Favorite Recorded Jazz Bass Solos


Jimmy Blanton

I’m soliciting suggestions for an upcoming “Dozens” piece that I’m writing for jazz.com. What are your favorite recorded jazz bass solos of all time? Please leave a comment or drop me an email if you’d like to suggest a favorite track. Thanks.

BTW, if you haven’t visited the site yet, it is a lot of fun to read through their interviews and track reviews.

Current bassists under consideration:

Jimmy Blanton
Charles Mingus
Ray Brown
Red Mitchell
Scott LaFaro
Charlie Haden
Christian McBride
Eddie Gomez
George Mraz
Oscar Pettiford
Dave Holland
Michael Moore

June 27, 2008 · Filed Under Uncategorized, bill harrison, jazz, jazz bass playing

Comments

11 Responses to “Favorite Recorded Jazz Bass Solos”

  1. Luís Oliveira on June 27th, 2008 7:59 am

    Some great bassists I can think of that aren’t on your list yet: Marc Johnson, Anders Jormin, Miroslav Vitous, Carlos Bica and Ron Carter.

  2. Gary Mousseau on June 27th, 2008 9:13 am

    The bassist listed are great how about Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen.

  3. Eric Hochberg on June 27th, 2008 10:11 am

    Maybe you don’t want to include bass guitar, but Jaco’s “Donna Lee” solo is something else…

  4. Andy Giller on June 28th, 2008 10:10 am

    I have always really liked Ray Brown’s solo on “Chicago (that toddling town)” with Oscar Peterson. Nothing flashy or groundbreaking, but perfect in a straightforward and simple Ray Brown kind of way.

  5. Eli Uttal-Veroff on June 28th, 2008 4:47 pm

    can you consider Renaud Garcia Fons jazz? if so I would throw him in there his stuff is pretty awesome, also Ron Carter, Richard Davis and Paul chambers for bowed solos.

  6. Kris Saebo on June 29th, 2008 5:36 pm

    What about Paul Chambers “plucking” and Slam Stewart?

  7. Simon Little on June 30th, 2008 8:32 am

    My all-time favourite is Scott LaFaro’s solo on My Romance (Take 2) on the Bill Evans Trio album ‘Waltz For Debby’. Such a great lyrical player. also any of Eddie Gomez’s solos on ‘You Must Believe In Spring’.

  8. AP on July 19th, 2008 5:03 pm

    LaFaro’s solo on Nardis (Evans “Explorations”) sounds like he must’ve written out before the session. It’s so perfect.

  9. Paul on August 3rd, 2008 11:27 pm

    Paul Chamber’s solos on Midtown blues (Jackie McLean) and on Trane’s Blues (Miles Davis-Workin’) are like stories and are beatiful blues solos. AND, definitely any Mingus on ‘Blues and Roots’ (for example Tensions-wow-and Cryin’ Blues-’deep’ minor feel).

  10. Mharlyn on September 5th, 2008 1:39 am

    Any solo by Jymie Merritt with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers or Max Roach. Always in the pocket yet always unpredictable. Famously sampled by Digable Planets and others, shows the timelessness and bit.

    Oct 24th is the deadline to nominate Jymie Merritt for an NEA Jazz Masters Award. He’s 82 and still gigging in Philly. Make your voice heard. You can nominate via email: http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/Award.html.

    Thanks.

  11. ppearce on March 20th, 2009 6:02 am

    Ray Brown’s solo with Oscar on “How High the Moon” has been a hallmark for bass solos for many decades.

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