Your single favorite musician on any given instrument?


I was once again watching the Standing In The Shadows Of Motown concert film, and during Joan Osborne’s fantastic rendering of one of my three all-time favorite songs, "What becomes Of The Broken Hearted", I was reminded of how much I adore the bass part on the original recording of the song (sung by Jimmy Ruffin). In honor of the player of that part (see below), and all other superior musicians, I thought I would start a thread to celebrate them.

My favorite musicians are those who make my favorite music, not those who may have the most advanced technical ability. Those two things are too commonly equated, imo. Having been a member of rhythm sections my entire playing life, I’ll limit my contribution to the most unique, influential, and musical bassist and drummer I know of:

- James Jamerson. He was Motown’s bassist, and played on the above song. Paul McCartney has said it was the playing of James that opened his head to the possibilities of the instrument, including James’ fantastic use of inversions. Listen to Paul’s bass part in "I’m only Sleeping"; it’s debt to James is SO obvious. Ask any pro bassist about James, and watch his eyes light up. Such an incredibly great musician, his parts can be listened to on their own, bursting at the seams with musical ideas.

- Levon Helm. Nobody played drums like Levon, nobody. So inventive, so musical, so cool. When Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, etc.) interviewed him, the first thing he asked was how in the Hell Levon came up with the incredibly cool opening drum part in The Band’s "The Weight". Nobody else would have thought of it; so simple, so elegant, so perfect. I consider it genius. His playing was the polar opposite of the vulgar, tasteless, amusical displays of empty virtuosity I hear in the playing of SO many drummers.

Levon joined Rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins’ band (The Hawks) at 18, straight out of high school (Ronnie had to wait for Levon to finish his Senior year before taking him up to Montreal, Canada with him in 1960). He grew up in Arkansas, listening to The Grand Old Opry and the "Race" (Black) music shows on the radio, then hearing Elvis and the other Southern Hillbilly’s who were inventing Rockabilly. After school let out for the day, Levon would go down to the local radio station to watch and listen to Blues and Hillbilly artists perform live on air. That doesn’t explain how and why he became the drummer (and singer) he was. A gift from God, I presume.

Speaking of Joan Osborne, to hear what a really great modern Rock ’n Roll band sounds like, watch the clip of Joan and her band on a radio station live broadcast, performing the Slim Harpo song "Shake Your Hips", viewable on You Tube. Smoldering hot, as is Joan! Compare it to The Stones version, and then ask yourself, who was it that claimed they were "The Best Rock ’n’ Roll Band In The World!"? Not me.

128x128bdp24

Here is just a brief sampling of some of my favorite musicians. There are a lot more that I can't seem to think of at the moment.

Drums: Jeffrey Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colauita, Steve Jordan, Tony Williams
Bass: James Jamerson, Mike Porcaro, Jaco Pastorius, Mark King
Guitar: Steve Lukather, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Pat Metheny
Keyboards: David Paich, David Sancious, David Garfield, Bill Evans
Vocals: Steve Perry, Don Henley, Freddie Mercury, Ann Wilson


bdp24, not sure why you feel technique is my only criteria. It isn't. But I would think it has to be one criteria, right? And maybe a big one?

I think one of the aspects that is important, at least to me, is how the drummer impacts and interacts with the band. So for someone like Moon who was so integral to who The Who was.....plus the fact that they were huge and influential....is another criteria among the others. Of course, they did go on without him............Likewise with LZ and Rush. Neither of these two bands would have ever been what they were without these drummers.

I do not know enough about jazz to have an opinion there. We can only recommend positions in this list from what we know. But I will say that I don't see that there is a rule that finesse trumps bashing (which Bonham surely did). They are different approaches but I don't see one as de facto superior.

One of my favorite drummers to listen to is Pick Withers. I'm sure he is on no one's 'greatest' list but I like his style.

Funny that anyone would deny the virtuosity of Page/Plant. They are not all things to all people but I find that because of their assembly as a super group from the start they have been popular targets as 'over-hyped' under performers. I do not believe such charges stand up to close scrutiny. Certainly Plant's post Zep career is ample evidence.

But we're talking about rock and roll after all. Opinion reigns supreme and fortunately we all have different tastes and levels of appreciation.


Has anyone ever heard these two guys play guitar?

Jimmy Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn

Sax- John Coltrane
Vocalist- Eva Cassidy, Aretha Franklin
Bass- Stanley Clarke
Percussion- John Bonham

@n80, if technique alone is how you rate drummers (how sad ;-), you may want to check out Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Thomas Lang, and Dave Weckl. While Keith Moon was perfect for The Who, and a lot of fun, he played all single strokes, just like Ringo. Very little technique, but he was a Hell of a showman.

And while everyone is free to prefer John Bonham to Mitch Mitchell, MM had far more highly developed chops. He was a Jazz player, with finesse and the ability to "swing". Bonham was a "basher". Perfect for Zeppelin, as Page is no virtuoso himself, and Plant, well.....

I think from a purely technical, almost academic standpoint, that Peart is the best. He’s in my top three: Bonham, Peart, Moon.

This is an interesting short but technical video about Bonham’s style. I’m neither a drummer or a musician so most of it was lost on me but I got the gist of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvOm2oZRQIk

(The video makes no claims that he was the best, just that he was special and integral to LZ.)
Given this some thought and I just do not think the rock side would ever agree with the jazz side or the blues side etc but.....
Bass..... Geddy Lee, when you consider some of the bass line he plays while singing and playing footsie with keyboard pedals!
Keyboards... Just has to be Rick Wakeman!
Drums... Very tough one, Neil Peart, Ginger Baker, Brian Downey
Guitar... Nope, not even going there!
When I am in a mellow mood and dig into my Celtic CD’s I always reach for Sue Richards on Celtic Harp.
George Gobel playing his Gibson L-5CT guitar...

Doesn't get any better than that.

DeKay
Keith Emerson - Hammond organ and Modular Moog
Michael Hedges - acoustic guitar
Allan Holdsworth - electric guitar
Trane - Sax
Miles - Trumpet

bass, piano, drums, vocals: I have too many to pick faves.
Interesting take on Harrison. I've always admired Knopfler's approach to guitar playing but he is always ready, willing and very able to add an embellishment or ornament. Maybe he is the baroque antithesis to Harrison's controlled style?
shadorne, I agree and that's part of the reason I listed John Bonham and in fact, Chad Smith says that is why he thinks JB was the best drummer ever. Keith Moon was similar in his approach.
Bass - Flea
Guitar - Mike Campbell, J J Cale
Drums - Steve Ferrone, Chad Smith
Piano/Keyboards - Elton John, Herbie Hancock
Saxophone - Maceo Parker
Trombone - Shorty
Trumpet - Mic Gilette
Violin - Anne Sophie Muter
Vocals - don’t care for them - vocalists are a dime a dozen.

The above are instantly recognizable but unlike Santana (also instantly recognizable) they play for the song and know how to play a style that fits the song.




Ray Manzarek was an incredible keyboardist/organist. The Doors did not have a bass player and he would often play a bass riff on one keyboard and play the organ with his other hand/feet.
I will put two out there
- Harry Belafonte - His Voice is amazing and can sing almost any style. 
  Live At Carnegie Hall * Sings The Blues fine examples.
- Walter / Wendy Carlos - Switched on Bach and switched on Bach 2 
   changed Music forever.      
I like Brian Blade, who has worked with a lot of people, including with Trixie Whitley.
Bassists-- that brother Johnson was pretty tasty- listen to him on STrawBerRy LeTTer #23--
Used to dig Ray Brown a lot but I’ve grown more adventurous-- some of those guys who did the older spiritual jazz records-- Cecil Mcbee are also very tasty.
I guess precisely b/c i may be moved by the music, not technique, i’m less focused on one or another players these days--
I’m sure I’ve forgotten more than a few. Levon was cool.
Always dug bill payne on keyboards, funky rhythmic playing.
Allan Holdsworth: British electric guitarist extraordinnaire! Former member of Gong and IOU. Now deceased. Check out: Metal Fatigue, Atavachron, Wardenclyffe Tower and I.O.U. 
John Bonham on drums. There are a number of great YouTube videos that explain why...outside the obvious.
This should be a good thread but I fear the vast difference in genres and styles will render it non translatable between such.

But I will give it some thoughts and post some names and reasoning later tonight after travel and workday.