The Top 10 Bass-Playing Moments on Television

#bass #tv #television #musicperformance #paulthompson
In this video, I break down some of the places I tried to find music to watch PRE-INTERNET and some of the most impactful bass performances I was lucky enough to catch on TV before anybody knew what WiFi was. All clips are available on KZbin and linked below! I would love to hear what YOUR favorite/most inspiring musical TV moments were/are! Let me know in the comments.
#10 - • JIMMY PAGE ARMS CONCER...
#9 - • James Taylor on Sesame...
#8 - • 'Strength in Numbers' ...
#7 - • Ray Brown & Friends - ...
#6 - • Dave Weckl with Chick ...
#5 - • Tonight Show with Jay ...
#4 - • Teen Town
#3 - • Stanley Clarke on Ars...
#2 - • "Walk On The Wild Side...
#1 - • Bass geniuses: Victor ...
Website: www.paulthompson.us
Instagram @pdbass74

[@6strbassplayer]

For those that may be a tad older, Don Kirshner Rock Concert and The Midnight Special was the place to catch a glimpse! Actually seeing Geddy Lee destroy it! Finally getting to see Stanley Sheldon with Peter Frampton play Do You Feel🎶🔥 Since I'm originally from just outside Dayton Ohio I had already seen Ohio Players, Slave, Lakeside, Roger Troutman...live and in person (had to throw that in there for bragging rights!)

[@jazzpunk]

Before ROCK CONCERT was IN CONCERT...the 1st show was Alice Cooper (which my local affiliate blacked out), Tull, & Curtis Mayfield (IIRC). I was a teen long-haired wannabe Hard Rocker...Mayfield & "Freddie's Dead" blew me away! I eventually saw the AC Group footage on YT...Alice appears to be drunk. "Gutter Cat" was cool, though. :-O

[@kirkbolas4985]

Don’t forget the Old Grey Whistle Test…hosted, of course, by PBS (at least by the affiliate where I grew up in Milwaukee, WI) and featuring some good bands and artists.

[@daveharrison648]

Lakeside!!!

[@donnieinman8049]

While not completely about the bass one of my fav TV moments was Living Colour at the Grammy's in 1991. This was right about the time when I was really starting to learn to play bass and watching Muzz and the whole band inspired me so much. Also thank you PBS.

[@kevintaylor5954]

I hope when you do Saturday Night Live you have to get the Eddy Grant quite when he's playing the guitar with his mouth

[@chakawhyte5753]

I saw that over here in the UK

[@peterknaust7424]

Chuck Berghofer’s opening riff in the Barney Miller theme song was killer!

[@mookie2637]

I heard that opening on AFRTS when I lived in Panama in the late 1970s. I was seven years old. From that moment, I was a bass player. But it's not on here, is it?

[@36index]

ABSOLUTELY

[@sullyb23511]

​@@mookie2637It'll be in the theme episode. He's talking about live performances in this episode.

[@rodneychristian9834]

Edgar Meyer is a wonderfully gifted, obscure bassist I have had the pleasure of hearing and seeing in both a bluegrass and classical music setting. His composition, "Blue Men of the Sahara", is one of my favorite songs from that amazing group of peerless players. Nice pick!

[@gimmeagig]

In 1979 I moved to the states from Germany to be a bass player after I saw the great Paul Jackson play with Herbie. So In 1980 I was already playing top 40 in the clubs. I saw on the TV guide a listing for a show called "Bass Masters" starting at 2:30 AM. I knew I had to see that and I rushed home after my gig, but all I saw was a couple of guys sitting in a boat fishing, for hours...I kept waiting for the music program to start. I was so disappointed. At the time I was just learning the English language and I did not know that a Bass was also a fish. My roommate who was a sax player and also in the clubs at the time was watching me but he didn't say a word to me about that. Just left me hanging, stonefaced. So I should mention Bass Masters as my most unforgettable TV moment relating to Bass

[@functusian]

Born in 1974. God bless PBS. Changed my life.

[@pdbass]

Me too! Thanks for watching.

[@darengraves1717]

Night music was the greatest late night show ever, I recorded every show on my old “stereo”VHS recorder🎸

[@merrill-el-richmond8649]

Pigpen playing that gigantic upright with Snoopy (guitar) and Schroeder (piano and hunched over like Bill Evans) while the rest of the gang dances deserves some love -- Charlie Brown Christmas 19sixty something.

[@pdbass]

🤣🤣❤️YES!!

[@jazzpunk]

Vince Guaraldi Trio rulz!!! ;-O

[@logansaan]

1965🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@bluegtr2001]

I stole so many fills from Will Lee off of Letterman in the mid-late 80's - but my changing moment was watching Pino Palladino backing Paul Young at the US Festival

[@jazzpunk]

Pino also sounded pretty good at LIVE AID...

[@lancewebb1532]

And Pino with D’Angelo. And Pino with John Mayer. And Pino with ANYBODY!

[@johnnyjazzman]

I love that Rockschool was on PBS in America. I watched every show on the BBC in England and it was a terrific education into the basics of making pop music.

[@zlorenson]

You are putting out some of the best bass content on youtube. Thanks so much!

[@pdbass]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@jackdolphy8965]

Some of the best music content on the web!

[@davidlaun951]

Agreed, algorithm has kicked in and I’m just now getting caught up. Cheers!

[@ARawFueledLife]

Looking forward to the SNL episode. T-Bone Wolk (RIP) always sounded amazing back in the day. SNL was my introduction to Tim Lefebvre as well.

[@Soul74]

To tie in with the Anita Baker video, the SNL band backed her up with T-Bone recreating Freddie Washington’s part on “Sweet Love.” You can find most of the vintage episodes (complete with musical guests) on archive dot org .

[@pdbass]

Yes! Love that episode. They crushed it!

[@ricklang9019]

The Stanley Clarke/Gregory Hines moment was so awesome to see live, having had the album for several years - and I seem to share it with someone every year. And the Brown/Meyer/Wooten event - I think my jaw was on the floor the whole time. I knew Brown and Wooten, but that was my introduction to Edgar Meyer.

[@MrBasso69]

Ah man, I learned a lot from Rockschool when I just picked up the bass. Great!

[@silasmorrison2899]

When I saw the Brothers Johnson perform “I’ll be good to you” and Louis thumpin’ and pluckin’ that Alembic on the Midnight Special back in 1976, wow!

[@RaiderClarke312]

Yes! Rock School is when I decided I Wanted to play Bass. Thank you PBS.....

[@ewoien]

There’s a reason Lee Sklar has been ranked as the most recorded bassist. He’s not been on over 25000 recordings (over 2000 albums) by chance. He always seems to create the bass line that best supports the song. Love Sklar 🤘

[@toddhamby]

One that stood out for me was Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers on What’s Happening in 78. Loved this episode!

[@pdbass]

OMG. Yes! The episode where they catch Rerun bootlegging the show. Good times.

[@jazzpunk]

IIRC, Jeff Baxter was ripping the whole tune...

[@Soul74]

@@pdbass look out for Al Dunbar!

[@pdbass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@walterholland1251]

I'm a few years older, so a PBS moment for me was the Down Beat Awards jam session, with Phil Upchurch on bass backing up George Benson on Breezin'. Also with Chick and Cobham. I'm surprised you didn't mention any theme songs: Barney Miller? The intro on Peter Gunn. And don't forget the licks on Seinfeld. Great work!

[@JSJohnston]

Man I love Adrian Belew, Lone Rhino cerca 1982! Gen X all day!

[@JoshuaTanzer]

I’m glad you included Night Music - not only one of the best music shows but one of the best TV shows period. They would have an eclectic, unpredictable list of guests, and by the end you might see any combination of them playing together. Just phenomenal.

[@GS-uy4xo]

Arsenio Hall moment - he allowed an unknown bass player to come on stage and perform. That player is Mel Brown - it launched Mel’s career . He’s now one of the top session players and an amazing player - he sounds like a recording even live, when I met him I actually remembered seeing that live on the show. (I was blessed to play with him in Phoenix for a few months around 2007）.

[@williamlowe7718]

Dude..Stanley Clarke on SNL!! And surprisingly DEVO on SNL doing Satisfaction...talk about tight!!! Bela fleck performing Sinister Minister on some early morning talk show i cant recall...Victor doing his slap and tap style was beyond my reckoning at the time, it was so innovative....

[@zeeeOgre]

Fantastic list! You are a pillar of the KZbin Bass community! Many thanks.

[@pdbass]

Haha. More like a dark corner! 🙏🏽for watching!

[@grayclaw1391]

Ray Brown and Friends was incredible. Jazz Masters at their best. Great work Mr. Bass Man.

[@bradsims5116]

I love all the bass lines from the price is right. Henry thomas is amazing !

[@MrGoodnplenty1957]

My top bass playing moment on TV was the first-time seeing Graham Central Station on Don Kirshner's Midnight Special.

[@ajadrew]

Will Lee put up a clip yesterday called 'Mile Davis on Letterman We Three Kings' with Marcus Miller, superb!

[@scarab944]

Stanley Jordan on Letterman in the late 80s. Will Lee tearing it up on bass. Both musicians making it unforgettable. Granted, I saw it on some website while in college, pre-KZbin days, but man, the whole song is a hook. Letterman also had a penchant for Steely Dan.

[@marb7463]

Great clips.One of my favourites is Stanley Clarke and Larry Coryell playing Schooldays at Expo 92 you probably seen it , it’s great how much fun they are having and the crowd must be saying are we really here this is special.

[@edlucie1]

#1..Beatles on Ed Sullivan (before your time).., Jaco with Weather Report on The Midnight Special, Berry Oakley with the Allman Bros on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

[@reidwhitton6248]

I was fortunate to see the Elektric Band in concert in 1986 with the Allan Holdsworth trio opening. Allan was my idol but I have to say John Patitucci really knocked me out that night. Even Chick mentioned to the audience how much John's playing inspired him.

[@Joeh1154]

Wow. Now that's quite a concert. I've seen both groups but not on the same bill. Nice!

[@SloppyMaracas]

This has become my favorite bass content online and one my top 5 music info channels.

[@elducko1951]

Thanks! This episode COOKED!!

[@Kubooxooki]

This has been so incredibly educational! Thanks so much.

[@mikebassy]

The verve concert with ray brown . Wow ! Hank Jones wow

[@jazzpunk]

Hank, Thad, & Elvin...it is in the genetic code. Whew! ;-O

[@s3hooligan]

I wasn’t playing bass at the time but when it came to viewing live performances, Don Kershner’s Rock Concert & any performance on Soul Train (though the bands usually played over a recorded track) were must see TV especially for soul or funk.

[@terranceraynierfielder4604]

Top 10 Bass Playing moments on television Paul, I just caught this video on KZbin. I agree with your list of Bass players, but I must include, Jacksonville Jazz Concert which included (circa 1990) my very first time seeing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones,Victor Wooten, his brother Roy Wooten (Futerman), Chick Coreas Electric Band with John Patitudci,, Trumpeteeer Artural (his last name escapes me) forgive my 59 year old mind. It was my first time seeing these guys jamming, and it changed my life. I've been playing bass off and on since 1978. I love your bass playing and analysis as well. I discovered your KZbin channel in 2013. I continue to watch keep giving those great videos. Bless You. Terrance Fielder. 😂

[@pdbass]

Thank you, Terrance! 🙏🏽 That guy on trumpet is Arturo Sandoval 😉

[@kennans]

Just came across this video last night, and LOVED it! I've got at least a decade on you, so my "TV Bass Moments" are harder to come up with. Looking forward to spending some time on your channel.

[@pdbass]

I would love to maybe do a “part 2” if you’d like to share! 🙏🏽for watching!

[@djcoolcliff]

Great video once again!!!!! My uncle Wah Wah Watson played rhythm guitar in Michelle’s band! They all later went to become Maxwell’s first band! My uncle played on Sumthin Sumthin, Ascensions, Until The Cops Come Knocking and pretty much the whole album! RIP to Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson!!!!

[@siriusra2692]

.....wow...your uncle is one of my favorite guitarist of all time.........his work with Herbie Hancock and the movie Car wash sound track was incredible......

[@djcoolcliff]

@@siriusra2692 Wow and thanks!!! Yeah Unc was and is still that dude!!! I hear his influence and him still till this day. Thanks again!!!!

[@Michael_Wertenberg]

Great list! When I saw the title of the video, I immediately thought of Stanley Clarke and Gregory Hines. Great minds think alike :)

[@JohnBogansky]

Class Of 3000 was a special show that aired on Cartoon Network back when I was growing up around 07-09. It featured music school kids that go on adventures and learn how the power of music shapes any situation. Each episode had a different music video with unique animation. It screamed creativity and I’m sure this show birthed a lot of the great musicians we see today. It was also created by Andre 3000.

[@67NewEngland]

My earliest bass on TV experiences came from the show “Don Kirshner‘s rock concert.” It was on after Saturday night live. Also SNL itself. Then cam MTV . I always loved the videos that were of the band playing and not acted dramatization skits.

[@adamodimattia]

This is my favorite channel, I look forward to each episode. Such a gem!

[@dard4642]

Also theme songs. The theme to Barney Miller (especially the version for Season 3) has to be one of the best 43-second songs ever recorded. When I was a kid my Dad loved that show and he loved the opening music. I remember knowing what a bass was but not really hearing it in all of its glory until Barney Miller.

[@billslocum9819]

Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads playing "Take Me To The River" on Saturday Night Live, Season 4 in 1979. Rickie Lee Jones' bassist also was terrific in "Chuck E.'s In Love" later that same season. I think the show had invested in a better sound system by then.

[@stuffallthetime]

I remember seeing King Crimnson on Friday's, Tony Levin played a stick. I thought I was watching the future. A PBS late 80's concert of Miles Davis, he had a lead and rhythm bass players. Also, shout out to PBS Rock School when Bootsy Collins explained the funk formula, life changing.

[@mikebassy]

I used to scan the newspaper every morning and then get set in the evening with a videotape and set the timer ! Caught the Jaco concert in Montreal one night in 1989 ! That was maybe my number one . Rockschool was great , I did a gig in a pub with that drummer Geoff? I watched Sesame Street and was blown away by the Herbie Hancock sample bit making the kids laugh . PBS is something I missed in London but the bbc show Bob Ross every day and I’m well into that .

[@bobfazio9628]

I love your channel Paul ! The content you post is so informative, educational, and eye-opening to bass performances we may have never seen. It is such a bonus when you play and write out examples of great bass lines! Thank you for your stellar contributions to the bass community. Bob Fazio, LA Bass Player

[@audibletapehiss3764]

Never saw the Rockschool tv show, however... I bought a book around 1988 called "Herbie Hancock's Rockschool," which I believe was a companion to the show. That book probably taught me 90% of what I know about how the different parts of a band work together to make magic.

[@sonofflynn6369]

Apart from the amazing list of bass players and performances, I highly appreciate you wearing a Goonies t-shirt!

[@aaron2709]

Entwistle has such a distinctive 'plucky' style.

[@crosseyedbear1305]

We didn't have a TV when I was learning to play bass in the early seventies, and in Switzerland, where I lived, there was half an hour of rock music per week on the state radio station. I listened to German radio and heard the Allman Brothers' Mountain Jam from Eat A Peach. They played the whole 33 minutes. When I heard Berry Oakley starting his solo after the drum solo, I couldn't believe a bass guitar could sound like that. I sure wished I could play like that.

[@nicholson227]

THANK YOU . Educational every time

[@shuaduah]

2:19... Man that sound took me waaaaay back!

[@carypotts3592]

Great job!!

[@frankhoeppel2314]

Excellent list. I guess I am old too - I remember several of these.

[@walkingbassline]

Yes! Great list. Very cool.

[@fujazzboy]

Another awesome episode!!!

[@rickb1266]

Thanks for sharing your top 10! My top TV bass player influence was Robert "Pops" Popwell playing bass on "Physical" live with Olivia Newton John. As soon as I heard him slapping the bass I ran to get my tape recorder and was blown away by his solo!

[@JesusChrist5000]

i loved the Arsenio Hall Show! I didn't know Arsenio could play bass though. But i remember the bass player of that band played an acoustic upright occasionally.

[@Eddie-hn5hp]

JOHN B WILLIAMS

[@bigbrofra]

Great list. Really enjoyed it.

[@BuzzBlackburn]

I also remember being very struck by Will Lee doing that on the Lou Reed tune, the stuff sticks with you for life!

[@mad_cat_1st]

5:37 - Don't forget - NO COMMERCIALS. They had PSA's, but almost NO commercial advertising. I think that changed later, but I've been watching PBS most of my life, and was born in 1966. Other good shows? The two below that Dale mentioned, and The Old Grey Whistle Test, and ZOOM.

[@MG-vo7is]

Great list. Thank you.

[@Kevtron9000]

Oh my god I’m 36 and I am blown away by all I’ve learned watching your video. Thank you !

[@sidsims2473]

How about the great James Genus, who is in the house band on SNL? He is a monster on both electric bass and double bass and has played with almost everybody no matter the genre.

[@johncat8347]

You're speaking on base is wonderful I'm a base player in South Florida I worked for jaco Pastorius he would love the show

[@willliutube]

Hi Paul, I just found your channel a few days ago and I already watched quite a lot! All great contents and presentation! They all happen to meet my interests. As someone from Taiwan 🇹🇼 but in your age, all my bass knowledge are from magazines and tapes/CD’s. This video provides me an opportunity to turn clock back, “insert” myself to that particular time period and “pretend/imagine” growing up watching these programs and try to learn something. Very enjoyable! Thanks! Love all our neighbors 🌏

[@geraldshively7209]

Great video! I was blessed to attend the Bass Instincts concert, sat in the front row! It was truly an incredible night of music. Edgar Myer was a revelation! I was familiar with Victor and Ray Brown but had never heard of Edgar. His effortless mastery of the instrument was awe inspiring. Another shout out to the Arsenio Hall show for featuring Bela Fleck and the Flecktones playing "Sinister Minister". Victor's solo spot was a jaw dropping experience that he punctuates with his patented "spinning the bass around his neck" routine. Thanks again for the great content!

[@mattmccormick7443]

Great vid bro, lovin’ the PBS love!

[@toyetoyetoye]

The day I fell in love with fretless bass was the day in 1993 (or 94?) when Bela Fleck & The Flecktones performed "A Celtic Medley" on The Tonight Show (Jay Leno) with Victor's 5 string fretless. Branford Marsalis sat in with them. I had never heard a fretless sing like that. His brief end solo made such an instant impact that I still use it for warm ups or to test new strings.

[@sullyb23511]

Night Music and Rock School were both gems. I still love Austin City Limits, too.

[@OlandoMcCall]

Love this channel ❤️❤️

[@johnyelland4900]

Great job as always. Not sure if anyone mentioned Shadows & Light, the live Joni Mitchell concert from 1979. It wasn’t broadcast ‘til later but one of my professors brought it to class. Seeing the end of Dry Cleaner was very inspiring !!

[@billsmith2212]

I agree with your Bass Instincts choice . As far as live , the SMV Tour is one of my favorites . I have seen Edgar Meyer with " the extension " .

[@diawilliams5915]

Thanks!

[@pdbass]

Thanks for the super, Dia!!

[@sira.scottascot8865]

Heeeey! This is great. Thank you .

[@bobrowlette9913]

Although I couldn't begin to make my own top 10 list, I came up in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, so I'll just add seeing The Beatles on Tv with Paul McCartney on bass, James Brown on TV and those incredible grooves, Ray Brown always blew my mind no matter what show was on and Jaco Pastorius with Weather Report (Midnight Special possibly?), but there are way too many others to list here.......

[@cperch37]

Love the content and that Tee!

[@stewartent2009]

I stop your vid and watch Stanley Clark on Arsenio, Man !!!!! That was so Cool!!!!!

[@MrTennisgolf]

You always come up with some gems.

[@ericvaughn6113]

Don Kirshners Rock concert was great as well.

[@andykuhn9798]

Not a specifically "Bass" moment, but a live music moment that totally rearranged my brain cells was seeing the newly revamped King Crimson ( with Tony Levin on bass) playing on the show Fridays. They were so good I was completely transfixed. I remember thinking this has got to be the best band in the world! Definitely worth your time, if you can find it on KZbin.

[@outermarker5801]

Not broadcast tv, but 1995 VHS of Ron Kenoly's 'Lift Him Up' concert. Abe Laboriel was beastly the whole show, but his 'Ancient of Days' solo set the church worship world on fire. We all went nuts trying to recreate it. Good memories of weirder times.

[@MattLeGroulx]

Great list!

[@BankruptBassplayer]

Stanley Clarke with Return to forever playing “Vulcan Worlds”.. that´s wen i decided to become a professional Bassist, and changed my major from Art to Music.

[@udugirl1]

Hmm, Love that you found Edgar-and nice tip of the hat to PBS but yo! you missed Branford also hired Vicki Randle on Percussion. She was even in the clip! Noteworthy as it made her the most visible woman drummer of our time. She later started singing. 😉♥️✌️

[@udugirl1]

Love the idea here btw, and so many great clips! Didn't mean to be such a downer PD. I dig what you're doing! If you hadn't mentioned every other player in the band I probably would've left it. Though… With women always getting left out, (even when they are groundbreaking and bad ass…) Thought it was the right thing to mention. Peace. ✨✌️😎♥️

[@dcross8034]

What a treat I was in the Uk as a bass playing teen in the 80s watching rockschool- I later went on to study with Henry Thomas the bassist on it

[@BlackRootsUNLIMITED]

Caught a glimpse of Eric Marienthal in the clip of Chic Corea. Hosted him here twice. Top guy 👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

[@SteveGouldinSpain]

When I was a kid in Britain, the BBC would often have shows with Oscar Peterson as a guest. I remember getting blown away by Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, who was one of the first bassists I took note of. Other thoughts. Luther Vandross was a backing singer on the early Sesame Street episodes, which I remember watching, though I didn't know who he was. Also I think it was Night Music where Jeff Healey did See the Light supported by Marcus Miller & Omar Hakim. I remember thinking that was one of the best bass performances I'd ever seen!

[@Joeh1154]

Terrific stuff! My first mind blowing experience was a show on PBS (channel 13 in NYC) called Sound Stage. This was early 1970's and it was Chick Corea's Return to Forever band with Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola and Lenny White. They were performing the "Where have I know you before" album and man, When they started playing "Vulcan Worlds" I was knocked out. From that moment, I bought any record I could find with Chick on it. I later met Stanley Clarke in NYC at a club called "The Bottom Line" on W.4th Street across from NYU. I was there to hear Larry Coryell's Eleventh House band and Stanley was across the table from me! What a great night. Prior to that I was into British rock but I also was digging Motown. In fact the tune that made me chose Bass was the Supremes "Reflections." It had that cool into with Jamerson on Bass and whoever was playing on the Fender Rhoades keyboard. That sound just got to me. I really enjoy your channel. Thanks for posting. Best to all.

[@mattpmeighan]

I watched this video to see what #2-9 we're. I wore my VHS copy of that Lonesome Pine out I watched it so much! I know this is a bear old, but I had to comment. Keep up the great content. As a Pittsburgh fan and a bassist, I've found a kindred soul!

[@DaddyBooneDon]

Rubicon played That's The Way Things Are on a show called California Jam. One of my favorite TV moments

[@latonyahemingway3752]

Soul Train, Midnight Special, Solid Gold, The Grammys, and The American Music Awards. MTV, VH1, and BET.

[@markcorradetti]

That is an awesome video!

[@marioguarini]

this is why United States are the capital of the world in the music scene, because it is so deeply involved in the popular culture, i have seen all the nigh music episodes, it is unbelievable that level of music was in a Tv show.

[@CharlieBass5]

I turned 18 in 72, joined the Air Force in 73, first live R&B, Jazz, and Funk started then.

[@user-he1pp9gh1l]

HEAVY BASS

[@RH-xs8gz]

I loved Rock School!