Re: Favorite slap bassists
K Rex,
Mark King, IMHO, the king in my book! Couldn't agree more! Plus he is singing lyrics and straight melodic lines over quintuplets and sextuplets all while holding down the groove.
I was very fortunate to see Level 42 in a very small venue and meet Mark. All these people rushed him coming out of the green room, and here I was directly infront of him. So I say " Drums stop very bad" He looks at me, bursts into laughter and gives me a big bear hug and says "I wrote that one!" *
He also took the time before the show to meet with my longtime bass player friend Perry Pinto to sign and get this. put his settings, on his Mark King Signature Head. also joking "good to have another one of these in the house, just in case! "
If you Youtube, there are a couple of really good workshops with Mark showing how he gets his sound and his personal techniques for slap /pop.
Honorable mentions, Brothers Johsnon, Bootsy Collins, and of course the GodFather Larry Graham.
great post Kev,
Dave B "DBro"
*the joke from their video compilation "A Fait Compete" is a jungle guide and a tourist were going through a rough and dangerous part of the jungle, constantly hearing drums in the background. The guide would nervously say "drums stop very bad". the tourist would say "what does that mean" The guide would say "tell you later". This banter went on same way for hours finally culminating in the tourist pleading for an answer.
All of a sudden-- the drums stopped and the Tourist exclaims "what happens when the drums stop" the guide- " Time for the bass solo"