Bass Videos - Page 297

Even in the few years he was able to make a name for himself, Jimmy Blanton helped change the face of jazz bass. Blanton, who was cited as an influence by the likes of Ray Brown and Charles Mingus, drove the bass into the spotlight as a viable solo instrument by playing horn-like melodies, but he also changed the sound...

Our good friend Sylvain Gros-Desormeaux keeps us in the loop on some excellent videos I’m afraid we would have otherwise missed. This time around, Sylvain shared this performance by keyboardist Meddy Gerville at ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, along with bassist Michel Alibo and drummer Emmanuel Félicité. Sylvain said Gerville’s group plays “some traditional music from la Reunion Island (it’s a...

Our friend Cory O’Brien shared this terrific video, setting it up perfectly by saying it “exemplifies the fact that we are limited only by our imagination”. The artist in this video goes by the name That 1 Guy, who averages “150-200 shows a year all over North America and Canada.” The instrument is something That 1 Guy pioneered, aptly named...

Earlier this year, Meshell Ndegeocello went into The Boombox’s studio for Off the Record. One of the performances of that session was her cover of Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” – the title track from Drake’s last album. In 1974, Drake committed suicide at the age of 26. During his short career, he wasn’t able to achieve much of an audience...

We know you love bass like we do, so this one is going to be especially great – at least four times as great. In September, 2013, John Patitucci, Victor Bailey, Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten took the stage at the Berklee Performance Center for this “Double Bass Jam”, along with drummer Derico Watson. The only thing wrong with this...

This video has been making the rounds, and for good reason. Bassist Davie504 made this incredible medley of 100 of the most popular bass lines of all time. “I chose and played 100 Great and Famous Bass Lines which, in my opinion, every bass player should know!” the bassist writes. “These bass lines helped me during those years to improve...

We’ve heard Julie Slick has a new album out (more on that very soon). That reminded us of our first experience hearing Julie, with the Adrian Belew Power Trio back in 2008. The trio at that time also included Julie’s brother Eric Slick. Here they are performing the King Crimson tune “Three of a Perfect Pair”. Julie’s tone and lines...

Today we’re remembering the legendary bassist Bob Babbitt, who passed away on this day in 2012. After playing on over 200 Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits, it’s safe to say that he will never be forgotten. Here’s a video of Babbitt performing “Mercy Mercy Me” at the 2004 Montreal Jazz Festival with the Funk Brothers. Babbitt played on the...

Emeline Fougeray is one of two bassists in Oceakyl, a band started by the group’s other bassist, Olivier Carole. Emeline sent me this video of their tune “Visions?”, which offers up a ton of bass goodness. Emeline holds down the low end while Olivier plays the melody. The trio also includes drummer Mogan Cornebert.

Here’s an example of a singer/songwriter doing it right. The very talented Scott Varney builds his song “Slow Down” all by himself with a bass, a djembe, his voice and a looper. After getting a serious groove and sweet backup vocals going, Varney adds his lyrics overtop while comping chords on his bass. Make sure to check out the Sublime...

I’ve been spinning Ben Harper’s latest album – and his first collaboration with his mother Ellen – a lot lately. That album features Jesse Ingalls on double bass, who is part of Harper’s Relentless7 band. Here’s Ben with Ingalls and Relentless7 performing “By My Side” live the Machine Shop. Dig Ingalls’ Ric, and that sweet tone!

Here’s another great metal bass play-through from Taken by the Tide’s Andrew Workman, who demonstrates how to play their song “Long Pig.” The track comes from their latest EP, Hands of Spite. Workman uses a healthy mix of fingerstyle, slapping, and tapping to get lots of textures out of his 7-string AC Guitars bass.