by Brian Williams

Created on: April 23, 2009

The question may sound subjective, but "who are the best bass players" is simple to answer: the ones who do their job and never fail to dazzle and move, night in and night out, year after year.

A bass players job is a thankless one. The spotlight is on the singer or guitar player, while the drummer sits on their riser above everyone else, providing all kinds of racket in support of the beat. Rarely is the bass player the subject of adoration, unless of course they are that rare breed that add so much to the music that their skills cannot be ignored. There are innovators of course that add a whole dimension to the instrument in that they practically have changed history. Music genre means nothing. The best bass players do exactly that: play their instrument and sonically occupy the bass frequencies, bridging the music between rhythm and melody. Who makes the cut? The following provides a brief overview of those low-enders that make the list:

James Jamerson. The soul of Detroit's Funk Brothers and the man who's been putting the Motown sound in everyone's heart and ears since the 60s. His basslines are smooth, warm, and melodic. Ask any R&B player how much Jamerson influenced their playing and you're sure to get an earful.

John Entwistle. The premier rock bassist. Note filled licks powered many a hit from The Who, and underneath Moon's drums, Daltrey's searing vocals, and Townsend's guitar work lies the work of a man that defines taste.

Flea. Not without his detractors, Flea's hyper-speed slap chops inspired a Google of imitators while taking The Red Hot Chili Peppers from underground skater darlings to multi platinum A-listers. While some consider him too much of a rip-off artist, no one can deny his funky fretwork meets punk rock ethos.

Jaco Pastorius. Considered by most of the music loving world to be the greatest who ever lived, Jaco's insane fretless wizardry continues to set the benchmark for jazz fusion players. A genuine musician's musician.

Les Claypool. Practically in a category by himself. Using about every known bass technique, including some he may have invented, Les continues to push the bass in directions nature had not intended. To hear him is to believe him, and to believe him is to become a fan.

Steve Harris. His frenetic fingers wrote the book on heavy metal bass playing. Plowing 16th notes are his bread 'n' butter, and metal players owe a huge debt of gratitude to him for being a true pioneer in the genre.

Bootsy Collins. His use of effects make

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