Top 10 JAZZ Bass Players

[@hakeemahmadjamal7403]

Paul Chambers played on the most important albums in Jazz, crazy to leave him out

[@Oscaraha]

Word, this video should be taken down.

[@BattManion1979]

@@Oscaraha They put in guys like Wooten who are like circus acts

[@s0y_aaa]

@@Oscaraha ehm, the video said at the start that its just his opinions, so.. fuck off ok?

[@frogsdogs]

I agree that Paul Chambers is a very important bass player, but this is just someone’s opinion. It’s great that you commented to raise awareness, but why be critical or nasty. Just share your different opinion! I might argue that Christian McBride is the best living bass player,but wouldn’t criticize anyone for disagreeing.

[@frogsdogs]

@rXw55 Was more replying to the grouping with replies by Oscabass and Batt Manion's saying the video should be taken down. In my universe, people can have different taste and opinions.

[@Tomatohater64]

My only addition would be my favorite bassist: Mr. Paul Chambers.

[@WilliamAYoung-dr1qf]

Hard to argue with such an accomplished collection of bass players. But I would add the great Ray Brown to that list. He was one of the most respected and sought after bass players of his era. Thanks for sharing

[@acephali6533]

you missed a very important name in there: Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen.....

[@sinjin88]

Thank you, if NHOP isn't one of them then this video is void.

[@radekpolak4548]

yes yes yes

[@mortenstaffeldt5541]

Agree this is missing the master.

[@madspetersen1708]

NHØP was the best

[@bekagigauri1799]

And Scott La Faro and Tom Kennedy????....

[@vinnyd5471]

Strange to mix upright and electric bass in the same selection... NHOP and Scott LaFaro are definitely missing for me...

[@martian-sunset]

Really should be "Acoustic Bass Players" and "Electric Bass Players" so this list should include Eddie Gomez, Gary Peacock, NHOP, George Mraz and Ray Brown.

[@Musicfiend4ever]

Absolutely!

[@sergioflores5565]

+1 for all of these

[@emanuelerosasbmx4311]

Also paul chambers

[@dlsamson]

Watching NHOP play with the Oscar Peterson trio is an otherworldly experience

[@jodi183]

Funny to have a picture of Charlie Haden but no mention, or did I miss it? What about Paul Chambers? He's probably one of the most influential. And yes, someone mentioned NHOP. What about Scott LaFaro? Ray Brown? Eddie Gomez? Those guys are way more influential than Whooten, Miller and Bona (yes, those guys are great).

[@Musicfiend4ever]

Yep!

[@Plotani]

Scott LaFaro was from another planet

[@anthonydonofrio3266]

Paul chambers, Gary Willis, Charlie Haden, Hadrian feraud, Anthony Jackson, Ray Brown, Christian McBride... the list can go on and on.. definitely a good start.

[@okolekahuna3862]

Definite names I would've mentioned as well...

[@lmp9726]

Saw Hadrian Feraud last week, with OzNoy and Dave Weckl.

[@embodiedconducting]

I think you need do separate lists for double bass and electric bass because you left off too many double bass players that deserve to be on the list... Ray Brown, Percy Heath, Sam Jones, Jimmy Blanton, Miroslav Vitous, Richard Davis, Eddie Gomez and NHOP come to mind for starters. Stanley Clarke and John Patitucci could be on both lists.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

Where would you put Eberhard Weber?

[@embodiedconducting]

@@jonathanedwards8696 Frimly in the top 20 jazz bassists.

[@normanndaba8823]

@embodied conducting …I made my comment before seeing yours. Exactly.

[@jazzenthusiast4353]

Charlie Haden, Steve Swallow, Charnett Moffett and Avishai Cohen are among the 10 best.

[@JaySeitzPhD]

Eddie Gomez

[@1yamawai1]

LOL after reading some of the comments it's obvious we need a top 500 list. bring a snickers, we gon be here a while

[@drummondrick7]

Definitely Ray Brown! And yes, I agree, NHOP definetly worthy of mention, also Jimmy Blanton..he started the modern sound in jazz on bass... no Christian Mcbride??!! Younger than the others mentioned but has the body of work, he's been in collaboration with the greatest musicians of all time for a reason, definitely in top 10.. where's Paul Chambers?? Influenced generations of bassists... Sam Jones, Buster Williams, Rufus Reid... just my opinion 🎶

[@АндрейАзаров-щ7ь]

Scott LaFaro?

[@drummondrick7]

@@АндрейАзаров-щ7ь Was incredibly gifted, with a very unique sound that set him apart, tragic he passed away so young, I think he deserves mention in the great bassists conversation!

[@Acrimusic]

Well the list is only so big so it can only contain a limited number of people

[@nancyeckroad-haney7309]

​@@АндрейАзаров-щ7ьwaiting to see If anyone mentioned Scotty... unforgettable.

[@CalebOrvik]

Jimmy blanton, Paul chambers, niels Pederson to name a few

[@Michelcontrabaixo]

on "acoustic Bass Blayers" should include Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen too

[@paoloalcantara2465]

This is his list. Of course if we made ours, it would be so different.

[@drummondrick7]

And yes, Percy Heath! One of the most recorded bassists in jazz history !

[@euanwalker4436]

Portrait of Tracy by Jaco Pastorius, what a beautiful song.

[@Pietro_0397]

Where is Ray Brown???!!!

[@gmo22]

I totally respect your list. However. I would have like to have seen the likes of Ray Brown, Scot LaFaro and or Eddie Gomez as well

[@slickrockcreek1]

Yes there are always names people can debate on any of these "top ten" lists but, all apologies, Ray Brown is not debatable. He should be on this list. Period. Let's put it this way: the best concert introduction I've ever seen was some years ago at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle: "And now for the four most commonly heard words heard on any jazz radio station: Ray Brown on bass!"

[@everythinghamsterz487]

Yeah!!!

[@gabepenn7386]

no kidding!

[@davidsanme1715]

I think Ray Brown is the best, and C. Mingus

[@mrtools2]

Others have questioned your inclusions. I simply thank you for this wonderful compilation.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

Holland is also formidable on cello, and plays guitar and piano as well. It is his composer's ear that would place him in my top five.

[@dansaghin1]

good pick, you should do a list with top underrated 10 jazz bass players... I`m sure some great names will appear there and will help young bass players expand their knowledge about the instrument and music...

[@mrvantagepro]

Two choices of mine for underrated are Steve Swallow and Mark Egan.

[@michaelmorran754]

Great list but surely Ray Brown and Percy Heath belong here too.

[@shaney4149]

These are all such talented people but Jaco is where the word unique truly has meaning.

[@tuomas3964]

The incredible world of bass

[@Nikosi9]

Great list...

[@АндрейАзаров-щ7ь]

Scott LaFaro?

[@mac2phin]

Where's Paul Chambers? Charlie Haden?

[@likemostthings]

Milt Hinton?

[@johnfairweather9188]

I would add Ray Brown. Very tasteful player.

[@JonB44DD]

I almost lost it when I didn't see my homie from Philly Stanley Clarke. And since they added Jaco Pastorius, they might as well have added Alphonso Johnson, another home town talented bassist. But Stanley played both the electric and double bass as well.

[@RobCayzer]

Hes #2 on the list

[@JonB44DD]

@@RobCayzer alrighty then😊

[@garrybrown7372]

Most influential to me is; Jaco! He also played upright double bass. Until it blew up. Not mentioned on double bass at all, is:- ? Today’s best young contemporary bassists in my opinion are:- Mohiney Dey, Federico Malaman, Davadid, H. Feroud and G.Severn. To name just a few.

[@blakeanncook7375]

Great list! One suggestion: Scott LaFaro.

[@stevenwolf8434]

Yes one of the best ever

[@williamhinton2148]

You hit it right on the head I wouldn't change a thing .thanks Jaco was the best of them all and Ron Carter my favorite up right player. All of the heavy hitters. Marcus . John pat.Mingus. the men of bass.

[@davifiks421]

Marcus is my favorite, see him with the metropole orkest, is just fantastic

[@gengafan]

I can't believe that Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHOP) is not on your list. Never heard of him?

[@Dtruthseek]

the Great Dane with the Never-Ending Name - and any list without Ray Brown I can't really take seriously. How about Kristin Korb, Katie Thiroux, women who play standup great and sing awesome too.

[@Tomatohater64]

I heard NHOP play with Joe Pass in the 70s; now I know what Heaven sounds like. (Ok, gimme some slack here.)

[@Dtruthseek]

@@Tomatohater64 You got the grace. I'm convinced that heaven is better than we can imagine. But in this life one of my chief joys is hearing a well played bass, whether for secular or Jesus music.

[@txa1265]

I love NHOP as well! It is so hard to build one of these lists - because what about Eberhard Weber? Ray Brown? (Scott LaFaro as mentioned above), Steve Swallow, and on and on ...

[@HCBMD]

I know it is always arbitrIair but NHOP was the best

[@LRS905]

Charlie Haden and Scott LaFaro, anyone?

[@txa1265]

Especially since Haden is the background picture as the video starts? haha - so many great bassists!

[@slickrockcreek1]

They would be on MY list! LaFaro maybe is not as well-known as he would have been if he had lived longer, but for any true Bill Evans fan he was not just a great bass player but also a true innovator on thre instrument. "Jade Visions" is one of my all-time favorite songs.

[@txa1265]

slickrockcreek1 I feel like I always learn something new listening to LaFaro on those Bill Evans recordings, even after many years and many listens. Such a tragic loss :(

[@GeoCoppens]

@@txa1265 Haden started his own cliches later! Not great!

[@Nikosi9]

@@GeoCoppens If you've listened to Haden live, you would hear one of the biggest sounds on bass. He was all about the timbre of the instrument. not so much the twiddly fingers...

[@karayuschij]

Some important missing (NHOP is one, Eberhard Weber is another), but I mostly agree.

[@saeclarkson]

In Canada we have some guys that are absolutely world class...Neil Swainson, Don Thompson, Dave Young and Steve Wallace to name a few.

[@beto91959]

I love John Clayton too. Good list.

[@noelhunt4732]

No-one seems to have mentioned Sam Jones; NHOP and Sam Jones 'Double Bass', 1976

[@joenoah9906]

Christian McBride...for sure

[@Tomatohater64]

McBride can play an awesome fretless as well.

[@elducko1951]

Great stuff! I do agree that you overlooked Ray Brown and Milt Hinton but I'm willing to bet it wasn't intentional

[@fretless05]

I was a little surprised to not see Ray Brown on this list; he was not only huge in his own right, but through his SuperBass trio, brought a younger generation os players, Christian McBride and John Clayton, into the spotlight. Hearing three bassists from different eras and using different playing styles arrange jazz standards for three basses was something that shouldn't be missed! Another player that I always loved was Charlie Haden, who completely changed my way of thinking about bass (and I think is the bassist shown in the video picture).

[@cirenosnor5768]

Seems separate acoustic and electric lists would’ve been best…then put Stanley on both lists 😁

[@OMurchadha]

Great players. For me though, Niels Pedersen is a must must listen. Check him out if you haven't. Legend.

[@_Everyone__]

NHOP?

[@raktimparashar]

Malachi Favors ,Eddie Gomez, Ray Brown,

[@newclarence]

Yeah, sweet Malachi. Under rated, under exposed and much missed.

[@utility43210]

I guess some might consider it gluttony to have all 3 of Pat Metheny's bass bass players(Pastorius Rodby and Bona), listed. But out of those 3, Rodby was by far the most instrumental(no pun intended), in helping Metheny/Mays make their most trademark and influential music. Rodby may not be as flashy as Jaco and Bona. But he sure as hell can hold a solid modal groove and keep the song in motion, better than any other bass player not just in jazz, but perhaps all of popular music. Criminal omission.

[@doddsalfa]

Charlie Haden was his number one bass player 😊

[@gringochucha]

Nice list. The only guy I've never been able to get is Marcus Miller. I know he's technically a good player, but his music just doesn't reach me. I would add a lesser-known name to the list, and that's Guy Nsangué, who played with Jean Luc Ponty for many years. The guy was/is an incredibly gifted bass player.

[@GeoCoppens]

Marcus Miller is a poor one!

[@leonardpater]

Jimmy Garrison (jazz) Eddie Gomez (jazz) Dough Wimbish (Rock) among the others

[@sport2481]

Great picks. Love me some Brian Bromberg...

[@bassmickeyd]

Nice, I've been playing upright 30-years and it's a lot more working than these players let on while they're playing. ... You could do a top 10 for jazz upright, jazz electric and jazz el who play upright, players. ...

[@ur_sph]

Great rank, Jaco no doubt n.1 not only for technic but for his visionary way of bass concept...

[@jazzman99000]

Top bass player is one that can keep the band centered I the pocket with good tone and groove and refrain from solos that exceed four bars.

[@mrvantagepro]

Spot on. Agree completely. 👍

[@kickinkanga7026]

Great list. All the names are there that I would of thought of.

[@Loppy8]

Double Bass (Contrabass) players and electric bass guitar players should be separated. They are two different instruments.

[@paulhaynes561]

Loppy8 I got no problem with electric bass players being included - as long as they stick to 4 strings. Plus, nowadays, most all upright players have to also know how to play electric if you want a gig.

[@かさとし-c2u]

Exactly! I support you! I love Marcas, Victor, but they are not Jazz.

[@EJP286CRSKW]

Juan Esteban Perez Perdomo Double basses are from the viol family. Bass guitars are from the guitar family. Do you want to include the pedals on a Hammond as well? Or the ukulele, which is also tuned in fourths?

[@gustamyo]

Bass guitar and Upright bass isn't from same family Juan.

[@newclarence]

@@EJP286CRSKW Ha, ha. perfect

[@Logan-Wolverine]

Jimmy Garrison,Paul Chambers,Ray Brown,Barre Phillips,Gary Willis,Jeff Berlin,Marc Johnson,Marcus Miller

[@Tomatohater64]

Jimmy Garrison - absolutely!

[@nemo227]

Some people think lists have some sort of "importance" but, really, do we listen to musicians because they're on someone's list or because we enjoy the music? It's not a contest. The important "list" may be the booking agent's call list.

[@donovanmarks2699]

Top ten is really hard, but this list is excellent!!

[@j.p.fitting9226]

I was really digging it until the electric bass guitars came in haha Jaco yes ,monster! changed the bass, recognizable sound instantly ,Marcus Miller, a MoFo saw him w/Miles 2x's, I saw V. Wooten when he had just moved to Nashville,playing w/singer songwriter at the Bluebird Cafe, but dude! where's Ray Brown ,Paul Chambers,Wibur Ware? Guys with that real,deep,like what an upright sounds like tone? Not that 'Butter Bass' low action,slinky sounding electrified sound..I'll listen to more fusion or modern jazz ,check your recommendations out, cheers! JP

[@ibassnote]

Fun to hear all the different sounds and concepts side by side. Pettiford has the most mellow sound in this vid...

[@jackburton6998]

Good list. And Marcus Miller plays great strait ahead jazz. He truly is a student of the language of jazz. Jeff Berlin (who I believe should be on the list) can't even stump Marcus with his "music tells on you" tests. Thumbs way up on this video! Any idea what Richard Bona was using on this performance? Some type of Pbass? Man he's such a pure player.

[@pacman1789]

It still seems to be some sort of Jazz Bass.

[@thevan3293]

Marcus Miller that's all I needed to hear , proper good is that!

[@herculesmwp7983]

Some of these guys are jazz bass players, definitely would’ve added ray brown in there somewhere in exchange

[@rhmayer1]

Great list. I would've included Gary Peacock. And NHOP.

[@alexskrauth]

I think everyone could say ten more and then it turns out they are all great bass players.

[@johnbarnett6924]

Dedicated to my Childhood friend, William Yancy Dobie. Semper fi

[@rscottpartridge2781]

i appreciate your list, but Pettiford should've been closer to the top; the clips from Clarke and Pastorious weren't really showing off their best. All in all though its a worthy list: well done.

[@bsharporbflat8378]

This is a personal top 10..can't argue with this.

[@JonB44DD]

It is a personal top ten, that was posted on a public web site. Which allows it to be critqued by the public. You need a better response than that....

[@dibber43]

I can disagree!!! No Brian Bromberg, so...I DEFINITELY disagree with this list!!!

[@robertonavarro9301]

Cecil mc bee. Good list

[@paulleighton4639]

add to that ray brown,scott lafaro,chuck israels,eddie gomez all legends

[@hmm4214]

Jimmy Garrison is a beast soloist...

[@Tomatohater64]

Oh hell ya!

[@putzgadol]

My best friend for25 years was the principal bassist of a top orchestra. He was a good jazz player, also. Although he was a friend of Day Brown, he said the best jazz bassist, by far, is Victor Wooten.

[@mgjb747200]

Here's one more......Brian Bromberg (Wood albums)

[@bongosock]

Definitely needed some NHOP

[@monmonky]

for me, if you talking about jazz bassist i think you can not forget lease these guy on following 1. Ray Brown 2. Scott Lafaro 3. Paul Chamber 4. NHOP 5. Chalie Harden 6. Oscar Pettiford 7. Ron Carter 8. Chales Mingus Cuz all of them are made jazz music to be jazz music on these day

[@Buddy_Banquet_Off]

What about Jaco or Brian Bromberg? #9 & #10...)))

[@monmonky]

@@Buddy_Banquet_Off Dave holland as​ well

[@teidelu1]

Fairly complete. With two exceptions imho. Charlie Haden and Jeff Berlin. I would have added them.

[@ronwass]

I wouldn't put dave holland in a top ten, but that was one of the best clips I have heard of him.

[@AllenPMinton]

I also like NHOP, Rufus Reid, Brian Bromberg, and Harvie Swartz.

[@grokeffer6226]

Eddie Gomez ??

[@odysseuslaertiades1528]

What about Slam Stewart and other bass players from the early periods of Jazz?

You might want to add Willie Dixon, and any upright bass player that was in Duke Ellington's or Count Basie's bands. You did say Jazz, right?

[@ToddWCorey1]

Hard to argue with any of these monsters!

[@tiagoaraujo3016]

Scott Ambush, Paul Jackson, Glecio Nascimento.

[@williamwatson1998]

Music is universal, let's not compress ourselves with styles. Having said that, James Jameson and Anthony Jackson. And please let us not forget the late great Ronnie Baker!

[@clicks59]

How did Marcus Miller make the cut? Where's Steve Rodby? He's one of the most solid, in the pocket bass players out there.

[@retro4454]

Richard Bona is ridiculously amazing

[@machepallelou]

Nicely done. Would have went to top 20. Milt hinton, paul chambers, percy heath, dave jolland and others

[@Pap94]

Eddie Gomez should be on any top ten list of jazz bass players.

[@bustabass9025]

Jymie Merritt's work with the Jazz Messengers is legendary. As is his decades long contribution to the New York jazz session sets and recordings in general, and Blue Note records in particular. The problem I have with these kind of posts, is that the poster hardly ever does any research nor has anything more than a cursory knowledge of the subject matter they so eagerly want to share with others. In which case you would not have omitted recognizing and ranking the huge contributions, and bodies of work of so many other great jazz bassist also quite conspicuously missing from, your "list."😕

[@jackeaffe]

Leider ist Jaco auch schon lange tod. Schöne Zusammenstellung, leider zu kurz, ich vermisse Jeff Berlin....und noch vielleicht 10 andere Bassisten, aber egal....Großen Dank an dich und deine Zusammenstellung!

[@GeoCoppens]

Jaco was a bass GUITARIST!

[@WELLBRAN]

Should be electric separate list to be fair..myself I like, jack Bruce, Hugh hopper, miroslav Vitus, bunny Brunel, Anthony Jackson, Greg lake, Chris squire, Richard Sinclair, difficult to do with different styles of music

[@terryharcrow7593]

What about Terry harcrow? Lol that's me 50yrs bass! These guys blow me away!

[@djeric1000]

Paul Chambers , Ray Brown , Dario Deidda , Christian Mc Bride , Federico Pecoraro

[@sergiogomez5753]

And Charlie Haden, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Scott Lafaro, Christian McBride, Miroslav Vitous, P. Danielssen, Avishai Kohen......

[@jamorains]

Who have you all seen live??? I'll go: Ray Brown, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Dave Holland, Eric Revis, Ruben Rogers.

[@algarveTV]

The great thing about making a list with 10 top Jazz bassist is that you realize the good thing that 10 isn't enough to make any tiny justice to ALL unbelievable great bass musicians around. To be honest a list of 10 should at least be made by style genre. Pastorius, for example, is a monster, but together with Ron Carter, it isn't a fair mix. Ron always uses upright bass and Jaco was notorious for using electric fretless bass. We should compare Ron with Ray Brown for example. And Jaco. Well, Jaco has no possible comparison.

[@thebnote1]

The esoteric nature of jazz makes for interesting reading, mostly in comments. Then seamlessly moves into "My dog's bigger than your dog." And then sadly leads into "Your stupid." There is a fabulous list of names below. I rather doubt one will find a universal list! So I'll just say there are many players that would be on my list. The 2 that would automatically be there are Christian McBride and Paul Chambers. Adding electric will, quite naturally lead to phenomenally talented rock bass players as well as jazz.That would include John Entwhistle and Jack Bruce on my list. The dichotomy in my book is most exceptionally talented rock bassist were influenced by jazz. One question: What planet is Jaco from?

[@emanuelerosasbmx4311]

What about Niels henning pedersen, Ray brown, Paul chambers?

[@janubbelohdehenningsen4190]

NHØP , and a few more missing, I as a bass player see E-bass different from Upright for this comparisons but, man we all love bass!

[@grahamparker9855]

Great list....needs Paul Chambers and NHOP.....sorry Victor and Markus...you out....

[@furiacabocla2furiacabocla589]

Very Good list.

[@ElhermanoCristian]

Christian Mcbride, Christian Galvez, Jeff Berlin, among others

[@anatoliileff]

Безусловно все супер мастера!