I've been kinda scanning these replies.
Bass players(as well as guitarists,etc) have different styles and what is great to one person is not to another.
What i'm saying is, as a guitarist, i've played in bands since the mid sixties. I can tell you that (along with drummers)i want someone who'll do the parts and not add a million notes and runs....but, it's a fine line...i want someone who'll be creative and let loose at the same time.
Someone who can 'lead' the band into a chorus or a bridge.
I want some precision but not if it's a loss of excitement.
The bassists mentioned, Paul McCartney and others did this very well. I really don't like Paul's solo outings, but as a bassist and writer with The Beatles, he was brilliant!
Now, on the other hand, Jaco was fantastic and Entwistle was phenomenal and really filled in the gaps with The Who (one of my favorite all time rock bands).
I would say almost every soul bass player was great..they had to be...you couldn't fake it thru in the soul idiom. Bootsy, Jamerson etc. I don't think i saw Tim Bogert mentioned. He really could do some incredible things.
But, unless you have a lot of talent and can play well 'simply', you shouldn't be trying to play outside that..and even if you can do it well, respect the song and the other musicians...make it work as a unit not a vehicle for your ego alone. If there's a time for a solo spot, that's different. As for Clarke, Jaco, etc, they built a solo career out of their style..but they still had to have a song structure to hang it on. Still, it's not my teacup.
I'm speaking more of some musicians i had to work with. (drummers are the worst at trying to do more than they should, used to drive me up the wall).
Well, i'm rambling!
My fave electric bass players:
Paul McCartney, Jack Cassidy, John Paul Jones, Entwistle, Jamerson, Bogert, Carol Kaye and countless other session players, and other players i've heard on one hit wonders and may never know their names.
