Tal Wilkenfeld

[Dave James]

With all this talk of Esperanza Spalding, there are other bassists floating around out there who are deserving of wider recognition. Case in point is Tal Wilkenfeld. She (yes, she) is 24 years of age, hails from Australia and, although she's something of a natural musician, has only been playing bass for a few years. Here's a video of her with Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scotts in November of 2007 when she was just 21. Her solo begins at the 1:25 mark, but you'll want to watch the whole thing. Pay particular attention to Beck's reaction during and after the solo and the "no problem, it's all in a day's work" look she gives back to him. He knows there's something pretty special going on here.

Edited March 24, 2011 by Dave James

[BFrank]

I don't think she's with him anymore, though.

[marcello]

She was with Herbie Hancock last Summer on his Imagine tour. I saw them. To me it was a snooze.

I met her once, She's a friend of Geoffrey Keezer.

Edited March 25, 2011 by marcello

[BFrank]

Looks like the same drummer that was with Beck, too.

[PHILLYQ]

I saw her sit in with the Allman Brothers in 2006 for an epic 'Elizabeth Reed',replete with a tremendous bass solo. When she got on stage she looked like she was about 14, and I thought "OK, play your little thing and let's get on with the show". 30 seconds into playing I dumped that thought and realized I was watching a real talent. In 2009 I saw her with Jeff Beck and she hit one out of the park! Beck gave her plenty of free reign and she played great, at times doubling his knotty guitar lines, throwing bass bombs here and there and she took a few solos also. I was blown away at someone so young playing like a veteran and doing everything within the context of what the band was playing.

[JETman]

Looks like the same drummer that was with Beck, too.

Isn't that Gadd?

[marcello]

Looks like the same drummer that was with Beck, too.

Isn't that Gadd?

Oh my God no, it's Vinnie Colaiuta.

The other guy's name I can't remember, but he played keyboards and sang. So did Tal and another guest singer.

Then, at one p[oint, Herbie played the Keytar.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

[BFrank]

Unfortunately, I find much of Jeff Beck's recent meanderings to be quite sleepy. When he breaks out of the ethereal spaciness he can still rock with the best of them, though.