Bass can be a huge creative force in an album, or it can be nothing more than background technicality. I love bass full, forward, and groovy. Check out my favorite bass performances of 2019 below.
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10. Lee Braddock – We Are Kin
Photo by David Stook
Lee is a fantastic bassist, and it is primarily because of his eccentric, groovy style. We Are Kin’s style of music requires some outside-the-box compositions, but also a solid bass foundation. Lee provides both.
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9. Matt Dorsey – In Continuum
Photo by Joel Barrios
In Continuum needed more than just the melodic feeling of Sound of Contact. It needed the pulsating, warm bass, too. I’m happy that Matt came aboard, as well, and he provides the momentum and core of the music, in my opinion.
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8. Jon Pold – Jon Pold Synergy
Jon Pold has such a lively, bold bass sound that I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. His solo record under the Jon Pold Synergy label is reminiscent of some of the pop greats, like Peter Gabriel, and so the bass needed to be strong and dynamic. Jon provided that himself!
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7. Randy M. Salo – This Is Not An Elephant
Photo by Alex Another
Randy you might recognize from The Progspace, another website like mine. His band This Is Not An Elephant released a high energy record in 2019, and much of that kinetic energy is because of his raw, hefty bass sound. My goodness, it rips, tears, and bludgeons my brain, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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6. Justin Chancellor – Tool
Tool wouldn’t be Tool without Justin’s signature style. One of the most nostalgic and dependable things on the new Tool record was Justin’s strong presence. Many have copied him, but hearing the real thing again was wonderful.
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5. Alex Canion – Voyager
Voyager is one of those bands that can be melodic one moment, and polyrhythmic the next. Alex provides a meaty, dynamic bass sound that blends all the contrasting tones into a cohesive whole. He definitely knows how to hit hard.
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4. Łukasz Marszałek – Retrospective
Retrospective, like most Polish prog, needs a bulky, fluid bass. Łukasz provides the massive sound that really gives this band the punch I love so much. Bubbling, dynamic bass lines are everywhere on this album.
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3. Anthony Rondinone – Jolly
Anthony is one of my favorite bassists. There. I said it. His joyful, technical style just doesn’t sound like many other bassists out there. He injects Jolly’s “Family” with a riveting, multi-genred performance that is instantly noticeable.
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2. Joel Fernández – Erth
I had hoped to discuss Joel’s squiggly, voluptuous bass lines with a picture of him, but, alas, I cannot find one, and the band has not returned my inquiry for one. Erth’s music is pretty “out there” already, but Joel’s bass lines really brought the color and oomph that made the album so great.
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***1. Jessica Kion – Bent Knee***
Jessica’s presence in Bent Knee cannot be understated. Her ripping, roaring, dirty bass is one of the key parts of their amazing sound, and one of the most riveting, too. Seeing her live, you can experience the pure happiness she seems to have in playing. In fact, it seems like most pictures of her are slightly blurred because of how much she moves and grooves along with her bass lines. There is no question that her bass performance is my favorite of 2019.
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The PROG Mind 