Exploring The Low End - 5 Latin Jazz Bassists on Video

I love the opportunity to write about Latin Jazz everyday, but some days inspire my passions a bit more than others. It’s natural to have a soft spot for some aspect of the music, the thing that just drives us over the edge musically. For some of us, that one thing becomes an obsession, the one driving focus that inspires us to pursue music. Others just use it as a launching point, the thing that peaks our interest with everything we hear. For me, any day that I spend a little more time with the bass is always a good day for me.

My first introduction to Latin Jazz occurred as a bassist, and ever since, my ears have always favored the music’s low end. As an instrument, the bass holds so many possibilities; players have the power to shape a song’s rhythmic and harmonic content. A Cuban bass tumbao opens into so many more directions with it’s syncopated rhythms and close connection to the conguero. It’s an addicting groove that presents an adrenaline rush every time I play it. Latin rhythms present the perfect opportunity for bass soloists to improvise; in the hands of an informed player, the instrument’s percussive nature can explode into an exciting statement. I have to admit, I don’t think that I’ll ever get enough good Latin bass playing. I’ve expanded my focus to include the bigger Latin Jazz arena these days, but I’ll always have a love for Latin Jazz bass players.

Hopefully you got a chance to read yesterday’s post - 5 Latin Jazz Bassists Driving Today’s Scene - if you haven’t, check it out before watching these videos. We’re looking at five players that are fueling some of the best Latin Jazz out there today; yesterday we checked out their background and today we get to hear them. Each player is represented here in a different setting - some videos are top-notch, some are blurry, but each one shows these guys at the top of their game. Enjoy!

———-
Ruben Rodriguez with Ronnie Cuber Quartet - Horace Silver’s “Tokyo Blues”