By Thomas Semioli 

 

“He’s the baddest bass player in the U.S.A!” proclaimed the late, great Donny Hathaway from the stage of the Bitter End in New York City nearly 50 years ago (1971) – and that proclamation still holds true well into the 21st Century.

 

You know that jukebox that goes “doyt doyt” at Danny’s All-Star Joint? That’s Willie Weeks!

 

From the late 1960s to the present day, Willie Weeks continues to set the bar as a session player and sideman. A laid-back pocket player, Willie’s command of rhythm and blues, soul, country, jazz, and pop, and just about any permutation thereof has can be heard throughout the seminal recorded works of several artists including Stevie Wonder (“Misstra Know It All”), Rolling Stones (“It’s Only Rock n Roll), Chaka Kahn, Rickie Lee Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Vince Gill, Ron Wood , Etta James, John Scofield, Aretha Franklin, Joe Walsh, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Rod Stewart, Gregg Allman, Randy Newman, David Bowie (“Young Americans”), and Richard Thompson, to cite a very select few.

 

Willie’s weapons of choice include: Fender Precision and Fender Jazz basses, Kay, Alleva Coppolo, and his “WW” Willie Weeks signature bass by Bee Basses.

 

A giant of the instrument, Willie Weeks is long overdue for recognition in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

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

 

Willie Weeks Sound & Vision… (See Best Bass: Willie Weeks Know Your Bass Player Playlist – Spotify) 

 

Willie Weeks’ watershed solo on “Voices Inside (Everything is Everything)” https://youtu.be/3gpN-SJD-VY  from Donny’s iconic Live (1972) album remains a benchmark for bassists.

 

A rare Willie slap passage with  George Harrison “Woman Don’t You Cry for Me” https://youtu.be/47l0EzvjN4I

 

Willie and Eric Clapton on a live rendition of  “Motherless Children” https://youtu.be/h9d2ZeAvBgA

 

Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock and Roll” https://youtu.be/DmgCy__eUa8

 

David Bowie “Young Americans”  https://youtu.be/iO6OvHxD_m8

 

Willie’s bass solo composition with Ron Wood “Crotch Music” https://youtu.be/KNAg8TVS2RY

 

Vince Gill “Never Alone” https://youtu.be/MtQvLF1ZKCg

 

James Taylor “I Was a Fool to Care” https://youtu.be/SnwZySCHyNw

 

Stevie Wonder “He’s Misstra Know It All” https://youtu.be/uivvYGyQiow

 

Rickie Lee Jones “Danny’s All Star Joint” https://youtu.be/T9dRLzd0sXU

By Thomas Semioli

They were extraordinary: they wrote everything, they played like motherfuckers, they were just colossal and wonderful, and nobody’s ever mentioned them. — David Bowie

She anchored what is arguably the first all-female rock ensemble to garner commercial and critical success and prove once and for all that girls could rock just as hard and funky, if not more so, than the boys.

An accomplished vocalist, Jean Millington’s pocket/ song player bass style exudes a decidedly soulful disposition.  Signed to Reprise in 1969 by producer Richard Perry, Fanny dispatched with the then typical girl-band “cuteness.” The Bangles and Joan Jett cite Fanny as a major influence.

Jean also did session work aplenty; that’s her on backing vocals with Babs Streisand, John Simon, and with David Bowie on “Fame” and his rendition of John Lennon’s “Across the Universe.”

Dig Jean on “You’re The One” https://youtu.be/Q80UWYkKNzk

Dig Jean with Fanny live in ‘72 https://youtu.be/Zcb1HpH42N8

Tim Lefebvre is among the most in-demand bassists on the contemporary rock, jazz, jam-band, experimental and electronica scenes … and permutations thereof. He adapts to every genre he works in – stretching his harmonic and melodic chops as an improviser / catalyst – or simply laying down the groove and working the pocket.

 

Using a wide array of instruments, from vintage Fender Jazz and Precision, and Moollon, to extended range and upright, Tim’s stage and studio credits include David Bowie (Blackstar /2016), the Tedeschi-Trucks Band (Let Me Get By/2016), Donald Fagen, Dave Binney, the Saturday Night Live Band, Donny McCaslin, and Mark Giuliana, to cite a few.

 

Tim Lefebvre Sound & Vision…

 

Donny McCaslin https://youtu.be/JOhOjMQLOfQ

 

“In Memory of D.B. and D.E.” https://youtu.be/m8rlOBLcdYQ

 

Tedeschi-Trucks “Get What You Deserve” https://youtu.be/C9G91tiUDfA

 

David Bowie “Blackstar” https://youtu.be/kszLwBaC4Sw

This fab Philly born singer, bassist, side-woman, multi-instrumentalist, composer, solo recording artist, among other titles has rocked stages and anchored slabs with Tears for Fears, Gang of Four, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Ferry, Indigo Girls, Jane Siberry, Gwen Stefani, Seal, David Bowie, and John Ashton’s Satellite Paradiso, to cite a very, very, very select few.

Where to begin: In the service of David Jones, Gail Ann Dorsey brilliantly utilized the lower register of her extended range which revitalized her bandleader’s classic canon in concert.

Dig every minute of Gail at Bowie’s 50th bash https://youtu.be/GlEwkZ14n7k

Gail’s presence on David’s latter day works – Earthling, Reality, Storytellers, A Reality Tour, and The Next Day – contributed greatly to Bowie’s artistic and commercial resurgence.

Primarily a StingRay MusicMan player, though I have seen her on stage with Fender and various boutique instruments; Ms. Dorsey adapts her style to whomever she plays with – yet her identity emerges by way of her phrasing and rhythm – my guess is that her Philadelphia roots ingrained soul into her soul!

Dig Gail on her own from the album I Used to Be “Always True” https://youtu.be/JIGo7SqaZO0

 

 

Joe Bonamassa: https://youtu.be/B4-QVk-6xUc

 

Carmine Rojas ZOOM ZESSIONS – 2021 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though Ziggy was the nazz with God-given ass –  it was the late Trevor Bolder who tethered the mighty Spiders from Mars with his dense, soulful bass parts that referenced the hip rhythm and blues cats his bandleader so greatly admired.  

 

The Spider with rock ‘n’ roll’s most elegantly multi-colored elongated side-whiskers steered the Stardust ship with a Gibson EB-3 hot-wired into stacks of Marshall amplifiers and cabinets, and on occasion, a Fender Mustang – which consequently afforded guitar deity Mick Ronson and piano maestro Mike Garson a firm platform on which to render their theatrical melodies to prop Bowie’s extraterrestrial sound and vision.

 

Trevor was also victim to the bass crime of the 20th Century on Alladin Sane (1973) which was perpetrated by Mr. Jones – who did not allow Bolder to repair the glaring error on “The Jean Genie” – which was likely a result of David’s propensity for miscues.

 

“Jean Genie” – bass clam at 0:45 https://youtu.be/kMYg_Ra4cr8

 

When the kids had killed the man, and Ziggy broke up the band – much, much too soon, Trevor anchored Ronno’s Slaughter on 10th Avenue, and Play Don’t Worry – two releases which prove that the Spiders were much more than Ziggy’s hired ray-guns!

 

In 1977, Bolder commenced the gig that he would excel at for the remainder of his days on this mortal coil (save for a brief few years in the 1980s wherein he was replaced by Bob Daisley)– bassist, composer for prog-metal masters Uriah Heep. With Heep, Trevor’s primary weapon of choice was a modded-out Fender Precision with a J bridge pick-up.

 

Coda: As told to KYBP On Film, Trevor afforded John Bentley, later of Squeeze, bass lessons when Bolder left the band they were both in to join the Spiders.  

 

Trevor on stage with Uriah Heep 1978 – Courtesy of Konstantinos Takos

 

Trevor Bolder Sound & Vision….

 

David Bowie:

 

“Lady Grinning Soul” https://youtu.be/18d_pLKgMoY

 

“Roslyn”  https://youtu.be/-9LU21aU5aU

 

“Watch That Man” https://youtu.be/eQGobt4ub6U

 

 Mick Ronson:

 

“Growing Up and I’m Fine” https://youtu.be/-3dtBblWmaM

 

“Billy Porter” https://youtu.be/QOwj0zgmykU

 

Uriah Heep

 

“Sympathy” https://youtu.be/Nvmkaw_ZQxM

 

“Free Me” https://youtu.be/lK45E6zfJeA

 

“Love Or Nothing” https://youtu.be/vRsxTdpfJ8o

 

“Carry On” https://youtu.be/pCYM9GHe81M

 

“Blood Red Roses” https://youtu.be/9Y0MlyNgGHs

 

Take note of Trevor’s lead vocal and melodic bass on “Fear of Falling” from Heep’s latter day classic Sea of Light (1995). https://youtu.be/Jx3Nzk5XvFQ

 

 

Courtesy of David Bowie Com

 

He was the former David Jones’ bassist during his watershed “Berlin “era from 1976 through 1979.

 

With producers Tony Visconti, Brian Eno; guitarists Earl Slick, Robert Fripp, Ricky Gardiner, Adrian Belew, and Carlos Alomar; keyboardists Roy Young and E Street Band pianist Roy Bittan; drummer Dennis Davis, and bassist George Murray as the core band– the Thin White Duke erased the boundaries of soul, hard rock, avant-garde and dance into works of aural art hitherto unheard.

 

Plying unadorned funk grooves, George anchored Station to Station (1975), Low and Heroes (1977), the live twofer Stage (1978), Lodger (1979), and Scary Monsters (1980) which are among the most influential of the era and of Bowie’s entire canon.

 

Murray also served as the bassist with David in the producer’s chair for Iggy Pop’s best album The Idiot, and Talking Head Jerry Harrison’s underrated The Red and Black (1980).

 

In the studio, George’s weapon of choice was the Fender Precision. On stage Murray utilized the Precision, Kramer, and Gibson Ripper basses.

 

After Bowie dispatched this band, Murray moved to Los Angeles and forged a career as an educator.

 

George Murray Sound & Vision…

 

David Bowie

 

“Sound & Vision” https://youtu.be/ZV_UsQPTBy4

 

“TVC 15” https://youtu.be/Dh8RDktOdnc

 

“Ashes to Ashes” https://youtu.be/HyMm4rJemtI

 

“Boys Keep Swinging” https://youtu.be/2KcOs70dZAw

 

“Heroes” https://youtu.be/YLp2cW7ICCU

 

“Panic in Detroit” Live on the Station to Station Tour 1976: https://youtu.be/3CVK_rNXMRA

 

Jerry Harrison

 

“Worlds In Collision” https://youtu.be/mrANQizoaAM

 

Iggy Pop

 

“China Girl” https://youtu.be/slU0PSJedbU

 

“Sister Midnight” https://youtu.be/LAiQZGDmVXg