And the best bassist of all time is....

[ItalProgRules]

Got to throw in the name of my hometown homie Billy Sheehan.

[Dave (in MA)]

Yeah, but even in that context, here in 2013, John Taylor topping such a poll seems odd. If this was 1984, when Duran Duran were on top of the world, and John, Andy, Simon, Roger, and Nick were on the cover of every magazine (I'm not sure whether I should be embarrassed I actually know the names of all five original Duran Duran members),

I think you're pretty sure.

[simon moon]

Jazz - Paul Chambers, Charlie Haden
Fusion - Jaco or Percy Jones
Prog - Tony Levin, Patrick Djivas
Classical - Jurek Dybal

[syncopatico]

For Jazz, it would be Oscar Pettiford for me. He was one of the true original innovators of bebop along with Bird & Dizzy, etc., and earlier on he expanded on the fundamentals developed by Jimmy Blanton in the swing tradition. Paul Chambers, Mingus, Ron Carter, Richard Davis, etc. were all great bass players, but they weren't the innovator(s) that OP was. In rock and fusion, it would be too hard to choose. Jonas Hellborg ain't too shabby!

[Facelift]

Best bass player? Eh - kind of like asking what the best bread is. It all depends on what's in the sandwich.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Any list of greatest bassists has to include Larry Graham, Bootsy (baby), and Bernard Edwards.

well, to be sure Larry and Bootsy were innovators, but Bernard was more technically gifted. So, it depends on which value is being touted. Stanley of course, was both an innovator and technically gifted and played Rock, Jazz and I have no doubt he can and has played Classical style as well so that's why he is *the* man.

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

Mont Campbell
John Gustafson
Louis Cennamo
Jack Bruce

[Lopez]

My choices are:
Rock - Jack Bruce, Jack Casady, Martin Turner, John Entwhistle
Prog - Bill Kopecky
Fusion - Jaco Pastorius

[jkelman]

I could list many, many more--but I will plug just a couple right now. Skuli Sverrissen is an amazing, unique voice on the instrument, and I generally pick up anything he's recorded on....

Yikes! How could I have left him out!! Thanks for mentioning, a tremendous and very unique player.

and in terms of upright/doublebass/violincello or whatever you want to call it, the sadly-departed Stefano Scodanibbio, composer and bassist, had a command of the instrument that I have NEVER seen anyone approach. It's not for everyone, but his music exploited every possible nuance the instrument was capable of producing.

Saw him solo in Victoriaville a few years ago and my reaction was pretty much the same as yours.

For those interested, a recent ECM New Series recording collects five absolutely wonderful pieces for string quartet (sadly, he is not featured on them), proving that, as tremendous a performer as he was, he was also an equally stellar composer.



It's called Reinventions, and I would recommend it highly. Not sure if I'll be reviewing it or not, but if not, it's not a matter of not liking the record (I love it), it's just a matter of time.

[Frumious B]

I wouldn't put him in the top spot, but there is no doubt in my mind that John Taylor is an excellent bassist whose work is one of the hidden (or not so hidden in light of this poll) joys of listening to D2. Incidentally, D2's most recent album, All You Need Is Now, is an awesome return to form so check it out if you're so inclined.

I do sorta wonder if they exclusively polled women in their late thirties and early forties to get this outcome.

[ronmac]

Paul McCartney, just for his influence alone.

[wideopenears]

Saw him solo in Victoriaville a few years ago and my reaction was pretty much the same as yours.

For those interested, a recent ECM New Series recording collects five absolutely wonderful pieces for string quartet (sadly, he is not featured on them), proving that, as tremendous a performer as he was, he was also an equally stellar composer.



It's called Reinventions, and I would recommend it highly. Not sure if I'll be reviewing it or not, but if not, it's not a matter of not liking the record (I love it), it's just a matter of time.

John, thanks for that! I didn't know about it. I saw him at a little art gallery with about 15 other people--just him and his bass, in the corner of a room, and all of us sitting on folding chairs. My friend used to manage him, otherwise I would never have heard his name. This was one of the most sublime musical moments of my life, for sure.

What he could do with the bow, alone, was enough to make me giggle uncontrollably. Sad that he's gone.

[Drumolator]

Prog: Geddy Lee
Fusion: Matthew Garrison
Jazz: too many greats to name one

This is just one music lover's opinion. Peace and goodwill.

Oops! I left off Percy Jones and Billy Sheehan. I guess there is no one best bass player. The best bass player all depends on personal taste. Peace and goodwill.

[progmeister]

Nick Beggs is the man

[GuitarGeek]

well, to be sure Larry and Bootsy were innovators, but Bernard was more technically gifted. So, it depends on which value is being touted. Stanley of course, was both an innovator and technically gifted and played Rock, Jazz and I have no doubt he can and has played Classical style as well so that's why he is *the* man.

Stan loses points in my book for that hip hop version of Born In The USA he did back in the 80's. Yeah, I understand making R&B records, you have to do what you have to do to avoid returning to a day job, but what he did to that song was just plain tacky.

[Bake 1]

...fortunately there's a lot more to it than who can run the fastest or jump the highest w/ bass players and music in general...Hodgkinson is a good one, (he comes up w/ some great stuff on the 1st two Back Door records).

[presdoug]

Mont Campbell
John Gustafson
Louis Cennamo
Jack Bruce

Glad to see John Gustafson listed.

[presdoug]

...fortunately there's a lot more to it than who can run the fastest or jump the highest w/ bass players and music in general...Hodgkinson is a good one, (he comes up w/ some great stuff on the 1st two Back Door records).

I love those first two Back Door records, too.

[mogrooves]

For Jazz, it would be

Wilbur Ware

[Rand Kelly]

I like the category idea:

POP: Paul McCartney(It all started with this guy and nobody will ever tell me different. ronmac knows.)
PROG: Chris Squire
FUSION: Victor Wooten
Fretless Fusion: Percy Jones
ROCK: John Paul Jones
PROG-METAL: The guy from Spiral Architect
TAPPING: Billy Sheehan

The thread really should be FAVORITE BASS PLAYER in all genres. Best is so subjective.....has nothing to do with substance.

[Dana5140]

[Progulike]

Jeff Berlin (Bruford band)

[Trane]

Jazz: Tie between Mingus & Graham Collier

Prog: Tie between Cerletti (Circus) and Dougie Thompson (Supertramp >> yup, he's reallyexcellent for that band)

Rock: Tie between Casady, Flea, Entwistle and J Bruce

Fusion: Tie between Michel Hatzi (Aka Moon) and Vitous

Metal: tie between Geezer Butler and Steve Harris

Misc: Danny Thompson (jazz & folk-rock)

[expresso]

Out of the top of my head, some of my favourites:
Chris Squire, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Pete Perez (Spastic Ink), Gary Thain (U.Heep), S.Harris, M.Rutherford, John Patitucci, John Wetton, Tony Levin, Martin Turner.

[wideopenears]

Oh, whattheheck, people are listing bassists.....

Alain Caron.
Anthony Jackson.
Matthew Garrison.
Nico Assumpcao (RIP).
Tony Gray.
Indro
Tetsuo Sakuri.
Teruo Nakamura.
Thierry Mineau.
Dominique DiPiazza.
Bill Laswell.
Bunny Brunel.
Gary Peacock.
Barre Phillips.
How about Michael Manring?
Doug Rauch.
Alphonso Johnson.
Steve Swallow.
Janek Gwizdala.
Mark Egan.
Damien Erskine.
Adam Nitti.
Dave Carpenter (RIP).
Andy West.
Avishai Cohen.
Victor Bailey.
Yves Carbonne.
Yiorgos Fakanas.
Christian McBride, for goodness sake!

Should I continue?