Why Carol Kaye was Ray Charles’ favourite bassist
Favourite is subjective. Many people have a favourite guitarist, drummer and bassist, but there is no definitive answer; the beauty is that everyone is right in their opinion, as whatever moves them the most is rightly their favourite. However, while we have to respect everyone’s opinion, someone like Ray Charles, who is often dubbed one of the most influential and iconic musicians in history, has one that carries a little bit more weight to it. So, when he describes Carol Kaye as the world’s best bassist, we better hear him out.
Carol Kaye has always been in demand as a bassist, playing on an estimated 10,000 tracks. While she doesn’t doubt her ability, there are some songs where she is confused about why she has been asked to play, given they lack complexity. When asking Charles why he has her play some of the more tame numbers, he revealed she was at the top of his list of the best bassists ever to pick up the instrument.
“Ray Charles told me a long time ago, because I did a lot of hits with Ray and a lot of them were like, ‘I don’t need no doctor,’ it was fast and ‘bom-bom-bom-bom-be-be,’ that kind of stuff,” she recalled. “And then I get on some slow tunes with him, some ballads and things like that.”
Kaye continued, “I said, ‘Ray, why do you call me on the slow tunes, because anybody can play these?’ The bass parts were easy. He says, ‘Listen, Carol. Yes, you can play any part you want to fast, but it takes a real good player to play it slow and still groove.’ So you have to keep that groove going in the slow tunes, too.”
Indeed, a lot of the time, exemplary musicianship is often mixed with the ability to play fast. Consider Eddie Van Halen, for instance; when he made the guitar-tapping style of play mainstream, it was all anybody wanted to do. But don’t let it be confused that just because Eddie did it well doesn’t mean playing fast is the only thing that makes a good guitarist. The same applies to the bass guitar, as while some can play a complicated rhythm that pricks the ears of anybody listening (as Carol Kaye could), it is also just as essential to tap into various play styles.
Kaye was one of the best at this, as her varied discography shows. Regardless of whether you wanted her to play something fast or slow, her music is always full of personality. It doesn’t sound like a musician playing what they’ve been asked to play to get paid and leave; you hear someone genuinely feel the music and move from there.
Of course, other bass players could be put forward for the mantel of the best ever. But in this case, let’s just take Ray Charles’ word for it.
