Pity the poor bass player. People make fun of how simply she plays, always in the background, never the spotlight. Full disclosure: I am a bass player. But there is a style of music where the bass player carries the melody and everyone else plays rhythmic accompaniment. Funk! And this month’s article is about a late-career hit from the greatest funk music purveyor of all time, “Mr. Dynamite,” James Brown.
Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, James Brown started his career as a gospel singer. In the mid-1950’s he became a member of soul vocal group The Famous Flames, with whom he had several hits. By the mid-1960’s he had stripped down his sound creating a sparse, highly rhythmic style which became known as funk. It’s characterized by long sections on one chord with a repetitive bass melody called an “ostinato bass,” ostinato being Italian for “obstinate.” It’s a holdover from gospel music where the band vamps while the singer does a call and response section with the audience. When done right, it can create a hypnotic energy that drives the audience into a frenzy. Listen to this example from the Gospel group The Soul Stirrers at the six minute mark.
James Brown had many hit records. Two of the most famous are “I Got You (I Feel Good),” and “Cold Sweat.” See the links at the end of this story and hear how the bass plays that repetitive melody while everyone else plays rhythmic parts - even the horn section! Brown’s music had a profound influence on everyone who came after him, most notably artists like Prince, but there are a legion of others.
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