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

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11 Comments

  1. Luís Oliveira
    Luís Oliveira on June 27, 2008 at 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
    Gary Mousseau on June 27, 2008 at 9:13 am

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

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

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

  4. Andy Giller
    Andy Giller on June 28, 2008 at 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
    Eli Uttal-Veroff on June 28, 2008 at 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
    Kris Saebo on June 29, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    What about Paul Chambers “plucking” and Slam Stewart?

  7. Simon Little
    Simon Little on June 30, 2008 at 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
    AP on July 19, 2008 at 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
    Paul on August 3, 2008 at 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
    Mharlyn on September 5, 2008 at 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
    ppearce on March 20, 2009 at 6:02 am

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