it's probably easier to compare jaco to hendrix himself, or john coltrane, than it is to any other bassist. he was in his own stratosphere of playing that is unparalleled by anyone. even victor wooten doesnt play with that kind of intensity. check out jaco's solo on "sightseeing" from the 8:30 live album. totally farking riciculous.

I never heard him before. Thanks

Where's your Geddy now?

Still alive and productive.

Kyosuke: Still alive and productive.

Zzzzzzing!

Kyosuke: Where's your Geddy now?


Still alive and productive.

I will take the collective work of Jaco over anyhting Geddy has or will ever make. Name one track that Geddy has recorded since the death of Jaco, that would even come close to matching the proficency and magestry of Jaco.

/would take bootsy over geddy

No bass player will ever come close to Jaco and I agree that you just can't compare him to most if not all bass players.

Combine his fretless work with knowledge of harmonics and it's over.

Mingus is the only bass player I put in his talent group.

Who had the cooler name is the real question.

Mingus or Jaco?

jaco mingus ftw

Stupid.


Above comments stupid.


Every time I plug in my fender Jazz I don't go: "hey look,I'm competing with Jaco!"

I don't think Geddy does either.


Morons who think playing their instrument as competition are clueless.


Besides---I can name a bassist who BEATS them ALL!!!!!!


John Deacon of Queen.

Yep,you heard me right.

Round up 100 hundred random people and force them to listen to "Portrait of Tracy" or "The Chicken" or ANY Jaco or "YYZ" or "La Villa Strangiato" or most ANY Rush song and they will all say "what the hell is this?"

Play JUST the BASS line to "Another One Bites the Dust" or "Under Pressure" and most of the hundred people will say "I love that song!"

There,Deacon is winner.
No contest.
Simple and lovable songs all driven by a good bass line.

I think Geddy would scoff at subby's ridiculously implied put-down. All bass players worship at the altar of Jaco, Geddy included.

To the very small list of players who come close I would add NHOP.

Probably obscure now, I'm old.

craigdamage: Round up 100 hundred random people and force them to listen to "Portrait of Tracy" or "The Chicken" or ANY Jaco or "YYZ" or "La Villa Strangiato" or most ANY Rush song and they will all say "what the hell is this?"

Play JUST the BASS line to "Another One Bites the Dust" or "Under Pressure" and most of the hundred people will say "I love that song!"

There,Deacon is winner.

You consider Burger King the ultimate restaurant, don't you? ;^)

Other than that, right on.

I always thought if you gave Jaco a guitar instead of a bass he'd be just another guitarist, no big deal. I'll admit, he's better than me though.



THIS GUY (new window) is teh mostest awesomest bassist ever.

craigdamage: Stupid.


Above comments stupid.


Every time I plug in my fender Jazz I don't go: "hey look,I'm competing with Jaco!"

I don't think Geddy does either.


Morons who think playing their instrument as competition are clueless.


Besides---I can name a bassist who BEATS them ALL!!!!!!


John Deacon of Queen.

Yep,you heard me right.

Round up 100 hundred random people and force them to listen to "Portrait of Tracy" or "The Chicken" or ANY Jaco or "YYZ" or "La Villa Strangiato" or most ANY Rush song and they will all say "what the hell is this?"

Play JUST the BASS line to "Another One Bites the Dust" or "Under Pressure" and most of the hundred people will say "I love that song!"

There,Deacon is winner.
No contest.
Simple and lovable songs all driven by a good bass line.

so britney would be a better singer then etta james or ella fiztgerald because more people know her songs?

I was talking about songs driven by bass lines.


Songs FAMILIAR by the bass.


If John Deacon drove a Britney tune....HELL YEAH!

Subby: Thank you! I've got one of Jaco's DVDs but never have seen this. Brilliant!

....besides,people remember Etta James BECAUSE of her voice.



Who remembers Britney Spear's music?



We all know who Britney is from her meltdowns and assorted embarrassments but who actually remembers her music?


There are people who know great Queen songs BECAUSE of the bass part.

That was my point.


How many people walk around humming "The Fish" by Chris Squire?

Meh I really tried to like the guy, and I'm sad that he died so young, but after watching at least a half a dozen videos of him I'm just not feeling it. At all. In fact he annoys me. *shrug* Music is subjective, so whatever.

I really dig THIS (new window) and at about the 3 minute mark I look the fool boppin' in my chair. ...off to listen to it for the 3rd time.

Music, still not a contest.

Can't believe it's been 20 years since his murder. What a total shame. Unfortunately, he did go through a Britney-like meltdown and it went on for years. His innovation more or less ended around 1982.

I would have to agree that he does just sound like a guitarist on a bass. I played bass in a band for a while and when I went off on pentatonic rants people thought it was amazing but if I had done it on guitar it would have been typical.

Either way its more about the song than the solo. Not a contest, not a sport.

This is from a concert in Germany. It's on DVD in the new Weather Report box set, which I got for Christmas. My jaw hit the floor for this section.

Subby was just sharing a good thing with the people. Shame you have to use some dumb Fark cliche to get it greenlit.

I dunno, I'm more partial to this:

Link

craigdamage: Above comments stupid.

uh, including yours! deacon was great though.

Uncle_Slacker: I always thought if you gave Jaco a guitar instead of a bass he'd be just another guitarist, no big deal. I'll admit, he's better than me though.

you dont have to be a musician to realize jacos phrasing was absolutely nothing like any guitar players phrasing, jazz or otherwise. man that was a dumb comment, its a sad state when jaco is over peoples heads. however-

Uncle_Slacker: THIS GUY (new window) is teh mostest awesomest bassist ever.

im inclined to agree with this.

lazario: I would have to agree that he does just sound like a guitarist on a bass. I played bass in a band for a while and when I went off on pentatonic rants people thought it was amazing but if I had done it on guitar it would have been typical.

your first sentence makes it abundantly clear that NOBODY was amazed with your 'pentatonic rants'.

R33tJaymzEn$0r: I dunno, I'm more partial to this:

Link
you have got to be kidding.

lazario: Either way its more about the song than the solo. Not a contest, not a sport.

oh yeah, jaco was just as good a composer as he was a player. maybe even better. the more you know.

"No bass player will ever come close to Jaco and I agree that you just can't compare him to most if not all bass players."

All i have to say is, bow down before the awesomeness that is Stanley Clarke.
Link (new window)

That Stanley Clarke solo sounds dreadful.


I have heard more balls from a banjo.


Why does he play bass in the first place?


When you put on the lightest gauge strings possible and turn the treble all the way up through an amp made up of high frequency tweeters--you are no longer playing bass.

Sorry.


Do bass violinists try to make their instruments sound more like a viola?


here is my list of worst bass tones:

Stanley Clarke
Mark King (worse than Clarke)
Marcus Miller
Geddy Lee (his recent live sound only)


Jaco played really bright and trebly but he used massive 18" folded horn speakers live for a real fat sound.

ballsiest sounding bass players are:

John Paul Jones
John Entwistle (70s SUNNO))) amp sound was pure thunder)
Geezer Butler
James Jamerson (sweet little vintage Ampeg porta-flex combos)
Dusty Hill (fat farty tube sound he gets is really nice)

craigdamage: ....besides,people remember Etta James BECAUSE of her voice.



Who remembers Britney Spear's music?



We all know who Britney is from her meltdowns and assorted embarrassments but who actually remembers her music?


There are people who know great Queen songs BECAUSE of the bass part.

That was my point.


How many people walk around humming "The Fish" by Chris Squire?

I tried humming his solo part of Heart of a Sunrise a couple of times, but its really too nuanced for humming. Not all great music has to be hummable.

I saw Jaco solo when he was opening for Pat Metheney/Lyle Mays, and he did something like this, but a tad different. He got his delay to crank two different chords

back
forth
back
forth
back
forth
and then cranked into Foxy Lady over their pattern. Sweet.

Earlier, someone posted that guy on the Warr Guitar playing Take 5, and I couldn't have cared less while watching it. But THIS! This, I watching intently to see where he'd go next. That's entertainment and musicianship and a little bit craziness (he was bipolar).

"Not all great music has to be hummable"



Yeah...I don't hum much Stravinsky either.

craigdamage: I was talking about songs driven by bass lines.


Songs FAMILIAR by the bass.


If John Deacon drove a Britney tune....HELL YEAH!

I saw this guy who did a cover of "oops I did it again". He did it with just an acoustic guitar, and a really good voice. The song was much more palatable that way... I wish I could remember who did it.

As a former guitar-hero-wannabe, I have to agree with craigdamage's original post's points.

1. Musicians aren't in some kind of competitive sport.
2. The best music is simple. Listen to BB King play the blues. He can put more in one or two notes than most can in a blazing 15 minute masturbatory solo.

As far as bass players go, though, The dude from Primus has my vote. Primus sucks! (new window)

My bassist can beat your bassist; yada, yada, yada. This argument has gotten old and repetitive and serves no other purpose than to inflame emotions. Can't we all just get along?
Eh, scratch that; they all suck, except the guy I like.

craigdamage
ballsiest sounding bass players are:

John Paul Jones
John Entwistle (70s SUNNO))) amp sound was pure thunder)
Geezer Butler
James Jamerson (sweet little vintage Ampeg porta-flex combos)
Dusty Hill (fat farty tube sound he gets is really nice)

That list of yours is missing two people:
Jack Bruce (Cream era) and John Wetton (King Crimsone era)

dammit
*King Crimson
[no 'e']

/previewing it would've been good.

I dunno, most of that sounded too self-indulgent for my tastes.

On the other hand, I think Jaco did a lot of good for bass in modern music. I especially liked his work with Joni Mitchell.

Joni Mitchell - Free Man in Paris (new window)

Bow down before John Entwistle and weep!

Won't Get Fooled Again (new window)

5:15 (new window)

/Better than whoever your favorite bassist is, yadda yadda yadda

//This is also pretty cool. (new window) It makes me laugh at the very least

But . . . who's the most musical bass player?


/ that's basically "it's a streetlight" to the folks at alt.music.rush
// and it always comes down to Victor and Jaco

Third_Uncle_Eno: craigdamage
ballsiest sounding bass players are:

John Paul Jones
John Entwistle (70s SUNNO))) amp sound was pure thunder)
Geezer Butler
James Jamerson (sweet little vintage Ampeg porta-flex combos)
Dusty Hill (fat farty tube sound he gets is really nice)

That list of yours is missing two people:
Jack Bruce (Cream era) and John Wetton (King Crimson era)

Wetton had the most evil bass sound ever. Pure brimstone.

I'd also have to add Chris Squire. The opening riff to "Heart of the Sunrise" alone is bass heaven; that planed-down Rickenbacher with the Rotosound strings was magic.

"Wetton had the most evil bass sound ever. Pure brimstone"



One word---


Fender P

Heroin is a helluva drug. So's a fatal beating.

That said, Jaco invented the electric bass. Others have come close, like Chris Squire, Jack Bruce, and John Deacon.

/yup

craigdamage: Stupid.


Above comments stupid.


Every time I plug in my fender Jazz I don't go: "hey look,I'm competing with Jaco!"

I don't think Geddy does either.


Morons who think playing their instrument as competition are clueless.


Besides---I can name a bassist who BEATS them ALL!!!!!!


John Deacon of Queen.

Yep,you heard me right.

Round up 100 hundred random people and force them to listen to "Portrait of Tracy" or "The Chicken" or ANY Jaco or "YYZ" or "La Villa Strangiato" or most ANY Rush song and they will all say "what the hell is this?"

Play JUST the BASS line to "Another One Bites the Dust" or "Under Pressure" and most of the hundred people will say "I love that song!"

There,Deacon is winner.
No contest.
Simple and lovable songs all driven by a good bass line.

Thats why regular people don't decide what music is good (not saying Queen isn't good). They do decide what music sells and therefore what music gets played on mainstream radio, but sorry bro you can't ask 100 random people to tell me what farking music is good.

craigdamage: That Stanley Clarke solo sounds dreadful.


I have heard more balls from a banjo.


Why does he play bass in the first place?


When you put on the lightest gauge strings possible and turn the treble all the way up through an amp made up of high frequency tweeters--you are no longer playing bass.

Sorry.


Do bass violinists try to make their instruments sound more like a viola?


here is my list of worst bass tones:

Stanley Clarke
Mark King (worse than Clarke)
Marcus Miller
Geddy Lee (his recent live sound only)


Jaco played really bright and trebly but he used massive 18" folded horn speakers live for a real fat sound.

ballsiest sounding bass players are:

John Paul Jones
John Entwistle (70s SUNNO))) amp sound was pure thunder)
Geezer Butler
James Jamerson (sweet little vintage Ampeg porta-flex combos)
Dusty Hill (fat farty tube sound he gets is really nice)

Jaco played with that sound because people farking loved to hear him play like that and he did a lot of drugs which must have made his life rule while playing bass and can anyone complain about drugs n bass? come on no one can ever argue who is the best but that man grooved and had a kick ass time so lets all have fun and do what we want to!

"Another one bites the dust" is by far one of the worst songs ever recorded. Queen's disco song. Just because people liked it doesn't mean that it's good. People liked the Spice Girls and Vanilla Ice too...

This is good demonstartion of a great talent, like a juggler, a fantastic magician, or a great QB who can hit the mark evey time. In that vein I am very impressed.

But as Music? Nah ... I didnt hear any music in there. Record this to a wav, put it on CD and play it in your car loud for your friends. See if it has the same effect.

craigdamage: "Wetton had the most evil bass sound ever. Pure brimstone"

One word---


Fender P

That's it. He also used a Vega cabinet.

Wetton was unusual in that he apparently broke bass strings on a regular basis. (I don't recall what kind he used.)

HankySpanky: Record this to a wav, put it on CD and play it in your car loud for your friends. See if it has the same effect.

Then it would be time for new friends.

Jaco was a decentish jazz guitarist who seemed to always be holding the wrong instrument for some reason.

As a bassist, he was pretty terrible.

Les Claypool (primus) has my vote!

Les Bass Solo (new window)

Third_Uncle_Eno: GypsyJoker
Wetton had the most evil bass sound ever. Pure brimstone.


THIS!

Yes, this. This thread made me put "Red" on, just for a bolus of win this sleepy New Year's Day.

I'm not going to go into the argument of whether or not Geddy Lee is better than Jaco, because it's pointless. I'm pretty sure Geddy would agree that Jaco had more dexterity than he ever could. On the other hand, Geddy is pretty impressive in his ability to play the bass while singing the way he does.

Having said that, I was really unimpressed by the video. Sure, it showed that he could play, but it wasn't really music to my years. If I were in a concert and someone played that, I would have been pretty pissed. Just not very entertaining, I suppose.

wtom: I saw this guy who did a cover of "oops I did it again". He did it with just an acoustic guitar, and a really good voice. The song was much more palatable that way... I wish I could remember who did it.

Richard Thompson