BASS, BASS, BASS
MISCELLANEOUS SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

First, if you are not currently subscribing to any of the bass magazines available, subscribe now.  For the price of one or two private lessons, you can get lessons from world class bassists every month delivered to your door.  I highly recommend that you subscribe to one or all of the following bass periodicals:

• Bass Player
• Bassics
• Double Bassist
• Electric Bass Guitar Magazine

Second, I intend to list some of my favorite players in attempt to inspire and educate students on the groundbreaking bassists that we emulate on a daily basis.  I will begin with fretless bass players.

• Jaco Pastorius - If you have never heard of or do not own any recordings by Jaco Pastorius, stop reading this now and go and get his first release which is self-titled.  It is the reason we are now respected as musicians along with saxophonists, pianists, and every other melodic instrumentalist.
• Alain Caron - Alain is a fantastic six-string fretless player from Montreal, Canada.  I recommend buying Alain's CDs "Rhythm 'N' Jazz", "Play" & "Call Me Al."  His recordings are hard to find but his recordings and many hard to find releases can be purchased from Audiophile Imports. 
• Gary Willis - Gary is the co-founder of the modern fusion group Tribal Tech and has a couple of solo releases.  I highly recommend Gary's CD entitled Bent. 
• Laurence Cottle - Laurence is the UKs fretless champion and is a wonderful human being to boot.  He has a couple of fantastic big band recordings which I am recommending.
• Michael Manring - Michael is doing things with the bass that others simply do not have the patience to do.  His commitment and dedication to breaking new ground with the electric bass demand to be recognized.  Anything you buy from Michael is musical and worth every penny.

There are many fretless players that I have not listed who are amazing players.  I have just listed my favorites.

• Bill Dickens - Bill is widely regarded as the best "slapper" in the world.  He is known as the Buddha of the Bass and is considered by Jeff Berlin & Victor Wooten to be leading the pack in this area of bass playing.
• Victor Wooten - Victor is the Stanley Clarke of our day.  His playing has been setting the mark for which all other bassists are judged when it comes to slapping.  He has several solo releases as well as many releases with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.  I recommend getting Bela's "Three Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" CD to really hear what Victor can do.
• Alain Caron - No one slaps like Alain, period.  He slaps melodic lines like a horn player and his technique is clean and virtually flawless.  For me, this is what slapping should be, melodic and rhythmic at the same time.  Check out Alain's CDs "Rhythm 'N' Jazz" and "Play."  You will hear what I mean.

There are so many people who slap well that I have excluded like Marcus Miller, Oteil Burbridge, Me' Shell N' Degeocello, Louis Johnson, and Les Claypool.  Check them out when you can too. 

Many of my students are into Funk and R&B playing as well.  (Funk does not mean slap!)  Here are a few groups and bassists that I feel you should be digging if you want to know how to groove.

• Groove Collective - Jonathon Maron's bass lines are all templates for solid soulful bass playing.  Any Groove Collective CD will knock you out.
• Incognito - UKs jazz-funk band is filled with awesome bass playing by many bassists.  All the grooves are tight and should make you want to dance.
• Masters At Work - Gene Perez has been playing bass for these two house music producers and lays down a solid foundation that drips with funk.  Check their new release or the CD "Nu-Yorican Soul."
• Tower Of Power - Rocco Prestia is the consummate groover.  If you do not own any TOP then you need to at least purchase "Urban Renewal" and "Back to Oakland."

Again, my list is only to inform and is not reflective of nor is it a complete list of all the players you should be hip to.

• Jeff Berlin - Come on now.  Not only is Jeff an advocate of proper musical education, but he is living proof that a musical education is pertinent to succeed as a musician.  Jeff's playing is without a doubt the most amazing thing you will hear coming from a four string electric bassist.  The amount of music coming from one man defies the limitations of the instrument.  As they say, your eyes won't believe what your mind can't conceive.  Purchase Jeff's CDs "Taking Notes" and "In Harmony's Way."  They are primers in melodic bass playing on all levels.
• Alain Caron - An amazing player as well as a strong composer.  Alain's compositions are what make me realize that I have to be patient as I grow musically.  His compositions showcase a strong sense of melody and rhythm and are models for modern jazz composers on the bass.

For those looking for some great Double Bass players, I suggest getting familiar with the following players.

• Niels Henning-Orsted Pederson - Niels plays the double bass as articulate and melodically as any electric player and more.  He know melody, harmony and a strong sense of time are all we really need to know.
• Dave Holland - Dave's past three releases with the Dave Holland Quintet are the most groundbreaking jazz ensemble recordings in years.  The group showcases all of its members and proves that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
• Avishai Cohen - Avishai can be heard on many of Chick Corea's more recent releases as well as his own solo recordings.  I recommend checking out Avishai's "Adama" CD.  It is an amazing recording.

How can I stop here?  I did not even mention Scott LaFaro, Ray Brown, John Patitucci, Charles Mingus, Paul Chambers and countless others.  Just at least check out some of these people.  They have laid down the groundwork from which we can learn and expand upon.