By Tom Semioli

 

You’ve heard him on the radio…you’ve heard him on the juke box on the song “Juke Box Hero” among many others….and you’ve likely seen him on the concert stage. Rick Wills commenced his remarkable chart topping career as a bassist with British blues rockers Jokers Wild in 1965 – which also featured future Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. He also anchored hard rockers Cochise for a few slabs which never quite reached their commercial potential despite their stellar output.

 

Among the most sought after recording and touring bassists in the album rock era (1970s-1980s), Rick plies his craft with a decidedly rhythm and blues disposition, usually on a Fender Precision. His high profile gigs include Peter Frampton’s Camel, Roxy Music (Viva Roxy / 1975), solo Bryan Ferry, and the revamped Small Faces. In 1979, Rick commenced a fourteen-year career with Foreigner – waxing several platinum slabs whilst filling arenas around the globe.

 

In 1992 Rick joined Bad Company following Boz’s second or third exit, and helmed the bass chair for Lynyrd Skynyrd for a spell when their original bassist left for health reasons. In recent years Rick and Small Faces / Faces / Who drummer Kenny Jones are on the bandstand under the guise of “The Jones Gang.” 

 

Among Rick’s stellar recordings include David Gilmour’s self- titled debut (1978) wherein he utilizes flange and chorus effects and harmonic extensions to augment the guitarist’s best work outside of the Floyd.

 

Rick Wills Sound & Vision and Zoom Zessions:

 

Cochise: “59^th Street Bridge Song” https://youtu.be/VQtMF8ljtGg

 

Peter Frampton:

 

“Don’t Fade Away”  https://youtu.be/D3HB6ZWVCWo

 

“All I Wanna Be Is By Your Side” https://youtu.be/AoOu5Xa-Iw4

 

“It’s A Plain Shame”  https://youtu.be/pgwEFO651bE

 

“Do You Feel Like We Do” https://youtu.be/CGczyG6-aAw

 

“Something’s Happening” https://youtu.be/mif_MW8YeUU

 

“Doobie Wah” https://youtu.be/3VM0wb7RqeI

 

With Bryan Ferry and Chris Spedding “Let’s Stick Together” https://youtu.be/Z9EbR0ckb40

 

David Gilmour: “Mihalis” https://youtu.be/HTQHA0tOG9A

 

 Foreigner:

 

“Night Life” https://youtu.be/4cAy3hK5tNs

 

“Juke Box Hero” https://youtu.be/W_TOsFvnmeQ

 

Small Faces: “High and Happy” https://youtu.be/U0cnbOo6fe8

 

Bad Company: “Clearwater Highway” https://youtu.be/5aTwhe5seSg

 

The Jones Gang EPK: https://youtu.be/hkYXyAh65us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of Guy Pratt Com

A chameleonic, prolific UK session ace, Guy Pratt has “distinguished” (he would never use that adjective…) himself on stage and in the studio with post-Roger Waters Pink Floyd, Robert Palmer, Bryan Ferry, Madonna, David Gilmour, Icehouse, Tom Jones, Gary Moore, Jon Lord, Echo & the Bunnymen, Iggy Pop, Rod Stewart, Andy MacKay, Michael Jackson, Peter Cetera, The Dream Academy, Tears for Fears, Krisy MacColl, and Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, to cite a scant few…

 

In addition to his musical, thespian, compositional, and production credits, Guy is a funny guy, forging a side-career as stand-up comic who incorporates his instrumental artistry in his stage show My Bass and Other Animals – which is also the title of his must-read tome on Orion Press (2007).

 

Pratt’s proclivity for percolating jazz / funk / reggae inspired passages along with his use of effects affords this player the uncanny (would he use that adjective?) ability to adapt to just about any situation in the realm of pop and permutations thereof.

 

Yet Guy often phrases akin to a keyboardist – hence the difficulty of deciphering whether it’s a synth pad rendering the grooves and not a blokey with a battered J bass named “Betsy” on any given track he waxes– especially when GP alters the tone of his instrument with an array of octave gizmos and programs.  

 

Trendy (would he use that adjective?) blokey that he is, Pratt is a bass collector. Among his weapons of choice include vintage Fender P and J basses, MusicMan StingRay, Aira SB, and a fretless Steinberger as a member of Icehouse! The Bass Centre in London has created a Guy Pratt Signature Bass – which is reasonably priced and replicates his named Fender Jazz as referenced above.

 

Keep up with Guy on www.GuyPratt.com and his YouTube page which is aptly titled “Guy Pratt”

 

Pratt Playlist: Check out Know Your Bass Player: Best Bass: Guy Pratt on Spotify

 

Guy Pratt Sound & Vision…

 

Dig Guy’s right-hand disco pluckery: https://youtu.be/pSHVqOYjaDI

 

“Money” with Pink Floyd: https://youtu.be/tKA1eF4JF5Y

 

Peter Cetera “You Never Listen to Me” https://youtu.be/cwXceJMbhgE

 

Michael Hutchence “Let Me Show You” https://youtu.be/3_G9hYCDivk

 

Icehouse https://youtu.be/2Hwk5Hw4tBM

 

Saucerful of Secrets “Fearless” https://youtu.be/YZXKgl8turY

 

Robert Palmer “Discipline of Love” https://youtu.be/rPWKiakwYe0

 

Madonna “Like a Prayer” https://youtu.be/79fzeNUqQbQ

 

Bryan Ferry “Kiss and Tell” https://youtu.be/ZiFbLd_cPVk

 

The Orb “Rush Hill Road”  https://youtu.be/9SD7SHwYAw4

 

 

By Thomas Semioli

He’s had quite a life in rock and roll…and he’s still going strong on record and on the bandstand.

Salvatore Maida was among the stellar bassists employed by one of the most influential collectives in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, Roxy Music.

And he anchored one of the great lost glam pop ensembles of the 1970s – Milk ‘n’ Cookies.

Maida, who migrated to London from Little Italy at the onset of the glam rock movement to pursue his craft, shines on two stunning tracks which outstrip their respective studio versions – “Pyjamarama” and “Chance Meeting” – included on the iconic ensemble’s only live collection released during their 1970s reign as vanguards and innovators.

Utilizing a plectrum and a 1965 Fender Precision, and Dan Electro Longhorn, Sal lives for the pocket with a penchant for plying inventive upper register countermelodies.

Maida, who is also a writer/producer, additionally worked craft with the Sparks (Big Beat / 1976), David Lowery (The Palace Guards/ 2011), and Edward Rogers, among many others.

Sal was also a member of Cracker and appears on Greenland (2006) Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey (2009). Sal is married to singer songwriter, recording artist Lisa Burns, with whom he has collaborated with on several projects including her solo sides Unadorned (2004) and The Last Day of Winter (2014) by George Usher and Lisa Burns, among others . 

But don’t let me tell you about Sal, read his extraordinary autobiography Four Strings, Phony Proof, and 300 45s: Adventures from Roxy Music, Sparks, & Milk N’ Cookies (Perfect Press)

Dig Sal Maida on Know Your Bass Player On Film Season One – 2015 New York City, Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/3lp6Wpb

Courtesy of Neil Jason Facebook

As reported by Frank Beacham, Neil once proclaimed from the stage of the P & G Bar in New York City “how hard can it be, it’s only four strings!”

 

A session giant who excels in every genre, Neil Jason’s place in bass history would be secure if it had begun and ended with his remarkable artistry on the Brecker Brothers’ live masterpiece Heavy Metal Be-Bop (1978). A former member of the Saturday Night Live Band (1983-85) and deputy for Will Lee with Paul Schaffer’s World’s Most Dangerous Band and the CBS Orchestra, Mr. Jason has also distinguished himself as a composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer.

 

Neil’s body of work is as expansive as it is stylistically diverse, encompassing seminal sides and concert dates by Diana Ross, Don Cherry, Harry Chapin, David Sanborn, John McLaughlin, Roxy Music, Nils Lofgren, John Lennon, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Mick Jagger, Sir Paul, Grace Slick, Harvey Mason Jr., David Johansen, Aldo Nova, Janis Ian, Gato Barbieri, Bryan Ferry, Michael Franks, Deodato, and Carly Simon to cite a very select few.

 

Neil Jason Sound & Vision:

 

Brecker Brothers:

 

“Some Skunk Funk” https://youtu.be/YeUgLV9C0j8

 

Dig Neil taking the lead vocal on “East River” https://youtu.be/wnfhHamrULc

 

Bryan Ferry: “Lost” https://youtu.be/_Ikpk1pTRsE

 

Roxy Music:

 

“Oh Yeah” https://youtu.be/so9OscJ2eUg

 

“The Main Thing” https://youtu.be/ib4-Lyxxyw0

 

“Eight Miles High” https://youtu.be/6ZAfAsN75T4

 

David Sanborn “Anything You Want” https://youtu.be/KhxqFOQt9Ww

 

Deodato “Shazam” https://youtu.be/FGNKZmpUWN8

 

Hall & Oates “Hard to Be In Love With You” https://youtu.be/BZ_O313vtnM