100 Greatest Jazz Bassists

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 456

100 Greatest Jazz Bassists

Jazz has had the broadest perspective of all genre's in music since it's first note to the present day. It is for that reason that this list is presented in the same manner, with respect to all the myriad forms & interpretations of Jazz that exist today.

Criteria: - These jazz bass musicians were chosen for their impact & influence within the genre, versatility and the innovative & technical qualities of their playing of the instrument. Because of the expanding "gray area" between jazz & rock, some musicians may be on both lists. As with all lists, this is a subjective list and makes no claim of an official nature.

List Compiled by and Editor: Rick Varner

Link: http://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_jazz/best_jazzbass.html

1. Charles Mingus
2. Stanley Clarke
3. Paul Chambers
4. Jaco Pastorius
5. Ron Carter
6. Dave Holland
7. Ray Brown
8. Charlie Haden
9. Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen
10. Scott LaFaro
11. Milt "The Judge" Hinton
12. Paul Jackson
13. Eddie Gomez
14. John Patitucci
15. Steve Swallow
16. Tony Levin
17. Gary Willis
18. Victor Wooten
19. Brian Bromberg
20. Miroslav Vitous
21. "Slam" Stewart
22. Jeff Berlin
23. Cecil McBee
24. Steve Rodby
25. Joseph Patrick Moore
26. Don Thompson
27. Marcus Miller
28. Gary Peacock
29. Nathan East
30. Jimmy Garrison
31. Anthony Cox
32. Gary Grainger
33. Alain Caron
34. Jimmy Blanton
35. Frank Felix
36. James Genus
37. Eberhard Weber
38. Glen Moore
39. Abraham Laboriel
40. Jimmy Johnson
41. Steve Bailey
42. Jimmy Haslip
43. Christian McBride
44. Chris Wood
45. Melvin Davis
46. Lincoln Goines
47. Dave Carpenter
48. Michael Manring
49. Ben Allison
50. Richard Bona
51. Richard Davis
52. David Dyson
53. Larry Grenadier
54. Doug Watkins
55. Reggie Workman
56. David Friesen
57. Monk Montgomery
58. Verdine White
59. Scott Ambush
60. Charnett Moffett
61. George "Pops" Foster
62. Alphonso Johnson
63. Mark Egan
64. Dennis Irwin
65. Oscar Pettiford
66. Percy Heath
67. Bob Cranshaw
68. Red Callender
69. Adam Nitti
70. Anthony Jackson
71. Marc Johnson
72. Mark King
73. Dominic Richards
74. Tom Kennedy
75. George Mraz
76. Jeff Andrews
77. Daryl Jones
78. Louis Johnson
79. Will Lee
80. Ben Street
81. Steve Hunter
82. Palle Danielsson
83. Curtis Counce
84. Charlie Biddle
85. Bill Dickens
86. William Parker
87. Kermit Driscoll
88. T.M. Stevens
89. Walter Booker
90. Red Mitchell
91. John Kirby
92. Anders Jormin
93. Henry Grimes
94. David Piltch
95. Rufus Reid
96. John Clayton
97. Edgar Meyer
98. Francisco Centino
99. Walter Page
100 Pekka Pohjola

Raul · **Posted:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:07 pm

top 6 is win.

Jestercide · **Posted:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:36 am

i think NHOP should be higher.

The Man · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:56 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmhnJm2zHrE

great bassist from Cincinnati, real talented player and nice guy. Think some of you out there may appreciate it

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

Why is Carol Kaye on here? She's not really a jazz bassist.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 456

beaverteeth92 wrote:

Why is Carol Kaye on here? She's not really a jazz bassist.

Beginning in 1969, she wrote How To Play The Electric Bass, the first of many bass tutoring books and DVD courses. She gave lessons to thousands of students, including John Clayton, Mike Porcaro, Alf Clausen, David Hughes, Tony Sales, Karl E. H. Seigfried, Roy Vogt and David Hungate. Kaye retired from studio work during the 1970s because of arthritis.
She later became active again as a session musician, live jazz performer and teacher of both bass and guitar, giving seminars and interviews.

Throughout the 1950s, Kaye played bebop jazz guitar in dozens of nightclubs around Los Angeles with many noted bands including Bob Neal's jazz group, Jack Sheldon backing Lenny Bruce, Teddy Edwards and Billy Higgins.

and because she is one great bassist regardless the genre..............

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

Oh okay. I thought she pretty much only did session work for all the San Francisco labels in the 60s. Jazz guitar won't get her on here though.

Do you happen to have any recordings of her with jazz groups?

Ssoyd · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:06 pm **Posts:** 373

Rick wrote:

beaverteeth92 wrote:

Why is Carol Kaye on here? She's not really a jazz bassist.

Beginning in 1969, she wrote How To Play The Electric Bass, the first of many bass tutoring books and DVD courses. She gave lessons to thousands of students, including John Clayton, Mike Porcaro, Alf Clausen, David Hughes, Tony Sales, Karl E. H. Seigfried, Roy Vogt and David Hungate. Kaye retired from studio work during the 1970s because of arthritis.
She later became active again as a session musician, live jazz performer and teacher of both bass and guitar, giving seminars and interviews.

Throughout the 1950s, Kaye played bebop jazz guitar in dozens of nightclubs around Los Angeles with many noted bands including Bob Neal's jazz group, Jack Sheldon backing Lenny Bruce, Teddy Edwards and Billy Higgins.

and because she is one great bassist regardless the genre..............

Sorry but her abilities as a Teacher do not qualify her as a Jazz Bassist. She was originally a Jazz guitarist who did studio work to earn a living. She switched to Bass when she realized there was a shortage of studio bassists. Her stints into Jazz bass are rare and not at all original or exceptional. She was a pop and Rock bassist pure and simple. Her inclusion on a Jazz list is not warranted. I'll keep an open mind if you can give me a list of Jazz recordings that result in her fitting the criteria. If Kaye belongs on the list then so does James Jamerson who actually did play Jazz Bass.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 456

Ssoyd wrote:

Sorry but her abilities as a Teacher do not qualify her as a Jazz Bassist.

O.K. so offer up a replacement name.

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

John Lamb from the Ellington Big Band.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 456

An Evening With Victor Wooten April 18th at the Belly Up

Belly Up, 143 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Voted San Diego’s Best Live Music Venue!
Call the Box Office at (858)481-8140
You must be 21 or older to visit the Belly Up

Taro · **Joined:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:48 am **Posts:** 655

Chambers beats Pastorius? Never.... Also, Miller could go a bit higher.

rockvirtuoso · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:36 pm **Posts:** 2351

Rick wrote:

Ssoyd wrote:

Sorry but her abilities as a Teacher do not qualify her as a Jazz Bassist.

O.K. so offer up a replacement name.

the great don thompson

The Man · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:09 am

Taro wrote:

Chambers beats Pastorius? Never.... Also, Miller could go a bit higher.

I ask again, do you know anything about jazz? At all?

Taro · **Joined:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:48 am **Posts:** 655

The Man wrote:

Taro wrote:

Chambers beats Pastorius? Never.... Also, Miller could go a bit higher.

I ask again, do you know anything about jazz? At all?

So you suggest that Chambers was greater than Jaco? Never

100 Greatest Jazz Bassists

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