Thunder

It should go without saying that Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten would make the top of any “greatest living bassists” list, if not “greatest ever.” So what would happen if they made an album together? Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner and Thelonious Monk had made an album together? Actually, come to think of it, there are so many reasons that could have gone wrong, had it happened, and it points to the dangers. The bass is a weird instrument. It is not “intended” to be a lead instrument, and part of what makes these three so interesting is their capacity to make it function that way. Yet, a band does not function by throwing instruments together. Composition matters, in all senses of the word. Three pianos? That would not make sense. So what about three basses? There’s the obvious joke of Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom,” but Spinal Tap was a joke anyway. So what happens when three serious bass virtuosos try it for real? Even with two basses, it’s hard, but doable, as the weird, psueudo-metal band, The Omnific, have shown. Three, though?That’s just hard.Let’s be blunt about Thunder. There is some jaw-dropping bass here. Clarke, Miller and Wooten are just about the best ever. Sure, throw in Jaco, and who would be left? And one could even make a case that even Jaco would have hard time maintaining the bravado in the face of Vic Wooten. But how does one compose for this oddly composed group?You get some clear tunes for each, some interaction, but it is honestly a little muddled. Worth it for the opportunity to hear these virtuosos challenge each other, but for some contrast, think about Dizzy Gillespie’s Sonny Side Up. He put Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt on a session, and told them each that the other tenor was planning a game of one-up-manship. Just to get them going. It worked, but tenor saxophones work differently. The three bass thing doesn’t always create coherence.Again, that’s not to say the music is ever truly bad. Clarke, Miller, Wooten. And then you get some appearances by the likes of Chick Corea. This is good. Yet, one might get the impression that a stripped down band of any two could have gotten a little more of a coherent vision. There is something to be said for a meeting of the minds. See what happens. Much of the material stands on the mere fact of the virtuosity of the players. Yet at the same time, Victor Wooten’s Show of Hands, for example, or Marcus Miller’s Afrodeezia, to pick two arbitrary but stellar projects from this trio, show that the bar is actually just so high that a listener might be left a little wanting. Show Of Hands is all-time classic. Thunder? There’s very good music here, and of course, virtuosity, but is it Show of Hands? Realistically, no.Should you get this album? Come on. If you have a chance, you will get it. If you are reading this, you are reading it with an interest in Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. These three are the Mount Olympus of bass. (Jaco turned into a swan, and stayed that way.) But, The Ozell Tapes? Honestly, better. Just more coherent.Still, Thunder is a good album, and you’ll never hear better bass.

I don’t know why this is so hard to find in the US, but I’m so glad I was able to get it from overseas through Amazon! Brand new and at a reasonable price! If you like bass and jazz, you will love this CD!

A rare cd with excellent artists!

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A collection of the best artists of their generation. Fantastic CD.

Love this product!Used for personal use.

Do like bass you'll love this

Not nearly as good as I was expecting from these masters, unfortunately. It is kind of boring...

At first I thought three bass players playing together would just be a headache, but it grows on you and you can soon appreciate each player's individual styles & virtuosity and the intricate arrangements. You'll need a decent stereo to appreciate it.

The media could not be loaded.  If you like your bass lines funky, you'll love this. Stanle Clarke, Markus Miller & Victor Wooten - you cant go wrong

There are a load of really great, meaty themes and improv on this album. My only complaint is how Miller keeps reusing this one riff. You'll know the one before long. He opens "Bruce Lee" with it and sometimes it's not appropriate.There's a review on here that already talks about the tracks better than I will or can but I thought people might appreciate reassurance as to this products quality :)

We love it. We just had trouble with delivery, it got lost but we got one a bit later

my husband loves this album, we both are already fans of Marcus Miller so to get three great musicians on one album is brilliant