When it comes to choosing the "best" bass player, well, there is no better time where the phrase "to each his own" is applicable. I am a thirtysomething funkateer, which means my taste may differ a bit that that of a "student" of the instrument. Sure, Jaco, Stanley, Entwistle and Victor (and some other rockers I may have forgot to mention) are the absolute ELITE of their trade; however, there are cats who IIII grew up listening to who put the "UN in between the "F" and the "K" when it came to getting FUNKY....I will list MY favorite FUNK bassists (duh, what else was the instrument created for besides having someone watch or listen to a funky ass bass line with that "PEEE EEEWWW!!!! SOMETHIN' STANKS UP IN HERE!!!!" look on their face? And I DON'T mean just "slappin' and poppin'!!!!)
5. Louis Johnson (The bassist for The Brothers Johnson with a 10" thumb!!!!)
4. Mark Adams (of the 70's superfunkyass group SLAVE and the trademark finger slide on that Jazz Bass)
3. James Jamerson (Of Mowtown fame NO ONE has EVER approached the instrument the way he did!!!!)
2. Larry Graham (The Father)
1. Mr. William BOOTSY Collins (The Son, Innovator, multidimentional Funkateer...The SpaceBassed/Mutron sound remains second to none!)
Oh, that was the top five...The funkiest EVER, EVER, EVER...EV-ER...
Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson....THE Holy Spirit of FUNK.
Yep, PRINCE....This guy has his own style of funkyface creating licks...Let's Work? 777 9311? Kiss (extended version)? Alphabet Street? Face Down (live version)? What's My Name? Joint 2 Joint (solo part)? Sexy Dancer (extended with the solo)? 2 Niggs United 4 West Compton (solo part)? DMSR? What do you want me to do, girl? Irresistable Bitch? Crystal Ball (solo)? Lady Cab Driver???? Last Heart? When playing bass, Prince combines a smooth, funky, rhythmic and soulful approach with the most valued instrument throughout the composition of a song: SPACE. Without the use of overbearing or tone-shaping effect pedals, time after time, he makes my nose cringe, head bob, feet tap and spine tingle with each magical note he funkilly creates. I was sure when I listened to his albums and CD's; I was POSITIVE when I slept outside in 18 degree weather with my brother, had front row seats to one of his concerts and he picked up his axe, walked toward me and started doing his thing right above me with a big grin on his face as I bowed to him with my hands gripping his high heels (that was back in '99 and I STILL haven't washed them yet!!!!) (-;
