_______________

10. Kristian “Fido” Torp – Gazpacho

Kristian’s bass work is always a highlight of every Gazpacho album. I love the character and curvature of what he does.

_______________

9. Bryan Paxton

– Imminent Sonic Destruction

It’s a pleasure to watch Bryan play. His dynamic and yet somehow chilled-out bass lines are the foundation of so much of ISD’s sound.

_______________

8. Chalo Trejos – Time’s Forgotten

Warm and bubbly, Chalo’s bass can also go on the attack when Time’s Forgotten launches into one of their heavier segments. He’s a powerful groove machine.

_______________

7. Marco Zanin – Messa

Marco’s bass style is sweaty and strong. Yet, one of the best things about his playing is that he can reel it in for the more “out there” segments of the band’s music, providing glorious gravity in all the right ways.

_______________

6. Dave Greenaway

– The Emerald Dawn

Dave is an artist on his bass, weaving blues into the prog rock sound with subtlety and grace. I love the warmth he brings.

_______________

5. Jonas Reingold – Agropelter

Jonas is a ton of fun to watch, especially on the Hackett tour I saw recently, but his bass is just as powerful and larger-than-life on the Agropelter debut. He brings muscle and eccentricity to the parts that really need it.

_______________

4. Jacek Książek – Sublunar

Jacek is a powerhouse on the bass. Like most Polish bands, Sublunar is heavy on the groove, and Jacek really lays into it with style.

_______________

3.  Brian Craft – Lux Terminus

Brian offers rich and meaty bass grooves with a subtle smile on his face. He’s not much for theatrics, but the thread he creates is vital.

_______________

2. Marc Anguill – Esthesis

When I first heard the new Esthesis album, I thought to myself immediately, “Damn, there’s that awesome bass again.” Marc is such a vibrant player, laying down cool and almost melodic grooves around which literally everything else rotates.

_______________

1. Mariusz Duda – Lunatic Soul

Face it, Mariusz might be one of the best bass players alive. I know there are dudes out there with a million strings on their bass guitars, but Mariusz is more inventive and creative than the vast majority of them. The new Lunatic Soul album is a veritable playground of amazing bass fireworks.

_______________