Rare is the bass player whose passages and presence are so definitive on a recording– that to hear the song or the artist without them is inconceivable.

Enter Graham Maby of the Joe Jackson Band. Graham is among Britain’s eminent class of players who achieved prominence during the groundbreaking U.K. punk / new wave era – a distinguished motley which includes Bruce Foxton (The Jam), Andrew Bodnar (Graham Parker & The Rumour), Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury & The Blockheads), Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & the Attractions), and Harry Kakoulli and John Bentley (Squeeze).

A master of plying instantly recognizable motifs, Maby is most noted for his plectrum attack and sharp tone, but he’s equally adept at finger-style and slap – whatever the situation warrants. 

Most fans are familiar with Maby’s stellar work on Jackson’s hit albums Look Sharp (1979), I’m the Man (1979), Night and Day (1982).

Be sure to check out the lesser known Jumpin’ Jive (1981) and oft neglected Body and Soul (1984) collections wherein Graham brings his versatile jazz, soul, funk and show tune talents to the forefront.

Graham has also  anchored slabs and worked as a sideman to Ian Hunter, Darden Smith, Joan Baez, Dar Williams, Regina Spektor, Freedy Johnston, Natalie Merchant, and Marshall Crenshaw among others. 

Dig Graham Maby in Know Your Bass Player on Film Season One – New York 2016 https://bit.ly/3hA4QAA

Courtesy of Max Bennett Com

Aside from musos and voracious record collectors, his name is unknown – though his contribution to 20th Century popular music is omnipresent. He was the epitome of the term “sideman” and could likely be among the most recorded bassists in history.

Max Bennett forged timeless electric and upright grooves on countless film scores helmed by Lalo Schifrin, Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones; television scores (Mannix); high profile gigs (Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka), and seminal sides by Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Paul Williams (Phantom of the Paradise), Babs Streisand (Stony End), Joan Baez (Diamonds & Rust), The Monkees, Hoyt Axton, George Harrison, Ry Cooder, Ray Charles, Tom Scott & The LA Express, and The Partridge Family to cite a very, very select few.

An accomplished composer and band leader with a dozen or so albums under his own name, Max’s career spanned the upright, to the trad Fender four string to extended range

Max Bennet Sound & Vision…

Tom Scott: Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America https://youtu.be/z5cFmCsCcLc

Max with Joni on a killer live version of “Woodstock” https://youtu.be/ad7YyKhBl8c

Dig Max on upright with Frank Zappa “Little Umbrellas”  https://youtu.be/z5cFmCsCcLc

Max on the Mannix theme song by Lalo Schifrin https://youtu.be/kLTb3_-pdU4

Max Bennett & Freeway “When I Think of You” https://youtu.be/1F_K0z5cSpA

By Thomas Semioli

He is the star of Know Your Bass Player On Film Season Deux, an unheralded (until now!) giant of the instrument, the cat who ensured that Don McLean’s Chevy made it to the levee despite the fact that the aforementioned embankment lacked sufficient water levels, and the musical director behind Bob Dylan’s historic Rolling Thunder Revue which turned a new generation on to the 60s bard.

An enigmatic personality, his career is the stuff of legend, which is why we recommend you watch Rob’s KYBP interviews! Sit back, be educated, and entertained! https://bit.ly/2XYt1jH

A dexterous player, to my ears, Rob Stoner revolutionized the folk-rock genre with Dylan, as he intuitively interlaced Bob’s rudimentary chord progressions, and unique approach to song form and rhythm with modal basslines rendered with a swingin’ disposition.

As such, Bob’s rotating cast of musicians – including rock guitar virtuoso Mick Ronson – had a firm foundation on which to improvise as evidenced by the Revue’s incendiary canon. Rob also shined on Roger McGuinn’s masterpiece Cardiff Rose (1976) which was produced by the ex-Spider.

An accomplished singer, composer, guitarist, and educator, Stoner’s live and studio resume is exhaustive. He has contributed to scores of classic albums including releases by Dylan (Desire/1976 , Hard Rain/1976, At Budokan/1979, Bootleg Series Volume 5/ 2002); Don McLean (American Pie/1971); Kinky Friedman (Lasso from El Paso/ 1976), Robert Gordon (Fresh Fish Special / 1978, Rock Billy Boogie / 1979, Bad Boy/1980, Too Fast To Live…/1982)); and  Link Wray (Bullshot/1979); among many others. Stoner also anchored the short-lived Topaz with guitarist Billy Cross and Jasper Hutchison, and released a gem of solo album Patriotic Duty (1980).

Rob Stoner Sound & Vision….

Rob on bass an harmony vocal “American Pie” https://youtu.be/iX_TFkut1PM 

Rob rendering Bob’s “Oh Sister” https://youtu.be/xfPJLCbVslk 

Rob anchoring Bob’s Rolling Thunder Revue “One More Cup of Coffee” https://youtu.be/ujgqOgMIwfA

Rob with Bob on the legendary “World of John Hammond” broadcast https://youtu.be/14JipigsJJg 

“Dreamland” from Cardiff Rose https://youtu.be/2_KrlcLL9Xg

Rob rendering “Let Daddy Drive” from his solo slab Patriotic Duty https://youtu.be/zXgl_K7pRes 

Be advised to keep up with Rob and learn more about his life at http://www.robstoner.com/