ZutonFever840

YtimK=Tim Commerford
he's got my pick also.

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Salami

Ugliest, maybe....

I don't think anyone has ever been more charismatic than Nathan East. In every performance he livens it up by his superb acting.
And for a bassist, he's usually far better than the lead guitarist.

Frownland

Billy Sheehan, that guy is ridiculous.

mr dave

Jaco Pastorius is still top of the pile for me.

There's just something really lame and offsetting to my ears to hear a 'bass' player out noodle the guitar player by just repeating a bunch of standard guitar licks on the bass. Especially in blues / rock environments.

The point of the instrument is to establish a groove for the music. NOT to draw attention away from the music and to the performer. If you want to use it as a primarily melodic lead instrument then maybe consider a jazz trio or something but still...

Pastorius understood the role of the instrument within a group. His bass playing is both subtle yet ferocious. Consider a piece like 'Used to be a Cha-Cha'. The bulk of the bass line is an alternating melody between 4 notes. It 'looks' simple as hell but once you try maintaining the pace for the duration of the piece you forced to appreciate the discipline and conditioning involved in performing it. Even when he takes off into a crazy solo he NEVER drops the fundamental groove his bass establishes, maintains, and most assuredly propels the music forward.

While there are plenty who've come along since his untimely passing who can technically play circles around him (Les Claypool) or who've become virtuosos at styles / techniques (Flea) that had barely reached mainstream ears by his end, there aren't many primary bass players who come close (Squarepusher) to being as balanced of a full musician as Jaco Pastorius.

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Goofle

There are different levels of what makes somebody good musically, and I am sure they have been discussed at some point in various threads.

I would say Geddy Lee from Rush is the best Bass player I have heard (and seen) but my favourite is Mani from The Stone Roses. The I Wanna Be Adored bass line is so chiller.

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blastingas10

Victor Wooten

Necromancer

You read my mind.

blastingas10

I saw bela fleck and the original flecktones earlier this year. It was crazy. Victor was doing some crazy soloing.

TheBig3

We need to redefine "best"

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Necromancer

The best ever is Chris Squire.