Welcome to another edition of Cover Me, my sporadic tribute to unique, unusual, or just plain awesome cover tunes. This evening’s artist is famous, but not necessarily for his musical prowess. As a former Phoenix Suns power forward (yes, Pink One, I Googled it), Wayman Tisdale is known for palming orange leather, not the cold steel strings of a bass guitar. But growing up in his minister father’s church, his first love was music.
And Tisdale is as accomplished a musician as he is a basketball player. However, in the bass zone he tempers his flashy thunder, instead favoring a more nuanced, laid back approach. His music confidently crosses between jazz and R&B while managing to avoid the banality of most “smooth jazz”. And Tisdale truly understands the bassist’s position in a band—whether he’s holding the groove hostage, or exploring a melodic lead in the upper register of his instrument. Check out this number one cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s Can’t Hide Love from his 2001 album, Face to Face.