Jaco Pastorius was a tragic genius who first came to my attention with agile basslines on my favourite Joni Mitchell albums.

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Alphonso Johnson is the man whose funky basslines keep this slice of jazz fusion by Weather Report on what I can only call a pleasingly uneven keel.

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Louis Johnson’s squelchy slap bass is the signature sound of Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson; and much more besides, including Billie Jean and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.

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Ron Carter is the epitome of class and elegance: a jazz icon best known as a member of Miles Davis’s second great quintet of the Sixties.

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Andy Fraser was just 15 years old when he joined Free and I think he’s still only 16 in this performance for television.

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David Hood helped define “country soul” as bass guitarist in the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, playing on countless hits over 40 years.

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Sting has so many strings to his bow – and his lute! – that it’s easy to forget how his bass guitar was what first powered him into our lives.

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Basslines #22: Danny Thompson is folk music’s best known bassist; in fact, I’m not sure I can name another.

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Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett was the first reggae bassman I ever saw, when Bob Marley & The Wailers made their debut on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973.

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Paul Simonon of The Clash famously learned to play the bass guitar from scratch by practising note-for-note along to the Ramoones’ debut album.

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