Esperanza Spalding

Courtesy of Esperanza Spalding Com

By Thomas Semioli

Every generation begets a bassist who re-writes the book on what the instrument is, where it stands in the present, and where it can go in the future. Enter Esperanza Emily Spalding in the 21st Century….

 

A child protégé at the age of five, she began performing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon.  Spalding took up the double bass at Northwest Academy in her teens, and never looked back. By the age of 20 she was teaching at Berklee.

 

Championed by Gary Burton and Pat Metheny, Esperanza emerged as a solo recording artist in 2006 as she established herself as an in-demand collaborator, composer, educator, and session player. She has toured and recorded consistently since then, waxing albums which traverse classical, Latin Jazz, hip-hop, funk, pop, soul, art-rock, and permutations thereof.

 

A recipient of several high-profile awards (Grammys, Downbeat polls, Boston Music Awards, to cite a few…) Spalding’s crossover appeal echoes the aesthetic of Miles, Herbie Hancock, Metheny, Stanley Clarke, and Chick Corea (among others, primarily in the 1970s) who brought the art-form of jazz to a wide audience.  Perhaps as a child of the 1990s, an era wherein genres collided at the dawn of the digital age, the idea of “jazz” as stand-alone musical platform was obsolete. When I meet Esperanza, I’ll ask her!

 

Among Esperanza’s most visible weapon of choice is the Fender Fretless Jaco Pastorius Jazz bass.

 

Esperanza Spalding Sound & Vision…

 

“Move Many Joints” https://youtu.be/hirurODtA1k

 

“Black Gold” https://youtu.be/Nppb01xhfe0

 

“Endangered Species” https://youtu.be/aZ4uarjLsKg  

 

“I Can’t Help It” https://youtu.be/CNe2tdSeaec

 

“Lest We Forget” https://youtu.be/i21b35DtbIQ

 

“Ways Together” https://youtu.be/Z5a2scXYA6Y

 

“She Got To You” https://youtu.be/r4rl2IlMVYw

 

“Wild Is The Wind” https://youtu.be/S13ovac-eBk

 

Benny Rietveld (Santana, Miles Davis) VIDEO INTERVIEW

 

 

Ever since I was a child I’ve always been very attracted to melodies. Whether I hear Jeff Beck, a choir, an ocean or the wind, there’s always a melody in there… Carlos Santana

 

Anybody can play. The note is only 20 percent. The attitude of the mother****r who plays it is 80 percent… Miles Davis

 

Which brings us to Benny Rietveld, chosen by both Carlos and Miles to helm the bass chair on some of their most potent sides, and on stage.

 

Inspired by Chris Squire and Sir Paul, Santana musical director Benny Rietveld has been the longest tenured bassist in Carlos’ numerous collectives commencing with the album Spirits Dancing in the Flesh in 1990.

 

Following his studies at the Hawaii College of Music, and work with artists spanning The Crusaders, Richie Cole, Makoto Ozone, and Sheila E., Benny, among others, Benny anchored Miles Davis on his last major tour in ‘88 and remained with the jazz icon until 1990, waxing tracks that have been featured on various archival live and studio releases.

 

A composer, recording artist, film director, educator (Ben Rietveld Bass Essentials – Hot Licks) and producer, Rietveld waxed his lone solo slab Mystery of Faith in 2001 which features cameos from Carlos and Tom Coster.  Among Benny seminal sides include Miles Davis Around the World (1996); Santana Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990), Milagro (1992),  Supernatural (2000), Santana IV (2016); Santana / Isley Brothers  Power of Peace (2017),  and Cindy Blackman Another Lifetime (2010), to cite a select few.

 

Benny’s weapons of choice include MusicMan Sterling (four and five string), Lakeland 4-94, MTD 5 String, and an NS electric upright.

 

 

 

 

Benny Reitveld Sound & Vision:

 

Sheila E. “The Glamourous Life” https://youtu.be/KOoWMtxR8GQ

 

Miles: “Me & U” https://youtu.be/nHXm-_-LT0I

 

Live In Europe The Prince of Darkness https://youtu.be/VMTO0jPp2Z0

 

Benny and Carlos:

 

“Smooth” https://youtu.be/6Whgn_iE5uc

 

“Black Magic Woman” https://youtu.be/-2O81STmDGg

 

“Samba Pa Ti” https://youtu.be/3LIPKtZyX6M

 

Santana and The Isley Brothers:

 

“Are You Ready” https://youtu.be/lHK9vzhxxLE

 

“Higher Ground” https://youtu.be/_OmUIOAZqF8

 

 

Etienne Pelosoff (Black Jazz)

 

By Thomas Semioli

 

“I asked myself: how would a collaboration between Miles Davis and Metallica sound like? Who said you can’t head bang on jazz?” – Etienne Pelosoff

 

An innovative multi-instrumentalist, composer, collaborator, journalist, among other endeavors – bassist Etienne Pelosoff takes a decidedly unconventional approach to the black metal / thrash artform – incorporating a jazz aesthetic not usually associated which the genre. Pelosoff, to my ears, evokes a balance of the free jazz and soul jazz methodology – outlining the “changes” with a combination of deep pocket grooves punctuated by “dissonant” note choices which bring out the colors of the composition.

 

Etienne Pelosoff Sound & Vision…

 

“So What” https://youtu.be/2LGJ-qf4PxA

 

“Tritone Labyrnith” from Trve Black Metal Jazz https://youtu.be/zwhfgYqjjGI

 

Dig Etienne’s soundtrack work for “Art of Chare” https://youtu.be/yjn29OuA9ug

 

Why choose brutality or jazz when you can have both? Stay “trve,” stay jazz. – Etienne Pelosoff

 

Jonas Hellborg (Mahavishnu Orchestra)

Courtesy of Jonas Hellborg Com

An instrument designer, prolific recording artist, studio and label owner, collaborator, producer, composer, and bass guitarist – Jonas Hellborg has been at the forefront of the jazz fusion / world fusion movements since the 1980s.

 

A dexterous player who draws from Western, Indian, classical, jazz, rock and permutations thereof, among Jonas’ high-profile gigs have been with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Word with Tony Williams, PiL, Ginger Baker, and Michael Shrieve among many others.  Since 1979 Jonas has waxed nearly thirty albums as a bandleader! 

 

Jonas Hellborg Sound & Vision

 

John McLaugnlin and Billy Cobham https://youtu.be/Kr0OO3oEPkE

 

Jonas Hellborg Band live 1988 https://youtu.be/CfeVVt4ojOE

 

Shawn Lane and The Vinayakrams https://youtu.be/eOofD4F2K-g

 

 

Chris Brubeck (Brubreck Brothers)

Courtesy of Chris Brubeck Com Courtesy of Chris Brubeck Com

Courtesy of Chris Brubeck Com

He is from the “First Family” of American jazz.

Chris Brubeck, son of Dave, is a Grammy nominated composer, multi-instrumentalist (electric bass, trombone, piano), recording artist who has worked stages and studios with a remarkable array of artists spanning The Brubeck Brothers, Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Gerry Mulligan, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, Stephane Grappelli, Patti LaBelle, Larry Coryell, and Bobby Womack to cite a very select few!

Plying his craft on a fretless Rickenbacker – Brubeck is a multi-genre master who was quoted in Bass Player opining that “composing is selective improvisation!”

Dig “Change Up” with the Brubeck Brothers https://youtu.be/uj0w_iJMAfI

Dig Chris’ Triple Play ensemble https://youtu.be/HkJ71G4Zcug

brubeck 1_opt.jpg brubeck 1_opt.jpg

From Chris Brubeck Com:

Grammy-nominated composer Chris Brubeck continues to distinguish himself as an innovative performer and composer who is clearly tuned into the pulse of contemporary music. Respected music critic for The Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein called Chris: “a composer with a real flair for lyrical melody–a 21st Century Lenny Bernstein.”

In addition to creating an impressive body of work, including several band pieces, chamber pieces, 3 concertos for trombone, a trombone quartet, and several concertos for stringed instruments and other ensembles, Chris maintains a demanding touring and recording schedule playing bass and trombone with his two groups: the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, with brother Dan on drums, Chuck Lamb on piano and Mike DeMicco on guitar (www.brubeckbrothers.com); and Triple Play, an acoustic jazz-funk-blues-Americana trio with Joel Brown on guitar and Peter Madcat Ruth on harmonica and Chris on bass, trombone and piano (www.chrisbrubeckstripleplay.com.)

Additionally, Chris performs as a soloist playing his trombone concertos with orchestras and has served as Artist in Residence with orchestras and colleges in America, coaching, lecturing, and performing with students and faculty. Once a year he tours England with the group Brubecks Play Brubeck along with brothers Darius (on piano) and Dan as well as British saxophonist Dave O’Higgins. Chris had been a long-standing member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, writing arrangements and touring and recording with his father’s group for over 20 years.

Dave and Chris co-wrote the orchestral piece “Ansel Adams: America” which has received dozens of performances and in 2013 was a Grammy finalist for Best Instrumental Composition.

Ron Carter (Miles Davis) VIDEO INTERVIEW

Courtesy of Ron Carter Net

“I think that the bassist is the quarterback in any group, and he must find a sound that he is willing to be responsible for…” Ron Carter

 

Ronald Levin Carter is the most recorded jazz bassist ever with over 2,500 albums to his credit. His rich tone, soulful rhythmic phrasing, and harmonic flexibility, which draws from classical, jazz, and rhythm & blues, along with his extensive body of work as a leader, collaborator, and sideman on CTI, Milestone, Blue Note, Impulse, and Prestige, among many other imprints, is, in a word – unmatched!

 

Carter’s enormous contributions to recordings by Miles Davis, George Benson, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Joe Henderson, Gil Scott-Heron, Herbert Laws, A Tribe Called Quest, Tony Williams, Wes Montgomery, Donald Byrd, Jim Hall, Roberta Flack, Bill Frisell, and Kenny Burrell, to cite a very, very few, are all worthy of exploration.

 

Ron Carter’s tenure with Miles Davis is likely his most recognizable work. Ron propelled Miles second greatest quintet which spanned the hard bop of E.S.P. (1965) to the fusion filled Filles de Kilimanjaro (1968). As told to this writer along with David C. Gross “Miles may have been the bandleader…but I led the band!”

 

An educator, and revered and prolific composer, if you had to bestow the title of the world’s greatest living bassist …look no further than Ron Carter.

 

Ron Carter Sound & Vision:

 

Miles Davis:

 

“Eighty One” https://youtu.be/WN-hXbeI6vQ

 

“Four” https://youtu.be/Ce2S2LkTjKI

 

“E.S.P.” https://youtu.be/lRhqn21-xeg

 

“Filles De Kilimanjaro” https://youtu.be/7hBJ4664bNQ

 

Roberta Flack: “Compared to What” https://youtu.be/wDUk9Lsy_yQ

 

Herbie Hancock / Tony Williams / Ron Carter: “Third Plane” https://youtu.be/9hKFkCtiFZs

 

Tribe Called Quest “Verses from the Abstract” https://youtu.be/FGB6pWGI_kE