Bass Player: Will Lee

The World’s Most Dangerous Bass Player, Will Lee has been the first call guy for everyone forever and has a list of credits as long as the longest thing in the world. The list in includes Donald Fagan, Barry Manilow, Art Farmer, Cat Stevens, Pat Metheny, Chaka Khan, Dusty Springfield, Michael Brecker, Dreams, Bette Midler, Ringo Starr, Laura Nyro, James Brown, Cher….. the list really goes on and on.

Lee played on three albums for vibist Gary Burton, including ‘Cool Nights’, ‘Six Pack’ and the 1990 album, ‘Reunion’. The ‘Reunion’ CD included guitarist Pat Metheny who had first found fame with the Gary Burton Quartet in the 1970s and this was the first album that the two musicians had recorded together in 13 years.

Another request from a BBB website visitor, the transcription features Lee’s bass part for the tune ‘The Chief’ (Metheny’s nickname for Burton) and is a faux Latin groove. The tempo is quick and there are key changes in the middle of every chorus but it is a great sequence to solo over, once you get the hand of it. Tough read because of the tempo but spend some time with it and you will soon get the gist.