THE FRONTLINE

THE JAZZ BASSIST

RUTH GOLLER

Jazz cat Ruth investigates freedom in bass

Students often ask me how to vary their bass-lines, particularly if they’re jazz players, as there is a conventional wisdom that for early jazz the role of the bass is either a two-feel or a walking bass. However, thanks to Scott LaFaro, the late Bill Evans Trio bassist, this all changed. Suddenly the bass could be more melodic and rhythmically freer. This may not always be the appropriate choice musically, but this freedom can be great for creating tension and release.

One way to practise this is to get used to playing in groupings of three, playing walking dotted crochets over the top of drums playing, in a clear 4/4. This gets the player used to landing the root note on more difficult beats of the bar, anticipating or delaying