from what i've read,
it was weird the way he played bass.

most blues bands
just used bass players to hold down the tonic
and maybe a few grace notes here and there.


i guess jazz bass players were different,
but most of those early recordings don't even let you HEAR the bass player, even if he was on point.



james jamerson made the bass
as a percussion instrument that held down shit in the pocket,
but he'd also leap outside the pocket to play countermelodies
that were just as memorable as the main hook.

(i know i'm not the only one that can hum the bassline to bernedette.)



that stype influenced damn near everybody playing bass today.