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white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 663
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post

After the recent discussion about "the worlds greatest bassist" on this forum I just watched a re-run of the Clapton cross-roads show in Chicago once more and got to thinking - how about the worlds greatest female bassist!

Yup, Im talking about Tal Wilkenfelds performance playing alongside Jeff Beck - outstanding feel, technique and composure. Im enourmously impressed with Tals chops.

Literally tiny and dwarfed by her Sadowsky she can really rip it up! She turned professional after picking up the bass for only three years...crazy!

If cats like Jeff and Chick Corea demand her presence in their bands its good enough for me.

Simply superb player. Does anybody know of any better female player on the scene at the moment?

John.
senmen
Senior Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 859
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 12:21 pm:   Edit Post

Tal rules!
She is really gorgeous, great bassist and a lovely girl....

Oliver (Spyderman)
precarius
Advanced Member
Username: precarius

Post Number: 285
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

I vote for Kimberly!
lmiwa
Intermediate Member
Username: lmiwa

Post Number: 175
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 1:46 pm:   Edit Post

Not my vote, but you might also consider Meshell Ndegeocello.
kimberly
Advanced Member
Username: kimberly

Post Number: 315
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 - 2:19 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Guys, :-)

Tal rules and Meshell rules and there are more than a few female bassists that are in the 'same league'. :-)

Doing a quick Google search sent me to,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_bass_guitarists :-)

Who of them are "better on the scene" I believe would be a purely personal perception 'bassed' (sic) ;) on an individuals taste in music. A heavy metal 'thrasher' appeals to some and a jazzy 'sweet note' player appeals to others. :-)

Bottom line to me is, male or female, if they can play it's all good. :-)

Best Regards,

Kimberly :-)

PS. Thanks Mike! :-)
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 664
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 4:25 am:   Edit Post

Yup, its all good! Thanks for the tip on Meshell - I will look her up as Im out of the loop on whos who on the scene!

Gail anne Dorsey has nice chops as does Tracy Wormsworth but I think Tal is special!

I would love either of my daughters to get into bass playing - my youngest has claimed the fretless bass that I recently built so maybe she will become the "worlds greatest female bassist" lol!

John.

(Message edited by white cloud on May 16, 2009)
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 720
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 4:46 am:   Edit Post

Yep.she's real good John
And oh..so pretty!!
3rd_ray
Intermediate Member
Username: 3rd_ray

Post Number: 198
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 6:39 am:   Edit Post

I've been a fan of Aimee Mann since the 80's. I'm not sure how many of her tracks have her on bass. I'm surprised that she's not on that wikipedia list. She plays quite a few instruments and may be considered more of a songwriter, but I've always considered her to be a bassplayer - and a pretty good one.

I also liked Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde. But I have to agree that when it comes to chops, I haven't seen anyone better than Tal Wilkenfeld, but some do come close.

Mike
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 665
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 7:30 am:   Edit Post

Mike,

Im a BIG Aimee Mann fan too - she has a superb voice and is a sublime and wonderful songwriter but I have never considered her to be more than a basic bassist.

Not that Im criticising Aimee at all, I class her in the Sting school of bass playing - using it as a basic tool to craft beautiful songs upon!

Tal is a monster player but probably would love to have a singing voice like Aimee!

John
chrisalembic
Junior
Username: chrisalembic

Post Number: 25
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post

okay there is not much that i know about her, but from reading her myspace her name is Elise Blanchard, and she is from paris... now check this video of her solo.. i know the sound qulity isnt great.. but great lines nonetheless:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.Channel&ChannelID=391915351
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 666
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 1:58 pm:   Edit Post

Wow - great player, nice tone too!

Elise is superb, what a great tip off from chrisalembic.

John
blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 100
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

I always liked Paz Lenchantin she was most well known for her work with A Perfect Circle.

She also played violin on one of the songs here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvLkQJUqxrU&feature=related
dnburgess
Senior Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 613
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 1:50 am:   Edit Post

Suzi Quatro
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 161
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2:06 am:   Edit Post

kind of surprised no one's mentioned esperanza spalding. not my thing, but she can play. she's in one of joe lovano's bands.
dnburgess
Senior Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 614
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2:26 am:   Edit Post

Tal's good - but Me'Shell has got a far more impressive body of work at the moment.

In terms of having a unique voice - I've always liked Tina Weymouth - especially in Tom tom club.

In terms of having played on the most hits - Carol Kaye.
slawie
Member
Username: slawie

Post Number: 74
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 4:26 am:   Edit Post

Tina Weymouth - Talking Heads
3rd_ray
Intermediate Member
Username: 3rd_ray

Post Number: 200
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 10:52 am:   Edit Post

I've always liked Tina Weymouth too. But like John said about Aimee Mann, she keeps it pretty basic.

A while back I stumbled across someone on youtube named Lydia that I thought was pretty good. I don't know anything about her though. She has a few clips out there...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SChhHj415Oo

Mike
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3819
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 11:03 am:   Edit Post

I seem to remember seeing videos of Talking Heads touring with two bass players ... Tina Weymouth up front, and some guy actually playing bass up stage.

Bill, tgo
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1453
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 11:44 am:   Edit Post

I gotta go with Kimberly Lynn also

Sam
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 425
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 4:06 pm:   Edit Post

If you ever get to hang one on one with Carol Kaye, you will realize what a badass she is on the bass. Of course, we've all heard the records she's been on, from Beach Boys to various TV shows, but when she's just playing bebop, she is positively astounding. I took a lesson with her about 10 years ago and I was blown away. Imagine Charlie Parker combined with John McLaughlin and packed in the body of someone who looks like someone's grandmother.

I'd also like to give props to Kim Clarke. Best known for her playing in Defunkt, she plays it all and is a monster player.

But, really, do we think it's possible to hear gender in playing? Some symphonies have taken doing auditions behind a curtain so as not to make judgments on things like this.

Edwin
crgaston
Senior Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 549
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 7:37 pm:   Edit Post

Carol Kaye is amazing, without a doubt.

One of my favorite bassists of all time is Sara Lee. Her work with the B-52's and the Indigo Girls is really tasty. She's been a big influence over the years.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3820
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 9:12 pm:   Edit Post

Sara Lee? Tasty? As they used to say: "everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like Sara Lee"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Bill, tgo
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 431
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 11:51 pm:   Edit Post

My dad once sat next to Sara Lee on a flight from London to Boston in the eighties. She told him all about the joys of a Steinberger and how easy it was to travel with.

I usually end up sitting next to smelly weirdos.

Edwin
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2210
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 2:07 am:   Edit Post

Like Edwin said - Kim Clarke. Much to my chagrin, I missed out on a Defunkt concert last month.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2227
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 7:38 am:   Edit Post

Yolanda Charles gets my vote. I've seen her a couple of times at UK Bass Day. She's a superb player and has mastered the art of singing and talking while playing complex lines really well. She's also very pretty and pleasant to chat to.
yolanda

graeme
paulman
Advanced Member
Username: paulman

Post Number: 374
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

Greta Brinkman
eligilam
Intermediate Member
Username: eligilam

Post Number: 174
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 1:39 pm:   Edit Post

Carol Kaye was with DeVol and was the one laying down the super messed-up hyperkinetic bass lines all through the Brady Bunch series. I liked the show as a little kid, and having recently re-visited it, I now realize how badass the bass playing was ...viva Johnny Bravo!
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 1612
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 2:17 pm:   Edit Post

There's soo much to learn from Bass players all over the world the Boundrys are limitless so Here's a Internet listing of bass people from A to Z (below).....

(Message edited by keavin on May 18, 2009)
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 1613
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 2:21 pm:   Edit Post

http://bassplayersontheinternet.com/#ab
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 911
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, May 18, 2009 - 6:08 pm:   Edit Post

Esperanza Spalding had me at the White House tribute to Stevie Wonder.

I think I'm in love....
svlilioukalani
Member
Username: svlilioukalani

Post Number: 51
Registered: 6-2008
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 1:49 am:   Edit Post

I vote for Kimberly. She is boldly going where no man has gone before. And by that I mean; she is playing killer bass lines, but also top flight melodic lead lines. She is a musicians musician. The you tube stuff just doesn't do justice to what her sound is live.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 832
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post

Lydia..funky lines, great voice.
Kimberly..flowing notes, mood driven, thoughtful.
Anyway they are all good or they wouldn't be doing it would they??
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2233
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 3:02 am:   Edit Post

Thought I'd post this picture of my all-time favourite female artiste..

ktbush

I know it's a staged photo but it is Del Palmer's jazz bass. Coincidentally, the BBC aired kate's 1979 christmas special this week and Del was playing what looked like an Alembic. Unfortunately there were no real closeups of the band so I can't be a 100% certain that it was an Alembic so I've emailed him to find out.

Graeme
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 673
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 3:37 am:   Edit Post

Rock on Graeme - although most definitely not a bassist Kate gets my vote too as my favourite female artist! She has a deep love for atmospheric fretless bass sounds on many of her recordings.

Kates an amazing, thoughtful and emotional songwriter. Im a big fan! Let us know how you get on with any kind of response from Del!

John.
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 739
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 7:18 am:   Edit Post

Gotta love Kate too!!

G
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2240
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 4:28 pm:   Edit Post

Well, I got a reply from Del palmer. It wasn't an alembic but an Ibanez musician prototype (sting played a fretless version for a while). Very similar headstock and neck-thru construction but closer inspection shows it has a Jazz style body. He told me it was later converted to 8 string and used on Kate's 'The Dreaming' album.

Graeme
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 682
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 2:30 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for the info Graeme,

how did you manage to contact Del?

John.
3rd_ray
Advanced Member
Username: 3rd_ray

Post Number: 201
Registered: 2-2008
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post

I've always been a fan of Kate Bush too. Very original and very talented!

Mike
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2241
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 5:40 pm:   Edit Post

John.
I just clicked the contact button on his website. I think it helped that I'd ordered his solo album ;-)

Graeme
to_81_0190
Intermediate Member
Username: to_81_0190

Post Number: 105
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 7:36 pm:   Edit Post

Carol Kaye is one of my favorite bassist. Then I found very cool female bassist on You Tube. And of course Kimberly!
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 430
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 12:35 pm:   Edit Post

The sexiest may be the bass player lead singer from A Taste of Honey

Or the buxum brunette that played with Prince a dacade ago.
kimberly
Advanced Member
Username: kimberly

Post Number: 318
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Guys! :-)

Interesting thread. :-)

It's actually pretty cool how often I've seen my name come up whenever a "chick/girl/woman/female bassist" thread comes up on various bass discussion boards (not that I frequent them with any regularity mind you). ;)

'Bottom' line, ;) there's lot's of good/great players 'out there in the world'. :-)

Best Regards,

Kimberly :-)

PS. Thanks for the smile you guys put on my face as roughly 10% of the responses to this thread mention my name. I feel very honored, thank you! :-)
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1463
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 6:32 pm:   Edit Post

For what it's worth Kimberly, you're not an excellent "female" bassist. You're an excellent bassist period. :-)

Sam
kimberly
Advanced Member
Username: kimberly

Post Number: 322
Registered: 1-2007
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 6:35 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Sam, :-)

That's very much worth a whole lot, thank you! :-)

Very Best Regards,

Kimberly :-)
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 947
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 7:34 pm:   Edit Post

I'm not saying she is the best (such statements are subjective, of course) but, how about Suzi Quatro? Her first bass was a 1957 Fender Precision.
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2246
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 1:11 am:   Edit Post

David, Suzi was mentioned somewhere above and I'd agree that she's a fine player. One of the first to put some real aggression into her performances too. I remember the first time I heard her on Top of the Pops, I think it was probably Can the Can in 1973, I was blown away by the sound and I think it was probably the first time the Bass caught my attention (it took over my musical ambitions totally in 1974 when I first saw Yes live). Amazingly she's still playing and touring, and putting as much into every show as she ever did.

Kimberley, I'll second Sam's comment, you're an excellent player full stop ;-)

Graeme
goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 55
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:07 am:   Edit Post

did / does kate bush play bass? i thought she was only an awesome vocalist!

i believe bowie had a great female bass player at one time. what about the breeders? i think that is a woman too, but don't know here name.

neither of the wilson;s of heart played bass, did they?

you gotta like tina weymouth for originallity and inovative bass lines. the first four talking heads records are fabulous.

here's an interesting thread...who is the best bass player that looks like a girl.

Colin
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 774
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:36 am:   Edit Post

Jacko!!
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 775
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:38 am:   Edit Post

Sorry Graeme just kidding!!

Must say though.........Kimberley has got to be up there with the best!!!
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2247
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:40 am:   Edit Post

Haha! Thanks alot george. Sounds like I need to lose the Moobs ;-0

Colin. kate doesn't play (as far as I know). The photo I posted was used as a publicity photo when she brought out babooshka. If I recall correctly, the video featured her dancing around an upright dressed in black before changing to the 'warrior' outfit.

Graeme
goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 59
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 7:00 am:   Edit Post

i love kate bush too. that is a pretty interesting picture of kate indeed.

i think the guy from the cars is a strong US candidate. there has to be a lot of chicklike candidates from all the 80's new wave and metal hair bands, like the dude from kajagoogoo. no doubt the winner will be from Britain. those artists had the most esoteric / insane hair ensembles of all time...even the accomplished ones.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 950
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 9:23 am:   Edit Post

....especially the accomplished ones!
bigbadbill
Senior Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 510
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 5:00 am:   Edit Post

Graeme, I didn't realise the BBC showed that! I've been dying to see that again! Don't suppose you have a copy do you? ;-) I love Kate, one of my all-time favourite artists. The Man With The Child In His Eyes is one of my favourite ever songs,and I think she wrote it when she was only 13 or 14.

My vote as a player would possibly go to Me'Shell, but I'm absolutely in love with Tal. Great player, and she is absolutely, utterly gorgeous! I'm going to see her with Jeff Beck this coming month, and yes I WILL be hanging about both before and after!

Esperanza is fab too, so is Yolanda, Suzi (big soft spot for Suzi) and Tina, and I like Melissa Auf Der Maur in a rock context; big, beefy tone.

BTW Kimberly, I haven't mentioned you only because I'm not familar with your playing...please feel free to point me in the right direction. :-)
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2256
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 5:15 am:   Edit Post

Shaun, I have it on HDD and will copy it to DVD as soon as I can figure out how. Either that or I'll get my son to do it for me ;-) email me your address and I'll send it off asap.

graeme
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 778
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

May have not been the best player, but for sheer looks IMHO, was the bass player with an American group called "Fanny"
Her sister played lead guitar, but I remember just staring at a pic of her when I was much younger.
Hell.I'd stare at a pic of her even now if I had one!
precarius
Advanced Member
Username: precarius

Post Number: 286
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 9:47 am:   Edit Post

Bigbadbill- This way to Kimberly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtJWsF3UTds
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2260
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 3:18 pm:   Edit Post

Wow, spooky coincidence George. I've just spent the night watching music on BBC4. An hour of the mamas and the papas songs followed by Rock family trees - california dreamin (m&p, Lovin spoonful, Al kooper and so on). I left the TV on to watch a repeat of an early Old Grey Whistle test and the first band on were Fanny. Jean Millington was excellent on bass and took the lead vocal too. I have endless admiration for bassists that can sing; I've been singing backing for about 18 months and co-ordinating that with playing takes alot! She was playnig a nice beat up old fender through an acoustic rig.
No idea what they're doing now but they've created their own tribute website.

Graeme
bigbadbill
Senior Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 511
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 3:58 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Graeme, will do; much appreciated!

Ah, Kimberly; how could I forget! Of course I've seen you play before! I really like that Epic, it looks so cool.
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 688
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 5:40 am:   Edit Post

Fanny? What an intersting name for an all girl group!

Of course that word means something quite different on this side of the pond as opposed to in the states lol!

Regarding your point Graeme I have always sang and played bass - I have never found it too hard....I suppose it comes from my adolescent Geddy Lee impersonations where I played and sang all his lines (my voice had a higher range in those days!)

John.
georgie_boy
Senior Member
Username: georgie_boy

Post Number: 784
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 9:04 am:   Edit Post

John,
Look at the bass player..............a Goddess.
AND she could sing and play at the same time.....something I've got to concentrate on now.........since someone stole my Mic stand and Shure SM 58 Beta
I used to be able to sing and play all jack Bruce's songs on "Songs For A Tailor"

Especially loved.."The Clearout"........what a song!!.great vocals, and....the most amazing bass sound !!! IMHO

George

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