Okay, how about Charles Fambrough--his groove. Charnet Moffett because he's all that. Oscar Pettiford--he has chops to burn. Avery Sharp--he's got great ideas. Santi Debriani--he can hang with the Ellington band or Oliver Lake. I'm pretty good (in my college days--and I have recordings to prove it!). Red Mitchell because of his humanity AND he tuned his bass like a cello. Oh yeah, and Red Callendar for his swing; Milt Hinton--he's The Judge (he was actually one of the very first jazz bassists, switching from tuba to four string!). How about Jamil Nasser? He's got PHAT TONE! Don't forget Slam Stewart and the arco/vocal solos! You know, Dave Eubanks is pretty good--he's the brother of Kevin Eubanks, guitarist of "The Tonight Show" fame. Sheesh! I almost forgot about Cecil McBee--low reg! And what about CHARLES MINGUS??????????????????? His playing was great, especially in the bebop days, but, of course, his compositions are 2 dye 4! And there are some others, like Walter Booker, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Al Makibbon, Gary Mapp, John Ore, Todd Coolman, Bill Douglass, Cameron Brown (I had some lessons from him in Italy), JIMMY GARRISON (Trane!), Tommy Potter, Leroy Vinegar (West Coast soul), CHARLIE HADEN, Ray Drumhand, Buster Williams (Super fat tone!)--all of these cats have given me pause in order to consider that BASS is the foundation of music, and, probably, life. Thanks, all.
Johnny
