List of jazz bassists
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This list of jazz bassists includes performers of the
double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...
and since the 1950s, and particularly in the jazz subgenre of
jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, amplifiers, and ke ...
which developed in the 1970s,
electric bass The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and s ...
players. The most influential
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...
ists from the 1940s and 1950s include bassist
Jimmy Blanton James Blanton (October 5, 1918 – July 30, 1942) was an American jazz double bassist. Blanton is credited with being the originator of more complex pizzicato and arco bass solos in a jazz context than previous bassists. Nicknamed "Jimmie," Bla ...
(1918–1942) (a member of the
Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...
band);
Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...
(1922–1960), who is considered by bassists and musicologists to be the first bebop bassist and the transitional link from the swing era to bebop. Ray Brown (1926–2002), known for backing a number of
bebop Bebop or bop is a style of jazz developed in the early-to-mid-1940s in the United States. The style features compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes and numerous changes of key, instrumen ...
pers, including alto virtuoso
Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...
; Milt Hinton (1910–2000) and
George Duvivier George Duvivier (August 17, 1920 – July 11, 1985) was an American jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in ...
(1920–1985), who are the two most recorded bassists in jazz history, their respective careers spanning many eras and genres; a singular creative force was Wilbur Ware (1923–1979) legendary bassist with Monk and others,
hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...
bassist
Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...
(born 1937); and Paul Chambers (1935–1969), a member of the
Miles Davis Quintet The Miles Davis Quintet was an American jazz band from 1955 to early 1969 led by Miles Davis. The quintet underwent frequent personnel changes toward its metamorphosis into a different ensemble in 1969. Most references pertain to two distinct and ...
. In the experimental post 1960s eras, which saw the development of free jazz and jazz-rock fusion, some of the influential bassists included
Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians an ...
(1922–1979) and
free jazz Free jazz is an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventions, such as regular tempos, tones, and chord changes. Musicians duri ...
and post-bop bassist
Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...
(1937–2014). In the post-1970s era of jazz-rock fusion, the
electric bass The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and s ...
became an important jazz instrument; virtuoso
Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951) is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first ja ...
(born 1951) played both the double bass and the electric bass. Fusion performer
Jaco Pastorius John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (; December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bassist, composer and producer. He recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader and was a member of Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. ...
(1951–1987) contributed to the development of a new approach to the fretless electric bass, adding a creative use of harmonics and chords, both while a member of the band
Weather Report Weather Report was an American jazz fusion band active from 1970 to 1986. The band was founded in 1970 by Austrian virtuoso keyboardist Joe Zawinul, American saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš, American drummer and vocalis ...
and in his solo recordings. In the 1990s and 2000s, one of the new "young lions" for jazz bass was
Christian McBride Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972) is an American jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman, and is an eight-time Grammy Award winner. McBride has performed and recorded with a number of j ...
(born 1972). In mid to late 2000s, another new "young lion" for jazz bass emerged:
Miles Mosley Miles Mosley is an American musician, producer and composer from Hollywood, California. He is known for his vocal and bass skills, as well as his abilities as a composer, arranger and music producer. He is also a founding member of the West C ...
(born 1980) a member of the acclaimed Los Angeles collective, the West Coast Get Down. For double bass players in other styles of music, such as Blues and Folk, see the List of double bassists in popular music.


A

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Ahmed Abdul-Malik Ahmed Abdul-Malik (born Jonathan Tim, Jr.; January 30, 1927 – October 2, 1993) was an American jazz double bassist and oud player. Abdul-Malik is remembered for integrating Middle Eastern and North African music styles in his jazz music.Kelse ...
(1927–1993) *
Placide Adams Placide Adams (August 30, 1929 – March 29, 2003) was an American jazz double bassist, who worked prolifically with a wide circle of New Orleans jazz stars over his 50-year career. He was the son of the New Orleans pianist Dolly Adams, and t ...
(1929–2003) *
Samuel Adams Samuel Adams ( – October 2, 1803) was an American statesman, political philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a politician in colonial Massachusetts, a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, an ...
(born 1985) * Osama Afifi * Moses Allen (1907–1983) * Vernon Alley (1915–2004) *
Ben Allison Ben Allison (born November 17, 1966) is an American double bassist, composer, producer, bandleader, educator. In addition to his work as a performer, he co-founded the non-profit Jazz Composers Collective and served as its Artistic Director for ...
(born 1966) *
Bjørn Alterhaug Bjørn Alterhaug (born 3 June 1945) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, arranger, composer and professor of music. Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian) Career Alterhaug was born in Mo i Rana, Norway. He is one of the grand masters among European bass ...
(born 1945) *
Hayes Alvis Hayes Alvis (May 1, 1907 – December 29, 1972) was an American jazz bassist and tuba player. Career Alvis began on drums but switched to tuba and bass after playing with Jelly Roll Morton in 1927–1928. He played tuba with Earl Hines from 192 ...
(1907–1972) * Andreas Amundsen (born 1980) * Erik Amundsen (1937–2015) *
Arild Andersen Arild Andersen (born 27 October 1945) is a Norwegian jazz musician bassist, known as the most famous Norwegian bass player in the international jazz scene. Career Andersen was born at Strømmen, Norway. He started his musical career as jazz g ...
(born 1945) * Thomas Winther Andersen (born 1969) *
Reid Anderson Reid Anderson (born 15 October 1970) is a bassist and composer from Minnesota. He is a member of The Bad Plus with drummer Dave King, saxophonist Chris Speed, and guitarist Ben Monder. The original lineup of The Bad Plus first played together ...
(born 1970) * Bjørnar Andresen (1945–2004) * Chuck Andrus (1928–1997) *
Roger Arntzen Roger Arntzen (born 3 June 1976) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from playing in bands like In The Country, Ballrogg, Chrome Hill and Håvard Stubø Trio. He has also previously played within the band Østenfor Sol. Career Arntzen was b ...
(born 1976) *
Jim Aton James G. Aton (1925 – September 16, 2008), best known as Jim Aton or Jimmy Aton, was an American jazz bassist, pianist, vocalist and composer. He worked with numerous notable artists including Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day and Bill Evans. He ...
(1925–2008) *
Edvard Askeland Edvard Askeland (born 10 December 1954) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from a series of album releases in various genres and for being regular in Dag Arnesens lineups in 1970-80, and within Cutting Edge. Career Askeland was born in Bergen ...
(born 1954) *
Tine Asmundsen Tine Asmundsen (born 8 April 1963) is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from her own band, Lonely Woman, playing with David Murray at Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2010. Career Asmundsen was born in Kongsberg, Norway. She started playing bass in Kongs ...
(born 1963)


B

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Harry Babasin Yervant Harry Babasin, Jr. (19 March 1921 – 21 May 1988) was an American jazz bassist. His nickname was "The Bear". Biography Babasin was born in Dallas, Texas to an American mother and an Armenian father. He attended North Texas State Universit ...
(1921–1988) * Roy Babbington (born 1940) *
Don Bagley Donald Neff Bagley (July 18, 1927 – July 26, 2012) was an American jazz bassist. Career Bagley was born on July 18, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received formal training on the double bass. He studied in Los Angeles and played in 1945 w ...
(1927–2012) *
Steve Bailey Steve Bailey is an American bassist. He is the chair of the bass department at Berklee College of Music. Career Bailey began playing bass guitar at age 12 and started playing fretless bass after he ran over his fretted Stuart Spector with his ...
(born 1960) * Victor Bailey (1960–2016) *
Fred Thelonious Baker Fred Thelonious Baker (born 4 June 1960) is an English guitarist and jazz bass guitarist from Tibshelf, Derbyshire. He is known for playing in Phil Miller's Canterbury scene band In Cahoots. Baker played the guitar until his mid-teens, at which ...
(born 1960) *
Tom Barney Tom Barney is an American bass guitarist. Career Barney first came to prominence in the late 1970s, when he appeared on different jazz albums by Turk Mauro and Walter Davis Jr., following to appear on records by such artists as Chaka Khan, J ...
*
Phil Bates Philip Bates (born 30 March 1953) is an English musician who has been a member of many notable bands, including Trickster and Quill, and was the lead guitarist, songwriter and joint lead vocalist for ELO Part II from 1993 through to 1999 and the ...
(born 1931) * Carles Benavent (born 1954) *
Joe Benjamin Joseph Rupert Benjamin (November 4, 1919 – January 26, 1974) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin played with many jazz musicians in a variety of idioms. Early in his career he played in the big bands of Ar ...
(1919–1974) * Max Bennett (1928–2018) * Frode Berg (born 1971) *
Chuck Berghofer Charles Curtis Berghofer (born June 14, 1937), professionally known as Chuck Berghofer, is an American jazz double bassist and electric bassist, who has worked as a studio musician and in the film industry for more than 60 years, including workin ...
(born 1937) *
Dan Berglund Dan Berglund (born 5 May 1963) is a Swedish musician who mainly plays the upright bass and is known within jazz and fusion. Biography Berglund was familiar with Swedish folk music as well as with pop and rock music. At the age of ten he start ...
(born 1963) * Jeff Berlin (born 1953) * Artie Bernstein (1909–1964) *
Keter Betts William Thomas "Keter" Betts (July 22, 1928 – August 6, 2005) was an American jazz double bassist. Early life and education Born in Port Chester, New York, he was nicknamed "Keter", a short form of the word mosquito. He graduated from Port ...
(1928–2005) * Carlos Bica (born 1958) *
Charlie Biddle Charles Reed Biddle, (July 28, 1926 – February 5, 2003) was an American-Canadian jazz bassist. He lived most of his life in Montreal, organizing and performing in jazz music events. Early life and education Biddle was born and grew up in ...
(1926–2003) *
Alex Blake Alex Blake (born Alejandro Blake Fearon Jr.) is a jazz bass player. Biography Blake was born in Panama and moved to the United States at the age of 7, growing up in Brooklyn, NY. He began his career with Sun Ra in his band Arkestra. He became o ...
(born 1951) *
Jimmy Blanton James Blanton (October 5, 1918 – July 30, 1942) was an American jazz double bassist. Blanton is credited with being the originator of more complex pizzicato and arco bass solos in a jazz context than previous bassists. Nicknamed "Jimmie," Bla ...
(1918–1942) * Svein Olav Blindheim (born 1954) *
Jesper Bodilsen Jesper Bodilsen (born 5 January 1970) is a Danish jazz double bassist. Biography Bodilsen was born in Haslev, Denmark. He was a student of Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Since the end of the 1990s he worked regularly with Ed Thigpen, with whom ...
(born 1970) *
Richard Bona Richard Bona (born 28 October 1967) is a Cameroon-born American multi-instrumentalist and singer. Early life Bona Penda Nya Yuma Elolo was born in Minta, Cameroon, into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a ...
(born 1967) * Jimmy Bond (1933–2012) *
Walter Booker Walter Booker (December 17, 1933 – November 24, 2006) was an American jazz musician. A native of Prairie View, Texas, Booker was a reliable bass player and an underrated stylist. His playing was marked by voice-like inflections, glissandos and ...
(1933–2006) * Arthur "Juinie" Booth (1948–2021) * Nelson Boyd (1928–1985) * Ronnie Boykins (1935–1980) *
Wellman Braud Wellman Braud (January 25, 1891 – October 29, 1966) was an American jazz upright bassist. His family sometimes spelled their last name "Breaux", pronounced "Bro". Born in St. James Parish, Louisiana, Braud settled in New Orleans, in his ear ...
(1891–1966) * Ellen Brekken (born 1985) *
Brian Bromberg Brian Bromberg (born December 5, 1960) is an American jazz bassist and record producer who performs on both electric and acoustic instruments. Biography Bromberg was born on December 5, 1960, in Tucson, Arizona. His father and brother, David, ...
(born 1960) * Harvey Brooks (born 1944) *
Baron Browne Baron Browne was an American bass guitarist. Career Born and raised in Georgia, USA, Baron Browne gravitated to music at a very early age, learning to play his uncle's drumset at 7 years old. As a teenager he dabbled in piano lessons and at age ...
* Cameron Brown (born 1945) *
Paul H. Brown Paul Brown "PB" (March 6, 1934 – May 6, 2016), was an American jazz bassist. He was the founder of the Monday Night Jazz Series in Hartford, Connecticut, which was recognized by the Library of Congress as the oldest and longest-running free fe ...
(1934–2016) * Ray Brown (1926–2002) * Steve Brown (1890–1965) * Bunny Brunel (born 1950) *
Monty Budwig Monte Rex Budwig (December 26, 1929 – March 9, 1992) was a West Coast jazz double bassist, professionally known as Monty Budwig. Early life Monte Rex Budwig was born in Pender, Nebraska, on December 26, 1929.His full birthname was Monte Rex B ...
(1926–1992) * Tony Bunn (born 1957) *
Oteil Burbridge Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Ban ...
(born 1964) *
Dwayne Burno Dwayne Allen Burno (June 10, 1970 – December 28, 2013) was an American jazz bassist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who became a first-call musician on the New York City jazz scene.Tamarkin, Jeff. "Bassist Dwayne Burno Dies at 43." ''JazzTim ...
(1970–2013) * Lennie Bush (1927–2004)


C

* Eddie Calhoun (1921–1993 * Red Callender (1916–1992) *
James Cammack James Alfred Conrad Cammack Jr. (born April 15, 1956) is an American jazz bassist from Cornwall, New York. Career For nearly thirty years, he played bass for Ahmad Jamal. His debut solo album, ''Both Sides of the Coin'', was released in 2012. Be ...
(born 1956) * Alain Caron (born 1955) * Dave Carpenter (1959–2008) *
Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy awards, and is also a cellist who has recorded nu ...
(born 1937) * Edo Castro (born 1957) *
Malcolm Cecil Malcolm Cecil (9 January 193728 March 2021) was a British jazz bassist, record producer, engineer and electronic musician. He was a founding member of a leading UK jazz quintet of the late 1950s, the Jazz Couriers,
(1937–2021) *
Clive Chaman Clive Chaman (born 5 September 1949) is a UK-based bass guitarist and session musician, born in Trinidad and Tobago. After appearing on Ram John Holder's 1969 ''London Blues'' album, Chaman became a member of the second Jeff Beck Group in 1971 ...
(born 1949)(first recording was on Ram John Holder's 1969 ''London Blues'' album) * Paul Chambers (1935–1969) *
Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951) is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first ja ...
(born 1951) * John Clayton (born 1952) * Jeff Clyne (1937–2009) * Avishai Cohen (born 1970) *
Greg Cohen Greg Cohen (born July 13, 1953) is an American jazz bassist who has been a member of John Zorn's Masada quartet and worked with numerous other noted musicians for over four decades. Career Cohen plays traditional jazz and other styles, includin ...
(born 1953) * Ira Coleman (born 1956) * Scott Colley (born 1963) *
Graham Collier James Graham Collier (21 February 1937 – 9 September 2011) was an English jazz bassist, bandleader and composer. Life and career Born in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, on leaving school Collier joined the British Army as a musician, ...
(1937–2011) *
Joe Comfort Joe Comfort (July 18, 1917 – October 29, 1988) was an American jazz double bassist. Biography His mother was born in Mississippi and played the organ during black and white silent movies. His father, George Comfort from Natchez Mississippi tau ...
(1917–1988) *
Todd Coolman Todd Coolman (born July 14, 1954) is a jazz bassist and a retired tenured Professor of Music at the Jazz Studies Program in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in Westchester County, New York. He is also the former Artistic Director of t ...
(born 1954) *
Curtis Counce Curtis Counce (January 23, 1926 – July 31, 1963) was an American hard bop and West Coast jazz double bassist. Biography Counce was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to California in 1945. He began recording in 1946 with Lester Youn ...
(1926–1963) * Anthony Cox (born 1954) *
Bob Cranshaw Melbourne Robert Cranshaw (December 3, 1932 – November 2, 2016) was an American jazz bassist. His career spanned the heyday of Blue Note Records to his recent involvement with the Musicians Union. He is perhaps best known for his long associa ...
(1932–2016) * Gary Crosby (born 1955) * Israel Crosby (1919–1962) *
Bill Crow William Orval Crow (born December 27, 1927) is an American jazz bassist. Among other work, Crow was the long-term bassist in saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's bands in the 1950s and 1960s. Early life Crow was born on December 27, 1927, in Othello, ...
(born 1927)


D

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Lars Danielsson Lars Danielsson (born 5 September 1958) is a Swedish jazz bassist, composer, and record producer. Biography Danielsson was born in Smålandsstenar, and was educated at the music conservatory in Gothenburg. He plays double bass, electric bass ...
(born 1958) * Palle Danielsson (born 1946) *
Alec Dankworth Alexander William Tamba Dankworth (born 14 May 1960) is an English jazz bassist and composer. Biography Born in London, the son of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Alec Dankworth grew up in the villages of Aspley Guise and Wavendon, living at ...
(born 1960) * Art Davis (1934–2007) * Kenny Davis (born 1961) * Melvin Lee Davis * Richard Davis (born 1930) * Chuck Deardorf (born 1954) *
Spanky DeBrest Jimmy "Spanky" DeBrest (April 24, 1937 in Philadelphia – March 2, 1973 in Philadelphia) was an American jazz bassist. DeBrest played with Lee Morgan in his early years in Philadelphia. In 1957 he was a member of Ray Draper's Quintet, Jackie McL ...
(1937–1973) *
Santi Debriano Santi Wilson Debriano (born 1955 in Panama) is a jazz bassist. Debriano was raised in Brooklyn, having moved there with his family at age four. He studied composition at Union College in New York, then attended the New England Conservatory of Mu ...
(born 1955) *
Riccardo Del Fra Riccardo Del Fra (born February 20, 1956, Rome) is an Italian jazz double-bassist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Del Fra first played guitar, then switched to upright bass when he was sixteen years old. He studied at a conservatory, playe ...
(born 1956) * Fredrik Luhr Dietrichson (born 1988) *
Brandi Disterheft Brandi Disterheft (born 1980) is a Canadian jazz bassist and composer. Biography Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Disterheft grew up in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia where she attended Handsworth Secondary Scho ...
(born 1980) *
Dominique Di Piazza Dominique Di Piazza, born in Lyon, France, in 1959, is an bass guitar, electric bass player. Di Piazza discovered the bass in 1979. Already a self-taught guitarist, Di Piazza developed a distinctive, but unorthodox 'closed palm' technique of pick ...
(born 1959) *
Wayne Dockery Wayne Dockery (June 27, 1941 – June 11, 2018) was an American jazz double bassist who worked with George Benson, Sonny Fortune, Eddie Henderson, Hal Galper, Archie Shepp, Michael Brecker, and others. He appears on albums from at least 1971, al ...
(1941–2018) *
Chuck Domanico Charles Louis Domanico (January 20, 1944 – October 17, 2002), better known as Chuck Domanico, was an American jazz bassist who played double bass and bass guitar on the West Coast jazz scene. Domanico was born in Chicago. He settled i ...
(1944–2002) * Leon Lee Dorsey (born 1958) *
Mark Dresser Mark Dresser (born September 26, 1952) is an American double bass player and composer. Career Dresser was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the 1970s, he was a member of Black Music Infinity led by Stanley Crouch and performed ...
(born 1952) * Kermit Driscoll (born 1956) *
Ray Drummond Ray Drummond (born November 23, 1946 in Brookline, Massachusetts) is an American jazz bassist and teacher. He also has an MBA from Stanford University, hence his linkage to the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He can be heard on hundreds of albums and c ...
(born 1946) * Sébastien Dubé (born 1966) * Trevor Dunn (born 1968) *
Dominic Duval Dominic Duval (c. 1944 – July 22, 2016) was an American free jazz upright bass, bassist. Since the 1990s, Duval was active principally on the New York City jazz scene. He did not begin recording regularly until the 1990s, but since then had app ...
(c. 1944 – 2016) *
George Duvivier George Duvivier (August 17, 1920 – July 11, 1985) was an American jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in ...
(1920–1985) * Mbizo Johnny Dyani (1945–1986)


E

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Nathan East Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass player and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. East holds a Bachelor of Arts deg ...
(born 1955) * Kyle Eastwood (born 1988) *
Jimmy Earl James Christopher Earl (born 1957) is an American jazz bass guitarist who is a member of the ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' band. Early life and education In 1957, James Christopher Earl was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to James and Sylvia Earl. He i ...
(born 1957) * Cleveland Eaton (1939–2020) * Kai Eckhardt (born 1961) * Mark Egan (born 1951) *
Johannes Eick Johannes Eick (born 22 April 1964) is a Norwegian bassist ( double bass and electric bass guitar), the son of bassist and vibraphonist Jürgen Eick (b. 1937), and the older brother of musicians Trude Eick and Mathias Eick. In his youth he pl ...
(born 1964) *
Mats Eilertsen Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, S ...
(born 1975) * Audun Ellingsen (born 1979) *
Audun Erlien Audun Erlien (born 22 February 1967 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (bass guitar, guitar and electronica), known from several albums in various genres. Career Erlien was raised in Tønsberg, Norway, and has been a musician sinc ...
(born 1967) * Oytun Ersan (born 1978) *
Julian Euell Julian Euell (May 23, 1929 – June 3, 2019) was an American jazz bassist. Euell first began playing bass in 1944, and served in the Army from 1945-47. He played with Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, and Art Taylor in 1947 but quit music from 1949 to ...
(1929–2019)


F

* Charles Fambrough (1950–2011) *
Addison Farmer Addison Gerald Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa – February 20, 1963, New York City) was an American jazz bassist. He was the twin brother of Art Farmer. Early life Farmer was born an hour after his twin brother, on August 21, 1928, ...
(1928–1963) * Malachi Favors (1927–2004) *
Hadrien Feraud Hadrien Feraud (born August 16, 1984 in Paris) is a French jazz bassist. Biography Hadrien Feraud was born into a very musical family. His parents -- who are also musicians -- immersed him at a very young age in various musical environments: roc ...
(born 1984) *
Ric Fierabracci Ric Fierabracci is an American bassist who has toured and/or recorded with such artists as Frank Gambale, Chick Corea, Sir Tom Jones, Dave Weckl, Billy Cobham, Bradley Joseph, Shakira, Nancy Sinatra, Planet X, The 5th Dimension, The Beach Boys, ...
(born 1963) * Brent Fischer (born 1964) *
Arnold Fishkind Arnold Fishkind, sometimes credited as Arnold Fishkin (born July 20, 1919 – September 6, 1999,) was an American jazz bassist who appeared on over 100 albums. Early life Fishkind was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, and grew up in Freeport, Long ...
(1919–1999) * Trygve Waldemar Fiske (born 1987) * Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (born 1971) *
Joe Fonda Joe Fonda (born December 16, 1954) is an American jazz bassist. Career Fonda was born in Amsterdam, New York to parents who both played jazz. He played guitar as a youth but switched to bass guitar later. He studied bass at Berklee College of ...
(born 1954) *
Svein Folkvord Svein Folkvord (born 18 May 1967) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (double bass), sound engineer and composer, known from cooperations with Andy Sheppard, Paolo Fresu, Knut Kristiansen, John Pål Inderberg, Per Jørgensen, Phil McDermott, Jack Wilki ...
(born 1967) * Signe Førre (born 1994) *
Mo Foster Mo Foster (born Michael Ralph Foster, 22 December 1944) is an English multi-instrumentalist, record producer, composer, solo artist, author, and public speaker. Through a career spanning over half a century, Foster has toured, recorded, and perf ...
(born 1944) *
Herbie Flowers Brian Keith "Herbie" Flowers (born 19 May 1938) is an English musician specialising in electric bass, double bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky. Flowers has contributed to recordings by Elton John (''Tumblewe ...
(born 1938) *
Pops Foster George Murphy "Pops" Foster (May 19, 1892 – October 30, 1969) was an American jazz musician, best known for his vigorous slap bass playing of the string bass. He also played the tuba and trumpet professionally. Biography Foster was born ...
(1892–1969) * Henry Franklin (born 1940) * David Friesen (born 1942)


G

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Larry Gales Lawrence Bernard Gales (March 25, 1936 – September 12, 1995) was an American jazz double-bassist. Life Gales began playing bass at age 11, and attended the Manhattan School of Music in the late 1950s. In that decade and the beginning of th ...
(1936–1995) *
Renaud Garcia-Fons Renaud Garcia-Fons (born December 24, 1962) is a highly accomplished French upright-bass player and composer. Career Garcia-Fons started his musical studies at an early age. At five years old he picked up playing the piano, switched to classic ...
(born 1962) *
Juan Garcia-Herreros Juan Garcia-Herreros, also known as "The Snow Owl", is a Colombian bassist who plays a custom six-string electric contrabass guitar. History Juan Garcia-Herreros was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His first musical studies began with flute at the ...
(born 1977) * Ed Garland (1895–1980) *
Kåre Garnes Kåre Garnes (born 8 November 1954 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass), known for his collaborations with Bergen jazz legends like Dag Arnesen, Knut Kristiansen, Per Jørgensen, Olav Dale and Ole Thomsen, and in a ser ...
(born 1954) *
Jimmy Garrison James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976) was an American jazz double bassist. He is best remembered for his association with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967. Career Garrison was raised in both Miami and Philadelphia where he ...
(1934–1976) *
Matthew Garrison Matthew Justin Garrison (born June 2, 1970) is an American jazz bassist. Since 2011, he has run ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, New York, with Fortuna Sung. Described by ''the New York Times'' as "an electric bass virtuoso", he has toured with He ...
(born 1970) * Vivien Garry (died 2008) *
Leonard Gaskin Leonard Gaskin (August 25, 1920 – January 24, 2009) was an American jazz bassist born in New York City. Gaskin played on the early bebop scene at Minton's and Monroe's in New York in the early 1940s. In 1944 he took over Oscar Pettifo ...
(1920–2009) * Victor Gaskin (1934–2012 *
John Geggie John Geggie is an Ottawa-based Canadian bassist (double bass) who performs jazz with several Ottawa-based groups and performers.Terje Gewelt Terje Gewelt (born 8 June 1960) is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass). Career Gewelt was born in Oslo and raised in Larvik, a small town on the southeastern coast of Norway. He started playing guitar at the age of 10, switched to elect ...
(born 1960) * Eddie Gibbs (1908–1994) *
John Giblin John Giblin, is an active session musician, contributing mainly as an acoustic and electric bass player, and spanning genres of jazz, classical, rock, folk and avant-garde music. Best known as a studio musician, recording film scores and cont ...
(born 1952) * Steve Gilmore (born 1961) *
Ole Amund Gjersvik Ole Amund Gjersvik (born 10 December 1963) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (upright bass) and composer, central on the Bergen jazz scene and known from a number of record releases. Career Gjersvik was born in Bergen, Norway, where he studied at th ...
(born 1963) *
Lincoln Goines Lincoln Goines (born 1953) is a double bassist and bass guitarist from Oakland, California. Biography A mainstay of the New York City jazz/Latin/studio scene since the early 1980s and noted for his versatility and fluid style, Goines' extensive ...
(born 1953) *
Doc Goldberg Edward "Doc" Goldberg is a jazz bassist. He played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Will Bradley Trio, alongside Freddie Slack on piano and Ray McKinley on drums. Before that, he played in George Hall's orchestra. He also played bass for ...
*
Eddie Gómez Edgar Gómez (born October 4, 1944) is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist, known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1966 to 1977. Biography Gómez moved with his family from Puerto Rico at a young age to New York, where he was raised. ...
(born 1944) *
Coleridge Goode George Coleridge Emerson Goode (29 November 1914 – 2 October 2015) was a British Jamaican-born jazz bassist best known for his long collaboration with alto saxophonist Joe Harriott. Goode was a member of Harriott's innovatory jazz quintet thro ...
(1914–2015) * Calum Gourlay (born 1986) * Sebastian Gramss (born 1966) * Dave Green (born 1942) *
Larry Grenadier Larry Grenadier (born February 6, 1966 in San Francisco) is an American jazz double bassist. Early life Grenadier's father, Albert, was a trumpet player, and his two brothers, Phil and Steve, play trumpet and guitar, respectively. Grenadier be ...
(born 1966) * Drew Gress (born 1959) * Tony Grey (born 1975) *
Henry Grimes Henry Grimes (November 3, 1935 – April 15, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist and violinist. After more than a decade of activity and performance, notably as a leading bassist in free jazz, Grimes completely disappeared from the music s ...
(1935–2020) *
Duke Groner Edward "Duke" Groner (March 24, 1908 – November 7, 1992)Kenan Heise, "Chicago jazzman Duke Groner, 84," '' Chicago Tribune'', November 10, 1992, page 8.Heise, Kenan, "Obituaries: Chicago Jazzman Duke Groner, 84," '' Chicago Tribune'', November ...
(1908–1992) *
Finn Guttormsen Finn Guttormsen (born 16 July 1968 in Mosjøen, Norway) is a Norwegian Jazz musician (upright bass), known for his dedicated contributions to the Farmers Market and recently to the Silje Nergaard Band, and musicians like Trygve Seim, Øyvind ...
(born 1968) *
Ketil Gutvik Ketil Gutvik (born 4 July 1972 in Ålesund, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) known on the Oslo's jazz scene since 1992. Career Gutvik is a graduate of "The Trondheim Kommunale Musikkskole" (1987–92) and the Norwegian Academy ...
(born 1972) *
Barry Guy Barry John Guy (born 22 April 1947, in London) is an English composer and double bass player. His range of interests encompasses early music, contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, and he has worked with a wide variety of orchestras ...
(born 1947) *
Janek Gwizdala Janek Gwizdala (born 19 November 1978) is an English jazz bassist. Biography Gwizdala initially preferred drums, but switched to bass guitar after hearing Laurence Cottle. Gwizdala later moved to the U.S. to attend Berklee College of Music. Rec ...
(born 1978)


H

*
Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...
(1937–2014) *
Bob Haggart Robert Sherwood Haggart (March 13, 1914 – December 2, 1998) was an American dixieland jazz double bass player, composer, and arranger. Although he is associated with dixieland, he was one of the finest rhythm bassists of the Swing Era. Music ...
(1914–1998) *Al Hall (musician), Al Hall (1915–1988) *Stuart Hamm (born 1960) *Aslak Hartberg (born 1975) *Jimmy Haslip (born 1951) *Michel Hatzigeorgiou (born 1961) *Tim Hauff (born 1952) *Nick Haywood (born 1961) *Percy Heath (1923–2005) *Spike Heatley (1933–2021) *Mark Helias (born 1950) *Jonas Hellborg (born 1958) *Michael Henderson (born 1951) *Shifty Henry (1921–1958) *Svante Henryson (born 1963) * Milt Hinton (1910–2000) *Derrick Hodge (born 1979) *Colin Hodgkinson (born 1945) *Sigurd Hole (born 1981) *Dave Holland (born 1946) *Major Holley (1924–1990) *Scotty Holt *Fred Hopkins (1947–1999) *Jim Hughart (born 1936) *Spike Hughes (1908–1987) *Stig Hvalryg (born 1960)


I

*Dieter Ilg (born 1961) *Peter Ind (1928–2021) *Dennis Irwin (1951–2008) *Itzam Cano *Jeff Irwin (born 1977) *Chuck Israels (born 1936) *Carl Morten Iversen (born 1948) *David Izenzon (1932–1979)


J

*Ali Jackson (jazz bassist), Ali Jackson (died 1987) *Alvin Jackson (musician), Alvin Jackson *Anthony Jackson (musician), Anthony Jackson (born 1952) *Chubby Jackson (1918–2003) *Paul Jackson (bassist), Paul Jackson (1947–2021) *Randy Jackson (1956) *Kristian B. Jacobsen (born 1992) *Michael Janisch (musician), Michael Janisch (born 1979) *Neil Jason *Harald Johnsen (1970–2011) *Alphonso Johnson (born 1951) *Bill Johnson (double-bassist), Bill Johnson (1872–1972) *Gordon Johnson (musician), Gordon Johnson (born 1952) *Louis Johnson (bassist), Louis Johnson (1955–2015) *Marc Johnson (musician), Marc Johnson (born 1953) *Darryl Jones (born 1961) *Isham Jones (1894–1956) *Percy Jones (musician), Percy Jones (born 1947) *Sam Jones (musician), Sam Jones (1924–1981) *José José (1948–2019) *Anders Jormin (born 1957) *Hans Otto Jung (1920–2009)


K

*Olaf Kamfjord (born 1962) *Konrad Kaspersen (born 1948) *Red Kelly (musician), Red Kelly (1927–2019) *Tom Kennedy (musician), Tom Kennedy (born 1960) *Jim King (saxophonist), James King (1942–2012) *Gary King (bass player), Gary King (1947–2003) *Mark King (musician), Mark King (born 1958) *John Kirby (musician), John Kirby (1908–1952) *Andy Kirk (musician), Andy Kirk (1898–1992) *Bjørn Kjellemyr (born 1950) *Larry Klein (born 1956) *Rob Kohler (born 1963) *Kristin Korb *Teddy Kotick (1928–1986) *Peter Kowald (1944–2002) *Ashley Kozak (c. 1930 – 2008)


L

*Abraham Laboriel (born 1947) * Scott LaFaro (1936–1961) * Tim Landers (born 1956) * Rick Laird (1941–2021) * Jim Lanigan (1902–1983) * Dominic Lash (born 1980) * Chris Laurence (born 1949) * James Leary (musician), James Leary (1946–2021) * Ray Leatherwood (1914–1996) * Jay Leonhart (born 1940) * Jennifer Jane Leitham (born 1953) * Jack Lesberg (1920–2005) * Herbie Lewis (1941–2007) * Julius Lind (born 1977) * Wilbur Little (1928–1987) * Joe Long (1941–2021) * Israel "Cachao" López (1918–2008) * Orlando "Cachaíto" López (1933–2009) * Al Lucas (musician), Al Lucas (1912–1983) * Curtis Lundy (born 1955) * Brian Lawrence (born 1976)


M

* Bob Magnusson (born 1947) * Michael Manring (born 1960) * Wendell Marshall (1920–2002) * Ron Mathewson (1944–2020) * Per Mathisen (born 1969) * Cecil McBee (born 1935) *
Christian McBride Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972) is an American jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman, and is an eight-time Grammy Award winner. McBride has performed and recorded with a number of j ...
(born 1972) * Ron McClure (born 1941) * Andy McKee (bassist), Andy McKee (born 1953) * Al McKibbon (1919–2005) * Sondre Meisfjord (born 1975) * Chucho Merchán (born 1952) * Jymie Merritt (1926–2020) * Björn Meyer (born 1965) * Pierre Michelot (1928–2005) * Big Miller (Clarence Horatius Miller) (1922–1992) * Harry Miller (jazz bassist), Harry Miller (1941–1983) * Marcus Miller (born 1959) *
Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians an ...
(1922–1979) * Red Mitchell (1927–1992) * Whitey Mitchell (1932–2009) * Guro Skumsnes Moe (born 1983) * Charnett Moffett (born 1967) * Joe Mondragon (1920–1987) * Monk Montgomery (1921–1982) * Glen Moore (born 1941) * Michael Moore (bassist), Michael Moore (born 1945) * Al Morgan (1920–2011) * Thomas Morgan (bassist), Thomas Morgan (born 1981) * Peck Morrison (1919–1988) * George Morrow (bassist), George Morrow (1925–1992) * John Mosher (1928–1998) *
Miles Mosley Miles Mosley is an American musician, producer and composer from Hollywood, California. He is known for his vocal and bass skills, as well as his abilities as a composer, arranger and music producer. He is also a founding member of the West C ...
(born 1980) * George Mraz (1944–2021) * Jo Berger Myhre (born 1984)


N

*Buell Neidlinger (1936–2018) *Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard (born 1989) *Rune Nergaard (born 1983) *Steve Novosel (born 1940)


O

*Jordan O'Connor (born 1972) *Patrick O'Hearn (born 1954) *Linda Oh (born 1984) *Ugonna Okegwo (born 1962) *Darek Oleszkiewicz (born 1963) *Eivind Opsvik (born 1973) *John Ore (1933–2014)


P

*Walter Page (1900–1957) *Caterina Palazzi (born 1982) *Pino Palladino (born 1957) *Truck Parham (1911–2002) *William Parker (musician), William Parker (born 1952) *
Jaco Pastorius John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (; December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz bassist, composer and producer. He recorded albums as a solo artist and band leader and was a member of Weather Report from 1976 to 1981. ...
(1951–1987) *Johnny Pate (born 1923) *John Patitucci (born 1959) *Mario Pavone (1940–2021) *Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau (1888–1969) *Gary Peacock (1935–2020) *Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (1946–2005) *Aladár Pege (1939–2006) *Ralph Peña (musician), Ralph Peña (1927–1969) *Gene Perla (born 1940) *
Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...
(1922–1960) *Barre Phillips (born 1934) *Martin Pizzarelli (born 1963) *Lonnie Plaxico (born 1960) *Terry Plumeri (1944–2016) *Robert Popwell (1950–2017) *Tommy Potter (1918–1988) *Pino Presti (born 1943) *Rocco Prestia (1951–2020) *Jodi Proznick (born 1975)


R

*Chuck Rainey (born 1940) *Steinar Raknes (born 1975) *Gene Ramey (1913–1984) *Nat Reeves (born 1955) *Rufus Reid (born 1944) *Marius Reksjø (born 1973) *Eric Revis (born 1967) *Jim Richardson (musician), Jim Richardson (born 1941) *Georg Riedel (Swedish jazz musician), Georg Riedel (born 1934) *Steve Rodby (born 1954) *Reuben Rogers (born 1974) *Gabe Rosales (born 1978) *Howard Rumsey (1917–2015) *Daryl Runswick (born 1946) *Curley Russell (1917–1986)


S

*Harvie S (born 1948) *Igor Saavedra (born 1966) *Eddie Safranski (1918–1974) *Ole Marius Sandberg (born 1975) *Fernando Saunders (born 1957) *Tony Saunders (bassist), Tony Saunders *Patrick Scales (born 1965) *Tony Scherr *Lynn Seaton (born 1957) *Clarence Seay (born 1957) *Karl E. H. Seigfried (born 1973) *Pat Senatore (born 1935) *Avery Sharpe (born 1954) *Arvell Shaw (1923–2002) *Todd Sickafoose (born 1974) *Alan Silva (born 1939) *John Simmons (musician), John Simmons (1918–1979) *Andy Simpkins (1932–1999) *Len Skeat (1937–2021) *Audun Skorgen (born 1967) *Baard Slagsvold (born 1963) *Carson Smith (musician), Carson Smith (1931–1997) *Putter Smith (born 1941) *Rhonda Smith *Teddy Smith (1932–1979) *Esperanza Spalding (born 1984) *Victor Sproles (1927–2005) *Neal Starkey *Slam Stewart, Leroy "Slam" Stewart (1914–1987) *Øyvind Storesund (born 1975) *Ben Street *Jon Rune Strøm (born 1985) *Neil Stubenhaus (born 1953) *Ted Sturgis (1913–1995) *Ike Sturm (born 1978) *Christian Meaas Svendsen (born 1988) *Neil Swainson (born 1955) *Steve Swallow (born 1940)


T

* Jamaaladeen Tacuma (born 1956) * Carl Frederick Tandberg (1910–1988) * Sandra Riley Tang (born 1990) * Ares Tavolazzi (born 1948) * Billy Taylor (jazz bassist), Billy Taylor (1906–1986) * Dylan Taylor (bassist), Dylan Taylor (born 1960) * Henri Texier (born 1945) * Kostas Theodorou (born 1965) * Danny Thompson (born 1939) * Don Thompson (musician), Don Thompson (born 1940) * Magne Thormodsæter (born 1973) * Wayman Tisdale (1964–2009) * Jannick Top (born 1947) * Brian Torff (born 1954) * Frank Tusa (born 1947) * Bjørnar Kaldefoss Tveite (born 1987) * Tyler Joseph (born 1988)


U

*Sigurd Ulveseth (born 1953) *Phil Upchurch (born 1941)


V

*Ole Morten Vågan (born 1979) *Hein van de Geyn (born 1956) *Terje Venaas (born 1947) *Mads Vinding (born 1948) *Leroy Vinnegar (1928–1999) *Miroslav Vitouš, Miroslav Vitous (born 1947) *Louis Vola (1902–1990)


W

*Ellen Andrea Wang (born 1986) * Wilbur Ware (1923–1979) *Butch Warren (1939–2013) *Peter Washington (born 1964) *Rob Wasserman (1952–2016) *Doug Watkins (1934–1962) *Hank Wayland (1906–1983) *Eberhard Weber (born 1940) *Rodney Whitaker (born 1968) *Andrew White (saxophonist), Andrew White (also sax, oboe) (1942–2020) *Chris White (bassist), Chris White (1936−2014) *Tal Wilkenfeld (born 1986) *Buster Williams (born 1942) *David "Happy" Williams (born 1946) *Gary Willis (born 1957) *Quinn Wilson (1908–1978) *Ben Wolfe (born 1962) *Chris Wood (jazz musician), Chris Wood (born 1969) *Jimmy Woode (1926–2005) *Victor Wooten, Victor Lemonte Wooten (born 1964) *Reggie Workman (born 1937) *Eugene Wright (1923–2020) *Herman Wright (born 1932)


Y

*Walt Yoder (1914–1978) *Eldee Young (1936–2007)


Z

*Per Zanussi (born 1977) *Chester Zardis, nickname: "Bear" or "Little Bear" (1900–1990) *Stuart Zender (born 1974)


See also

* List of contemporary classical double bass players * List of jazz musicians


References

{{Jazz lists Lists of jazz musicians, Bassists Lists of musicians by instrument, Bassists Bass guitarists, Jazz double-bassists, *