James Jamerson and that bass...

**midnightman** · 11-02-2010, 03:32 PM

I'm beginning to think there was something in James' heart that made his bass playing so out of this world. It was like he poured his heart out in those bass riffs. I think those bass riffs became just as important if not more important than even the singers itself. It just amazes me how both Bob Babbitt and Wilton Felder were influenced by James yet when it comes down to it, you could tell why. It was like he put blood, sweat and tears into those riffs. I feel weird and almost at the point of tears when I hear it on the ballads or some of the more pop leaning stuff. It didn't sound so "poppish" when James came in. Just what is it that was in James' background that the riffs came off as exquisite as it did? I'm starting to believe that no one at Motown taught him about where to play the bass on what song, it was as if he knew it from ear.