Top 10 Greatest Jazz Upright Bass Players (of ALL Time)

For today’s video, I decided to try and compile a top ten list of the best upright bass players in jazz. You may not be familiar with every name on this list, but anyone who’s ever picked up bass will have borrowed at least a handful of techniques or ideas that one of these icons brought to the table.

Want to know who is the crème de la crème of upright bass?

Enough said, [here’s who I believe are the best ever].

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Video Breakdown:

00:09 - Introduction
00:50 - Charles Mingus
02:10 - Ray Brown
03:05 - Scott LaFaro
04:20 - Ron Carter
05:28 - Charlie Haden
05:59 - Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
07:07 - Dave Holland
08:12 - John Patitucci
09:40 - Renaud Garcia-Fons
10:50 - Christian McBride
11:52 - Conclusion

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[terrybryantmusic]

The legendary Paul Chambers not being on this list is a massive oversight.

[davidwolbert]

Solid list. 3 guys that missing that I feel are 3 of the most important/ influential jazz bassists are:
1. Jimmy Blanton - one of the first to bring the bass in front of the band as a soloist.
2. Oscar Pettiford- the first real bebop bassist as a soloist.
3. Paul Chambers - played with everyone, had an undeniable quarter note, and progressed the bass as a solo instrument

[Basie-o]

I had to go so far down the comments to find Stanley Clarke. At 17/18 years old he was a phenom. At age 18, Chick Correa produced Stanley’s first album “Children Are Forever!” That fact in itself speaks volumes.

[ewoien]

NHØP is just mindblowing. He played with Ben Webster, Brew Moore, Bud Powell, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Jackie McLean, and Ella Fitzgerald, When seventeen, he turned down an offer to join the Count Basie orchestra.

[pacree]

Gary Peacock belongs on this list as well, not simply for his fabulous technique but also because of his philosophical approach, not only to his own instrument but music in general.

[bigbass]

My list... in no particular order, all equally incredible.

Buster Williams
Sam Jones
Peter Washington
Reggie Workman
Bob Cranshaw
Larry Ridley
Jimmy Garrison
Chuck Israels
Neil Swainson
Brian Bromberg

[michaelglidden]

My mentions are two teachers... Rufus Reid for the phenomenal "Evolving Bassist" and my old semi-retired instructor/Dean of CCC, NW bass legend Tom Wakeling. Teachers never get the credit... but none of these guys could do what they do without them.

[JAK]

I m so glad you add Scott la Faro..this genius changed my life (even tough I just played upright at school years and years ago)..Im not an absolute jazz nerd, but damn, this guy was really something else..if he'd lived he'd have been the BEST of the best Upright players
the live sunday at village vanguard is just an absolute masterpiece!!

[pizzicato]

I got so excited when I saw Renaud Garcia-Fons. His playing has changed my life. And an absolute gentleman when I met him. RGF is like on other bassist out there.

[thedondeluxe]

Haden was the king of melodic bass lines. Every note he played was so beautiful.

[Markperna]

Any list you make will be controversial. That’s the nature of these kinds of lists. Your list is a solid one. I think Paul Chambers and Jimmy Blanton should have been there as they were absolute giants of jazz bass in terms of influence and innovation in jazz. Fons, as great as he is, isn’t a jazz bassist and probably should be on another list. Other guys of note would be Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson and Stanley Clarke. Stanley was extremely influential in the 70s.

[MO-eepp]

Great list! Brian Bromberg is an astonishing player as well.

[kellerproof]

There are so many good upright bass players that we would spend days discussing a top ten, but I think the list is alright. For their unique contributions in style and technique, I personally miss Eddie Gomez and Miroslav Vitous. I also love the work of Jean-François Jenny-Clark.

[luccas_bracco]

10 are not enough. My list wouldn't be complete without:
- Jean-François Jenny-Clarke;
- Gary Peacock;
- Avishai Cohen;
- Edgar Mayer;
- Paul Chambers;
- Milt Hinton; and
- Esperanza Spalding.

And that would only be the List with Jazz Players.
There are some outstanding musicians outside Jazz, such as: Thibault Delor, Sizão Machado, Zeca Assumpção, Cachao López, Javier Colina, Kicho Díaz, Horacio Cabarcos...

Renaud Garcia-Fons, for instance, is not a Jazz player. He's truly fantastic but he doesn't belong in the Jazz list. There's so much improvised music outside jazz...

[cmingus]

So many great players! Paul Chambers should be added.

[suburbanbeatatx]

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen --- hands down the GOAT ... Brown, Carter, Mingus et al were my heros till I heard NHOP on Oscar Peterson and Stephane Grappelli's Jazz in Paris vol.1 1973. Not only the greatest chops ever, but THE best upright bass sound ever recorded. And yes, like Scott's trumpet player friend said, like a freight train getting ready to roll right over you. Mind blowing, a MUST listen to album. Oh yeah, try Miroslav Vitous's Freedom Jazz Dance on his 1970 Mountain in the Clouds album, another mind blower ;) Thx for the video Scott :)

[ivansanmiguel]

My list, according to the long term influence in jazz history is the next:

-Walter Page
-Jimmy Blanton
-Oscar Pettiford
-Ray Brown
-Paul Chambers
-Scot Lafaro
-Red Mitchell
-Dave Holland
-Ron Carter
-John Patitucci

Sitting on the bench, waiting for jumping into the list:
George Mraz, Christian McBride, Milt Hinton, Eddie Gómez, Marc Johnson, Chuck Israels, Sam Jones, Charlie Haden.

In a second line: Eddie Safranski, Bob Haggart, Gary Peacock, David Izenzon, Miroslav Vitous, Stanley Clarke, Doug Watkins, Jimmy Garrison, Chubby Jackson, Avisai Cohen, Richard Davis, Everhard Weber, Bob Hurst.

This is my opinion according to historic relevance.

The heritage is amazing. Thanks to all of them.

[IndigoJo]

Don't forget Danny Thompson. He was from a jazz background but was associated with the folk-rock scene in the UK, playing with the Pentangle and the Richard Thompson band and was a prolific session bassist but also had a trio of his own.

[jabbipp]

As a few others have said, Paul Chambers, no doubt. Oscar Pettiford, Gary Peacock, Miroslav Vitous, George Mraz, Stanley

[gtechbass]

Scott, thank you for the list! Three of my favorites are Paul Chambers, John Clayton and Rufus Reid.