Awesome Bass Players
February 11th, 2007This post is a small promotion for my two favourite bassists. Firstly, my favourite bassist Billy Sheehan, who among the variety of bands and musical projects he has been associated with, formed the band Mr. Big back in the late 80’s.
As you may know, Mr. Big had the big radio hit ‘To Be With You’ in the early 90’s, so when people inquire to me about who he is or what he has done, I invariably mention this. This commercial favourite though belies the fact that he is probably the most musically striking and technically proficient innovator to have emerged on the bass in the rock genre. He plays thing which seem ‘impossible’ with an ease, grace and flair which belie the normally ungainly physical nature of the axe. If there is one bassist who I aim to emulate, it is this guy. Enough said, if you want to know more, google his name. As a starter, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRuOQtg-pJ0
Secondly, the amiable Victor Wooten, master of the bass craft. I recently again got my hands on his 1996 solo album ‘A Show of Hands’. I first heard songs from this album back in 1997 when I started playing bass and it blew me away at the time. This guy is a phenomenal bassist, arguably the best. To get an idea, check out this link (he is the one playing bass!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vdJvHE8qxA
So there you go, two of the great bassists with two very constrasting styles. I have been fortunate enough to see Sheehan twice (on both occasions as bassist for Steve Vai, first time a Vai tour, second time a G3 tour). Although Sheehan was given some time in each show to do some soloing, unfortunately on both occasions I was located in distant venue sections and couldn’t absorb the playing as much as I wanted to. But I have also been fortunate to see Wooten, as a Flecktone, playing for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. The show was relatively smaller in scale and on this occasion I was able to get a spot right up the front, literally 2-3 metres away from Wooten. Unsurprisingly the group’s music prominently features bass playing and he performed a brilliant bass solo midway; definitely a true treat for the connoisseur bass player.
