Track Listing

1. Samurai Hee-Haw
2. Resolution
3. Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
4. Bass Desires
5. Wishing Doll
6. Mojo Highway
7. Thanks Again

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #228834 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued

Amazon.com
Bass Desires has become a recurring concept since this 1985 date, when it was merely the title of a CD and not a band. But the two-guitar quartet has a special appeal to bassist-leader Marc Johnson, who's joined here by drummer Peter Erskine and celebrated guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield. A study in the stylistic contrasts and shared values of the two six-stringers, Bass Desires shows off Scofield's linear, rapid-fire and hard-edged attack and Frisell's floating solos that use guitar synth to bend lines with elastic flexibility. Johnson's Japanese-themed "Samurai Hee-Haw" has Scofield tempering his funk with touches of hoedown, while Frisell adds atmospheric waves of sound to the folk ballad "Black Is the Color." Johnson is a superb melodist, apparent particularly in his unaccompanied introduction to the "Resolution" theme from John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, where Johnson's solo space builds toward strong work from both guitarists. All the tunes show thought, with Erskine's title tune setting a slow-moving theme against a fast tempo he and Johnson set down. The group is a format that seems to work for all concerned, with Frisell and Scofield clearly thriving on one another's presence, as well as with the rhythm section. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

A good recording that wears well
I've been listening to this record since the initial release, and find it consistently satisfying. The mock-power rock line-up is more than just a gimmick, it's a refreshing sound for jazz, and though little of this music actually swings - the beats are very straight, some rock, some reggae, etc. - it is most definitely jazz in conception.

The run of the first three tunes is quite astonishing and shows tremendous promise which the rest of the album doesn't deliver on, although it's still very solid. There is a sense of self-consciousness about the compositions and arranging, and Johnson conveys a seriousness throughout that could have been leavened with a touch of humor or joyous enthusiasm - this is especially true in the folk arrangement, but the imaginative choice of material and the original sound are a definite plus. A solid record.

Get this CD immediately
I cannot believe that no one has reviewed this seminal work until now. Everytime I listen I am mesmerized by the compositions and how they source the finest inventions of John Scofield and Bill Frisell. The improvisational ideas here are continually absorbing and evoke multiple, deep and personal moods and desires. These feelings are suspended by the perfect synergy of Scofield's incredible structurings and Frisell's astonishing guitar synthesizer. I often concentrate on Marc Johnson's or Peter Erskine's lines just to enjoy new surprises. The last time I felt this way about a group was John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra. Bass Desires is musical sorcery.

A Bit Worn Production-Wise But Still a Classic
Before the days of Amazon I bought this CD on one of my infrequent trips to a "hip" record store back in 1987. I subsequently listened to it probably at least 200 times and still return to it occasionally with great joy.

This is one of the all-time great examples of improvisatory music involving two guitars. The interplay here is just amazing. When Scofield solos on "Resolution," it just seems like Bill Frisell, Marc Johnson, and Peter Erskine are GLUED to him. Every twist and turn of his solo brings forth complimentary jabs, thrusts, and DRIVE from the rhythm section. It is truly awesome.

The first two songs are the easy standouts; "Mojo Highway" is almost as good. It's worth the purchase price (especially a used price) for those three tracks alone. The rest is not quite as engrossing but is still very good. Almost 20 years later I still think this is some of the best guitar jazz ever put down.

Yes, it's quite clear it was recorded in the late 1980s, when even JAZZ was affected by the production trend toward copious amounts of reverb. Get past that -- and this CD will reward repeated listening.