Adrian Duran -- Reader of the Month
What am I listening to?
I always listen to
Testament, Septicflesh,
Joe Pass, Sigur R—s,
Slayer, Chet Atkins, Stars of the Lid, Ghost,
and Iron Maiden.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
James Jamerson’s on “The Tracks of My
Tears” (The Miracles) is so tasteful and
restrained. Jamerson’s like Rembrandt:
There are no bad lines, only less great ones.
His lines are everywhere and completely
invisible all at once. If anyone can name a
more impactful bass player, I’ll eat my shoe.
Andy Ellis -- Senior Editor
What am I listening to?
Andy Timmons,
ATB Plays Sgt. Pepper.
Timmons offers a rocker’s
perspective on chord-melody playing, a
style associated with bebop jazz guitar. He
performs the entire album on 6-string—
a technically impressive and creatively
inspiring feat.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
I’m a dub bass fanatic—Robbie and Family
Man, wow—but my single favorite line has
to be what Rocco Prestia delivers in Tower
of Power’s “What Is Hip?” ... total insanity.
Shawn Hammond -- Editor in Chief
What am I listening to?
Global a Go-Go,
Joe Strummer & the
Mescaleros. A vibey
remaster of the Clash frontman’s 2001 album.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone)
on “Underdog,” Ronald La Pread (the
Commodores) on “Brick House,” Robert Bell
(Kool & the Gang) on “Ladies Night,” Darryl
Jenifer (Bad Brains) on “Stay Close to Me,”
Muzz Skillings (Living Colour) on “Under
Cover of Darkness,” Tim Commerford (Rage
Against the Machine) on “I’m Housin’.”
Tessa Jeffers -- Managing Editor
What am I listening to?
The self-titled debut
from Dead Sara, a
young foursome with a
two-guitar attack from Siouxsie Medley and
Emily Armstrong—a vocal stunner who
belts out a flawless vibrato while both singing
and scream-singing.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
Les Claypool’s slapping on “My Name Is
Mud,“ the scorching bass fuzz by Adam
Yauch on Beastie Boys’ “Gratitude,” and
the groove in “Stand by Me.” But the most
infectious funk bass line I’ve ever heard is in
Can’s “Halleluwah.”
Chris Kies -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
The Man with the
Iron Fists soundtrack.
New Yeezy, Wiz
Khalifa, and Wu-Tang cuts are worth the
sticker price, but for guitarists, the Black
Keys’ (with Iron Fists director RZA) bravado
mash-up “The Baddest Man Alive”
dominates, while the Revelations (with Tre
Williams) bridge old and neo soul on the
funky “I Forgot to Be Your Lover.”
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
Duck Dunn’s crawling-then-frenetic work
in Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness”
floors me every time.
Rich Osweiler -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
Cokefloat! by PAWS.
The debut record from
this Scottish punk-pop
trio is a fuzzy, fist-pump-inspiring ride that
blends in plenty of melodic flavoring to
keep it radio-friendly, or not. Either way, a
pretty fun listen.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
I saw this question and knew right away I’d
be calling out something from John Paul
Jones. So many to choose from, but what JPJ
did on “Ramble On” still gives me chills.
Tony Levin -- Stick Men bassist
What am I listening to?
Wish I could give a
sexy answer, but it’s the
usual homework situation.
I’m on the road with Stick Men, playing
the new album material, and I’m not
yet solid on the parts, so I’m spending hotel
time listening to our own album mixes at
the moment.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
Don’t love to pick favorites, but if I have to
… it’s Peter Gunn. Come on, admit it: Is
there another bass line so recognizable or so
instantly cool? And that’s in one bar!
Charles Saufley -- Gear Editor
What am I listening to?
Bunalim, S/T—sick,
unhinged fuzz-psych
from the shores of the
Bosphorus circa ’70-’72.
What's your favorite bass line of all time?
One favorite? Impossible. Cecil McBee and
Stanley Clarke’s rippers on Pharoah Sanders
Black Unity are up there. Danny Thompson
from Pentangle, Jimmy Garrison, Geezer
Butler, Aston Barrett, Leroy Hodges,
Ronnie Lane, Al Cisneros, Ben Flashman of
Comets on Fire’s The Bee and the Cracking
Egg ... all killers!
Jason Shadrick -- Associate Editor
What am I listening to?
Scott Sharrard & The
Brickyard Band is full of
horn-infused blues and
R&B grooves from the guitarist in Gregg
Allman’s solo band. Sharrard eschews SRVisms
for pure, old-school string bending.
What are your favorite albums of 2012?
Stefan Lessard on Daved Matthews Band’s
“Crush” for simplicity, John Paul Jones on
“When the Levee Breaks” for getting lost in
a drum groove, and finally every single note
Ray Brown ever played for pure swing.