Best disco bassist ?!?

[Blaxman]

Ok, the post from Ricardo Mata makes me wonder, who's the best bass player on disco?

My choice: BERNARD EDWARDS from CHIC (RIP)

Listen to "Everybody Dance", "Good Times", "Le Freak", "Open Up"....etc,etc.

Honor list:

- Robert "Kool" Bell from Kool & the Gang.
- Verdine White - Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Ron Baker - MFSB, Salsoul Orch.
- Louis Johnson - Bros. Johnson
- Bootsy Collins (more funk than disco)

I'm sure there is many more.
What's your opinion?

Blaxman

[jazz_pilgrim]

You're absolutely right there, Blax!!! In terms of the Disco sound, it's got to be Bernie Edwards from Chic. Who else could be Number 1??

I also like your Louis Johnson and Verdine White suggestions ...

I would like to add:

Stanley Clarke - on the jazz-funk side
AND: That bass player from PLEASURE who does the bass solo on GLIDE !!! (I can't be bothered to go and dig out the LP and look up the name...)

I love the bass man. For me, one of the most important parts of a good disco record is a really decent bass riff!! :grin:

[Outsider]

I would definitely say Bernard Edwards.

[paul]

I have to agree with you Pilgrim about the bass player for Pleasure. In fact I could easily see giving him the edge over Chic's. I have the Pleasure's 1977 album, "Accept No Substitute." The bass lines on songs like "Let's Dance" and "I'm Mad" are simply awesome.

[Blaxman]

Oh yeah, the bassist for Pleasure is really good, his name is Nathaniel Phillips. I think Pleasure has one of the best drummers too, but this is subject for another topic.

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-05-22 06:37 ]</font>

[Blaxman]

On 2002-05-21 16:22, jazz_pilgrim wrote:
...
I love the bass man. For me, one of the most important parts of a good disco record is a really decent bass riff!! :grin:

I agree with you Jazz, the bass and the drums are the most important things in disco (even more to me, a "funk driven" disco fan), you can make a entire song just with drum and bass lines.

[jazz_pilgrim]

On 2002-05-22 06:44, Blaxman wrote:

I agree with you Jazz, the bass and the drums are the most important things in disco (even more to me, a "funk driven" disco fan), you can make a entire song just with drum and bass lines.

I had a feeling you would agree with me on that one, Blax! I, too, prefer the funk-driven disco sound ....

[Blaxman]

Jazz, I like Stanley Clark too, I have his Stanley/Duke project CD, I dont like the results very much but, his technique is superb.

[Fantomas]

Although my favorite type of music is Soul, Disco, and Funk ( a la Kool and the Gang) the best bassists were in Jazz and Rock.

[Blaxman]

On 2002-05-22 07:13, Fantomas wrote:
....the best bassists were in Jazz and Rock.

Well, I can be wrong....but, I cant see so much importance in bass lines on rock.

[Funky Dude]

I have 3 songs to mention that have killer bass:

Memphis Horns - Get Up & Dance 1976
Bar-Kays - Shut The Funk Up 1977
Herbie Hancock - Tell Everybody 1979

Could anyone identify the bass players in these groups?

[sammyperez]

Blax:

Great topic and the list compiled so far is impressive to say the least. You already know how I feel about 'Pleasure' so to include their bassist is long overdue. However, I must add at least two more names to your all-star lineup. First, I believe it is Sugarfoot, or Sugar for short, of The Ohio Players. Songs like 'Skin tight' and 'Fopp' speak for themselves. Second, is one of my all-time favorite bass players, Jamal Rasool, formerly Louis Risbrook, of B.T. Express. The bassline on 'I like it' alone is just cause for his inclusion, not to mention 'Express'. Also, while I don't have his name in front of me, I want to acknowledge the bass player from Cameo on 'It's Serious' which is a serious bassline, no pun intended. I know these are more on the funk side, however, I thought you could appreciate it all the more. I also dig Stanley Clarke. Great topic.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

[Blaxman]

On 2002-05-22 08:36, Funky Dude wrote:

Memphis Horns - Get Up & Dance 1976
Bar-Kays - Shut The Funk Up 1977
Herbie Hancock - Tell Everybody 1979

Could anyone identify the bass players in these groups?

Funky Dude, the Bar-Kays bassist is/was James Alexander, he is a survived member from the 1967's plane crash that kill several members of the band along Otis Redding. :cry: In fact he wasnt on the plane, later he reform the group became a great band.

Memphis Horns had two bassists on their "Get Up & Dance" album: Bobby Eaton and David Shields.

For Herbie Hancock "Tell Everybody": Fred Washington.

Peace,

Blaxman




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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-05-22 09:00 ]</font>

[Blaxman]

On 2002-05-22 08:39, sammyperez wrote:
Blax:

Great topic and the list compiled so far is impressive to say the least. You already know how I feel about 'Pleasure' so to include their bassist is long overdue. However, I must add at least two more names to your all-star lineup. First, I believe it is Sugarfoot, or Sugar for short, of The Ohio Players. Songs like 'Skin tight' and 'Fopp' speak for themselves. Second, is one of my all-time favorite bass players, Jamal Rasool, formerly Louis Risbrook, of B.T. Express. The bassline on 'I like it' alone is just cause for his inclusion, not to mention 'Express'. Also, while I don't have his name in front of me, I want to acknowledge the bass player from Cameo on 'It's Serious' which is a serious bassline, no pun intended. I know these are more on the funk side, however, I thought you could appreciate it all the more. I also dig Stanley Clarke. Great topic.

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

Sammy,

I start to realize. My list is too small, are so many good bass work out there!

I love BT Express and their basslines! About Cameo's "It's Serious", on the album credits Gary Dow shares the bass with Larry Blackmon. Saddly, I dont know who played it on this track. It's not clear but, I'll not surprised if was Larry. I consider him one of the greatests black music genius as like as Maurice White, Barry White, Isaac Hayes, James Brown.....

Peace,

Blaxman


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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-05-22 09:11 ]</font>

[jazz_pilgrim]

Yes, I would agree that Ohio Players, BT Express and Cameo should be added to the list.

Especially, Sam, your "It's Serious". I really like that one.

Another track to add to the growing list of great bass lines - New York Port Authority and "I Got It" ..

[Nano]

Obviously Bernard Edwards is the one. Obviously, also, most funk bands have great bass players.
I remember great slappin' work on the only album I heard of Mystic Merlin, a band made mostly of session players, so it can be someone well known. Have to check at home. The album (which I don't own) had some masks (like those of theater) on the cover.