Bass legend Chuck Rainey turns 74 today, and we’re celebrating with a jam of epic proportions. Here’s Rainey jamming the 1968 Archie Bell and the Drells song “Tighten Up,” from the 1993 “Coolin’ ’N Groovin’” performance in Japan.

The session includes a who’s who of R&B session players, including drummer Bernard Purdie, guitarist David T. Walker, organist Sonny Phillips, saxophonist Bill Bivens, trumpeter Virgil Jones, percussionist Pancho Morales, and alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson.

Rainey kicks off the groove and holds it down for the nearly twenty minute jam. The way he locks in the bass line yet changes it up to follow and support the soloists is just one of the many reasons we love his style.

Happy birthday Mr. Rainey! Part 1 & 2


[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2rByT541zk#t=372[/video]

Bernard and Pancho...ANY bass players dream section. And, they're playing here with a bass giant!

Enjoyed it. Like most, I've played this one a thousand times.


Russ

I could only listen to this stuff about 23 hours a day ... After all I have to sleep sometime ...