Inspired by Jack Bruce, Jack Casady, and Felix Pappalardi, the late Douglas Allen Woody anchored the reborn and re-energized Allman Brothers Band wherein he met guitarist Warren Hayes and consequently formed Gov’t Mule – a fiery ensemble which expanded on the ABB’s jam-band aesthetic.

Dig Alan with the Allmans “Whipping Post” https://youtu.be/sAmXHZvETJY

As cited by this writer in Huffington Post – Woody warrants entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in the Allman Brothers – as does his peer bassists in that ensemble: Lamar Williams, David Goldflies, Oteil Burbridge.

Tom Semioli / Huffington Post “A Bass Player’s Rant: 33 Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” : https://bit.ly/2POxUJr

An educator, collector (he owned hundreds of basses and as I recall in one interview, hauled a truck-load of gear to his Allmans audition), Woody was a master improviser and groove player who employed a wide array of tones and techniques on the trad four, fretless, and extended range.

Dig Woody with Mule on “Where’s My Mule” https://youtu.be/PBP8FnFOqak

Bassist Mike Gordon directed a documentary about Woody entitled Rising Low (2002).

Rising Low Part 1 https://youtu.be/PmT_Oj7iQI0

Rising Low Part 2 https://youtu.be/oUGeYOai2kM

 

Among the forgotten giants of rock music, the late Felix A. Pappalardi waxed history as a producer (Cream, The Youngbloods, among many others) and as a bassist with Mountain. Felix’s work in the studio helped usher in the “album rock” format – thereby affording rock musicians the level of artistic credibility associated with their jazz counterparts.

 

A classically trained, accomplished multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, arranger, collaborator, recording artist – Pappalardi’s thick Gibson EB tone defined late 60s hard rock genres akin to his colleague Jack Bruce. Pappalardi was also an in-demand session cat for much of the 1960s as well, appearing on seminal sides by Tom Paxton, John Sebastian, and Jesse Colin Young, among others.

   

Felix Pappalardi Sound & Vision

 

Felix crooning “Theme from an Imaginary Western at the Cincinnati Pop Festival in 1970 https://youtu.be/iJDX-sYfJ_M

 

Tony Senatore renders Felix:

 

“Theme” https://youtu.be/w-993iJLGfA

 

“For Yasgur’s Farm” https://youtu.be/cIwGTL2UIr4

 

Tony Senatore: I was recently asked which of Felix Pappalardi’s bass lines best exemplify what he did best, which was playing melodically while being very well aware of the harmonic structure of the song. I decided it would be this one. Listen to the line over Leslie West’s solo…incredible! And I would say influenced by Bach.

 

 

When he first heard the Wilson Pickett Band on stage in a small New England town when he was 12, James Hutchinson knew exactly what he wanted to do in life!

 

A versatile multi-instrumentalist who doubles on upright, and extended range, Hutch plies his craft with an extensive array of tones and techniques to serve the singer and their songs – which is why he is among the elite session players of his generation.

 

Hutch was hatched in Lynn, Massachusetts, and as a young lad, he soaked up the sounds of the 60s folk boom in Cambridge and Sommerville. He honed his craft working in jam bands throughout the Bay Area, and Latin ensembles San Francisco’s Mission District wherein local legends Micky Hart (Grateful Dead) and John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service) took him under their respective wings. Cipollina tabbed John for his Copperhead debut slab and ensemble in 1970.

 

Spending significant time in Central America recording and doing live dates, Hutch landed in Austin with the fusion collective The Point – where they garnered the Top Jazz Group honors at the inaugural Austin Music Awards in 1977. There he met the Neville Brothers, who brought him to New Orleans wherein Hutch also such local acts as The Lastie Brothers, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Jesse Hill, Huey Smith, and The Wild Tchoupitoulas, among others. Hutchinson met Bonnie when the Neville Brothers opened for the Stones on their ‘82 tour, and the rest as they say, is Hutch history….

 

 A first call session cat / sideman with Bonnie Raitt – he’s anchored her touring ensemble since 1983 or thereabouts. Hutch’s credits on stage and on record include the aforementioned Neville Brothers and their ‘Nawlins neighbors along with Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie Nicks, CSN&Y, Al Green, Alejandro Escovedo, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, BB King, Merle Haggard, Eric Burdon, and Boz Scaggs, to cite a very, very, very few.

 

Among Hutch’s extensive bass collection is his beloved Signature Kala Electric U Bass.

 

Hutch Comments…

 

Jim Donavan: I was proud to work with him in 1999 on my 1st solo record. He’s the best, or at least in the top 5 ever, as far as i am concerned. and great stories come from him about other sessions, as he LIVES IN THE STUDIO. I sent Bonnie’s manager a tape right after she won the Grammies around 1990. Hutch told me later that the band loved like 5 different songs, and they fought for hours on which was best. they never could pick one, and she avoided them all, but the entire band respected me from that day on. I was going to record in NY, but was in LA, and offered a great deal at a studio owned by thew drummer of a harpist old buddy, Jimmy Wood. So i found out they have hutch’s number, they call him up, he says he doesnt know me, but shows up. once he sees me, he starts laughing, hugs me, says he is bad on names. We start trading stories -he had done the Bon Jovi gtrist 1st solo record, a real winner, and i shocked him by telling him that was what were chasing that day, that audience, that this was not a blues session, that i need him for hard rock. He grinned, admitted he doesnt get to do this often enough, and we rocked! See, he knew i was a bassist, with a ruined left shoulder/left elbow, and made sure I would love his work that day. When he asked about pay, i asked him if he didnt mind taking rolled up quarters. he looked at me like you gotta be kidding, which i was, lol. Then i pulled out my roll, and he laughed. See, a bassist will work hard for another bassist, but nobody wants to a wheelbarrow full of quarters. Hutch reads music, writes music and lives it!

 

David Fraser:  Hutch is simply the best! Soulful, Smooth, Dedicated, Smart and a great guy too!

 

 

 

Courtesy of Kala Bass

 

Hutch Sound & Vision…

 

Bonnie Raitt:

 

“Right Down the Line” https://youtu.be/-T_aMNbXVdA

 

“Gypsy in Me” https://youtu.be/MzNSgAQR9yg

 

“Two Lights in the Nightmare” https://youtu.be/DxivzvshehE

 

“Unintended Consequence of Love” https://youtu.be/Aq62G_2iQVU

 

“Thing Called Love” https://youtu.be/krF6LpUXODc

 

“Love Sneakin’ Up Behind You” https://youtu.be/74JyGKvfAp0

 

“Burning Down the House” https://youtu.be/eqJcCmxZYdM

 

Copperhead “Kamakaze” https://youtu.be/w3bXsDtTlcA

 

Dig Hutch on the Kala with Abraham Laboriel, Steve Baily, and Bathiki Kumalo https://youtu.be/xXKMo0cAujo

 

Hutch talks U Bass https://youtu.be/doKO0XdqjHM

 

Eric Burdon “Soul of a Man” https://youtu.be/yGBmDUU4NFM

 

Boz Scaggs “Some Change” https://youtu.be/EaQ8H729kBE

 

Roy Orbison “You’re The One” https://youtu.be/2u6lNOgZgJY

 

Ringo “Weight of the World” https://youtu.be/k_S77XSXDe8

 

Courtesy of Bonnie Raitt Com

Photo courtesy of Save me SanFrancisco Com

A Berklee College of Music Grad, Charlie Colin was a founding member of Grammy Award winning rockers Train. Akin to Chris Squire and Sir Paul, Charlie often broke out of the pocket with swooping counter-melodic passages that weaved through the band’s radio ready singles and album tracks such as “Calling All Angels,” “She’s On Fire,” and “Whipping Boy,” among others.

Colin also balanced his bright tone with punchy lower register lines that served the singer and the song quite effectively.

Dig Colin with Train:

“Drops of Jupiter” https://youtu.be/7Xf-Lesrkuc

“Calling All Angels” https://youtu.be/TaG9SDxwPBg

“Meet Virginia” https://youtu.be/A3Qvb7q9Nm0

 

 

 

 

 

He is often credited as being the first professionally recorded electric bassist! Or the first noted jazz cat to play the instrument, circa 1951 -53 or thereabouts depending on the source. Adapting his upright chops to the electric, William Howard “Monk” Montgomery plied his craft with his right thumb akin to his iconic guitarist brother and colleague Wes.

 

A solo recording artist, member of The Jazz Crusaders, The Montgomery Brothers, and sideman to artists including Hugh Masekela, Cal Tjader, and Red Norvo, among others, Monk soloed akin to a guitarist, and his grooves were firmly rooted in “doghouse” dogma and modern funk / soul!     

 

Monk Montgomery Sound & Vision….

 

“Foxy Gypsy” https://youtu.be/Yc4d1YYOzOM

 

“Sister Lena” https://youtu.be/-lsg-xRvfd0

 

With The Montgomery Brothers “California Nights” “Windy” https://youtu.be/QDtHxCRtgHI

 

“Reality” https://youtu.be/seXDmbF_ILo

 

“Fuselage” https://youtu.be/ZXVM4LnMnOQ

 

Photos courtesy of Bob Marley Com

In the 1990s the musical format known as “acid jazz” which was essentially a remake remodel of late 1960s jazz fusion or “soul jazz” – rekindled interest in the traditional sounds and aesthetic of the Fender bass.

 

Among the most notable practitioners of the genre – who are still on the bandstand thirty plus years into a stellar career are London’s The Brand New Heavies. Featuring such dance floor divas as N’Dea Davenport and Siedah Garrett, the collective is anchored by founding bassist, producer, composer Andrew Levy – who is a groove monster, plying pulsating pocket and melodic motifs which traverse soul, disco, and old-school funk!

 

Dig Andrew groovin’ on “Never Stop” https://youtu.be/iyRPfK-U0Oc

The classic line-up of Rory Gallagher’s Taste featuring bassist Richard “Charlie” McCracken and drummer John Wilson waxed two seminal studio sides along with a couple of archival live slabs which traversed blues, jazz, and hard rock.

A fluid bassist who intuitively left space for Wilson and Gallagher to shine, McCracken often doubled Rory’s trills, hammer-ons, and glissandos, thereby creating a massive sound which, to my ears, rivaled Jimi’s Experience and Cream.

Dig Charlie and Rory from Beat Club https://youtu.be/HlM03tr48Hc

A multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer, recording artist, and top session cat, the late Kenny Edwards was a founding member of the Stone Poneys and the can’t-miss ensemble Bryndle with Andrew Gold, Karla Bonoff, and Wendy Waldman – which unfortunately…missed the commercial success they so richly deserved.

 

A consummate song -player with formidable skills as a lead and backing vocalist, Kenny graced the stage and studio with such iconic artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Warren Zevon, Lowell George, J.D Souther, Don Henley, and Emmylou Harris, to cite a very select few.

 

Kenny Edwards Sound & Vision… 

 

The Stone Poneys “Different Drum” https://youtu.be/w9qsDgA1q8Y

 

Linda Ronstadt Live “Tumblin’ Dice” and “You’re No Good” Live https://youtu.be/yBg5cnoNyAE

 

Bryndle “Streets of Your Town” https://youtu.be/eFDS5hQ3ma8

 

Kenny Edwards “No Tears” https://youtu.be/pVuCPyAZSMw