100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time (Including Jazz and Rock)

Stu Hamm
Geddy Lee
Randy Jackson
Les Claypool

If jazz bassists are included, surprised nobody has mentioned Ron Carter.

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Originally Posted by Danno

If jazz bassists are included, surprised nobody has mentioned Ron Carter.

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I did.23456

indeed you did, missed that.

Berry Oakley
Tim Bogert

James Whiton. Just check out Eric McFadden Trio on Youtube. Don't know how this band has stayed under the radar so long, Eric Mcfadden kills it on guitar, too. Kick ass live shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=oV1QkHgWrZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oV1QkHgWrZs

Dave Holland

Check him out on youtube with metheny, hancock, and dejohnette at philly jazz fest 1993. So nasty.

Donald "Duck"Dunn died? I missed that - RIP.

I was just recently thinking how much I've always loved David Freiberg's solo in QSM's Who Do You Love. And Peter Hook and Jack Casady.

This morning's playlist brought up the genius of Jack Casady:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltyjNjsz8UU

And since I'm bumping this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjolqpKR4g

x2 on Tony Levin. Guess an 8 string "stick" counts as a bass?

Saw Levin with Peter Gabriel on his third album tour at Asbury Park in '79 or '80. I was blown away! Saw him at least 3 or 4 times with King Crimson in the 80's. Never dissappointed.

This song reminds me of this place:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQhLcKyGs8&feature=related

Thought this was kind of interesting too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwcSElMLpBM

No love for Sid Vicious? (Glen Matlock)

X2 on Paul Simonon. I read somewhere that he was drafted into the Clash for his looks alone; couldn't even play at the time, similar to Sid I think. He grew into a pretty solid musician and has been part of some awesome bands. I saw him with Havana 3am in NYC in '86 and was blown away. I saw him with the Clash at Asbury Park during the Combat Rock tour, but some doucher was throwing M-80's on stage and they went off after only about a half hour (robbed!). I snoozed and missed him touring with the Gorillaz two years ago, but hopefully they'll do something else and come around again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdEt9EuDQhE&feature=related

Maybe Lee Rocker from Stray Cats too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DEKM7-L-9A&feature=BFa&list=PL576A77697FA5DCC2

RIP Aston Barrett.

https://youtu.be/1HcTtgMwkAY?si=Fxc8X1G6xDtvbOlV

RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZfaIx57UqU

RIP. I hadn't heard, that's a drag.

Nobody has mentioned Joe Dart apparently. Guy can play.

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Originally Posted by ötzi

RIP. I hadn't heard, that's a drag.

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He was the very first on my list in post #2 in this thread.

THE GREATEST.

I don't know his work overall, but the bass on this is stellar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXX_4RUsL7U

Crazy bass solo starting around 3:55

The internet tells me it is Fernando Saunders. Fernando, I salute you.

Reporter: Can you play bass?
Willie Nelson: Can't everybody?

Gotta love Willie.

Also, that fact that the greatest bassist and one of the best musical minds that ever lived was only mentioned once in the first post of this thread in passing is an affront to all that is holy and good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7hoX7golZI

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Originally Posted by ötzi

Nobody has mentioned Joe Dart apparently. Guy can play.

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A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRG4zp4gBKs

Bassists who have not been mentioned who should be:
Jack Casady
Berry Oakley
Phil Lesh

All three of them have been mentioned more than once.

I do see Jack a few x, and Phil 1x.
I guess my top 3 are Clarke, Jones and Jaco.

I will also mention Tommy Caldwell

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Originally Posted by Danno

I don't know his work overall, but the bass on this is stellar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXX_4RUsL7U

Crazy bass solo starting around 3:55

The internet tells me it is Fernando Saunders. Fernando, I salute you.

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Fernando Saunders is a fantastic bassist. I really love his work with Lou Reed.


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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

Dammit, was going to put up Noel Redding[/end of thread], but Buster beat me to the joke.

Like 100 names mentioned and no Ron Carter? Guy laid it down for just about everyone who mattered and played on about 10,000 recordings. And still kills it.

PNWBrit, Sting? Is my sarcasm meter broken? I think when he did his pseudo-jazz thing he wasn't even allowed near a bass. Good songwriter, but I've never heard bass players talk about him at all.
2nd edit: ok, I do remember a 'Bass Player' magazine cover with Sting on it, so I'm sure bass players talked about him, but if you're talking about greatest 'players' I still don't see it.

James Jamerson.
Gary Peacock also kills.

edit: didn't see PNW also mentioned Jamerson, but he merits a second. Lotta good guys--there's also this young girl I saw with Jeff Beck who impressed me.
Jimi Hendrix.
Shuggie Otis (not sure he belongs in a bass player thread either, but you can't have too much of him).

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Haha, funny to see this 12+(!) years later. Saw what PNW posted and again wanted to laugh at the idea of Noel Redding making the grade...

And very funny to me that I mentioned 'some young girl with Jeff Beck'--whether or not she belongs on this list, she has become a very, very well known bass player. Tal Wilkenfeld. But back when this thread was created I think she was a teenager and I'd probably only seen her play the one time with Beck.

Not sure if he's mentioned here, but the guy who fronted Level 42 is kind of a crazy bass player...especially when you hear what he plays and realize that he's singing at the same time. Blows my mind.

I mentioned Mark King.

Post #2

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

I mentioned Mark King.

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BTW, I do remember this thread (although not really what I posted given how long ago it was), and I recall listening to some Police after b/c of what you posted. You made some good points, IMO, about how he played.

Jaco gets my vote.

Jack Casady was also pretty good for a rock guy.

Alioune Wade, Senegalese bass player with the Lopez Nussa Trio, is amazing

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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

Haha, funny to see this 12+(!) years later. Saw what PNW posted and again wanted to laugh at the idea of Noel Redding making the grade...

And very funny to me that I mentioned 'some young girl with Jeff Beck'--whether or not she belongs on this list, she has become a very, very well known bass player. Tal Wilkenfeld. But back when this thread was created I think she was a teenager and I'd probably only seen her play the one time with Beck.

Not sure if he's mentioned here, but the guy who fronted Level 42 is kind of a crazy bass player...especially when you hear what he plays and realize that he's singing at the same time. Blows my mind.

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Quoting yourself seems, well, narcissistic and self absorbed.


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkYZ4wTBd8g

Ralphe Armstrong. I follow him a little bit ever since I saw him play with Jean-Luc Ponte 1000 years ago.
Leland Sklar. Too boring for this list?

Phil Lesh isn't in this thread? I must have missed him.

Justin Chancellor
Tommy Shannon
Absolutely Eric Avery...dude was genius
Les
Commerford had riffs and power for days
Cliff Burton


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Originally Posted by plugboots

Leland Sklar. Too boring for this list?

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Big omission for sure. He's the Ron Carter of the rock world (has played on literally thousands of albums, I'm sure).
Another miss (I just went through the thread and didn't see him) IMO is Pino Palladino. So musical and almost melodic while always in the pocket. I'd put him on the list if the only thing he'd ever done was that Paul Young record.

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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

Another miss (I just went through the thread and didn't see him) IMO is Pino Palladino. So musical and almost melodic while always in the pocket. I'd put him on the list if the only thing he'd ever done was that Paul Young record.

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Post #2

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Post #2

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Guess my reading was better 12+ years ago. I was wondering why I hadn't mentioned him back then.

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

RIP Aston Barrett.

https://youtu.be/1HcTtgMwkAY?si=Fxc8X1G6xDtvbOlV

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Oh man, just heard this morning. RlP Family Man

Not a Bass expert, but I know a lot of bassists looked up to this Lady
Carol Kaye/Wrecking Crew

Thundercat

https://youtu.be/-w6dtAmBSC4?si=paTfXzW3tGei8Djx

Slick virtuosos? Nope

But distinctive sounds and style? Yep

Jen-Jaques Burnel, Stranglers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYkqLm9cM3Y

Peter Hook
Joy Division, New Order

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkASIx9Xk6s

Jah Wobble
P.I.L.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gfBUL4f8w4


And big shout out to Herbie Flowers

The song is noted for its twinned ascending and descending portamento basslines played by Herbie Flowers.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4 (Playing Second Fiddle, aired July 2005), Flowers claimed the reason he came up with the twin bass lines was that as a session musician, he would be paid double for playing two instruments on the same track. Flowers' bass hook was performed on double bass overlaid by fretless Fender Jazz Bass. He was paid a £17 flat fee (equivalent to £200 in 2021)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w

Interesting that Chris Squire of Yes hasn't been mentioned, I always thought his bass lines were pretty bomber.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmZoQFYYx8U