Bass Player: Anthony Jackson

Another monster bass part from the king of the big six, Anthony Jackson. Jackson was the first call player for guitarist Al Di Meola for many years and it is likely that this was because Jackson was one of the few players in the World who could execute the unison lines written by Di Meola. This transcription features one of the most challenging two bars in the Di Meola/Jackson canon (bars 14-16). The transcription is arguable unreadable at tempo but, with some time and attention, players will be surprised at how ‘playable’ things can be with time and applied study. The pick isn’t essential for a performance of this tune; strings, amps and pickups have all moved on since this recording was made in 1977. This Anthony Jackson’s complete bass part from the tune ‘Race With Devil On Spanish Highway’ from the 1977 album ‘Elegant Gypsy’. (Note: not for the fainthearted, it is worth remembering that ‘that’ unison part is played by guitar, bass AND synth at the same time – there are not many that could pull that off in those days – of course, there is a 9 year old Korean that can do that with her feet nowadays).