Topic: Bass solos

[dj]

I've been listening pretty intensively to Casey Bill Weldon lately.  This morning's listening included "Keep Your Mind On It", a 1936 recording by the Hokum Boys, who on this session were Big Bill Broonzy, vocals and guitar, Casey Bill Weldon, guitar and vocal, Washboard Sam, washboard and vocal, and Bill Settles, bass.  What caught my ear on this song is that on the final chorus Settles takes a bass solo.  Which got me to wondering - can anyone think of other bass solos on blues records from before World War II?   

[Prof Scratchy]

Interesting question. I can't bring to mind any bass solos, but there a certain artists' 'sounds' that wouldn't be quite the same without the presence of a string bass. I'm thinking Bill Gaither, Jimmy Yancey (at times), and Tommy McClennan too.

[Richard]

Go for it dj 

[uncle bud]

One just came around in iTunes. In "My Four Reasons" by Banjo Ikey Robinson and His Bull Fiddle Band, sung by Frankie Jaxon, there's a fast, walking bass solo by Bill Johnson. This wonderful song is really more jazz than blues to me, but it is in B&GR, so I say it qualifies.  Recorded 9 February 1929, which seems to me to be fairly early for a bass solo.

(I must admit that when I first saw this topic I thought about the old "Drums must not stop" joke.)

[mr mando]

..., so I say it qualifies.  ....

Banjo Ikey Robinson qualifies for everything! (say I).  Uncle Bud, you beat me to "My Four Reasons", so I'd just like to add that many of the accompaniments that Bill Johnson played are essential listening for anybody interested in blues and early jazz double bass.

More on topic, I can think of an even earlier occurence of a bass solo: it's bowed and it takes two (!!!) twelve bar choruses. And it was recorded in 1926!! It's Black Cat Blues by the Old Pal Smoke Shop Four, available on DOCD-5167, String Bands 1926 - 1929.

[banjochris]

Speaking of "My Four Reasons" and Bill Johnson, if you don't have this, you should...

http://www.dust-digital.com/bass.htm

[Mike Brosnan]

Wow.  Thanks, y'all.  There really is no end to the number of CDs I need to buy.  "How Low Can You Go" looks excellent.  So much for Jimmy Blanton inventing the bass solo, huh? 

[banjochris]

"How Low Can You Go" really is a great anthology, esp. if you like early jazz, although there's lots of other stuff on there too. Warning: Wilmoth Houdini's "Tiger Tom Killed Tiger Cat" will be stuck in your head for a long, long time (not a bad thing).

[Johnm]

Hi all,
One of the strangest bass solos I've heard is on Bill Monroe's original recording of "Tennessee Blues".  What the bass player plays on it relates to the pulse and tempo of the tune, but pitch, scale or chord changes--not so much.  It's a real head-scratcher.  Despite that, what a great tune, my favorite mandolin instrumental, I think.
All best,
Johnm

[CF]

Mine too John, this one just absolutely swings & I love the hesitation into the V chord, it's tricky! I often request this from Bluegrass bands . . . & get East Tennessee Blues  I think it was Bill's first instrumental composition.

[The Jazzbo Tommy Settler]

One of Bobby Leecan's Need-more Band sides had a bass solo in it.