Wilton Felder (Jackson 5, Joni Mitchell, Jazz Crusaders)

 

The late, great Wilton Louis Felder first made his mark in the music biz as a saxophonist and founding member of the groundbreaking Crusaders jazz ensemble with Joe Sample and Stix Hooper. Originally tabbed the “Jazz Crusaders” – this innovative collective was among the early practitioners of “soul jazz” and “jazz funk” – later to be referred to as “jazz fusion” and ultimately “smooth jazz.” 

 

In the late 1960s, Felder commenced to working sessions on electric bass, waxing sides with the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, John Cale, Seals & Crofts, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Michael Franks, Steely Dan, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Laws, Shuggie Otis, Dee Dee Bridegwater, and Joan Baez, to cite a select few.

 

With a Fender Precision that growled when he grooved, Wilton also waxed eight solo sides, and also served as a producer, composer, and arranger.

 

Wilton Felder Sound & Vision…

 

Joni Mitchell “Free Man in Paris” https://youtu.be/jQj6h8KpkiQ

 

Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” https://youtu.be/UvynvnxZJ3Q

 

Billy Joel “The Entertainer” https://youtu.be/d_VHFyaSXQw

 

Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard)

When Don Henley saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac, he had Larry Klein lay down the perfect bassline! Larry Klein is a genre traversing Grammy Award winning producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, collaborator, arranger, and master bassist who has forged a remarkably diverse body of work in the past five decades and counting.  

 

Praised by Stanley Clarke early in his career for his work with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson, Larry then expanded to the rock / folk / pop / Americana / world fusion / soundtrack realms and beyond -working on acclaimed releases by Chris Botti, Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Pink, Seal, Walter Becker, Cher, Luciana Souza, Donna Summer, Madeleine Peyroux,  Bob Dylan, and Tracy Chapman to cite a very, very, very select few.

 

Larry is most known to the masses for his association with Joni Mitchell, his former wife, with whom he waxed several groundbreaking slabs in the 1980s – 90s.

 

Larry Klein Sound & Vision…

 

Don Henley “Boys of Summer” https://youtu.be/TrvVQm6kKZ4

 

Larry with Freddie Hubbard: https://youtu.be/KieEWASD3Z0

 

Madeleine Peyroux “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” https://youtu.be/1qj4vys73xk

 

Joni Mitchell “Good Friends” https://youtu.be/KJZO4wrlU-g

 

Max Bennett (Tom Scott, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell)

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