Finally, I think it has been proven. Bass players are in fact actual musicians. For all the naysayers who think the bass is just a backup instrument and not really necessary, all that is needed to change your mind is a listen through the new album Thunder by SMV. Released on Heads Up Records on August 12, 2008, it is the culmination of three incredible musical minds combining to create a progressive, new sound.
SMV is a group that consists of three of the greatest bass players alive today: Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten. Its initials stand for the first initial of each of the members. Each member brings his own unique, innovative style to the table. Thunder is a jazz masterpiece that reaches out beyond the ears of bass players and into the jazz community as a whole. Not only is it innovative, but it captivates the listener in so many different ways. I found myself forgetting about the music as background noise then I would hear something that made me say, “I didn’t know that was possible!”
The bass is used as a percussive instrument as well as a melodic one. Victor Wooten lays down the background bass in a variation on his original tune, “Classical Thump." While the notes are not the most important part, the rhythm and complexity are captivating. Most of the bass lines on the CD center around rhythm as the driving force rather than melody, for the most part. However, this cannot completely describe the music of the CD.
The type of music presented by SMV is diverse enough to captivate any listener. It isn’t just music that is difficult to play. It’s difficult to play AND sounds good, which is hard to find. There are upbeat pieces that get you amped up, like the title track Thunder and there are mellow pieces that speak to the soul, such as “Milano." Stanley Clarke even tried to go for the rock feel here and there. And as a CD recorded by bass players, rhythm plays a huge part in their musical creations. Songs such as “Hillbillies on a Quiet Afternoon” and “Grits” just want to make me move.
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