Great Bassists
The world of bass guitar is probably a lot bigger and more diverse than you imagined. From styles of music, to numbers of strings, configuration, to the amazing bassits that whose musical signatures have become the stuff of legend, this world has a lot to teach you, no matter how long you've been playing. Here are some bassists every bassist should know, and links to the gear that helps make them great. Enjoy!
Kai Eckhardt - Is best known for his work with John McLaughlin, Vital Information, Torsten de Winkel, Billy Cobham and Garaj Mahal. Educated at Berklee College of Music, Eckhardt is known for his fast chordal slap-style abilities, and for his unique combination of funk, jazz, and world music.
Austrian bassist/composer/teacher Bernhard Lackner - an alumni instructor of Roy Vogt's Bass Camp, has worked with many of the most highly-respected musicians in the business and is guest clinician at Berklee College Of Music, Musician's Institute, LA Music Academy, and the Basscollective.
Five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten, hit the worldwide scene in 1990 as a founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Continuing to blaze a musical trail with the band, Victor has also become widely known for his own Grammy nominated solo recordings and tours.
As one of today’s leading bassists, Stu Hamm, an alumni instructor of Roy Vogt's Bass Camp has released four critically-acclaimed studio recordings on which he showcased his unique style of playing the bass as a lead instrument both within a solo environment and various ensemble formats spanning all popular genres.
Adam Nitti - An alumni instructor at Roy Vogt's Bass Camp, founded AdamNittiMusicEducation.com, an online bass guitar academy. Adam, an adjunct faculty member of Belmont University’s School of Music and the Atlanta Institute of Music, is also an instructor at Victor Wooten's, and Gerald Veasley's Bass Camps.
Bass Player Magazine calls Doug Johns “One of the most credit–deserving bass virtuosos in America…it’s his inventiveness that’s consistently compelling.” Known for his raw presence, energy, and all-around crowd-wowing prowess, Doug has worked with such icons as Victor Wooten, Buddy Miles, Chuck Rainey, and many others.
Paul McCartney was with a group called The Beatles, a long, long time ago. Then with Wings and, in both cases, enjoyed a measure of success. While not an alumni bass instructor at Roy's camps - an honor to which he, no doubt, aspires - he's still got some decent bass chops
From smashing through the barriers of how the bass is SUPPOSED to be played, cutting edge bass design, to being recognized as a world-class producer, songwriter, and session musician, Brian Bromberg keeps pushing the envelopeof musical boundaries. He is also founder of www.bassonthebroadband.com
Bryan Beller has maintained a frenetic, multi-faceted career as a bassist, composer, solo artist, writer and clinician for over twenty years. As a pure player, a masterclass clinician, Beller brings a global perspective to the world of bass, and sits at the intersection of many of its current pathways
Roy Vogt Bass Camp alum instructor Tim Smith teaches jazz bass at the University of Miami's prestigious Frost School of Music. A long-time resident of Nashville, Tim played, at one time or another, just about everyone who ever called Nashville home, or came through town!
Kiesel Guitars Carvin Custom Shop is excited to team up with noted bassist Roy Vogt to offer the The Roy Vogt RV69K 6-string signature bass. Roy's been playing Custom Shop basses for years. Take 10 days to try one out. Really give it a workout!
Bass on the Broadband is the world's first radio station dedicated to bass guitar, bass guitar music, and the bassists who make it. From Jazz and classic pop, to rock, punk, funk, and eclectic, you'll be amazed at the music the world's top bassists are making! Check it out!
Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. He is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, and producer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality.
From the KXB, to the NBS, the JKX and the popular and affordable Brute MJX, Brubaker Basses represent uncompromising commintment to craftsmanship, sound, handling, and playability. You owe it to yourself to test drive a Bru!
Carol Kaye - who was instrumental in Roy's bass educations - has played and taught guitar professionally since 1949, and accidentally got into studio work late 1957 with the Sam Cooke recordings and other big recordings on guitar for the 1st 5 years of studio work in Hollywood. In 1963 when a Fender bassist didn't show up for a record date at Capitol Records, she picked up the Fender bass (as it was called then) and augmented her busy schedule playing bass and grew quickly to be the no. 1 call with record companies, movie & TV film people, and commericals. She enjoyed working under the direction of Michel LeGrand, Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, David Rose, David Grusin, Ernie Freeman, Hugo Montenegro, Leonard Rosenman, John Williams, Alfred & Lionel Newman, etc. as well as the numerous hits she recorded for hundreds of recording artists. You may not know her name, but you've heard her play, hundreds of times! AND she gives Skype lessons! Learn from a legend!
Ed Barker - Fortunately, not everyone is cut out to play bass. After all, we need someone to play with!. For those who respond to the sultry siren's call of the saxaphone, Ed Barker's online school is a great place to begin your education. Join hundreds of students from around the world to develop your sax chops!
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Guitarsite and Sweetwater offer extensive great product reviews as well as great deals on basses and gear! Check 'em out!
