I concur about Geddy, the guy really gets it.  There is certainly a level of show-off-ishness (is that a word?) but a majority of time he's just a monster and a lot of the time the interplay between he and Peart can be nimble and brilliant.
   
  In that realm, I would also put Tony Levin, an unbeleivably varied career (Paul Simon, Lennon, Gabriel, King Crimson).  The guy can play any style with grace.
   
  Also love McCartney's playing.  My favorite is Me'shell N'degeocello, what a player!!
   
  Cheers, david
   
  
>  I guess my favorite rock bassist -- go ahead, laugh!
-- is Geddy Lee. There are moments where Lee and Peart
do some incredibly intense inter-locked sections that
have, on occasion, moved me to tears.