Hello bass players and fans of bass playing!  Welcome to Groove Wars!

I hope that you can enjoy this and learn a lot about great BASS LINES!

This month, I’m going to make just for fun, a groove battle between “Chameleon” and “Watermelon Man.”  Both compositions are amazing jazz standards by Herbie Hancock.  So, get ready!   This is a funk beat bass battle.  YOU DECIDE! Which one is the best?

Artist: Herbie Hancock

Composers: Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason and Bennie Maupin

Song: “Chameleon”

Bass Player: Paul Jackson

Album: Head Hunters (1973)

Versus

Artist: Herbie Hancock

Composer: Herbie Hancock

Song: “Watermelon Man”

Bass Players: Butch Warren(Takin’ Off) / Paul Jackson (Head Hunters)

Albums:  Takin’ Off (1962)/Head Hunters (1973)

Fig. 1 – The main groove for “Chameleon.”

Fig. 2 – The main groove for “Watermelon Man.”