Photo credit: Louis DeCarlos

With the release of his latest album, Well Mixed Blue alongside pianist Dave Milligan, Jazz Views invited Tom to choose his all time top ten favourite albums.

Of his selection, Tom says:

“I have really enjoyed the challenge of bringing forward 10 albums that mean a lot to me and have gone a long way to really influence my love of music by tuning me into sounds and ways of performing. I have left off the very mainstream jazz albums because I have spent so much time studying, learning and transcribing them, you can assume I know them and love them all.

This list of albums are all very personal and make me smile, make my heart beat a bit faster, make me want to play my bass, and to let the music wash over me.”

1 – Duke Ellington – Money Jungle

 Duke Ellington with Charles Mingus and Max Roach.

When I first heard this album I wasn’t sure what was going on. I think I was shocked and maybe a bit scared because the sound was so aggressive and the playing divergent and embattled. The story I heard concerned the tensions between Max Roach and Charles Mingus, they didn’t get along and at one point Mingus packed his bass to leave but Ellington talked him back into the room to finish the recording. I was always aware and can hear clearly deep tension between the bass and drums, they understood the process but had exactly opposite opinions on how to get there. In Fleurette Africaine, the mood pulled me and captivated my imagination, and I learned and believe it is important to welcome diverse opinions into your creativity – allow yourself to be challenged.

2 – Dave Holland – Prime Directive

Features saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, and drummer Billy Kilson.

This was an album that helped draw me to a more modern and energetic style of composition and improvisation. I think it features a lot of fun and positive energy in the performances and is a pleasure to listen to. I met Dave Holland in Montreal when auditioning for the Banff School of Fine Arts summer jazz program (late 1980’s). Being in the same room as him while he played and gave a masterclass was completely inspiring and I love his sound, compositions, and soloing. Consummate musician, educator and nice guy.

3 – Chick Corea – Three Quartets

Features tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Eddie Gómez and drummer Steve Gadd.

I got this album on cassette long before I upgraded my Fender Jazz to a double bass and it was probably 1983 (ish). I don’t know where the cassette came from,

it just had ‘3 quartets’ written on it and it was probably a few years before I met anyone who knew what it was. This is one of those timeless albums that deserves to be listened to on a great sound system with it turned up to exciting. The sound of Eddie Gomez’s bass was truly innovative, and I have always loved his flamboyant virtuosity and incredible groove.

4 – Charlie Hunter – Ready Set Shango

Tenor sax Dave Ellis, Alto sax Calder Spanier and drummer Scott Amendola

This album transports me to another time and place and it always reminds me to have faith, play great music and believe. Calder Spanier and I met in Montreal (McGill – 1987) and we found our way into the European busking scene and had several bands together. Charlie was also hanging out around le Mazet Café in Paris at that time and we would go out busking together. This quartet is just so exciting and groovy, this one gets played in my car with good regularity and it always gives me shivers up my spine.

5 – John Scofield – Shinola

With bass guitarist Steve Swallow and drummer Adam Nussbaum.

This album along with ‘Out Like a Light’ played a huge role in helping me bridge the gap from electric bass to double bass. I had played violin seriously growing up, then sax and clarinet as well as guitar and some keyboards. When I finally picked up an electric bass (16) I knew it was for me, but I was probably 20 when I finally got my hands on a double bass, even though I had been gigging as a jazz bass player since I was 17. These albums taught me a lot about harmony and note choices, but I could never quite get my electric bass to swing like Steve Swallow.

6 – Rickie Lee Jones – Pop Pop

A Cast of thousands including Charlie Haden and Robin Ford.

My romance with music is fanned and flamed by beautiful voices singing inspiring words with haunting melodies. This relationship has shaped my life more than I can express and this music has allowed me to express myself when my own words have failed me. I met Sheila Jordan and Harvey S when I was a teenager at college and their performance of bass and voice drew me in. This album feels like a collection of short stories written just for me.

7 – Thomas Dolby – Aliens Ate My Buick

Featuring The Lost Toy People.

Thomas Dolby has been on my playlist since I was a young teen and I find his music infectious and positive. On this album there is something about the words and delivery that I connect with. The band is fantastic, the production reflects that late 80’s studio style that I cut my teeth on and love the sound of. My song ‘Dinner in Berlin’ has a distant connection with Dolby’s ‘Budapest by Blimp’.

8 – Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden – Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)

Probably one of my most favourite pairings of guitar and bass with brilliant songs that feel like old friends. A study in elegance and patience, a reminder to let the instrument do the work it was meant for and rejoice in its natural voice.

9 – Eryka Badu – Baduizm

I discovered this album when it came out and it quickly became a big influence. The voice is incredible, and the band is brilliant. Poogie Bell on drums and Hubert Eaves IV bass create this magical groove that aligns perfectly with the songs and Eryka’s singing. An album to get lost with and be carried along in its very cool, sexy attitude.

10 – Marcus Miller – Sun Don’t Lie

I knew Marcus Miller via Saturday Night Live and the Miles album Tutu, and their soundtrack album for the film ‘Siesta’ A friend took me to a Marcus gig in the Paradiso in Amsterdam in (probably) 1994 and we had box seats right over the stage. That gig and this album really transformed how I thought about bass playing and my attitude towards sound and tone. What a lovely player with great phraseology from whom I have learned about creating fully formed ideas and playing them clearly with a full voice.

Click here to read our review of Well Mixed Blue by Tom Lyne

Album launch on Thursday 19th June at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh