A lesson in perfection - Freddie Washington

[musicbassman]

Here's Freddie Washington playing 'Forget Me Nots' with Patrice Rushen at some open air event. He was the original bass player on the recording.

He doesn't let up his concentration for the entire performance, and his playing is so clipped and precise - absolutely brilliant.

Patrice Rushen is no slouch on the keyboard either, as this clip demonstrates later on.

And I love how at around 4.30 she gets the audience to clap along ON the beat - I wonder why ? 😏 😄🙄

 

[JJTee]

Flawless

[deepbass5]

Yah - you get what you pay for 🙂  great keys from her wow  thanks.

[yorks5stringer]

His first name is 'Ready'

[Owen]

Just laying it down like a boss.

On the subject of that, I ran into this on Tiny Desk. Given the reaction (good) of some of the other musicians to things he does he is not a long standing member. However he is totally nailing the whole set, beginning to end. 

 

[TheGreek]

A bass line that was a classic when it was first played and that stands the test of time...

[chris_b]

Freddie's an amazing player, but what a fantastic drummer.

Looks to me like she gets them clapping on every beat.

[Paul S]

I like this little vid, too.

 

[Ricky 4000]

9 hours ago, musicbassman said:

He doesn't let up his concentration for the entire performance, and his playing is so clipped and precise - absolutely brilliant.

Agreed. Here he is at a rehearsal:

edit: Oh, snap!

Edited March 13, 2021 by Ricky 4000
snap

[Reggaebass]

9 hours ago, musicbassman said:

Great playing so effortless, it’s not the easiest Bassline to play, I had lessons for it and I still can’t play it 😁

[Reggaebass]

I still think this is one of the best covers by Marta 

 

[TrevorR]

Very few people can look cool and dignified playing a keytar but Patrice still oozes cool!

[Reggaebass]

This seems like a good place to put this video, Freddie is such a great player 

 

[ian61]

Thanks for this. Yes Patrice is a mean Jazz pianist too.... very talented.

[80Hz]

Wow, I love his confidence, absolutely impeccable timing, and there's such a great energy here with Scott. Thanks for sharing.

 

Also this has done nothing so lessen my GAS for a 70's Precision (with a badass bridge, I think?)

 

Edit now that I've watched further: yep, badass 🙂

Edited Wednesday at 20:44 by 80Hz

[soulstar89]

4 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

This seems like a good place to put this video, Freddie is such a great player 

 

His one of my favourite!!! Just finished watching this and came to share. Glad you shared this gold of a video. 

[Homatron]

I can't get over his groove. So good! 

 

Theres so much to learn from this video. The economy of movement, the pocket...  but it'll take a long time to retrain my body to feel half-time all the time! 

[lowdown]

On 09/07/2025 at 19:06, Reggaebass said:

This seems like a good place to put this video, Freddie is such a great player 

 

 

That's a very good watch...

Scott asks some interesting things and gets right into Freddies playing, timing, groove, feel, technical aspects, little showbiz stories and the whole shebang!

[soulstar89]

1 hour ago, Homatron said:

I can't get over his groove. So good! 

 

Theres so much to learn from this video. The economy of movement, the pocket...  but it'll take a long time to retrain my body to feel half-time all the time! 

so so much. 
 

Him being one of my favourite players is an understatement. Check these two videos 

 

 

 

[Reggaebass]

1 hour ago, Homatron said:

 

 

Theres so much to learn from this video.

Absolutely, his technique and control of the notes is amazing, Freddie and Sean Hurley are definitely up there in my favourites list 

[Stub Mandrel]

I put in a lot of effort to learn the basic part for this. I wince when I see how much better he does it, I still have a good way to go.

[Dad3353]

11 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I put in a lot of effort to learn the basic part for this. I wince when I see how much better he does it, I still have a good way to go.

 

My usual Words of Encouragement apply to this, and to many other aspects of Life...

 

'It's the first forty years that are the hardest, after which things sometimes tend to get just a little easier. '

 

You're Welcome.  

[Stub Mandrel]

10 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

My usual Words of Encouragement apply to this, and to many other aspects of Life...

 

'It's the first forty years that are the hardest, after which things sometimes tend to get just a little easier. '

 

You're Welcome.  

 

Good thought, I suppose after 41 years of this I'm starting to get somewhere...

[ian61]

He's also proof positive that you dont need a million squid 10 banger to play Jazz.  He plays that ole P bass on everything and sounds very good. Top reader too. 

[lowdown]

1 hour ago, ian61 said:

He's also proof positive that you dont need a million squid 10 banger to play Jazz.  He plays that ole P bass on everything and sounds very good. Top reader too. 

 

 

Freddie is a very fine musician and sounds great on whatever he plays. The two tracks below are played on his Ken Smith.