His dancing bass solo with Olivia Newton John is legend. https://youtu.be/CyHpa-LaZYc

 

If ever a bassist was aptly monikered, it was the late, great Robert “Pops” Popwell!  A composer, producer, session ace, anchor of the iconic Crusaders, and in-demand sideman – Pops popped, slapped, plucked, glissando-ed, and grooved with a soulful disposition that drew from jazz, funk, rock, blues, gospel and permutations thereof.

 

Popwell first came to prominence as the anchor of the “Macon Rhythm Section” which included Johnny Sandlin (Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts), Pete Carr, Paul Hornsby, and Jim Hawkins, waxing sides with Doris Duke and Hubert Laws, among others.

 

The scope of Pop’s canon is remarkable: Rascals, Aretha, Irma Thomas, Eddie Money, Allen Toussaint, Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, George Benson, Ronnie Wood, Bette Midler, Larry Carlton, Smokey Robinson, Ruth Brown, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, to cite a very, very  select few.

 

Pops’ basslines can be heard in numerous hip-hop samples. A true giant of the instrument…sadly Pops popped his clogs in 2017.

 

Pops Popwell Sound & Vision…

 

The Crusaders:

 

“The Spiral” featuring a Pops solo https://youtu.be/FEH-lwu1ryQ

 

“Stomp and Buck Dance” https://youtu.be/-UxyIw-zMFA

 

“Fairy Tales” https://youtu.be/Eigs0SHbQLY

 

“Soul Caravan” https://youtu.be/KnLnWsgq798

 

The Rascals:

 

“Be On The Real Side” https://youtu.be/QMxisKUgbZ8

 

“Lucky Day” https://youtu.be/pUZ3uVgLDOc

 

Ronnie Wood: “Worry No More” https://youtu.be/HS-9oTIwHfw

 

Larry Carlton: “Upper Kern” https://youtu.be/0sUbOXgakhI

 

Lisa Dal Bello: “Day Dream” https://youtu.be/mAOY1Halp0s

 

George Benson: “Welcome to My World” https://youtu.be/md6IgJlq7Kc

 

Doris Duke: “He’s Gone” https://youtu.be/lfiH1zsecWg

 

Eddie Money: “Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star” https://youtu.be/a0Ezs

Soul-jazz bass ? Jazz-fusion bass? Just call it…Gary King!

 

A giant of the instrument, Gary King is revered among serious players for his groundbreaking tenure as house bassist for Bob James’ Tappan Zee imprint, and numerous releases on the CTI label, among others.

 

A monster groove player (and soloist), King anchored seminal sides by James, George Benson, Grover Washington Jr., Idris Muhammad, Alphonse Mouzon, Stanley Turrentine, Lenny White, Gato Barbieri, Roberta Flack, Joe Farrell, Maynard Ferguson, Hubert Laws, Mark Colby, Steve Kahn, and Tom Scott to cite a select few.

 

Gary’s unique gritty tone (which he often coaxed out of a Gibson hollow-body instrument) coupled with his expansive harmonic and rhythmic expertise set the standard for modern day “smooth jazz” players.

 

How many times Gary has been sampled in the hip-hop / digital Tik-Tok era?

 

Gary King Sound & Vision…

 

Bob James – “Touchdown” https://youtu.be/nS_k4E1vN_E

 

Alphonse Mouzon – “Funky Snakefoot” https://youtu.be/FownCLxUZX8

 

Tom Scott – “New York Connection” https://youtu.be/cBaqH796W60

 

Grover Washington Jr. – “Mr. Magic” https://youtu.be/yo9lI_cn2wo

 

Eric Gale – “De Rabbit” https://youtu.be/E_d3C-Z5J8s

 

Idris Muhammad – “Power of Soul” https://youtu.be/3GB2w1J8FyY

 

By Thomas Semioli

 

“Jerry never does anything just because it’s right to do, he likes to do it because it feels good…” B.B. King.

 

A true giant of the instrument – Jaco Pastorius cited Jerry Jemmott aka “The Groovemaster” as his favorite player and mentor. And when you hear (and feel) Jerry’s bass artistry on scores of tracks, you can obviously understand why. A disciple of Paul Chambers and Charles Mingus – Jemmott owns “the pocket.” Greatly inspired by Paul Chambers, Jerry often stretches the harmonic and rhythmic boundaries akin to his mentor.

 

Along with James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Carol Kaye, and Chuck Rainey – Jerry Jemmott played a major role in establishing the electric bass in the studio and on the bandstand.

 

Jemmott was among Atlantic Records’ most prodigious session cats during their golden era – appearing on such landmark recordings by Aretha Franklin (Soul ’69, Aretha Now!, Live at the Fillmore), The Rascals (Freedom Suite, Peaceful World), King Curtis (Live at the Fillmore, Everybody’s Talkin’), and Roberta Flack, plus numerous sides by George Benson (The Other Side of Abbey Road, Tell It Like It Is), Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, Janis Ian, Herbie Hancock, Wilson Pickett and Herbie Mann to cite a very, very select few.

 

Jerry is also a prolific solo recording artist, waxing sides which meld blues, funk, soul, and reggae under his name and the moniker Jerry Jemmott & Souler Energy.

 

Bass Player cited Jerry with a lifetime achievement award in 2001. Be sure to seek out the video Jaco Pastorius Modern Electric Bass, hosted by Jerry. Dig the way Pastorius’ heartfelt admiration and reverence for Jerry bursts forth in that historic meeting.

 

Jerry’s main weapon of choice during his 60s/70s heyday was the Fender Jazz.

 

Jerry Jemmott Sound & Vision

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” Gil Scott-Heron https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“People Got to Be Free” The Rascals  https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“Memphis Soul Stew” King Curtis & The Kingpins: https://youtu.be/0Loy55z4GpA

“The Thrill is Gone” B.B. King https://youtu.be/kpC69qIe02E

“Ain’t Got No I Got Life” Nina Simone https://youtu.be/LKLeYot4l3I

“Tracks of My Tears” Aretha Franklin https://youtu.be/oTD7PGgEq9c

“Soul Limbo” George Benson https://youtu.be/99ppx4byI2U

“Soul Turnaround” Freddie Hubbard https://youtu.be/7Ri9OiHS1LI