Tony, when I have a choice, the bass player is the strongest player in any of my configurations.

Bass lines on these kinds of tunes are the engine that makes them work.

Good observation.

Quality of bass lines with arrangers is one of the reasons I'm a little reluctant to use them. It's not that they're bad; they're just dull, generally.

45% of my work over the years has been as a "slappin" bass player. I even have a custom built double neck with a fretless neck at the top and a fretted neck on the bottom.

I don't even mind playing country bass (I Know, I Know), where the job is to be part percussionist.

LOVE my old 59 P bass and my 1963 jazz. They're now worth more than my new Subaru.


Russ