Will Lee – Bass

The most astonishing CV in bass history. Ask yourself this question: can he read music?

I rest my case.

Amongst the gazillion albums he has recorded was a delightful session led by vibraphonist Gary Burton called ‘Reunion’. The reunion he was referring to was in light of the fact that guitarist Pat Metheny was on the session and Metheny had done his first high profile gigs with Burton was back in 1975. This recording took place in 1989. The tune has a pretty melody and a funky solo with Lee thumbing the notes and adding the occasional slap. These early slap tunes were not the kind of things you hear everywhere today, just another texture to use in the service of the song. I hate transcribing slapping and popping but I tried to get as much of the detail in as I could. The tune is called ‘Tiempos Felice’ (Happy Times).