Stanley Clarke: 1 2 To the Bass (2003)

Stanley Clarke is without doubt a phenomenally talented bassist but has not done much to showcase this ability on his own recordings since the late '70s. You can chalk that up mostly to Clarke's propensity for trite, pop-oriented material that does little to illuminate his great technical command of the instrument or to engage the listener either melodically or lyrically. 1, 2, to the Bass is a step in the right direction with a more jazz-oriented feel and some interesting guest appearances. Rapper Q-Tip gets things off to a nice start on the title track which reimagines '90s hip-hop jazz as "quiet storm" R&B. "Simply Said" is reminiscent of Sting's more fusion-style originals with flutist Hubert Laws on a nice melodic hook. There is also an inspired reworking of the R&B classic "Where Is the Love" featuring Glenn Lewis and Amel Larrieux. Later on, if "Los Caballos (The Horses)" sounds a little too much like Madonna's "Borderline," and Oprah Winfrey's reading of Maya Angelou's "I Shall Not Be Moved" seems a bit out of place on an album that includes a song titled "Just Cruzin'," there's at least the "Rock It"-styled electro-disco-funk of "Bout the Bass." And don't forget the monstrous "freak" funk cover of "Hair" that almost redeems everything guitarist Joe Satriani has ever done. Perhaps not the exhilarating breakthrough one would hope, 1, 2, to the Bass is nonetheless a very exciting return to form. - AMG

Tracklist:
1  1, 2, To the Bass - Clarke, McKinley, Q-Tip (Fareed 5:55
2  Simply Said - Clarke 4:34
3  Where Is the Love? - MacDonald, Salter 4:06
4  Anna (She Loves the Good Life) - Clarke 5:01
5  Los Callabos (The Horses) - Clarke 4:41
6  Just Cruizin' (En Hommage - Wes Montgomery/George Benson/Pat Martino) - Clarke 4:26
7  'Bout the Bass - Clarke, McKinley 7:32
8  Hair - Graham 5:14
9  Touch - Clarke 6:04
10  All the Children/Todos los Ninos - Clarke 4:56
11  I Shall Not Be Moved - Angelou 6:37
12  Shanti Peace Paz - Clarke, Subramaniam 5:53
1 2 to the Bass
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Nils Gessinger: Burning (2006)

Burning - The fourth album from composer, arranger and Rhodes-virtuoso Nils Gessinger blows Funk, Soul and Jazz in your ears. Again it's the mixture of groove and perfection that makes the characteristic Gessinger sound. The musical claim is based on the colourful diversity of the compositions, the powerful soul voices of the singers, the arrangements with incisive horncharts as well as the playful joy of a big ensemble.

The technical claim becomes manifest in the virtuosity of soloist like Peter Weniger (sax) or Joe Gallardo (tb) as well as Gessinger being flying to Los Angeles just to record six tracks with drum legend Vinnie Colaiuta. This formula of passion and accuracy led to invitations to big festival stages like North Sea Jazz Festival The Hague or Montreux and sharing the stage with Spyro Gyra or George Benson. Not to mention his dexterity at the piano being engaged by greats like Patti LaBelle, Dee Dee Bridgewater, the NDR BigBand or Herb Geller. „Burning“ continues the line of successful albums like „Ducks'n'cookies“ (feat. Herb Geller - sax), „Scratch Blue“ (feat. Robben Ford - git) and „Jam It Up!“ (feat. Dave Weckl - drums). Nils Gessinger's tunes can easily be recognized but still take you by surprise with their stylistic variety.

Tracklist:

01. Burning (3:55)

02. Holiday Me (4:01)
03. Cuna (6:24)
04. Cicale (5:09)
05. Double Threat (5:24)
06. Star Crazy (4:51)
07. Flap (4:56)
08. Frozen (4:04)
09. Stepping Along (5:30)
10. In Sight (4:41)
11. Slam (4:46)
12. Integrity (4:42)
13. Get That Lick, Attig! (5:38)
Burning
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Brian Bromberg: Plays Jimi Hendrix (2010)

As one of the most prolific and commercially successful solo bassists for over the past two decades, Brian Bromberg has released a diverse collection of recordings spanning straight-ahead and contemporary jazz, rock, fusion, and funk genres. Following tributes to bass icon Jaco Pastorius and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brian Bromberg returns with his latest dedication, Plays Jimi Hendrix. Backed by the legendary Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and utilizing conventional bass playing techniques on standard 34-inch scale basses tuned to the register of an electric guitar, the Grammy-nominated bass virtuoso has issued an astounding compilation of Hendrix's greatest hits. Bromberg's performance as a guitar player is so convincing that if you weren't aware the guitar parts were actually recorded by a bassist on piccolo basses, you would never be able to distinguish the difference. Because Bromberg is employing basses tuned like a guitar and articulating all of the phrases with his fingers rather than a pick, he is able to deliver a much warmer and deeper sound than what his guitar-playing counterparts can produce. While the bass is featured prominently in each of these selections, you don't have to be a bass enthusiast to enjoy the spirit and depth of these arrangements because the musicality of these compositions extends beyond an audience of only bass aficionados. This production is much more than just a tribute to the music of Jimi Hendrix. It captures the same level of raw energy and emotion that has characterized all of Bromberg's recordings ever since his debut as a solo artist. On Plays Jimi Hendrix, Bromberg continues to redefine the role of the bass and broaden its dimensions. Currently available only in Japan, this project contains 11 brilliant arrangements of classic tracks including "Fire," "Spanish Castle Magic," "Purple Haze," "Manic Depression," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Voodoo Child," "Freedom," "All Along The Watchtower," "Foxey Lady," "Hey Joe," and "Crosstown Traffic."

Plays Jimi Hendrix

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