List of jazz bassists

Ron Carter, 2008.
He is the most-recorded bassist in jazz history, with appearances on over 2,200 albums.[1]

This list of jazz bassists includes performers of the double bass and since the 1950s, and particularly in the jazz subgenre of jazz fusion which developed in the 1970s, electric bass players.

Jazz bassist Charles Mingus was also an influential bandleader and composer whose musical interests spanned from bebop to free jazz.

The most influential jazz double bassists from the 1940s and 1950s include bassist Jimmy Blanton (1918–1942) (a member of the Duke Ellington band); Oscar Pettiford (1922–1960), who is considered by bassists and musicologists to be the first bebop bassist and the transitional link from the swing era to bebop. Ray Brown (1926–2002), known for backing a number of beboppers, including alto virtuoso Charlie Parker; Milt Hinton (1910–2000) and George Duvivier (1920–1985), who are the two most recorded bassists in jazz history, their respective careers spanning many eras and genres; a singular creative force was Wilbur Ware (1923–1979) legendary bassist with Monk and others, hard bop bassist Ron Carter (born 1937); and Paul Chambers (1935–1969), a member of the Miles Davis Quintet.

Jazz fusion bassist Jaco Pastorius was known for his expressive fretless electric bass playing.

In the experimental post 1960s eras, which saw the development of free jazz and jazz-rock fusion, some of the influential bassists included Charles Mingus (1922–1979) and free jazz and post-bop bassist Charlie Haden (1937–2014).

In the post-1970s era of jazz-rock fusion, the electric bass became an important jazz instrument; virtuoso Stanley Clarke (born 1951) played both the double bass and the electric bass. Fusion performer Jaco Pastorius (1951–1987) contributed to the development of a new approach to the fretless electric bass, adding a creative use of harmonics and chords, both while a member of the band Weather Report and in his solo recordings.

In the 1990s and 2000s, one of the new "young lions" for jazz bass was Christian McBride (born 1972). In mid to late 2000s, another new "young lion" for jazz bass emerged: Miles Mosley (born 1980) a member of the acclaimed Los Angeles collective, the West Coast Get Down.

For double bass players in other styles of music, such as Blues and Folk, see the List of double bassists in popular music.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam July 14, 2007. Andersen has played with Phil Woods, Dexter Gordon, Bill Frisell, Hampton Hawes, Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins, Sheila Jordan, Don Cherry and Chick Corea.

B

Ray Brown. In 2003, Brown was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. He played with Oscar Peterson, Milton Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, among others.
L to R: Bassists Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten together at the Stockholm Jazz Fest July 19, 2009

C

Alec Dankworth played with Mose Allison, Clark Terry, Mel Tormé, Anita O'Day, Peter King, Alan Barnes, Van Morrison, Martin Taylor

D

E

Audun Ellingsen with saxophonist Frøy Aagre live at the Jazz Club Unterfahrt 2010

F

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten live in 2005, known for his work with artists like
Ken Vandermark, Joe McPhee,
Paal Nilssen-Love, Bugge Wesseltoft, Håvard Wiik and Ola Kvernberg

G

Eddie Gómez, who worked with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977
Percy Heath in New York City, pictured here in June 1977. He played with the Modern Jazz Quartet and also worked with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery and Thelonious Monk.
Sigurd Hole at Vossajazz 2014, known for his work with artists like Jon Eberson, Karl Seglem, Gisle Torvik, and within Eple Trio

H

I

J

Harald Johnsen with Tord Gustavsen Trio in 2007, known for this collaboration and work with artists like
Einar Iversen, Ditlef Eckhoff, Silje Nergaard, Frode Barth, Svein Olav Herstad, and within Køhn/Johansen Sextet

K

Larry Klein played with Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, and Dianne Reeves.

L

Abraham Laboriel played with Donald Fagen, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Billy Cobham, Ray Charles, Madonna, Paul Simon, Keith Green, Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin.
Marcus Miller worked with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Grover Washington Jr.

M

Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard within Monkey Plot at Vossajazz 2014, also known from work with artists like Mats Gustafsson,
Christian Skår Winther, and Anja Lauvdal

N

O

P

John Patitucci, who plays both electric bass and double bass at a virtuoso level, has worked with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, and Tony Williams.
Pino Palladino has played with Roy Hargrove, Steve Gadd, Tony Bennett, Manu Katché.
Pino Presti has played with Gerry Mulligan, Quincy Jones, Stéphane Grappelli, Astor Piazzolla, Aldemaro Romero.

R

John Simmons played with Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, Cootie Williams, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Ben Webster, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Benny Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk.

S

Esperanza Spalding (born October 18, 1984)[2] is an American jazz bassist, cellist and singer, who draws upon many genres in her own compositions. She has won four Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards,[3] making her the first jazz artist to win the award.[4][5]
Jon Rune Strøm with Paal Nilssen-Love at Large Unit in 2015. Strøm is known from collaborations with the likes of Kjersti Stubø and Frode Gjerstad.
Christian Meaas Svendsen with Ayumi Tanaka Trio at Nattjazz 2015, also known as part of Andrea Kvintett, Duplex and Mopti

T

Magne Thormodsæter in Bergen 2014, known for his work with artists like Terje Rypdal, Karin Krog,
John Surman, Ståle Storløkken, Paolo Vinaccia, and within Bergen Big Band

U

V

W

Y

Z

See also

References

  1. ^ Swatman, Rachel (2016-01-07). "Ron Carter earns world record as the most recorded jazz bassist in history". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  2. ^ "Esperanza Spalding: 10 Things You Didn't Know". CNN-IBN. February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "Nominees and Winners". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  4. ^ Allen, Floyd (February 14, 2011). "Spalding Has Made History for Winning Best New Artist Award". International Business Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  5. ^ Esperanza Spalding has won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Smooth Jazz Buzz. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  6. ^ "DNB-prisen til Ellen Andrea Wang". Ballade.no. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.