Victor Bailey Band

Though Philadelphia native Victor Bailey is one of the greatest jazz bassists ever, it’s not easy to sum up his music. Firmly established in the long lineage of extraordinary Philly bassists such as Tyrone Browne, Alphonso Johnson, Stanley Clarke, and Jaco Pastorius, one might call Bailey’s music jazz fusion or post-funk-jazz. In 1982 Bailey joined the jazz supergroup Weather Report, and, along with drummer Omar Hakim, formed one of jazz fusion’s ultimate rhythm sections. Since then, he has played on over a thousand different records, by artists as varied as Sonny Rollins, Michael Brecker, Larry Coryell, LL Cool J, Mary J Blige, and Madonna.
The Victor Bailey Band appears at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe, PA on Saturday, September 26th http://www.mauchchunkoperahouse.com/, comprising saxophonist Casey Benjamin (Mos Def, Heavy, DJ Logic), drummer Poogie Bell (Stanley Clarke, Roberta Flack, David Bowie), and keyboardist Peter Horvath (Joe Henderson, Lenny White). This will be Bailey’s second visit to the venue, having performed there with drummer Billy Cobham’s Spectrum Band in 2008.
http://www.jimthorpe.org/

About Bailey
Electric bass playing has changed dramatically since the '70s, thanks to the influence of rapid-fire artists such as Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius who approached the instrument much more like a guitar than a rhythm/ensemble weapon. Bailey lacks their chops or imagination, but ranks among the better funk/fusion players. He has to display his talent in carefully chosen spots, because his recordings are more pop-oriented, aimed at the late-night mellow shows on Urban Contemporary radio and the light jazz/instrumental market. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide