LearnGospelMusic.com Community

Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: dhagler on November 28, 2008, 10:44:32 AM

Title: Marcus Miller
Post by: dhagler on November 28, 2008, 10:44:32 AM
I have decided Marcus is the most versatile bassist ever.

I was listening to Tom Browne's "Funkin' for Jamaica" and became curious as to who played the bass.  Did a little research:  Marcus Miller.
Then, later on I wanted to learn the bassline to Grover Washington Jr.'s "Just The Two of Us":  Marcus Miller.
Finally, messing around with a jazz track from Dave Grusin called "Mountain Dance":  Marcus Miller.

If you know these three songs, you know that the bass playing on each is totally different from the others.  And it just occurred to me that the albums on which these songs appear were all released in the same period (1979 - 1981 or so).

I know the songs are secular (hence no posting of sound clips), but I just HAD to get this off my chest! ;D
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: bassthumpa on November 28, 2008, 10:58:18 AM
Marcus has a crazy resume... just crazy.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: dhagler on November 28, 2008, 11:23:38 AM
Marcus has a crazy resume... just crazy.
I know, right? Song after song, "He played on THAT?" :D
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: DWBass on November 28, 2008, 01:46:34 PM
I'm almost sure Sekou Bunch played on Funkin' For Jamaica. Search "Tom Browne-Funkin For Jamaica" on youtube and you'll see Sekou Bunch in the video. It's also mostly synth bass on that tune.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: DWBass on November 28, 2008, 01:51:02 PM
Marcus Miller and Francisco Centeno are also credited on that album though.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: DWBass on November 28, 2008, 01:52:37 PM
I do think Marcus is quite a versatile musician and can play just about anything. A lot of folks bypass him for Victa Wooten and others.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: dhagler on November 28, 2008, 02:13:57 PM
Marcus Miller and Francisco Centeno are also credited on that album though.

Thanks DW. :)
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: MikeGee on December 01, 2008, 01:07:37 PM
I do think Marcus is quite a versatile musician and can play just about anything. A lot of folks bypass him for Victa Wooten and others.

Yea, Nathan East is looked over too.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: phatstrings on December 07, 2008, 03:48:33 PM
b] A lot of folks bypass him for Victa Wooten[/b] and others.

 I'm one of those.I'll go with Wooten anyday.But you cant take anything away from MM though.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: ssabass on December 07, 2008, 06:07:11 PM
Not only does Marcus have a long resume of songs that he's played on, his producing resume is even more impressive. Marcus is probably one of the most sought after bass player/producers in the business. Victor is a bad boy, he's is probaly the best all around bass player out there. But he has said it himself, that he does not get alot of calls to do studio work, he say's because most people think that what he is famous for, is how he's going to deliver on there song. He said he would love to get calls for studio work, he just doesn't. Now for Nathan, he probably has the most diverse resume of the three. Nathan is a chameleon, he can adapt to any style of music. 
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: malthumb on December 07, 2008, 07:22:16 PM
....Now for Nathan, he probably has the most diverse resume of the three. Nathan is a chameleon, he can adapt to any style of music. 

EXACTLY!!!  Even if you think you've never heard Nathan East, you have.

Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: BigFoot_BigThumb on December 07, 2008, 07:55:28 PM
From Luther Vandross, to The Jamaica Boys, to Miles Davis, Marcus has done so much quality work that it is ridiculous.  Been down with him since I first heard 'Never Too Much' in 1981.  Nathan East is the man too.  From Al Jarreau to Angela Winbush, he has done some timeless tracks as well.     
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: dhagler on December 07, 2008, 10:04:42 PM
EXACTLY!!!  Even if you think you've never heard Nathan East, you have.



For example, he played on three of Anita Baker's first four albums.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: DWBass on December 08, 2008, 06:56:55 AM
For example, he played on three of Anita Baker's first four albums.
And he also played with Barry White's Unlimited Orchestra!
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: mjl422 on December 08, 2008, 08:29:22 AM
And he also played with Barry White's Unlimited Orchestra!

He also played on, just about, every album that Babyface produced.  And he played for Eric Clapton and Phil Collins.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Quebass86 on December 09, 2008, 01:34:33 AM
I have to agree on Nathan. When I first started playing his vhs tape was the first I bought. He can play any style and I mean any...classical, funk, jazz, rock, ballads....I also have some All Star tapes with him, louis Johnson, larry graham, freddy washington (forget me nots), Abe laborial, and many others...at the end nathan and louis and jamming, freestyling and having a thumping competition almost and of course we all know louis can thump but nathan was thumping and complementing louis at the same time and it wasn't clashing or anything....
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: hands5 on December 09, 2008, 08:25:41 AM
I have to agree on Nathan. When I first started playing his vhs tape was the first I bought. He can play any style and I mean any...classical, funk, jazz, rock, ballads....I also have some All Star tapes with him, louis Johnson, larry graham, freddy washington (forget me nots), Abe laborial, and many others...at the end nathan and louis and jamming, freestyling and having a thumping competition almost and of course we all know louis can thump but nathan was thumping and complementing louis at the same time and it wasn't clashing or anything....
I also have this video and not to hijack the thread when I was watching it I wondered why louis didn't do more overhand "call and response because he does have a real nice overhand style, I mean most of us in the know already know his ( galloping horse ) thumping and pluckin style which I've yet to see another player play that type of style
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: floaded27 on December 09, 2008, 09:21:20 AM
I also have this video and not to hijack the thread when I was watching it I wondered why louis didn't do more overhand "call and response because he does have a real nice overhand style, I mean most of us in the know already know his ( galloping horse ) thumping and pluckin style which I've yet to see another player play that type of style

overhand style?
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: DWBass on December 09, 2008, 09:38:52 AM
  I mean most of us in the know already know his ( galloping horse ) thumping and pluckin style which I've yet to see another player play that type of style
If you were around and playing back in the 70's, you would have seen tons of cats playing like that (or trying to). It probably stemmed from trying to slap on a bass with very high action and it just stuck with him.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Quebass86 on December 09, 2008, 03:01:04 PM
Freddy Washington is nice too...
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: B3Wannabe on December 09, 2008, 03:24:48 PM
I don't care what yall say, I'm rewinding back to Victa! ;D ;D

j/k

I actually have more MM albums than Victor Wooten. Plus, MM can play more instruments! :)
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: malthumb on December 09, 2008, 04:12:26 PM
Freddy Washington is nice too...

Sending you forget-me-nots........to help you to remember.....


That used to be my "bass-testing" bass line.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Quebass86 on December 11, 2008, 01:15:13 AM
Sending you forget-me-nots........to help you to remember.....


That used to be my "bass-testing" bass line.

25 years later it still is the "bomb"
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: funkStrat_97 on December 11, 2008, 10:02:43 AM
Marcus Miller is THE (one and only) best bass player of ALL time and shall remain so for all eternity...  OK, maybe I just slightly overstated the fact that Mr. Miller is one of many great bass players ;D.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: BigFoot_BigThumb on December 11, 2008, 11:55:32 AM
Sending you forget-me-nots........to help you to remember.....


That used to be my "bass-testing" bass line.

Me too.  That song is in regular rotation.  It will never get old.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Torch7 on December 11, 2008, 12:00:22 PM
Man, alot of great players mentioned in this thread... I honestly couldn't pick between them.

It's like playing a pickup basketball game, and having to pick from a group of hall-of-famers.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: dhagler on December 11, 2008, 01:10:18 PM
Sending you forget-me-nots........to help you to remember.....


That used to be my "bass-testing" bass line.

There needs to be a thread as to what bass line we use to try out basses...give me a minute. ;D
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Quebass86 on December 11, 2008, 02:27:31 PM
There needs to be a thread as to what bass line we use to try out basses...give me a minute. ;D

I think there is one out there somewhere that I remember from a year ago.
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: Quebass86 on December 11, 2008, 02:41:37 PM
Marcus Miller is THE (one and only) best bass player of ALL time and shall remain so for all eternity...  OK, maybe I just slightly overstated the fact that Mr. Miller is one of many great bass players ;D.

Haha!!! There are so many great ones that you can't go wrong in my opinion with any of them. I guess it depends on what each persons definition of the "best" is. You can't go wrong with any of the following:

1. MM
2. Nathan East
3. Abe Laboriel
4. Louis Johnson
5. Freddy Washington
6. Matt Garrsion
7. Victor
8. Bill "Buddha" Dickens
9. Oteil Burbridge
10. Larry G.

And these don't include any of the great Gospel Bass Players!
Title: Re: Marcus Miller
Post by: hands5 on December 22, 2008, 06:43:50 AM
overhand style?
yes my brother listen to Michael Jackson's " Of the Wall lp " the track Rock with You.