Best/most dynamic jazz bassist?

[redmango7]

Would anyone care to suggest who might be an innovator in Jazz bass? Thanks if you can...Curt

[Sergio Zamora]

William Parker
Mark Dresser
Joelle Leandre

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Joelle Leandre
Barry Guy
John Lindberg
Dominic Duval
Mark Dresser
Dave Holland
Ben Allison

innovative, but not jazz
Edgar Meyer

and, although not innovators, mainstream jazz masters of the bass include
Christian McBride
Ray Drummond

and I can't let the opportunity pass without mentioning the Grandmaster of the Washtub Bass:
Fritz Richmond

[Salvador Dali Lama]

Originally posted by Sergio Zamora
William Parker
Mark Dresser
Joelle Leandre

now thats a damn fine list.

[Ron Thorne]

While I don't have a quarrel with any of the names suggested, I'm quite uncomfortable with the generic implications of the word "innovator" and its countless definitions.

To me, these sorts of best/most/hippest types of qualifiers are problematic at best.

"Who might be an innovator in Jazz bass?"

Are we only discussing "living" musicians?

[rene]

i was tempted to mention the late jaco but those mentioned above all fits the bill as dynamic. i'll add tatsu aoki, barre philips and henri texier.

[hermann]

Dead or alive; I add Charles Mingus
and the one where I started with: Slam Stewart

[Tanager]

Scott LaFaro.
Charles Mingus.
William Parker.
Steve Swallow.
Dave Holland.

(Limiting to living musicians seems so...limiting.)

[Steve Reynolds]

big three

John Edwards
Simon H. Fell
Paul Rogers

and if you've never heard Barry Guy.....

and lady Joelle is just incredible


Dresser is great - NO ONE has a bigger sound live


and in FOUR days - Paul Rogers live

[MRS]

Peter Kowald

[hornplayer]

live: Dave Holland

departed: Ray Brown
Mingus, and many others

[Bruce Lindfield]

I like all the names mentioned so far - but am surprised nobody has mentioned Paul Chambers - Mr. PC - so good, Coltrane wrote a tune for him!

And for technical ability how about Nils Henning Orsted Pederson - can I say NHOP !

Ron Carter has been on so many great records, you can't leave him out!!

For great sound and great songs - how about Charlie Haden ...?

But the list is endless!!

[GoodSpeak]

I would include:

Marcus Miller
Robbie Shakespeare

[stonemonkts]

I'll add Gary Peacock to the list (he is near the top of mine).

Think Mindset with Paul Bley (among other sessions), or his work with Jarrett, Albert Ayler! and Bill Evans.

[Tanager]

Yeah, I thought about Peacock, too. This is another one of those "there have been so many good ones, why bother" lists.

[Bill Beran]

Funny how these kinds of threads get started and Percy Heath's name always seems to slip through.

And a younger cat, Jean-Jacques Avenel, the heart and soul of Steve Lacy's groups for 25 years.

[redmango7]

I never thought this thread would grow like it has. Thanks to every one of you for adding to the list. I will check out these guys and try to learn from them on the bass. Cheers!

[Scott Dolan]

I'll have to go with Sergio's list here also, but I'd also add Richard Davis to that group. Don't know what it is, but I always thought that guy was simply incredible.

Kent Kessler possibly?

[Gentle Giant]

I'm definitely a big fan of Richard Davis, and Santi Debriano, too. But then there's the nub of the question: innovative, or just great?

[shrugs]

what about Aichy and Mbizo?

[ryans]

Richard Davis

[jamieb]

How ' bout

Jimmy Garrison
Reggie Workman

Did anyone mention Sam Jones?

[Chaz Longue]

Anders Jormin - Jawdropping intonation and articulation in the thumb position. Plays in Bobo Stensen's groups.

Charnett Moffett - Revolutionary right hand techique on upright. Addresses the strings in a manner similar to the best electric players. Uses his thumb and fingers for a percussive effect - uses pedals and effects. Fun.

Bruno Chevillon - Plays in Louis Sclavis' groups. ...never seen anybody do some of the things he does.

Pierre Cote - From Quebec City. Plays with Francois Carrier. Reminds me just a bit of the magnificent Jean-Jacques Avenel, mentioned above.

[Fred K]

François Moutin is pretty incredible live and on record. He plays with Jean-Michel Pilc's trio and with his brother Louis in the Moutin Reunion Quartet.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

yeah, Davis and Kessler are absolutely on my list.

Patatucci is no joke either.

[Tanager]

If we're talking about innovative, I still like LaFaro, b/c to my mind he was one of the first players in the "bassist as solo virtuoso" style, the sort of flashy step-to-the-forefront/play lots of notes kind. And he did it extremely well without overly dominating the proceedings. If he'd only lived longer, I think his position on this list would be beyond question.

[jamieb]

I agree Tanager, you can also include Gary Peacock and Eddie Gomez.

[LeMo]

Peter Kowald, first of all.
Is solo album ("Was da ist" FMP CD 62) has NO equivalent in the history of recording music.

[Ron Thorne]

I heartily agree with Tanager's comments with respect to Scot LaFaro, and deeply regret his all too-brief life and career. He and Paul Chambers are at the top of my list for all-time great bassists.



Scott LaFaro

Marc Johnson strikes me in a similar way.

Leroy Vinnegar also had a unique approach, in my view.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Malachi Favors
Palle Danielsson
Eberhard Weber
Arild Andersen
Joony Booth
Marcio Mattos
Definitely: Johnny "Mbizo" Dyani
Sirone
Alan Silva