Who's the best bass guitarist of all time?

[BGCarrera32]

Just to throw it out there, who's the best bass guitarist of all time? Talkin' excellent musicianship and the ability to do some creative stuff...

I'm no music aficiando by any means, but I enjoy Geddy Lee of Rush and a few tunes by George Benson, but I'm not sure wether he's playing bass on those tracks or not.

? ? ?

[Schrup]

Les Claypool of Primus.

[nostatic]

can't answer that. Just like you can't answer best guitarist, best this, best that...

I can give you a couple of my favorites:

Paul Chambers
James Jamerson
Carol Kaye
Jaco Pastorius
Paul McCartney
Jack Bruce
John Entwistle
Verdine White
Rocco Prestia
Marcus Miller
Tony Levin

[ronin]

Billy Sheehan, Flabba Holt, Ron Carter

[Nader]

Flea

[ronin]

almost forgot about him!

[Doug Zielke]

What nostatic said.
And....
Find some Miles Davis recordings with Jaco Pastorius.

[nostatic]

JPJ was great, but I think his main strength was his ability to double on keys. I've never been a Ron Carter fan...sacrelige for a bassist to say that I suppose, but he never did it for me. Flea is strong, and unlike a lot of guys, does occasionally lay low on the tune when required.

There are quite a few amazing players out there, and like any other instrument, you have guys that are technically amazing, guys who play just the right note, and those who can do both. Here's an annotated version of the list for those who might not know some of the players:

Paul Chambers - Charlie Parker's main bassist. Perfect pocket at insane bop tempos, and sick arco (bow) solos.

James Jamerson - the sound of Mowtown. Just listen to "I Was Made to Love Her" by Stevie Wonder.

Carol Kaye - Studio player who was on Pet Sounds, a ton of Mowtown stuff, and an incredible number of LA sessions for almost everyone.

Jaco Pastorius - arguably the greatest bassist ever, his chops on fretless defined the instrument. Played straight ahead jazz and helped create "fusion", but my favorite work of his is with Joni Mitchell on Hejira.

Paul McCartney - his bass playing ability was overshadowed by his songwriting, but he is a guy that played exactly the right phrase at exactly the right moment. And he really defined the melodic pop bass approach.

Jack Bruce - jazz sensibilities, rock attitude, helped to create the first supergroups (Cream), then went on to do fusion and other styles.

John Entwistle - Sure, Pete and Roger were the outward face of The Who, but Entwistle drove the bus and held the whole thing together. The first rock player that really flew on the fingerboard.

Verdine White - the definition of fingerstyle funk. With Earth, Wind and Fire, he played on mega hits, always with smooth, sinewy lines that made you get up and move.

Rocco Prestia - While Tower of Power is known for horns, again, it is the bass that drives the music. Just listen to "What is Hip". Then try and play it. Then write a note to Rocco saying "thanks for making my hand fall off..."

Marcus Miller - worked with Miles to help him define yet another sound in his career, he is probably the best technical thumb player around. Listen to his version of "teen Town" (a Jaco tune) played all with the thumb. That song is impossible to play with your fingers, let alone using your thumb. Absolutely sick.

Tony Levin - one of the most creative players ever. Doubles on Chapman Stick, also had a custom 3 string bass made for him, and uses all sorts of ways to strike the strings. His work with Peter Gabriel is inspiring.

[Sonic dB]

In terms of purely playing the right part for the song.... in Pop, its Paul McCartney... among studio cats, James Jamerson couldnt be touched.... there are lots of technicians out there, most of whom have already been mentioned.

Charles Mingus may have been the best bass player of all time, schooled...technical and could just wail with emotion.

[nostatic]

mea culpa...Mingus was a major oversight on my part. He was a genius.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by Nader
Flea

Totally agree. Whether you like that music style or not (or think he's a complete nut-bar), the guy is magician with a bass. While he probably can't compete on all levels with the great "pioneers", I'd say he's one of, if not THE best modern (gen-x/y) bassist.

[Zeke]

My vote goes to Jack Bruce. Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton sounded like 6 insted of 3. (Well, Baker sounded like 3 drummers all by hinself.) Kinda like ZZ top. I'm not a musician, but I listen(ed) to a lot of music in a critical way. I don't see how 3 people can fill the sound the way those guys did. I think a lot of it had to do with Bruce playing melodies or rhythm and a bass line at the same time.

Do I know what I'm talking about? No.

[Z-man]

Phil Keaggy.

When they gave Jimi Hendricks some kinda 'guitarist of the year' award, he claimed there was someone better than himself: an obscure Christian rock guitarist with a missing finger on his right hand: Phil Keaggy.

That's quite an endorsement, if you ask me.

-Z.

[Sonic dB]

Phil Keaggy is pretty damn amazing... he is a Christian artist, so most have never heard of him...as a finger picker he is awesome.

Hendrix allegedly told members of Chicago that their guitarist, the late Terry Kath was better than he was too... Kath was pretty damn good. So was Jimi.

[nostatic]

I play around the bass. trout too.

Kath was a blazer (just listen to the solo on 25 or 6 to 4), but not in Jimi's league imho. I think it was a case of Jimi being very humble.

[tabs]

Jack Bruce is the BEST...didja ever hear another Bass player who could keep up with Clapton...Bruce thinks he's playing a guitar..

Jimmy Page is also one of the best Bass Players...this is for all the Neanderhals out there who don't know that he was the Bass player in the Yardbirds...

An who forgot about Billy Wyman

[Z-man]

Interesting that no one mentioned Sting as a bass guitar player....

-Z.

[rcecale]

What's even more interesting is that no one has mentioned our own nostatic or adam nitti as best bass players.

Both of these guys have links to their own websites where you can actually sample their work. Nice job, fellas!

Randy

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Les Claypool
Flea
John Entwistle
Jaco Pastorius
Jimmy Haslip

I cant believe no one has mentoned Cliff Burton, R.I.P.

[cassisrot]

Anybodt ever heard of a guy named Rory (Roy?) Buchanan? I saw him in a litlle bar at Peace Cross Maryland many years ago and thought at the time he was the best I had ever heard.