Who is Chaka Khan's Bassist?

Glenn Letsch

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Jul 16, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/16/97

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Chaka Khan was on Rosie O'Donnell today
Who is her bassist?
He plays a seven string Ken Smith bass
and appears to be her musical director
He's a great bass player
Thanks alot
Glenn Letsch

David Fung

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Jul 18, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/18/97

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In article <33CE04...@mail.ccnet.com>, Glenn Letsch
<gle...@mail.ccnet.com> wrote:

> Chaka Khan was on Rosie O'Donnell today
> Who is her bassist?
> He plays a seven string Ken Smith bass
> and appears to be her musical director
> He's a great bass player

I got home early and flipped on the TV to catch the news. Saw this
performance as well and this guy was great. Mostly laid back into the
groove, but he let loose with a number of really wide-ranging lines that
sounded fantastic and was actually quite hearable in the mix.

I never saw him long enough to see if that was a 7- or 8-string bass (not
in octaves). The neck was *unbelievably wide* - looked like almost 5" at
the body joint...

David Fung

no-netsca...@mtholyoke.edu

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Jul 19, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/19/97

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It may well have been Anthony Jackson, who pplays on alot of her studio
stuff and who helped design the first Ken Smith basses. In fact, I read
recently that he is now playing a 7 string Smith, so that might explain
it.

Frank Backes

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Jul 19, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/19/97

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Glenn Letsch wrote:
>
> Chaka Khan was on Rosie O'Donnell today
> Who is her bassist?
> He plays a seven string Ken Smith bass
> and appears to be her musical director
> He's a great bass player

> Thanks alot
> Glenn Letsch

I guess it's Melvin Davis. He's wellknown for his 7 string Smith.
In recent ads in Bass Player he is mentioned as Chaka's bassist.

Hope that helped.

Frank Backes

Glenn Letsch

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Jul 21, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/21/97

to David Fung

Turns out it is Melvin Davis on a Ken Smith 7
Regards,
Glenn Letsch

Micah Stott

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Jul 23, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/23/97

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Chaka's always had the greats, from Anthony Jackson, to Me'shell
NgedeCello, to Abraham Laboriel. But that awesome bass player is the one
and only Melvin Lee Davis playing his custom Ken Smith Custom 7 string
bass. He's incredible!

Micah

BamBam9907

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Jul 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/28/97

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Melvin Davis is the man! He contributed on that Jobim tribute CD with Lee
Ritenour and Dave grusin, and, although he doesn't get to do too much, he
still sounds GOOD.

Anybody know what else he's done, perhaps something where he shows off a
little bit more?

Thanx in advance,

-- James

frank Marini

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Jul 29, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/29/97

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HI:
I haven't seen the rosie O'Donnell show w/ chaka khan, but I will guess
from his regular appearances on her ablums and other shows that it was
Bill Dickkens "the buddha of bass". He plays a conklin 7 string bass that
looks like it has a dinner table for a neck(its so wide) but he grooves
and funks, and slaps w/ the best. So I suspect it was him, but since i
didn't see him-I can't be sure. (was the guy bald, slightly heavy(okay
plump?)
frank
,

> In article <33CE04...@mail.ccnet.com>, Glenn Letsch

> <gle...@mail.ccnet.com> wrote:
>
> > Chaka Khan was on Rosie O'Donnell today
> > Who is her bassist?
> > He plays a seven string Ken Smith bass
> > and appears to be her musical director
> > He's a great bass player
>

Glenn Letsch

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Aug 9, 1997, 3:00:00 AM8/9/97

to frank Marini

It is Melvin Davis
They look similar
and my first guess was Bill D.
Cheers
Glenn Letsch