The Top 20 Jazz Bass Soloists of all time (The New Breed)

​When we talk about the best EVER bass guitarists then most of us hark back to household names like Jaco and Stanley Clarke. But who are today’s bass heroes? I’d argue that we still have plenty.
In today’s new video we’re taking a closer look at 20 of the best and brightest bass soloists in 2021. Some are boundary-pushing virtuosos, others are experimentalists who are ripping up the rulebook.
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott :)
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[@FedericoMalamanBass]

WOW! Thank you so much Scott!!! ;-) I'm very proud & happy to be part of it! :-)

[@thescale599]

So what's your birthday??🤔🤭

[@nevilleilunga9973]

You're a genius Frederico, really appreciate your bass exercises on your channel.

[@FedericoMalamanBass]

@@nevilleilunga9973 Thanks a lot :-)

[@jubileeolumati]

Amazing bass player you are... Federico...

[@xzukax3882]

@@nevilleilunga9973 ExxonMobil utztztzt*tztztzutztztzutzutztzuutzutztzutzutzzutzutztzutzuuuxuxx non t

[@DamianErskineBass]

It's wild to be included on this list. Thanks Scott (and everyone else listed here for the inspiration!)

[@duomaxwell8525]

omg please teach me someeee :)

[@migscacao]

Finally got to see some MONONEON on SBL! Those 254 times MONONEON WENT BEAST MODE, would be sweet!

[@bannanapancake]

Bout time!!

[@scarab944]

Kind of his own genre on bass, but still worthy on this list, imo: Tom "Squarepusher" Jenkinson. Would love more content on that alien of a musician.

[@danilospiga282]

An amazing bass player, u right... And perfectly fit with his "genre", not easy thing by the way

[@boimesa8190]

Yep 4 sure

[@unol]

Was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@martinheath5947]

I saw him live once doing a solo bass show and noted that his playing sounded disjointed and lacked musicality. Phenomenally dextrous fingers for sure, but much of his bass note placement sounded to be a random bi-product of flashy technique rather than consciously composed or chosen

[@Popcheese10]

Came here to say the same, Squarepusher the goat

[@cliffshbk2589]

As soon as I saw Thundercat, I knew this vid was gonna be 🔥🔥🔥

[@chickenlickin3820]

Thunder kitten!

[@VelvetTempest]

I wouldn't mind a 40-minute version of this video!

[@wholeshowjoe2614]

We don’t care give us 20 more minutes. Give us more bass players. Such fantastic work introducing us all these great players. My daughter and I, who is a bass player too, love this. Thanks!

[@bannanapancake]

Thank goodness.... Mono made the list, that guys phrasing and ear is just freakishly good!!!

[@JoshuaWillis89]

And let me tell you as a left-handed person who used to play on an upside down guitar, it is not easy or comfortable. When I finally bought a lefty bass, things got a lot easier. The two primary reasons: the knobs/hardware catching your wrist, which can change the tone or volume dramatically, and the higher strings are further away from your wrist resting under the neck, which means more of a stretch when you solo. Plus, the body of the guitar is designed to fit comfortably with your body at only one angle.

[@Thrungey]

I am in awe of Evan Mariens left little finger :)

[@jonsidell3338]

I love watching him play, it’s like a spider dancing on the fretboard.

[@louisaccardi2268]

Just amazing. Such great musicians. Thanks Scottie for this video.

[@mattbrumit8592]

So good. Thanks Scott and Team SBL for another amazing video.

[@sakusaaristo191]

Great list, though leaving Mohini Dey out is a straight up crime! :)

[@MyKakasa]

capital offence

[@bassinitmac1T]

That was awesome Scott! Your an incredible musician and a great inspiration to us all!

[@blakebass1]

Great video, thanks so much for introducing us to these amazing players! Mindblowing!

[@DOGroove]

Every player on this list is incredible. A lot of people love to live in the past but this list shows how amazing the best bass players are these days.

[@BebopHardRock]

Lovin' Dane Alderson's time and tone! Can't believe you missed Christian Gálvez!!

[@tayy2072]

I really can't tell yall how many times I have rewatched Scott doing the riff at the beginning of the video. What a legend.

[@allysongomes4363]

Amazing! A lot of monstrous bassists and that's so good to see that the Brazil is well represented in this list! I miss Ricardinho Paraiso but this list still really great!

[@lwslucas]

Me too

[@AhhSwells]

love Evan Marion. His compositions are stunning too

[@irumaru]

Was pleasantly surprised seeing Anton and Federico on the list, they are among my all time favorites, blazing solos!

[@mauriziorolli]

A huge list of very talented people! Great job!

[@eliassantos1334]

Brazil!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thiago, Braguinha e Pipoca! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you!

[@damiansanchez429]

that tal wilkenfeld clip is so special. she didnt rely on playing arpeggios and scales at lightning speed. she way not be a jazz soloist, but that melody is so amazing

[@khileshjairamdas8410]

Dude these groove hard and earned a sub for sending all this to my ears

[@marcioazzarini]

Brasil fortíssimo na parada! Celeiro de baixista bom! 👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@gabrielnunes3497]

É nois ! 🇧🇷

[@doomslayerplushie6662]

The most monstrous instrumentalist come from jazz fusion my God

[@grmblfzzzt]

Or maybe the most monstrous instrumentalists just go to jazz fusion?

[@deprichef9903]

Mono Neon is something else! Its intrested to see, in this compilation, that sound and playing style and harmonic style of the most solos are very similar. With closed eyes, its hard to hear some differences...

[@yoochrls]

He’s a beast!

[@Rodney_see]

7:13 for Thundercat!

[@bkdexter79]

Please do "another" top 20...this was soo good!

[@m.charron]

Janek's my favourite from this list. Lyrical was the right word to describe him. The 2 bassists I would add both belong to Paco de Lucia's bands: Carles Benavent for the previous video (born in '54), and Alain Perez (born in '77).

[@gabrielrochamelo8183]

I just missed one in this list: Scott Devine. That one from UK

[@irvineivan]

Mohini Dey?

[@FunkyDigo]

Totally

[@learnonedooneteachone3822]

Scott you are awesome. Time for a new glove. That one is gnarls.

[@thescale599]

Great selection... I'm in awe for Evan and Michael pipo

[@hegeduslaszlobassplayer8796]

The selection is very good!

[@scunion66]

Incredible! I would have to add Jonas Hellborg to this list but all of these cats are so creative in their approach to the instrument. Definitely can't wait to check out more of the players I'm hearing for the first time, like Anton Davidyants. Lots of new players to check out named in the comments as well!

[@JaQba91]

This video of Federico and Anthon is completly NUTS. I watch it time for time and it never made me other reaction than giggling and enjoying ending 😁

[@WoodenTiger2023]

wow Scott this is so incredible!!! I'd love to meet you one day in the UK. I am based in Madrid. Last week I have started lessons with Gary!! :)

[@ephraim.1964]

Excellent bp’s selection.👍👍

[@Frisbieinstein]

Hiromi in her mountain woman phase. (I'd forgotten about that.) I thought I knew what was going on, but you have me beat with bass players. These guys are good! But I sure was surprised Mohini Dey wasn't in there.

[@feedthechunk9836]

Kinga Głyk - The first name that came to my mind.

[@Ian_Hay]

“You probably wouldn’t think of Tal Wilkenfeld as a jazz soloist…”. ??? Her first (and for a long time afterwards, only) album was entirely an instrumental jazz album, with a scorching jazz bass solo on nearly every track.

[@SixteenVoice]

Yeah, but let's admit that she pretty much fully retired from that lifestyle many years ago 👣✌️

[@downtownwillie]

So glad you put MonoNeon in there.

[@ErixSamson]

I'd say main missing ones in the new gen are Romain Labaye, Charles Berthoud, Mohini Dey

[@aaronreeves8376]

That was great thx

[@claudetshibasu5470]

Thank you Scot!, even though i was born in the early 70 , I agree with your picks!

[@MrHunte87]

Had the pleasure of meeting Michael League while working for Jazz venue in Manchester called Band on the Wall and filmed a project him and the SP crew did at the venue with local musicians. He's a great teacher too.

[@Stckmand]

Daniele is great musician but also a very helpful and kind person....

[@eyelidman09]

‘The new breed’ - indeedy! Some amazing players taking us into the future generations of bass playing. Thanks a million, Scott!🙏🇬🇧👍🙏

[@gkouba]

Looking and listening to these guys play is humbling.. One thing I believe is that if you are rolling around an instrument with more than 5 strings. you are a a unique combination of bass and guitarist and a well rounded musician with lots of mileage. A good musician is always learning.

[@mrstock7986]

Thanks Scott! Great vid. 👍 And i hadn't even heard of most of these bassists... However... (gotta ask) How about Esperanza Spalding? How about Kinga Glyk? And, for what it's worth, i for one am not afraid of 40min videos. As long as it doesn't get boring. 😉

[@luckyonyekaharrison435]

Esperanza is a beast!!!. I think there should be a series for the bass women

[@rickrolli7091]

Some other bass players to maybe add to your next video list would be Mohini Dey, Nate Navarro & Kinga Glyk.

[@valhallaatmedawg6446]

+1 for Nate Navarro. He's a Jack of all trades bassist, and a Master of all those trades as well. He's a lot of fun to hear, and watch.

[@comradebigio]

They are the Gen Z of bass

[@robotx4242]

Dey has a John Coltrane solo posted on KZbin. Unbelievably awesome.

[@nelsongrimaldi3926]

Linley, your SOUND, gosh, love it

[@user-jn4kb7by3y]

Era of virtuoso,love it❤️

[@wuanjing]

Yeayy I was going to recommend you Dane Alderson but midway of watching I see you have included him in. I used to watch him play in Llama bar in Perth Australia when I was living there. He play regulars there with his band called Void, i think there are vids in youtube of them during that days. He's amazing, I used to watch him in awe with my mouth open

Feliz demais de ver muitos nomes brazucas nessa lista! So happy to see a lot of brazilian names on this list!

[@TrevorandThea]

Personal fave in this category at the moment would have to be the fabulous Kinga Glyk- wonderfully melodic jazz/fusion bassist. Born in 1997 as it happens since that seems to be important ;)

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I'll admit it, I thought, for a split second, something was wrong with Henrik's video resolution, until I realized he had the true temper frets 😂 so many great players...

[@stratrovarius]

Missing just two : Anthony Crawford (played with Allan Holdsworth & Virgil Donatti) & Snow Owl (currently playing with Hans Zimmer).

[@briangrose8392]

Awesome players, thanks SBL! My favourite player is Dauno Martinez from Australia.... Seriously, he is on another level!

[@Fernandozada]

Brazil going with monsters! Pipoquinha sounds very funny in your pronunciantion! Rsss is like a little popcorn! Kkkk Amazing bass player! Thanks for show me some names I don´t heard before.

[@TeaHauss]

You can't fix perfection. Nobody has more perfect an arc as Dinobot.

[@Likeaforest]

hi scott i realy want to thank you and all the mentors in "Scott's Bass Lesson" i feel like im fainaly in the MOST rigth school now .......................it is so big im so new there and im Israeli so my English is not so good BUT im i heaven in there realy ' you are all soooooooooooooooooooo perfect teacher's

[@othinielkatembokainda294]

You're the best scott

[@andresegone]

Dario Deidda, Etienne Mbappe, Michel Alibo

[@bassmanjtfunk]

Some great players 👏. Some I've never heard of. Thanks. That's a lot of dam notes. LOL 😆 wow!

[@ZlatoyarBass]

It would be awesome to see SBL workshop with Anton, Bubby, Mononeon, Junior :)

[@mjtsirhc]

Kind of surprised to see Henrik Linder here. Not thathe can't do jazz. I just always imagine him primarily in the Dirty Loops sort of genre.

[@chrismstens]

crazy nice!

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@jacobwilliams1736]

I absolutely love the look of this new p bass Scott has. Does anyone know what this unique color is?

[@bozzbass9624]

Heavy technician passages you chose with 95% similar tonalities. Great players yes. I know at least half have shown the souls side. How about clips with FEEL.

[@Tom-pk2pz]

💪

[@fabiolimadesiqueira]

👏👏👏👏👏 amazing ☀️✌️

[@Popcheese10]

Love the MonoNeon representation!!

[@noahhight7781]

Moto Fukushima is a killer player worth mentioning, amazing soloist

[@mukomanjisichilongo8796]

Moto Fukushima.🥺🥺

[@slimk3836]

Hahaha that cracked me up "great lines, great jumper"

[@JoshuaDb_The_Witness]

Man - I would be super helpful if you'd include the names of the players you showcase in the description section of your videos. You have done several of these types of videos - and there are always cats I want to explore further - but Id have to rewatch the video to get the names. Links are always great - and Im sure the cats you showcase would love the views. But even just a text list would be much appreciated in the future. CHEERS!

[@SALESPRODUCTIONS]

Esperanza Spalding and Kinga Glyk - BIG MISSES ( Especially Kinga - she is a monster ) Also - forget the name - but that one guy was a classical guitarist playing a bass - let's be real And I was curious if this Mono Neon literally learned to play up side down and backwards - because it looked like he was playing a right hand style bass - and stringed normally. Which is incredible - because the E string would be the physically ( not sonically ) LOWEST string. and A D G going upwards. ( Upside down and Backwards )

[@Bconsuegra255]

Esperanza Spalding is an incredible musician.

[@clark1bass993]

Mono is right handed. He just started playing the bass upside down sitting on a couch.

[@PabloskyS84]

Hey Scott! have you ever heard of the Chilean bassist Christian Galvez?? he has played with Billy Cobham. Hope you can see some videos!

[@M3rox11]

I was hoping for some Kinga Głyk (1997) in the end.

[@daniBassman]

Conclusión: la cantera de músicos brasileños es impresionante.

[@daniBassman]

Por cierto, Robson Albuquerque....... sin palabras

[@Oscaraha]

Dont know how old he is, but Dario Deidda should be on this list. One of very few electric bass player besides Steve Swallow who really functions well in a straight ahead jazz setting without going fusion.

[@andrewstephenson3594]

Hi Scott, what's with the frets on Henrick Linders bass? I don't think it's a dodgy lens on the camera.

[@TrevorandThea]

Non-even temperament fretboard. The straight frets on a bass (or notes on a piano for that matter) are a harmonic compromise. Strictly if you take harmonic theory back from first principles, as you build different scales up based on the ratio differences of notes’ frequencies compared to the tonic, then individual notes in different scales are at very slightly different frequencies. The G in F major is very slightly different to the G in D major or C major scales. The “even tempered scale” provides standard frequencies for each note that are a compromise but sound OK. However you can place the frets so as to give either scale specific note frequencies or a different compromise from the standard even temperament. Not sure I explained that very well…

[@lucanreis6794]

Imagina a satisfação de ver Junior Braguinha na lista do SBL. Um guaxinin no meio dos monstros.

[@DerekFrazier2014]

Why nothing on Mohini Dey. She is unreal and I have not heard you give her love or did I just miss it. Also these pros you just showed are fantastic and half were new to me so I have some listening to do on Pandora. Ty

[@jonse6]

Jazz Bass Player: *Plays* Scott Devine: Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@therocketeer7171]

I was anticipating Esperanza Spalding, however these picks are phenomenal

[@IceyFlame500]

Scott I think you got a lot of that Tal Wilkenfeld flavor in your playing

[@baldy555]

My 2 favs are Mono Neon and Tal. Self-taught (I think) and sent from high above!

[@erichart1924]

Great Top 20 list, but I would like to know where Adam Nitti ranks on your list of Jazz Bass Soloist. I discovered him on Spotify a couple of years ago and he is fantastic. He plays a phrase in his intro of the Antisocial Media song that blows my mind. I would love to hear you interview him on his style and influences.

[@Brad5161]

How old is Adam?

[@CliffHuxtableSweater]

Richard bona if you ever come across this please accept my apologies, please sir. You are an easy top 5 most mind boggling bass players I have witnessed. Also mr Wooten, the man I believe has had the biggest influence on the evolution of the bass guitar, my apologies extend to you too sir. Mr Wooten, you were doing things that no one could understand long before a “KZbin”. That’s why you stood alone. No disrespect intended but there’s a reason if i only listened to the audio of this clip, except for a few, I wouldn’t be able to tell one from the other. KZbin allowed instant access to everything you even thought you wanted to learn. Mr victor wooten listened to records but then had to develop his own unique sound in his bedroom without immediate access to other players techniques. This was like naming the greatest pop singers of all time and including Britney but forgetting Michael.

[@georgelamie7001]

Missing Anthony Crawford, but a comprehensive job, Scott!

[@voidofbeeswax]

It’s good to see Tony Grey getting some love.

[@Arbigale]

THE FACT THAT MICHAEL LEAGUE LEADS snarky puppy says it All…

[@jusplayinmybass]

Mohini Dey belongs on this list.

[@Tvaroh]

Thanks, Scott! Why do you wear hat at home btw? :D

[@callumcrymble2668]

Can't wait for more thundercat content!

[@paolosalgo6987]

what do you call on the hoodie hes wearing?

[@ClerioMurbach]

Junior Braguinha e Michael Pipoquinha representando o nosso Brasil tão rico e tão musical... Que orgulho! 😍They're representing our rich and musical Brazil... What a pride!

[@RafaelFerreira-vk4xp]

E o Thiago Espírito Santo, né?

[@George.___]

Mohini Dey should be on this list for sure 😎