What does it mean when a musician tells you he/she can “play anything?” I suppose that means different things coming from different players but, for the sake of this post, I’ll refer to those musicians who have the ability to jump into just about any musical situation eagerly and easily. I separate them into two camps: Academic Players and Absorbers.
Academic Players typically know Music Theory like the back of their hand, as well as the various charting methods, genre-specific scales/patterns, etc. They have a “color-by-numbers” approach to learning new material. When they predict changes within a song, they do so based on chord progressions and measure counting. They are highly schooled on their instrument(s) and probably had long-term formal training as they were coming up. This type of player is usually in high demand in major studios, live fill-in/replacement spots, and in the lower-Broadway area of Nashville, TN as they make great multi-genre cover band musicians. (Ex. John 5, Nita Strauss, Anton Fig, etc.)
I am also quick to learn songs; however, I fall into The Absorber camp. Absorbers almost always learn material by ear and/or based off of song vibe after having mulled over it for a bit. When I develop Bass parts to another artist’s song(s) I shoot from the hip without much concern for Theory rules, even when I end up following them. I feel the song out and jump in when I have notes and riffs in mind that sync up with the bigger picture. (I think the core differences between The Academic and The Absorber are also what delineate a cover artist from an original [songwriter] artist. Sure, one can be both, but I firmly believe that a musician will naturally lean towards one way or the other. Absorbers are less prone to enjoy playing covers but if/when they do, they are likely to change a song up a bit differently with each performance.)
Like Academic players, many Absorbers can also “play anything” and comfortably jump into different situations. That is, as long as there is a primal connection to the material. The chops are definitely there with Absorbers, but if the passion is not, there will be zero interest in playing it. It’s why you will probably never hear me play with, or for, any (for example) Vaporwave artists. While I have the skillset to dissect Vaporwave, I don’t have a gut-rumbling passion for it. I equate this to the difference between respecting someone and being entirely in love with them. I can respect a particular genre, and I can most likely find a way for my playing to fit with it, but that doesn’t mean I will jump at the opportunity to do so.
If I don’t feel the song, then I won’t have confidence in any bassline I develop for it. Without confidence in my performance, there is no point in recording it. That said, I always do my best to form a connection to any music I am sent to work on. Luckily, I love music enough to where I hardly ever have to turn work away! I’m generally happy as long as I’m playing. I will always give your songs the respect of a listen and I will always attempt to carve out a place in it for befitting rhythm parts.