Give the bassists some love! Bass, in its many forms – upright, electric, fretless, piccolo, and more! – serves as the foundation of the band, leading the charge in groove and defining the composition.

Bring home: Brian Bromberg’s Full Circle, Christian McBride Trio’s Live at the Village Vanguard, Rodney Whitaker’s When We Find Ourselves Alone and The Stanley Clarke Band’s Up.