A versatile player, Scott Firth is currently the bassist in John Lydon’s latest incarnation of Public Image Limited. Firth has waxed sides and/or worked stages with Morcheeba, Melanie C, Steve Winwood, Toni Braxton, Elvis Costello, Julia Fordham, Spice Girls, and Ruby, among others.

A producer, composer, and bandleader (U-sonic), Firth is a master of the PiL pocket with a deep dub resonance that growls beneath Rotten’s wary warbles.

Scott Firth Sound & Vision…

“People Carrier” with Morcheeba https://youtu.be/wbAn6ONKrH8

“One Drop” with PiL http://bit.ly/2E85K4d

A master counter-melodic / pocket player and certifiable giant of the instrument – and unquestionably deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition – the late Thomas Clark Cogbill was among the go-to Nashville / “Memphis Boys” session cats who established the electric bass in country music, rock, soul, pop, rhythm and blues, and permutations thereof.

A former guitarist, Tommy’s weapon of choice was a Fender Precision and flats, tweaking the treble tone just enough to rise through the mix. Where to begin with Cogbill’s canon?

Dusty Springfield (“Son of a Preacher Man”), Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett (“Funky Broadway”), Elvis, Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline”), King Curtis (“Memphis Soul Stew”), Dolly Parton, Herbie Mann, Dobie Gray, and Kris Kristofferson, to cite a select few…

Tommy Cogbill Sound & Vision… 

Tommy with Elvis on Take 9 of “Kentucky Rain” https://youtu.be/ElumTJWwXWA

Dusty Springfield “Son of a Preacher Man” https://youtu.be/oAZLgsDRUv4

Wilson Pickett “Funky Broadway” https://youtu.be/QICXaxkBJMk

King Curtis “Memphis Soul Stew” https://youtu.be/U5swo4ibjYk

Dig those disco octaves! Born in Sheffield, England, Gary Unwin got his start playing in local beat groups The Hi-Fi’s and The Packabeats in the early 1960s.

Following tours aplenty with notable bands including The Hollies, Gary migrated to Germany wherein he commenced a successful career as a studio cat.

A composer, producer, and eventual studio owner, Gary anchored several singles and slabs waxed in Munich by Donna Summer,  Amanda Lear, Boney M., Silver Convention, Giorgio Moroder, and D. D. Jackson, among others. Unwin split the music biz to work in the boating industry as computers replaced session players! 

Gary Unwin Sound & Vision…

Boney M:

“Daddy Cool” https://youtu.be/otna9Pe3jWg

She’s a bassist, singer, composer, recording artist, bandleader, side-woman, arranger, producer, educator, author (Groove Mastery – Hal Leonard Publishing), session ace … and a virtuoso pocket / melodic player who works extended range.

Oneida James anchored one of Joe Cocker’s finest ensembles – as evidenced on Fire It Up: Live In Cologne. James’ resume spans rock, alternative, pop, Latin, jazz, fusion, soul, world beat, rhythm & blues, funk, dance…and every permutation thereof.

Dig Oneida groovin’ with Joe on “Keep Your Eye on the Prize” http://bit.ly/2z5ngSE

…and “Fire It Up” https://youtu.be/6w4OAD0kJI8

Ms. Jones bass cover “I Can’t Help It” https://youtu.be/qJ0tF6UfwOg

This great Dane was Prince Rogers Nelson’s bassist on his final NPG and 3rdeyegirl ensembles, rendering riveting rock – funk passages in the service of the purple deity!

A muti-instrumentalist, solo recording artist, bass designer (Sandberg signature model) composer, educator, clinician, and graduate of the Royal Danish Academy – Ida Kristine Nielsen has traversed many a genre with Zap Mama and MLTR, among others.  Her finger-style playing and approach to the instrument honors tradition while pushing harmonic and rhythmic boundaries.

In addition to her signature model, Ida’s weapons of choice include Fender Jazz, Yamaha TRBS, and Eich amps and cabinets.

Among her nom de plumes include Bassida, Bass Ida, and Ida Funkhouser – no relation to the Curb Your Enthusiasm character.

Ms. Nielsen describes her music as “a mixture of old school funk and hip hop with reggae and world music pop ups, ear catching melodies, and lots of bass!”

Did Ida Neilsen and The FunkBots! https://youtu.be/wIo4kKRwVsY

Says Ida about her tenure with Prince: I have had the incredible big honor of working with the legendary musical icon PRINCE – since August 2010 and until his very tragic and untimely passing in April 2016… Playing with PRINCE has been the most magical musical journey ever, and an ongoing learning experience beyond all imagination!

So I want to acknowledge the importance of his impact on me through my life – first musically and later on as I got to know him – also in other aspects of life. And I want to acknowledge the fact that the place I am at today is because of him.

He taught me SO much about music and about life in general and was not only my teacher and mentor but also my friend. It has been such a huge gift and blessing to be able to sit on the front row and watch his genius work and I am eternally grateful for having had this precious time.

I would not be where I am today if it was not for him, and I will do everything I can to move on and honor him by keeping the musical standard high and my heart open and kind – just like he taught me.

A student of fusion icon Alphonso Johnson, jazz bassist /composer / recording artist Darek Oles, and extended range virtuoso Todd Johnson, she’s the rumbling bass behind Adventure Time’s “Marceline the Vampire Queen.”

A rocker with a funky disposition – or perhaps a funkster with a rock temperament, Ashley has anchored slabs and shows with a wide range of artists including Ed Harcourt, Adam Lambert, CeeLo Green, My Jerusalem, Filter, Cher, and Great Northern, among others.

Check out Ashley’s demo of the Fender American Deluxe Dimension Bass V https://youtu.be/u_l8t8yZfAk

Andy Pyle, bassist by Tom Semioli

An exemplary pocket and melodic player with a supportive disposition, Andy Pyle’s resume as a sideman, session cat reads like a storied history of British rock and roll, traversing genres spanning blues, pop, and hard rock.

Pyle plied his craft with Bloodwyn Pig, Savoy Brown, Gary Moore, Juicy Lucy, Wishbone Ash, Rod Stewart, and Alvin Lee, among others. In 1985 Andy waxed his sole solo slab Barrier Language. Though he was never an official member of The Kinks, Andy anchored their two most important comeback slabs Sleepwalker and Misfits – and several tours between 1976-78.

Andy Pyle Sound & Vision:

Bloodwyn Pig “Modern Alchemist” https://youtu.be/EqV-uBMPMzA

Alvin Lee “Burnt Fungus” https://youtu.be/yLDvxorMKsE

Gary Moore “Back On The Streets” https://youtu.be/hAi24EF92PI

That’s Andy mugging for the camera on the Kink’s “Father Christmas” video from the winter of ’77  http://bit.ly/2ATS66A

Dig Andy with The Kinks on the Old Grey Whistle Test 1977 https://youtu.be/ZkRXfMj7lk4

He’s among the most prolific UK studio cats / sidemen whose basslines have anchored seminal sides by Eric Clapton (From The Cradle, Pilgrim), Eric Bibb, Robin Trower, Gary Moore (Blues for Jimi), my doppelganger Andy Fairweather-Low, Bo Diddley, and with various artists on The Concert for George.

Dave Bronze is a pocket and melodic player who also plies his craft on upright and extended range, always in the service of the almighty song. Aside from the aforementioned guitar gods, you’ve heard Dave with Colin Blunstone, Tom Jones, Chris Farlow, Paul Carrack, and Art of Noise, to cite a select few.

Dig Dave with Slowhand from “Blues With Russell” https://youtu.be/KP5Zn-onAk0

“He got this old bass fiddle out, started slapping it, with a shuffle beat, and showed me the basic three notes you need on a little bass run to get started with, and I gave it a try and I said, ‘Hell, I can do that!”

He started out as a guitarist, however following a 30-minute slap bass lesson from bandleader Bill Haley, Marshall Lytle forged rock and roll history. A showman, standing atop his doghouse or hoisting it over his shoulder, Lytle anchored “Crazy, Man, Crazy,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” and “Rock Around the Clock.”  He split from Haley to form The Jodimars, which became a popular Vegas lounge act. Lytle was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his Comets comrades.

Here’s the song that started it all …”Rock Around the Clock” https://youtu.be/ZgdufzXvjqw