Bass Player: Scott LaFaro The piano trio remains something of a special type of ensemble in Jazz and there are a number of trios that are celebrated; Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau etc but the trio vehicle really expanded when pianist Bill Evans joined drummer Paul Motian and double bass virtuoso Scott LaFaro in a legendary…

Bass Player: Ken ‘Spider’ Sinneave Kim Mitchell was the brains behind Canadian rockers Max Webster. HIs solo albums continue with the ‘left field’ approach to Rock music with some incredibly challenging compositions and ‘out there’ lyrical content; think Zappa meets Rush. Featured on the album ‘Itch’, the tune ‘Lemon Wedge’ is based on an incredibly…

Bass Player: Paul Chambers Having written a biography on Paul Chambers and researched his extensive discography, it is always important to try to establish which sessions a tune was recorded on based on dates rather than the apparent ‘leader’ on any record, CD or download. ‘John Paul Jones’ has appeared on recordings reportedly led by…

Bass Player: Jeff Berlin The tune ‘Bach’ off Jeff Berlin’s 1986 album ‘Pump It’ is based around Bach’s Two Part Invention in C Minor from The Well Tempered Clavier. The core Bach composition is rearranged to give Jeff space to solo of Bach’s changes. The piece is challenging and it is recommended that players spend…

Bass Player: Ney Conceicao Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter Joao Bosco is one of the leading artists in Brazil and he has worked with all the greats within the Brazilian music sphere. He has also appeared alongside the bass player John Patitucci, on Patitucci’s album, Mistura Fina. Bosco’s first call bassist is the Brazilian Ney Conceicao and it is…

Bass Player: Dave Holland Another in the series of Dave Holland Quartet/Quintet albums, the 1996 recording ‘Dream Of The Elders’ featured Holland alongside saxophonist Eric Person, vibraphonist Steve Nelson and drummer Gene Jackson. The transcription is the title tune from this recording and features the full performance including Holland’s bass solo.

Bass Player: Gary Brown Gary Brown is a versatile bass player who has recorded with many high profile jazz and rock artists ranging from Lou Rawls and Airto Moreira to Jimmy Dillon and Steve Winwood. He has been a member of Flora Purim’s group since the early ’90s, and is also active in soundtrack work.…

Bass Player: Dave Holland This transcription is the title track of Dave Holland’s first album on the ECM label. ‘Conference Of The Birds’ featured a pianoless quartet of Holland, saxophonists Sam Rivers and Anthony Braxton and drummer Barry Altschul. The music is very ‘free’ but there is structure and composition in there. The interplay between…

Bass Player: Ben Wolfe In 1999, the Wynton Marsalis Septet released a seven cd boxed set of performances recorded ‘Live At The Village Vanguard’. Given the flexible nature of membership in Jazz ensembles, the bass players changed and, alongside Marsalis mainstay, Reginald Veal, one of the gigs recorded featured bassist Ben Wolfe who has also…

Bass Player: Dave Holland Wolverhampton born Holland has had the kind of career we all dream about and has performed with everyone from Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, Pat Metheny, Kenny Wheeler and a myriad of other legendary players the world over. His own recordings are pretty much essential listening and feature…