Filling in for Robert this weekend, let’s set the mood with a joke:
A scientific expedition disembarks from its plane at the final outpost of civilization in the deepest Amazon rain forest. They immediately notice the ceaseless thrumming of native drums. As they venture further into the bush, the drums never stop, day or night, for weeks. The lead scientist asks one of the natives about this, and the native’s only reply is “Drums good. Drums never stop. Very BAD if drums stop.” The drumming continues, night and day, until one night, six weeks into the trip, when the jungle is suddenly silent. Immediately the natives run screaming from their huts, covering their ears. The scientists grab one boy and demand “What is it? The drums have stopped!” The terror-stricken youth replies “Yes! Drums stop! VERY BAD!” The scientists ask “Why? Why? What will happen?” Wild-eyed, the boy responds, ” . . . BASS SOLO!!!”
I have bad news folks. The drums have stopped.
The first head bangin’ bassist with Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens!
The legendary Jaco Pastorius and Portait of Tracey
Les Claypool and Primus covering Metallica’s Master of Puppets (Woodstock 1994)
VILLAGE CHIEFTAIN: Ah, very good: bass solo. But first — “mugamba”!!
Kudos to you for putting up some Jaco Pastorius. I’ll have to wait til I get back to a hi-speed connection to enjoy the pleasures of a new “Master of Puppets”. Cain’t hardly wait.
My own personal favorite for (non-jazz) bass work goes to the great Charles McCoy, for his lovely, understated lines on the best album Bob Dylan ever made, “John Wesley Harding”.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Queen, “Ogre Battle”.
Oh, and I almost forgot (silly me) — “PRIMUS SUCKS!”