Chris Jisi
Chris Jisi was Contributing Editor, Senior Contributing Editor, and Editor In Chief on Bass Player 1989-2018. He is the author of Brave New Bass, a compilation of interviews with bass players like Marcus Miller, Flea, Will Lee, Tony Levin, Jeff Berlin, Les Claypool and more, and The Fretless Bass, with insight from over 25 masters including Tony Levin, Marcus Miller, Gary Willis, Richard Bona, Jimmy Haslip, and Percy Jones.
Latest articles by Chris Jisi
![John Taylor of Duran Duran, Wembley Arena, 12/22/83](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AtnjasMSFoZGFttCXT7aUe-320-80.jpg)
When Duran Duran fused Chic and Sex Pistols for one of bassist John Taylor’s standout performances
By Chris Jisi published
Duran Duran may be back in vogue – but for anyone who learned to play bass in the ’80s John Taylor has never been out of fashion
![Jazz bassist Anthony Jackson performs at North Sea Jazz festival, The Hague, Netherlands, 10th July1998. Chaka Khan performs onstage during WBLS 50th Anniversary With DJ Cassidy's Pass The Mic Live at Prudential Center on November 08, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rexeoJsFAbKVA9yD74Wyf5-320-80.jpg)
Played by a session great, this Chaka Khan line was hailed by Nathan East as “the perfect bassline”
By Chris Jisi published
Antony Jackson tuned his ‘career girl’ – a Fender hybrid consisting of a ’75 Jazz Bass body and ’73 Precision neck – down two whole steps for Move Me No Mountain
![Marcus Miller performs on stage at Teatro Nuevo Apolo on May 28, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kVeshTw9Fbv36Yay2rWMhH-320-80.jpg)
How Marcus Miller found his voice – and became one of the most-imitated bassists in the biz
By Chris Jisi published
The bass icon breaks down his formative influences, and how he gave everyone from Prince to Beethoven a low-end makeover via his '77 Fender Jazz
![Blues musician B.B. King and American bass guitarist Jerry Jemmott](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26fMor4KG4R2En42zVpwAf-320-80.jpg)
B.B. King had his breakthrough blues guitar moment with The Thrill Is Gone – but it was Jerry Jemmott’s bass that made it groove
By Chris Jisi published
For The Thrill Is Gone, Jemmott played his 1964 Jazz Bass – which would be stolen soon afterward
![Carol Kaye playing bass guitar in a Los Angeles recording studio, early 1960's](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uhjfg2mDUP5bFnhiKJfaDc-320-80.jpg)
Carol Kaye on how she made Pet Sounds with the Beach Boys – and why good basslines don't come from scales
By Chris Jisi published
Kaye, the first lady of the electric bass, played her P-Bass through a Fender Super Reverb 4x10 combo on the iconic record
![Bass player Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flectones performs during the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis at Fort Adams State Park on August 4, 2017 in Newport, Rhode Island.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zzrZBRjHJ6YTikEytVSbd8-320-80.jpg)
Just when we thought he’d settled into his routine as a bass superhero, Victor Wooten pulls out another surprise: a 25 cent hair tie?
By Chris Jisi published
Victor Wooten reveals the “secret” technique that makes his bass solos “pop with screaming harmonics”
![Paul Simon performs on stage during a tour to promote his Graceland album.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9VcmxpbUsJS5KymxaA8QQ6-320-80.png)
How Bakithi Kumalo’s swung, fretless bassline helped create one of Graceland’s defining sounds
By Chris Jisi published
Like much of Paul Simon’s Graceland, the 1985 session for The Boy In The Bubble took place at Ovation Studios in downtown Johannesburg
![Bass player Willie Weeks performs with The Verbs at Club Nokia on January 17, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5PHJgczGWy4RmeTHaKqkRo-320-80.jpg)
Did Willie Weeks miss a note on this Donny Hathaway classic?
By Chris Jisi published
Willie Weeks is best known for his storied bass solo on Hathaway’s 1972 Live album, but the disc also features what may be his baddest bassline
![American soul singer and songwriter James Brown (1933-2006) performs live on stage with the J.B.'s, including bass guitarist Bootsy Collins on left and guitarist Catfish Collins (1943-2010) behind on right, in East Ham, London in March 1971.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9m9AoP7qTaJXWkSP3h4Mm3-320-80.jpg)
How a young Bootsy Collins took the James Brown bass chair to its busiest level on this Bootsy-fied recut from 1970’s Sex Machine
By Chris Jisi published
The first version of the song was recorded in October 1968 with Charles ‘Sweets’ Sherrell on bass
![British Pop and Rock musician Mike Rutherford of the group Genesis performs onstage at the Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2, 1982.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5svjJ6nrpRE4B2wKg6AcYP-320-80.jpg)
Mike Rutherford’s “lead” bass approach helped demystify the low-end for prog rock cornerstone Genesis
By Chris Jisi published
The departure of guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett cleared the way for Rutherford's angular bassline on this Genesis classic
![LOS ANGELES - 1973: Musician David Bowie performs onstage with bass player Trevor Bolder (1950-2013) during his "Ziggy Stardust" era in 1973 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xCeqKCvNAEVyusx6Ju7reb-320-80.jpg)
Trevor Bolder speaks out on his storied history with David Bowie
By Chris Jisi published
How could anyone who played bass on Ziggy Stardust not be a rock legend?
![Photo of Hank CROSBY and Larry VEEDER and Joe HUNTER and James JAMERSON and Mike TERRY and FUNK BROTHERS and Benny BENJAMIN. James Jamerson Jr. attends the opening night of "Motown The Musical" at The Fisher Theatre on October 22, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/56bZA6CD2AB2VYNg95NcUT-320-80.jpg)
An inside look at James Jamerson’s 10 seminal “B-Sides”
By Chris Jisi published
Anthony Jackson and James Jamerson Jr reveal the hidden secrets of Motown’s multi-track recordings
![Nile Rodgers (L) and Jerry Barnes of Chic perform at Smoothie King Center on April 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZC3rnKERmfMishVRtBNbta-320-80.jpg)
Jerry Barnes and Nile Rodgers give an insiders’ view of this seven-minute bass anthem by Chic
By Chris Jisi published
Performing alongside guitarist Nile Rodgers, Jerry Barnes has bestowed his deep-pocketed basslines upon Chic since the untimely death of Bernard Edwards in 1996
![Singer Stevie Wonder performs Stevie Wonder onstage during the 45th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2014 in Pasadena, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ojYzyZEjJJtfssZ7Bjfse4-320-80.jpg)
Did Nate Watts play on the most under-appreciated bass anthem ever?
By Chris Jisi published
The story behind the incredible 10-minute bassline on Stevie Wonder’s 1981 hit Do I Do
![Bassist-singer John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford perform with King Crimson in New York, 1974.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uXCQEGbmJM4rwkcWS7FAMi-320-80.jpg)
John Wetton has been the bass force behind a peak-period King Crimson lineup and two prog rock supergroups
By Chris Jisi published
A veteran of one of King Crimson’s classic lineups, John Wetton’s amazing career took him through a host of British prog bands
![Keith Richards and Darryl Jones of The Rolling Stones perform during the Festival D'ete De Quebec on July 15, 2015 in Quebec City, Canada.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vE8kTfRDBEUUAuFd3J4F2o-320-80.jpg)
Darryl Jones on his journey to The Rolling Stones – from Miles Davis to Sting, Herbie Hancock to Peter Gabriel, and Madonna
By Chris Jisi published
The Rolling Stones bassist is a force of nature, with a stage and session career second to none
![Ryan Martinie of Mudvayne performs on a stop of the Freaks on Parade tour at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tpPMVZjHXhCHUeayYqQmfj-320-80.jpg)
How Ryan Martinie redefined metal bass playing for a new generation with Mudvayne
By Chris Jisi published
Ryan Martinie stepped out as a 21st-century bass hero on Mudvayne’s The End of All Things to Come
![Bassist Willie Weeks rehearses for the "Lean On Him- A Tribute To Bill Withers" show on September 30, 2015 in New York City.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wiujas3ku4x9y5v5sMW8aX-320-80.jpg)
How Willie Weeks' unbelievable solo on Donny Hathaway's 1972 Live album made him a bass legend
By Chris Jisi published
After being introduced as “the baddest bass player in the country,” Willie Weeks kicked off his now iconic solo
![John Fisher of the band Fishbone performs at Old Forester's Paristown Hall on August 26, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PRJRgBcinARYgKdExjCmLB-320-80.jpg)
Fishbone’s Norwood Fisher names his 10 best basslines
By Chris Jisi published
The most iconic bass riffs in Fishbone’s catalog, according to Norwood Fisher himself
![American bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding performs at North Sea Jazz festival, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 10th July 2016.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/637qgEmuP8VCtTiDfogytL-320-80.jpg)
Esperanza Spalding on jamming with Prince, and the stunning upset of Justin Bieber
By Chris Jisi published
A support slot with Prince set the stage for Esperanza Spalding’s 2011 Grammy win and a whole new level of recognition
![Recording artist Raphael Saadiq performs onstage at the Keep Memory Alive foundation's "Power of Love Gala" celebrating Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena February 18, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XANhSVGDAaBjzDAunveZu5-320-80.jpg)
Raphael Saadiq on playing with Prince, D'Angelo and the “dead” 1962 Fender that put the vintage in Instant Vintage
By Chris Jisi published
The Tony! Toni! Toné! trailblazer created a whole new rhythm section style on his 2002 solo debut
![Chris Wood performs during the Festival Jazz A La Villette 2011 at Cite de la Musique on September 11, 2011 in Paris, France.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ExjydcCswqWyFyQeYEE3Bd-320-80.jpg)
Chris Wood unpacks his playing – both schooled and unschooled – with Medeski, Martin & Wood
By Chris Jisi published
Leaning on a vintage Fender and an old Ampeg, Chris Wood indulged his tone addictions on Medeski, Martin & Wood's Uninvisible
![Jack Bruce performing live on stage the the London Guitar Festival on June 4, 2011.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QaB5yf965xod3W5PsMD2wn-320-80.jpg)
How Jack Bruce put a fresh spin on Cream hits Sunshine of Your Love and White Room
By Chris Jisi published
Some people believe rock ’n’ roll should never leave the cozy three-chord confines of the garage – and then there’s Jack Bruce
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