I remember sitting for hours playing my bass in my room when I was a teenager — much to the delight of our adjoining neighbours, I’m sure! My practice session mainly comprised me playing along to my favourite bands and bass players on cassette tape, (remember this was before the days of the humble CD). My playlist was pretty diverse with artists such as Rush featuring Geddy Lee, Level 42 featuring Mark King and Kiss featuring Gene Simmons. Talk Talk, Fashion, Blue Nile, The Bible, Thomas Dolby and Shakattak also put in appearances. As I grew older, of course Jaco Pastorius became a regular alongside such influential players as Mick Karne, Percy Jones, Tony Levin, Nick Beggs, John Patitucci, Mark Egan, Victor Bailey and Stu Hamm.
Why am I telling you all this? Well, those countless hours annoying the neighbours were probably the most musically formative years of my life. Each and every bassist had something different to offer; some technique, some nuance that I soaked up like a sponge. Each of them sounded completely different. Some relied on their technical prowess to impress, others created simple lines that were so cleverly woven together… still others were sensitive, dynamic musicians who wowed me with such a depth of expression and a thorough understanding of their instrument.
From attempting to emulate each of these artists, my own technique emerged. At times during my formative years, I was probably guilty of just plain copying, but that was all part of the process. Today, within my own sound and technique, I now recognise each of these influences — And the journey of discovery goes on.
If I have any advice to offer, it would be this: Don’t just listen to one player; one musical genre. This will only severely limit your development as a musician. Of course, good, sound knowledge of musical theory and proper technique is also invaluable, but I don’t think anything else comes close to good old-fashioned listening, understanding and practical implementation.
