Favourite Jazz bass lines

Livewire · February 24th, 2006, 10:59 AM

What, in your opinions, are the best jazz bass lines, or your favourite, melodically or rhythmically etc?

Jakeweiser · February 24th, 2006, 12:00 PM

I guess for me right now two tunes I'm digging on for basslines are
Flutterstep, Ralph Towner & Gary Peacock (Oracle)
Minor Blues, Kurt Rosenwinkel (The Next Step)

and I'm sure all the classics will get mentioned so I'll not mention them

mikelz777 · February 24th, 2006, 12:23 PM

I'm sorry to step out of the boundries, but 2 non-jazz bass performances came to mind immediately.

Paul McCartney (w/Beatles) "Paperback Writer" and "Something" I think McCartney was showing us that the bass could be a great voice in the (rock) band and didn't need to hide in the background.

Vihar · February 24th, 2006, 12:58 PM

Jaco on Metheny's Bright Size Life.

In rock, I really dig John Illsley's tone and simplicity on Dire Straits' first album.

mikelz777 · February 24th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Recently I was diggin' Leroy Vinnegar on Teddy Edward's "Sunset Eyes".

jazzfingers19 · February 24th, 2006, 01:24 PM

Brooklyn Sometimes. From Kurt Rosenwinkel's "Deep Song" it isn't real complicated but it grooves perfectly with the tune. I feel with out the tune would kinda lack.

jkelman · February 24th, 2006, 03:03 PM

In a fusion vein, Jaco Pastorius' line on Havona from Heavy Weather has always struck me big time.

misstraceynolan · February 24th, 2006, 03:18 PM

It seems so obvious, but Jimmy Garrison on A Love Supreme.

And Ray Brown on Something's Coming off the OP West Side Story Album.

Hot Ptah · February 24th, 2006, 03:35 PM

Ron Carter on "Footprints", on Miles Smiles.

straight-up-and-down · February 24th, 2006, 03:36 PM

Absolutely brilliant ones:
Jaco on "Word of Mouth" - goosebumps and all.
Jaco on "Havona", and his solo (both parts), within a month I've known it by heart.
Jaco on "Come On Over", 'cause it's funny, that's all.
Jaco on "Teen Town" (from 8:30, not Heavy Weather), the track itself is so good, just soooo good, and Jaco plays like there was no tomorrow...
Double-bass motifs are tougher to remember, not too many basists use double-bass in jazzrock, you know. I'll have to think about that for some time.

As for non-jazz bass lines, "Daddy Cool" by Boney M

Hot Ptah · February 24th, 2006, 04:00 PM

All of Richard Davis' bass lines on Eric Dolphy's "Out To Lunch" album.

Noj · February 24th, 2006, 05:24 PM

Stafford James on "Sashianova" from Woody Shaw's Little Red's Fantasy

Superthunderstingcar · February 24th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Ptah

Ron Carter on "Footprints", on Miles Smiles.

Second that!
Also Harvey Brooks and/or Dave Holland on the title track of Bitches Brew.
Michael Henderson on "Yesternow" from Jack Johnson (tho' I think this is a steal from James Brown's "Say it Loud").

jav · February 24th, 2006, 06:17 PM

Charlie Mingus doing "Haitian Fight Song," anything by Ron Carter, all of William Parker's lines on O'NEAL'S PORCH, and my absolute favorite Jaco bass line is from "Reza" on the TWINS import cd.

Jazz Purist · February 24th, 2006, 06:37 PM

Paul Chambers - The original recording of "So What" from the album "Kind of Blue". That tune has one of the greatest bass lines you'll ever hear in jazz.

February 24th, 2006, 10:59 AM	#1
Livewire Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4	Favourite Jazz bass lines What, in your opinions, are the best jazz bass lines, or your favourite, melodically or rhythmically etc?

February 24th, 2006, 12:00 PM	#2
Jakeweiser www.jakehanlon.com Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 4,935	I guess for me right now two tunes I'm digging on for basslines are Flutterstep, Ralph Towner & Gary Peacock (Oracle) Minor Blues, Kurt Rosenwinkel (The Next Step) and I'm sure all the classics will get mentioned so I'll not mention them __________________ "I am not in a habit of quoting myself..." - Jake Hanlon Check out my website

February 24th, 2006, 03:18 PM	#8
misstraceynolan I don't blow, but I'm a fan. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 910	It seems so obvious, but Jimmy Garrison on A Love Supreme. And Ray Brown on Something's Coming off the OP West Side Story Album. __________________ Miss Tracey Nolan MTN Media Relations "Cynicism is a sorry kind of wisdom" - Barack Obama

February 24th, 2006, 03:36 PM	#10
straight-up-and-down infant happiness Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 709	Absolutely brilliant ones: Jaco on "Word of Mouth" - goosebumps and all. Jaco on "Havona", and his solo (both parts), within a month I've known it by heart. Jaco on "Come On Over", 'cause it's funny, that's all. Jaco on "Teen Town" (from 8:30, not Heavy Weather), the track itself is so good, just soooo good, and Jaco plays like there was no tomorrow... Double-bass motifs are tougher to remember, not too many basists use double-bass in jazzrock, you know. I'll have to think about that for some time. As for non-jazz bass lines, "Daddy Cool" by Boney M __________________ all the balances are clear now that our time is here

February 24th, 2006, 06:17 PM	#14
jav Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: coastal region of Virginia Posts: 679	Charlie Mingus doing "Haitian Fight Song," anything by Ron Carter, all of William Parker's lines on O'NEAL'S PORCH, and my absolute favorite Jaco bass line is from "Reza" on the TWINS import cd. __________________ "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

February 24th, 2006, 12:23 PM	#3
mikelz777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The upper midwest. Posts: 1,674	I'm sorry to step out of the boundries, but 2 non-jazz bass performances came to mind immediately. Paul McCartney (w/Beatles) "Paperback Writer" and "Something" I think McCartney was showing us that the bass could be a great voice in the (rock) band and didn't need to hide in the background.

February 24th, 2006, 12:58 PM	#4
Vihar Banned User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hungary Posts: 793	Jaco on Metheny's Bright Size Life. In rock, I really dig John Illsley's tone and simplicity on Dire Straits' first album.

February 24th, 2006, 01:20 PM	#5
mikelz777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The upper midwest. Posts: 1,674	Recently I was diggin' Leroy Vinnegar on Teddy Edward's "Sunset Eyes".

February 24th, 2006, 01:24 PM	#6
jazzfingers19 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,070	Brooklyn Sometimes. From Kurt Rosenwinkel's "Deep Song" it isn't real complicated but it grooves perfectly with the tune. I feel with out the tune would kinda lack.

February 24th, 2006, 03:03 PM	#7
jkelman AAJ's Big Nose Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 5,163	In a fusion vein, Jaco Pastorius' line on Havona from Heavy Weather has always struck me big time.

February 24th, 2006, 03:35 PM	#9
Hot Ptah Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10,961	Ron Carter on "Footprints", on Miles Smiles.

February 24th, 2006, 04:00 PM	#11
Hot Ptah Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 10,961	All of Richard Davis' bass lines on Eric Dolphy's "Out To Lunch" album.

February 24th, 2006, 05:24 PM	#12
Noj Future Primitive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,631	Stafford James on "Sashianova" from Woody Shaw's Little Red's Fantasy

February 24th, 2006, 06:37 PM	#15
Jazz Purist Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 311	Paul Chambers - The original recording of "So What" from the album "Kind of Blue". That tune has one of the greatest bass lines you'll ever hear in jazz. __________________ "Music is my religion. Music is the only thing that has never failed me. People let you down, music won't." -Gary Bartz

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode