Stomp! Breaking Down Louis Johnson’s Bass Line and Solo
In this episode, I’m breaking one of the greatest funk/dance tracks in history: “Stomp!” (1980) by the Brothers Johnson (produced by Quincy Jones) and the incredible bass playing by the late, great Louis Johnson (and his iconic bass solo!)
We’ll cover how the song came to be, the legendary studio musicians on the track, how Johnson slapped those incredible rhythms, and more.
Sit back, get a notepad, and get ready to dive deep into “STOMP!”
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.
