Why Bass?

I guess that when I was 12 or so, I became entranced by complex music, and my ear flipped over. I listened obsessively to music that most people deemed completely unlistenable; people would walk into my room when I had something on the record player, and they'd turn right around and walk back out. (Ten years later I put on "Metal Machine Music", Lou Reed, to stress the noobs in STA 1/5.....another story). I can't remember who or what inspired me to ask for a bass, specifically; I may even have been misguided enough to think that four strings would be easier, the standard slacker motivation. Probably Chris Squire figured heavily in there, and Jack Bruce. I heard Stanley Clarke pretty early on, which solidified my desire for the instrument. I've always felt that the bass was the core of the music, either harmony or melody. As a voice it is capable of changing the entire mood by merely playing counterpoint, which blows me away....the greatest players play counterpoint while they sing (McCartney, Bruce etc.). And then there's Jaco! etc. Since the bass is the heart of the tune, playing it makes me want to compose. I love the understated sonorous sound of it....

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This is this....
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Here is where my ear is at....

Mike Keneally

Zappa, natch

krautrock

Kraftwerk!!!

Faust

Can

Klaus Schulze

Conrad Schnitzler

Iggy Pop

Sun Ra

Ornette Coleman

Steve Vai

Mercury Rev

The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson

Laurie Anderson

Charles Mingus

Bob Graettinger

Stan Kenton

turkish radio on KUSF

Outkast

Tonio K.

Heaven 17

"Live So Fast"

NRBQ!!!!

Johnny Cash

Kaviar