What do y'all think?

As with the 'greatest guitar player' thread, this too, is mostly just a matter of opinion. There are just too many great bass players out there.
Here are some of my favorite bass players, my inspirations
(Oh and to accomodate your topic, I'll only post people who are still alive )

In no particular order...

Stanley Clarke
Larry Graham
Bootsy Collins
Mark Adams
Louis Johnson
Verdine White
Marshall 'Rock' Jones
Oscar Alston
George Porter Jr.

Christaro said:

Answer subjected 2 the music u like. That said.....Bootsy Collins with Marcus Miller pulling in second.
[Edited 10/2/07 9:36am]

FuNkeNsteiN said:

No Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten?
[Edited 10/2/07 9:37am]

No Brownmark?

Graycap23 said:

While I recognize both their talents, I haven't really listened to Marcus or Victor that much, so that's why they didn't make my list.

bootsy collins

After you reach a certain level, there's no best, there's just different.
But since we're on the subject of bass, watch Marcus fill in for a last minute Winehouse cancellation. Without the bass.

anon said:

Good answer! (said in perfect Family Feud voice).

As for Marcus, that's just what a professional do.
(in perfect Gee Monet voice)


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I'm not sure they're the best, but I do like Flea and Geddy Lee.

The last few bands I saw live all had great bassists.



Juan Nelson with Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals band

Jared Nickerson with the electronica-funk band Yohimbe Brothers

Neal Evans of Soulive, who really plays keyboard bass as Stevie Wonder and Bernie Worrell laid it down

Plus my other current faves are Marcus Miller, Andy Hess of Gov't Mule, Doug Wimbish of Living Colour and Lige Curry of the PFunk All Stars.

That's not a far question. There are so many great ones, But some of my personal favorites are Louis Johnson, Verdine White, Stanley Clarke and the brother who played bass for SLAVE (I don't know his name).

ThePunisher said:

paligap will have your head for that malfeasance...Mark Adams...


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

There's no fifty thump dash that can determine the world's best!

NDRU said:

Quite true, but if there was...



...Tetsuo Sakurai would be in the running.

(video clip includes Dennis Chambers & Greg Howe)


*Found the full performance edit.
Had to get Greg Howe's solo and Dennis "Time Warp" Chambers solo in.
What Dennis does here is great but to hear/see him do this from about 5 feet away, you truly understand what a powerful (as well as skillful) drummer he is.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 10/2/07 22:57pm]

theAudience said:

that's a lotta thump! That's why these questions are impossible. Just when you mention a bunch of names along comes some guy you've never heard of!

Victor Wooten

theAudience said:

Yup yup, Mark 'Mr. Mark' Adams. Mentioned him in my post too, he's great

I couldn't answer this question because I haven't heard everybody, but I am liking what tA added to the thread with Tetsuo Sakurai, that man thumps with the best of them.

Since this is the only bass thread, at the moment:

Jonas at BPL, NYC. Seems Ndegocello is there too. But I don't think that entire schedule is accurate.
Either way, I'm there.

Jermaine Jackson

theAudience said:

Ndeed, Tetsuo's a bad Man!!!


also a frontrunner, on rhythmic thumb energy:

Mark King Of Level 42

Check out that thumb on this tune, "Pursuit Of Accidents":

http://www.youtube.com/wa...QU5nD73LVw



Dream Crazy

http://www.youtube.com/wa...s6vSkv3IDM


Dive Into The Sun

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=






...
[Edited 10/3/07 9:35am]

...

Mr King on " Mr Pink"


http://www.youtube.com/wa...KI8pFqWm0s









...

paligap said:

Good technical skills but the music was not saying anything. I'll take Bootsy every minute of every day.

Graycap23 said:

Just a different type of music, guys havin' some fun onstage -- now Bootsy is all about the Funk, that space between the notes!! I don't think anybodys gonna be dancin' to "Mr Pink"



...
[Edited 10/3/07 10:20am]

I am one who agrees there are no best players.

But with that said I have never seen anyone play like Vic Wooten. I saw him at the Old Wetlands in NYC and I almost felt like he wasn't playing it was that smooth and his attack was unbelievable.

I will give you one name no one will mention and its Jim Creeghan from Barenaked ladies. Phenom bass playing in a song context.

Also Patrick O'Hearn who played with Zappa.

Nevertheless Vic is untouchable.

Krytonite said:

I don't hink he's the best bass player alive, but he definitely can play bass... man

I would even say he's quite underrated...


He was like 15/16 yearld during the early janckon 5 days, and could already play all the James Jamerson's basslines on stage and singing at the same time... That's quite impressive...

krayzie said:

I agree, I've always liked his playing, an you're right them Jamerson lines ain't easy, especially while tryin to do a step, ...

come to think of it, he's underrated as a vocalist as well as a bass player....




...

paligap said:

Totally agree.
I was actually planning on making a Jermaine tribute thread, but since there are already too damn many Jackson threads around, I haven't done it

Some man or woman living in obscurity, whose work and skills we've never heard.

But, my favorites are Marcus Miller, Fred Hammond, Prince, Stanley Clarke and John Patitucci.