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Bottom Thunder

First and foremost I must acknowledge
I can't be definitive
and my treatise on that mountain of sound from
the bass can't possibly mention every single time
a tone has capture my toe and made me want
to tap
to engage in syncopation
to whistle almost ad nauseam till companions make me stop
to rush over to my four stringed beast and try to emulate

Like my first inspiration to play guitar it started in an unlikely place
all about John Denver on that now prehistoric record player
Mickey Mouse was on top and "Back Home Again" was the album
Dick Kniss was the guilty party
he plunked that upright bass
sending sound all over the place
come to find out I had heard him before
parent's Peter, Paul and Mary record at the door

On to Sir Paul and his "Silly Love Songs"
once learned I would play that night or day
not always easy to thump and sing lead
still not understanding how bass gives others the room to feed

Via the Funk Brothers my ears got funky with James Jamerson
the Motown soul man that cat was bad
told a story in every session
ran the gamut from happy to sad
he warmed me up to Rick James, Stanley Clarke, and Louis Johnson
up and down the frets with such ease
made the instrumental even sensual
oh how their fingers could tease
"Mary Jane", "Sweet Baby" ,  and the manifesto, "Secret Garden"
Mister Barry brings that "baby making music" lyric home
naw at that point no one wants to be alone

More modern masters include Nathan East and Mark King
both get it slamming and yes they too can even sing
now the 5 and 6 string a fad unless you groove jazz
that insect man Sting leans traditional
four is enough...

Victor Wooten can jam with anyone and has had the kindest of hearts
puts on musical camps for even those with no money
some basics about being human with which he will never part
Jaco Pastorius left us so young, being bipolar was his fight
now maybe accompanying brother Jimi they are doing alright

So many giants will go unmentioned but
just remember this
if you get up and want to boogie
the bottom of that vibe can't be missed
slow it down, speed up
play it all the way live
the bass with drums makes rhythm dance
which is why any music can thrive





My apologies to the ladies! Sadly in popular music the constraints of the music industry have prevented females from getting their due. Like other instruments that is changing.
Written by JAZZMANOR
Published
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