[Selected by the pros!] 10 great bassists from the jazz fusion world
We asked professional bassist Akira Hasegawa, who teaches bass at Kyoto RAG Music Academy, to pick out electric bass players in the jazz-fusion realm who have established truly original “styles” and can serve as role models.
From a pro player’s perspective, he introduces a selection of session musicians you should definitely check out.
If any of the players catch your interest, be sure to look them up!
We hope this becomes a chance for you to discover new music.
A great bassist in the jazz fusion world
Jaco Pastorius

The reason this person is regarded as being in a class of their own among countless bassists isn’t just the heroic life cut short at a young age, but because they were a true innovator of electric bass performance.
Here is a stage featuring their own leader band, with them also excelling as a composer and arranger.
Will Lee

In an ensemble, the roles expected of the bass are tight rhythm, a thick tone, the ability to manage the development of phrases to lift the music as it progresses, and above all, individuality.
In that respect, this person has it all.
Anthony Jackson

According to him, his style—shaped by the influence of J.
Jamerson and J.
Casady—supports the lower register in a distinctive way and at times entwines with the upper structure.
This is a session from Chaka Khan’s prime, but the piano trios of M.
Petrucciani and M.
Camilo are also outstanding.
Abraham Laboriel

The style is backed by incredible technique, yet at the same time it conveys a kind of indigenous, almost primal “song” that surpasses even that.
As a “bass” bearing the fundamental structure of the music, it continually delivers an exhilarating pulse.
Marcus Miller

With his refined sensibility, he established a definitive “style” that serves as a model—not only for techniques like slapping, but for his overall approach to music.
While there are standout performances from every period, here’s one of his relatively early, hard-driving performances.

