it's the meds???or just me?? fave bassists

[Puck]

Check out Tal Wilkenfeld on Jeff Beck's "Live at Ronnie Scott's" - great performance, and only ~19 years old.

[Badfish]

A whole page and there's no mention of James Jamerson?

My personal fav is Juan Alderete, who currently plays for The Mars Volta, Big Sir and a handful of other projects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmp_284_gus
same song album version, if you can't hear the bass in the first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBPlKLJWC6E

Could go on and on with this guy.

Throw in Mel Schacher for good measure. JPJ is an obvious choice. If I wasn't so stoned right now I'd think of more!

[Vpete]

Pastorious was a freaking monster of the highest order- true brilliance.

But there are many other brilliant guys- think about this Roger Waters was/is a bass player

Then you can get into former greats like Barry Oakley.

Phil Lesh comes to mind as he is still dropping "Phil Bombs" to this day or some current gods like Mike Gordon.

Frank Zappa had any number of great musicians throughout his various bands and what about Lemmy from Motorhead?

Bootsy Collins anyone? Les Claypool, Paul McCartney Victor Wooten- (TBH I had to cite a list to remember some names but have seen all except Pastorious and Lemmy) and what about Canada's greatest bass export.....

Geddy Lee?

[Arachnid]

You rebels have no idea what it is to play a bass

[BladesofSteel]

John Paul Jones
Flea
Tim Commerford

[Puck]

I'd hazard to say Waters is famous for his song writing, not really his bass playing. Love the guy, but not really for his bass work. Badfish - good to hear from you - from your avatar, I would have thought you'd mention Justin Chancellor of Tool.

Tony Levin?
Stanley Clarke?
Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band)?

[Badfish]

Puck - Love Chancellor, was definitely one of the ones escaping me at the time. Victor Wooten is one of the obvious ones on my list too, as is Lemmy, and Bootsy Collins. Jaco shouldn't even have to be mentioned (!) and JPJ I love as just an all around awesome musician. Throw in Aston Barrett for good measure.

Also gotta agree with BladesOfSteel on flea being on there. Say what you will, the man is a musical genius. My favourite album of his though isn't with RCHP, gotta be his work on The Mars Volta's Deloused In The Comatorium. He also has a pretty amazing "instructional video" hosted by River Phoenix in which they are both clearly high as fuck that I think is pretty hilarious/amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ac9DpeB-xM

Juan Nelson, anyone? He's just such a massive, lovable presence on stage, and he lays (laid) down some fat and super funky basslines for Ben Harper. ...He might be on this list just because I love the guy, but he's got chops too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z52rhGypiy0

Since most of the classics have been named, I'm going to take one out of left field; how about Ryan Martinie of Mudvayne? This is mainly because of their first album, LD 50, in which he plays like a freakin madman, virtually plays lead bass on that album. He then came out and said he wanted to play more in the background, which is all fine and good, but lost a bit of it's "wow" for me and they were never the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rgCDfDxe1k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWhl-xEEYUY

Dan Briggs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jiclPmM0RM

Finally, Ryan Stasik! Do yourself a favour and go here:
http://iclips.net/watch/umphreys-mcgee-all-good-2009
and click on Wappy Sprayberry > All In Time. This version of All In Time just blows my freakin mind. Can't say enough good things about it. Hope you have 30 min to spare. ...and a doobie. Give it time, as it builds to an epic climax.

[Listercat]

The Cream of bassists has to be Jack Bruce

[Wildfaery]

Check out Tal Wilkenfeld on Jeff Beck's "Live at Ronnie Scott's" - great performance, and only ~19 years old.

oh yeah i will. thanx namaste wf

[Wildfaery]

John Paul Jones
Flea
Tim Commerford

JPJ and Flea yeah what about Les Claypool???

[Wildfaery]

You rebels have no idea what it is to play a bass

then tell me...WF