This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he shares three classic recordings featuring a genuinely cool “walking bass solo” — best heard at high volume.
If you’re not familiar with the term, a “walking bass solo” needs a quick explanation first. In jazz, when a horn or piano player takes a solo, the bassist typically backs them up with a “walking bass line” — a quarter-note-driven accompaniment pattern.
But when it becomes the bassist’s own turn to solo, most players switch things up, bringing in eighth notes, triplets, and often some genuinely virtuosic technique. A “walking bass solo” is the distinctive alternative approach where the bassist keeps that same quarter-note-driven pattern going even during their own solo, rather than breaking from it.
The first time I heard one, I actually thought, “wait, did they just miss their cue to really solo?” But these are legendary players we’re talking about — that’s obviously not what’s happening. It’s a different kind of cool from a flashy, technical solo, but it’s seriously cool in its own right. Here are three classic recordings featuring a great walking bass solo.
Contents
3 Tunes With a Great Walking Bass Solo
1. “Candy”
Album: Candy (1958) — Bassist: Doug Watkins — Walking bass solo at 4:48
Personally, I think this is the most famous walking bass solo out there. It comes up often at jam sessions too, so it’s well worth a listen.
2. “Airegin”
Album: The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960) — Bassist: Percy Heath — Walking bass solo at 2:58
A blisteringly fast walking bass solo — and what’s especially cool is how rock-steady and even it stays even at that speed.
3. “Oleo”
Album: Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1959) — Bassist: Sam Jones — Walking bass solo at 2:28
Once the walking bass solo kicks in, the rest of the band drops out almost entirely, which really lets the bass’s tone and nuance come through. Crank the volume and feel the tension for yourself.
Hopefully this is a fun way to get introduced to some genuinely cool music.
Getting your own walking bass solos to feel this composed and intentional takes real practice — that’s exactly the kind of playing a teacher can help you build toward.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.