Most Underrated Bass Player

[Hornbein]

Agreed, in a backhanded way since he did get plenty of accolades. A guy who can make a friend's song about crying guitars that features his best friend making one cry... about the bass? Paul's brilliance with bass was exasperating for George at times I suspect.

I admit a liking for some of the old jazz bassists, but most of those guys did get rated. Took some tracking down who played bass on "Walkin' Shoes" - Bob Whitlock -

Never heard of Mr. Whitlock before, ergo mucho underratedness points. He's the star on this recording.

 

[Ken Fabian]

@Hornbein What guys like that could do with an upright bass is awesmacking.

On electric bass I do like Chris Squire, but he has plenty of ratedness. Just listened again to Yessongs, the live recording - the bass just floors me every time I hear it.

 

[Ken Fabian]

Bass is widely underrated (along with drummers) - plenty of online info about gerry mulligan but the band's bassist(s)? Even finding the man's name took some searching.

That piece really impressed me - I keep trying for the right superlatives but in the end... pivotal keeps coming to mind. It would be a remarkable solo but I often find the bass solos less musically impressive (if usually more technically impressive) than what they do with a band working together.

Getting that level of pitch perfect and clear, clean tones would be hard enough with fretted instruments - the frets get a player close to the right pitch but the player still has to be good to take it that extra bit closer to perfect. With a fretless acoustic bass?

(That marginalizing of bass players can be irritating; I've watched a few videos of Yes and (apart from his signature solo piece "The Fish") almost the only time the camera shows what Chris Squire is doing for more than a glimpse is showing him singing backing vocals. How a film crew could be at a Yes concert and not notice the pivotal part, very often the lead instrument role, of Squire's bass has me scratching my head. Like the only members that matter are the lead vocalist and the guitarist? Seems even worse for drummers!)

 

[Hornbein]

How about Dave LaRue? So underrated that even I forgot about him.



Steve Morse also had Jerry Peek, very hot stuff for 1984. Still could be my fave ebass solo.