2/24/2023 0 Comments Ghostnote bassistsBut he met his match in this young firebrand of a bassist, and their onstage interplay can be downright thrilling. One of the great prog rock bassists, the sound of Jones’s plucked Wal fretless is completely individual, and it took the lead on many of Brand X’s signature pieces – most notably his composition, the dizzingly energetic “Malaga Vergen.” Also note the beautifully atmospheric use that Brian Eno made of his sound on the instrumental, “Energy Fools the Magician.”Ĭlick to load video 11: Julie Slick (Adrian Belew, Echotest)Įx-Crimson member Adrian Belew is always at his best when he has musicians who can chase and challenge him, and given his level of virtuosity, that’s a pretty tall order. He also has the rare distinction of having played a bass solo on a UK hit single, “Bouree.” After Tull he was the founder and main songwriter of the overlooked Wild Turkey, whose material was heavily bass riff-driven. Jethro Tull arguably had more great bassists than any prog band this side of Zappa, but cofounder Cornick stands out for his jazz influence, which was key to Tull’s earlier sound. The 1977 solo album The Mathematician’s Air Display is perhaps the best demonstration of his skills, and features some of the tastiest guitar work Mike Oldfield did outside his own albums. Originally the bassist for Finland’s best (and probably only) internationally known prog band Wigwam, Pohjola always worked melodic ideas into his basslines, suggesting that he was itching to branch out as a composer. That’s what being progressive is all about. But Claypool’s references go in other directions as well: He has roots in funk, metal, and fusion and draws those all together, with his quirky sense of humor, to create a style of his own. Of all the bass heroes in the modern jam-band circuit, Les Claypool is the clearest about his love for vintage prog – especially for Rush, a love he shares with his Primus bandmates who took up a full-blown tribute tour in 2022. So far it’s a one-off in her catalogue (though there are proggy moments on the followup, 12 Little Spells) but her work will likely continue to fascinate. With producer Tony Visconti aboard, there’s also some Bowie-esque playing with identity. Best example is the 2016 album Emily’s D-Evolution, whose best moments suggest what Rush and Crimson might sound like if they had strong frontwomen and a grounding in R&B. Like many open-minded jazz players, Esperanza Spalding has kept a foot in rock – and when she rocks, she’s undeniably proggy. But he played bass well enough to impress his friend Chris Squire as a current Yes member he can successfully evoke Squire’s style without copying it. In Yes alone he’s played keyboards, guitar, and bass in separate stints. Sherwood is one of those musical brainiacs that seem to abound in modern prog on numerous band projects (including the Prog Collective and many tribute albums) he plays every instrument and sings masses of vocals. He also has the most offbeat credit of anyone on this list: That’s him on the live side of Chuck Berry’s London Sessions.Ĭlick to load video 17: Billy Sherwood (Yes, etc.) It’s his work on the latter that lands him here, playing some of the dirtiest, punk-inspired bass ever captured on a prog album – no surprise he wound up in a punk band (the Tigers on A&M) just afterward. Van der Graaf made do without a bass player for much of its career, but Potter was essential on two early albums, and again on the 1978 live set Vital. Think we missed one of the best prog rock bassists? Let us know in the comments below. In this list of the best prog rock bassists ever, we jump into the deep end, and salute the four-stringers (or, in some cases, eight or 12) that put the bottom into prog. But that’s seldom the case in prog rock, where bassists have been responsible for classic riffs, mighty bottom ends, and even a few dazzling solos. The bass player is traditionally the “quiet one” in a band – or as Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls would put it, the lukewarm water.
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