Jeff Beck, regarded by many as the best if not one of the best living rock guitarist has had the honor of playing with some pretty taented bass players: Stanly Clarke, Pino Palladino, Willie Weeks, Bootsy Collins, Doug Wimbish, Will Lee, and Wilbur Bascomb - but it is the two females that have been in his touring bands since 2007 - Tal Wilkenfeld (2007 to 2009) and Rhonda Smith (2010 till present).

Which bassist of the two ladies do you prefer? Tal or Rhonda?

I prefer Tal.

Maybe it's happened, but I haven't seen any bass player get a rise out of JB like this...



...Cause We've Ended As Lovers (Ronnie Scott's)



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

[Edited 1/3/12 15:07pm]

He raves more about Rhonda in interviews. I also have several live shows where he says he may as well leave the stage after Rhonda's solo segment.

Rhonda plays like a woman. Tal was too busy and played like a girl. Rhonda gives Jeff Beck that low end bottom thump his music needs. Tal and Vinnie were too jazzy, and Jeff Beck is not a jazz player.

theAudience said:

I prefer Tal.

Maybe it's happened, but i've haven't seen any bass player get a rise out of JB like this...



...Cause We've Ended As Lovers (Ronnie Scott's)



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

RnBAmbassador said:

He raves more about Rhonda in interviews. I also have several live shows where he says he may as well leave the stage after Rhonda's solo segment.

Rhonda plays like a woman. Tal was too busy and played like a girl. Rhonda gives Jeff Beck that low end bottom thump his music needs. Tal and Vinnie were too jazzy, and Jeff Beck is not a jazz player.

Nobody is claiming he's a Jazz player.

However Jeff Beck's music has had Jazz-Rock-Fusion overtones (and featured Jazz-Fusion players) since 1975's Blow By Blow.
I've seen him live with both rhythm sections and simply prefer Tal's playing.
I really wish I could have seen him with Pino Palladino on bass.



Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

RnBAmbassador said:

Jeff Beck, regarded by many as the best if not one of the best living rock guitarist has had the honor of playing with some pretty taented bass players: Stanly Clarke, Pino Palladino, Willie Weeks, Bootsy Collins, Doug Wimbish, Will Lee, and Wilbur Bascomb - but it is the two females that have been in his touring bands since 2007 - Tal Wilkenfeld (2007 to 2009) and Rhonda Smith (2010 till present).

Which bassist of the two ladies do you prefer? Tal or Rhonda?

Tal is back with Jeff Beck these days. Check her twitter.

Ms. Smith.............

Rhonda.

Rhonda has this "attitude" that she plays with. Works 4 me.

Ditto. Rhonda Smith's bass playing is most definitely perfect for Jeff Beck's music. The tone of Rhonda's bass thumps and her attitude is rock star like but still workman-like at the same time. I am partial to Rhonda because of the countless contributions she has made to Prince's recordings and her tenure with the NPG in my opinion immeasurable. I hope Beck records with her on new music.

Actually she is not! Rhonda Smith is Jeff Beck's new bassist in his new band with drummer Veronica Bellino. His EMOTION & COMMOTION touring band disbanded on Nov. 2, 2011 after completing their 2 year world tour. Jeff recorded tracks with Rhonda and Veronica in LA and London. As a matter of fact they played their first show for the Classic Rock Awards on Nov. 9th, 2011 in London.

The clips are on You Tube. Jeff has jammed with Tal whilst he was in LA, and she played on 2 songs at the iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas in September in Steven Tyler's adhoc band with Beck, Sting, Randy Jackson and others.

hjd said:

RnBAmbassador said:

Jeff Beck, regarded by many as the best if not one of the best living rock guitarist has had the honor of playing with some pretty taented bass players: Stanly Clarke, Pino Palladino, Willie Weeks, Bootsy Collins, Doug Wimbish, Will Lee, and Wilbur Bascomb - but it is the two females that have been in his touring bands since 2007 - Tal Wilkenfeld (2007 to 2009) and Rhonda Smith (2010 till present).

Which bassist of the two ladies do you prefer? Tal or Rhonda?

Tal is back with Jeff Beck these days. Check her twitter.

isn't MeShell better than them both?

datdude said:

isn't MeShell better than them both?

Times 2.