How Willie Weeks Invented the Bass Solo – with Anna Butterss
Jack and Ryan sit down with bassist Anna Butterss to talk about Anna’s path to becoming a pro, touring with Jason Isbell, and why they think Willie Weeks’ solo on Donny Hathaway’s “Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)”—Live at the Troubadour—is the greatest bass solo of all time.
On Patreon, Anna dives into their journey as a working musician, how they developed their unique voice on the bass, and the artists who continue to inspire them.
Huge thanks to Anna Butterss for joining us on this episode!
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Originally posted by UCtkcJMyK1F46NJ5WjX7hBSw at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfAuDXJyV38
This bass solo wasn't a one take thing. It was recorded at two consecutive nights.
Two parts were merged together for the album.
But, each and every note was played….????
Anna is a certified badass. They're my favorite bass playing human in this day and age.
Ron Carter's electric bass solo on Red Clay (1970) seems like an obvious precursor to this solo. Not to mention the countless upright solos from jazz bassists pre-1970. But, Willie's solo really feels influenced by Ron's solo on Red Clay. It has that same simple and little silly beginning, then develops a lot, takes the listener to a totally different place and then delivers us back to the head. And interestingly, Red Clay was not a live club recording, it was a live studio recording. So just for the guys in the room, no audience to bounce off of.
She is my kind of bass player…????
I think its great that they’re featuring this solo, though analyzing it without cultural context, and having a SME whose bass playing skills dont seem rooted in R&B made me question this a bit.
crotch music
"Invented the bass solo"????
MORE ANNA
Thanks for bringing back Pop Up Video, guys. Still miss it.
Definitely my favorite bass solo and the one that made me want to play bass (along with Billy Cox’s playing on Band of Gypsy’s). I remember reading a SRV biography and it said that when Stevie Ray Vaughan heard Chris Whipper Layton playing this record at their first meeting he knew that Whipper would be his drummer because he also loved this record. I’ve seen Willie Weeks play bass live for Clapton and it was an amazing show. Also saw Derek Trucks Band play this song (and a cover of Freddie’s Dead, might’ve been two different shows it’s hard to remember lol) live at Cains Ballroom and it was jaw dropping
Big Anna Butterss fan. As strong a composer as a player in my book. So much personality!
Also I confess to writing “butterss” in my grocery lists…
I just met him three months ago. He is from a small town called Salemburg near where I grew up. He came by for the unveiling of the mural the town made for him. He was super nice and signed my grandfathers bass.
Sounds like its just a well driven valve amp. great.
Thank you for bringing this wonderful musician to my attention, I had completely missed them so far. And thank you for bringing the space that you sometimes find, especially in Scary Goldings, to your interviews as well. A very stimulating conversation, really enjoyed that!
Anna’s basslines are always smooth as Butterss.
I love your stuff but respectfully this is just wrong. So many jazz bassist solo'd way before this.
That bass sound comes from Ampeg SVT amp,it's slightly driven tube sound not fuzz or any kind of pedal.
Check out the beard. Half expected to see Wilson bounce by.
So great to hear from another Aussie bassist who has done amazing musical things but it would be wonderful if they didn’t all end up on the other side of the world (thinking of Tal and Linda) also
The bass solo on Scorpio (Dennis Coffey) by Bob Babbitt is from 1971, one year before Donny Hathaway's Live album. Or does that not count as a bass solo?