, but not very enjoyable to my ears.


Pete

[soulpope]

what about the great dave holland`s solo outings on ecm

eddie gomez on steps lve at the pit

charlie haden / hampton hawes duo as long there is music on artsit house

best emil

[Joe]

A personal favorite -- John Lindberg, LUMINOSITY: HOMAGE TO DAVID IZENZON on Music & Arts. Lindberg also sings on some tracks, but (somewhat surprisingly) more in the tradition of Slam Stewart and Major Holley than anything else.

[Donnybirdrhythm]

I'd also like to vouch for Peter Kowald's "Was Da 1st" on FMP and Kent Kessler's new one, "Bull Fiddle" on Okka.

I remember being scared shitless (in a good way) by Barry Guy and Barre Phillips album of bass duos, "Arcus" on Maya.

Mark Dresser is an incredible bassist, though as I recall his solo album (can't remember the title -- just checked it's called "Invocation") was technical but kinda boring (imho, of course). Haven't heard it myself, but have heard good things about his duo with (bassist) Mark Helias, "The Marks Brothers."

One more doozy, Michael Formanek's "Am I Bothering You?" on Screwgun.

Geez, didn't know I had so many solo bass albums!:)

[Muskrat Ramble]

HOMAGE TO DAVID IZENZON

A bassist most worthy of homage. His work on Ornette Coleman's Live at the Golden Circle recordings (Blue Note RVG series) is really impressive. He's one of the very few jazz bassists I've heard who can really play arco well. (Iirc, he was classicaly trained, and it shows.) Blows Paul Chambers away in that regard, imo.

[soulpope]

as the initial solo bass is somewhat (also via my replies) watered down to bass solos, may i ask listmembers for their most memorable bass solo ?

for myself i can`t decide on a sole one, but my top group wouldinclude :

vishnu wood khadesha on "perspective" denon
cecil mcbee love on "Pharoah sanders thembi" impulse
art davis/reggie workman "ole" on "coltrane ole" atlantic
bob magnusson "caravan on "art pepper live in japan 2" storyville
jean jacques avenel "eronel" on steve lacy wee see" hatart
ahmed abdul-malik "in walked bud" on "monk misterioso" riverside
jimmy woode "night lady" on "griffin night lady" philips
stanley clarke "bass folk song" on "farrell moon germs" cti
andy gonzalez/steve swallow on "hanrahan a few short notes from the end run" american clave
niels-henning orsted pedersen on "d. gordon lullaby for a monster" steeplechase

hard to stop here (have to confess being a bass fan !!),
looking forward to hear about other`s faves

best emil

[omar zamora]

Originally posted by Muskrat Ramble
He's one of the very few jazz bassists I've heard who can really play arco well. (Iirc, he was classicaly trained, and it shows.)

I take it you've heard Mark Dresser. Joelle Leandre? Mark Helias?

[Usual Channels]

People who may recognize me from the BNBB know that I'm kind of "enthusiastic" about the man, but I really am shocked that no one's mentioned William Parker yet! Granted, I've stayed away from his two solo bass records (mainly due to lack of cash), but of the two: "Testimony" and "Lifting the Sanctions," LTS is supposed to be great. Parker is a damn BASSIST (!), so I'd imagine that you couldn't go wrong with it...

[bary01]

see on video (dvd or vhs) Jaco Pastoruis bass solo on "Shadows & Light" (with Joni Mitchell) . it's very great !!
gilles


cannonball RDV (http://www.cannonball-adderley.com)

[Donnybirdrhythm]

Can't re-listen. Unfortunately, I got rid of it in a cd purge for $$. So I'm only posting from memory. You could be right. Anyways, it didn't jibe with my musical explorations at the time (five or six years ago, I think). I'd no doubt have new thoughts if I heard it again now.

(BTW, I didn't "state" that it was boring. 'imho' 'imho' 'imho')

[Late]

Adding to the votes cast for this one:

http://www.fmp-online.de/fmpcds/gfx/fmpcd062.jpg

This album changed the way I hear the bass in music. It is an album of enormous scope and beauty. I never get tired of listening to it.

Also ... Michael Formanek's "Am I Bothering You?" on Screwgun:

http://screwgunrecords.com/bother.gif

This album is not as earth-moving for me as Kowald's, but there's still some damn fine bass playing within. The first track, which I think employs spiccato bowing (if I'm getting my terms right), is a joy.

[Hutch]

check out chris lawrence's solo on "crystal walls" off of john surman's ECM album "corruscating"... amazing!!

[LeMo]

Like it has been said already and very welle, Peter Kowald's "Was Da Ist" (FMP CD 62) is a genuine masterpiece who has absolutely NO equivalent in jazz history.

Much less important but enjoyable is the first solo record of Anthony Cox on the French Label Sketch. It's title is "That & This" and it's a mosaic of little musical "haïkus" where Cox expose methodically (is that english at all?) all the possibilities of the instrument.

But the great bonus of the Cd is it sound quality.
It's the first time on record than I hear a bass sounding like a bass do, in live setting with the real size and all the subtilities of the register of the instrument.

For this reason and for the good music it dispenses a must to have.

[Fran]

A lot of good recommendations above. But don't leave one of the Originals out- Jimmy Blanton- check out the Blanton Ellington Duets for a picture of where all these guys came from.

[Paul Secor]

Peter Ind and Rufus Reid: Alone Together on Ind's Wave label.

Phil Bowler, Greg Maker, Rufus Reid, Bob Cunningham, Brian Smith, Fred Hopkins, and Rick Rozie on World Bass Violin Ensemble: BASSically Yours (Black Saint)

And a listing of Dave Holland's ECM bass recordings (the ones I know):
Music from Two Basses (with Barre Phillips)
Emerald Tears
Life Cycle (actually a solo cello recording)

[Nils]

Originally posted by soulpope
what about the great dave holland`s solo outings on ecm

dave holland has made at least three solo recordings. my favorite "emerald tears" (1977) is moving, with a heavy braxton emphasis. "ones all" (93) same warmth but more mainstream. "life cycle" (82) has him on cello, romantic and open-ended.

[LWayne]

My vote would be for Dave Holland "Ones All" from 1993 on Intuition. Was listening to it this weekend while in the car.

Great record:)

LWayne

[EKE BBB]

I´m with Fran: talking about bass, I´d mention one of the creators of modern bass playing: Jimmy Blanton

AMG Review (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=6:53:10|AM&sql=B5pzyxdkbjolg)


A good approach to his playing:

Ellington: solos, duets and trios (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=6:53:10|AM&sql=A6mkvu3qgan5k)

[D.D.]

I ahven't heard this albume yet, but it should be good - Filiano is a master musician. AMG review: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80307191229&sql=A1kq4g4hztv1z

[wjd]

Richard Davis-Summertime, on "Heavy Sounds", and several solo bass pieces on 'Reminesces". I have never heard any better bass playing, especially with the bow.

[Jazz Kid]

I didn't read the entire thread to see if this had been said but:

Victor Wooten: A Show of Hands

Vic is simply the best bassist in the world today.

[clifford_thornton]

I second the Barre Phillips/David Holland duos. Also of note:

*Barre Phillips - "Basse Barre" (Futura), also issued as "Unaccompanied Barre" (Music Man) and "Journal Violone" (Opus One)

*Barre Phillips - "For All it Is" (Japo; Phillips, Guy, Jenny-Clarke, Danielsson and Stu Martin on drums)

*Fernando Grillo - "Fluvine" (Cramps)

*Harry Miller - "Children at Play" (Ogun)

*Alan Silva - "Inner Song" (Center of the World)

*Malachi Favors - "The Natural and the Spiritual" (AECO

*Roberto Miguel Miranda - "The Creator's Musician" (Nimbus)

and though I don't have it, Barry Guy's "Statements" on Incus is supposed to be a doozy.

Cheers,
C

[D.D.]

Originally posted by clifford_thornton
Alan Silva - "Inner Song" (Center of the World) Do you know if this one is available on CD?

[James]

I just picked up a copy of Lynn Seaton's "Solo Flights" based on a rec. on JazzCorner, (arco bass thread) and have been enjoying it a great deal.

www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305201420&sql=Awluw6j8171t0

Three tunes which really do it for me on this one are:
Improv for Aubrey, Ode to Jimi, and Trane's Changes. Great arco bass, and virtuosity in general.

[clifford_thornton]

Originally posted by D.D.
Do you know if this one is available on CD?

Not as far as I know, but considering the slew of reissues coming out now, it's not outside the realm of possibility. Fractal, I believe, has the rights to the Sun/COTW catalog.

Cheers

[Tenorman]

Again not a solo Bass album, but Oscar Peterson and the Bassists - Montreux 1977 (OJC20 383-2) has plenty of good bass work from Ray Brown and NHOP. A piano and 2 basses must be pretty unusual but what comes over is three guys firing off each other and having some fun with it. The audience go for it as well

[clifford_thornton]

Yeah, it is kinda weird -- the only other thing like that I can think of is "Smokestack" by Andrew Hill, which is a quartet featuring Richard Davis and Eddie Khan on basses (Roy Haynes, I believe, plays the drums). Very odd record, as you might imagine.

Cheers