And Will Lee on Bass

Will Lee is an American bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra. "And Will Lee on Bass" features his playing with the Bob Mintzer Big Band and includes an interview and some rehearsal footage from Mintzer's recording "Get Up!" In 1982, Lee became one of the original members of The World's Most Dangerous Band, the house band on NBC‍ '​s Late Night with David Letterman. He holds the distinction of playing with Paul Shaffer, on both Late Night and the Late Show, longer than any other member of the CBS Orchestra. Before the Late Show begins taping, he often tosses out guitar picks to the audience as souvenirs. On the May 13, 2015 episode of the Late Show with David Letterman, as Letterman was interviewing Paul Shaffer, Shaffer gave recognition to the members of his his band, and lastly mentioned Lee as the "man has been with us on bass since the first night we were on Late Night, Will Lee."

[@alexanthony62]

Monster talent. And so humble. And what can you say about Will Kennedy… another master. True artists.

[@405Lenny]

Will Lee is the complete bass player, he excels in every style. 👍👍

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Couldn't agree more!

[@garryfimister6878]

I have beautiful memories of living and trying to study music in New York in the mid 90's . We would meet up with other bass players just to hear Will playing with Wayne Krantz and Keith Carlock in trio at the 55 basement bar on Christopher Street.Without exception Will would be surrounded be Show biz types and Supermodels ,but he always gave us an Eyebrow look as if to say " 5 minutes guys,then we can talk" without exception he greeted us everytime like brothers ,there is a reason we call him Uncle Will.Just thinking about the man makes you want to play the best .

[@aldito7586]

Will Lee is the BEST !!!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

One of them.....

[@juandemm1976]

A truly gifted musician and an incredible bass player who has played in thousands of sessions and you name it! He is the real go-to guy bass player in any recording or playing situation since the early 80's and he is very consistent in every kind of music genre he's palyed, I don't have the pleasure of meeting him but you can notice his passion and his personality in his playing and i think Bob Mintzer knows that pretty well after having played extensively with the best bass players of the history Jaco, Jimmy Haslip and now with Jaco's son Felix Pastorius in the Yellowjackets

[@marjimesser]

Thank you for sharing this ...Right on...

[@JazzVideoGuy]

You bet

[@aldito7586]

I've learned 90 percent of what I'm still trying to learn from Will Lee.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

you are so lucky!

[@artguevarra8394]

"uncle will" is the biggest solid bassist in and around the nyc area, and the coolest cat too...

[@GusMalle]

Thank you for sharing Mr Lee, Tuesday February 2, 2021 11:50am est

[@amandareed9155]

Such a talent. Oddly familiar. Love the shirt, "Star Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hamburg."

[@cypan1]

ty for the Post .......what Can i say Will your a GrandMaster Well Versed in every Aspect of your BASS PLAYING its always a Pleasure to listen to the Tight Formation of Will Lee !

[@RobMLyon]

Love it

[@mygr8afro]

I play a Will Lee model Sadowsky bass. Now, if I can only sound and groove like him ....

[@cypan1]

+mygr8afro its a life time of Practice lol

[@RobMLyon]

mygr8afro my friend, be you!

[@PeterUnbehauen]

great

[@rrrockhard]

To be on 10.000 records... He did it. But ask an 20-year-old about "Will Lee". It's the same with the legendary Funk Brothers.

[@joeymorvant161]

Studio Dr. S. I knew who Will Lee was when I was 20, but that was in '91, and I was(still am) a huge Letterman fan.

[@gimmeagig]

OK, I need to know where that recording in the beginning is from. That looks like Russell Ferrante and Will Kennedy with Ray Obiedo. Playing a Weather Report tune. That's some rare footage.I love it! Are there any more clips of that?

[@JazzVideoGuy]

+gimmeagig kzbin.info/aero/PLXD37gO07c3j05ZwKuI3JNV1MJKlxVfnW

[@gimmeagig]

+Jazz Video Guy Thank you. Is there going to be a DVD of that too?

[@bpfen1970]

civil war

[@DrummerKen85]

The originl song @ 1:06 is “elegant people “ weather report

[@JasonFerguson1283]

Yo Will? How do you stay so fit? I mean you look younger!!

[@headknocker8999]

Will, Have Roger remove that Jazz basses pickup cover so you can dig in there with your thumb & then your fingers will go where they want instead of around that cover.. I always thought the Jazz Bass needed to have that cover tossed along with the bridge cover too..

[@rrrockhard]

5:12 Does he really say he's in AA and NA???

[@pcromano]

I have the same question...

[@oscarandgroucho]

Huge fan of Mr. Lee's. Can't understand how he managed to hold down a tightly-scheduled gig like Letterman's for 30-odd years with a substance abuse problem. But I'm glad he did.

[@welikerosafloyd]

@@oscarandgroucho What does MA stand for?

[@photonotavailable7936]

@@welikerosafloyd NA = Narcotics Anonymous.

[@cassianpet]

WHICH BASS WAS WILL PLAYING ON LETTERMAN IN THE EARLY DAYS, LOOKS LIKE A P BASS WITH A MAPLE NECK. GREAT TONE.