I Shoulda Loved Ya: Breaking Down Disco’s Last Great Bass Line
In this episode, I’m breaking down one of Disco’s last hits from 1980 (“I Shoulda Loved Ya” by Narada Michael Walden).
We’ll trace the song’s DNA from James Brown to EWF to Chic, how its iconic bass line was born, and dig into the legendary bassist that laid it down – along with 40 years worth of hit records – the great T.M. Stevens!
Paul Thompson has been playing bass professionally for over 30 years, including recording and touring stints with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Recent playing credits include Bob Reynolds, John Pizzarelli, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, and Bob James, among others. Currently, he can be seen playing in and around the Pittsburgh, PA area with the THOTH Trio, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and many other musicians in the city's rich Jazz community. An educator of over 25 years, Paul currently teaches Jazz Bass at Duquesne University, West Virginia University, and his alma mater, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 Performing Arts School.
Connect with Paul on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and his website.
