Hi,

For rock music, maybe ... but then, "keeping time" is something that is only found in the hands of the conductor in classical music ... there is no "time" for a symphony, when it can change various times depending on the procession of themes and designs of the music ... and that would be something that a "modern" bass player would not even try, because it's like saying that all he/she can do is count to stay on "beat" ... and not all music is BEAT DRIVEN. 

Your assumption is that all bass players are beat driven ... and that's it in bass playing ... AND THAT IS NOT TRUE!

The only sad thing, is the lack of appreciation for other musics, and how different they can be, and how difficult they can also be ... that takes a lot more than just counting .... the real trick, and you see it in jazz all the time, is going everywhere, but having the TOUCH to be able to come back and join your mates for the rest of the piece ... but go ahead ... tell Miles about that ... you might find that he rarely lived by the "beat" or the "bass" or the "drums" ... he lived for what he saw and how he could express himself, and the folks around him were strong enough to stay with him ... my guess is that he might have given them a slight hint ... since it is likely that he would not know where he is going once he starts!

See the special "The Birth of Cool" ... it is way beyond music ... it's like watching Hiromi Uehara ... it's like she's not even here and even Anthony Jackson has a really hard time keeping up and does so beautifully ... but you would consider him just another jack ass bass player you have never heard ... if all you can do is keep "time", you will NEVER play with folks like her, or some of the best ... try Lenny White, when he can tell Chick, Stanley or Al or Jean-Luc are about to go stratospheric ... for your pleasure and mine!

Expand your bass jargon ... and stop reading "Bass Player" for all the second and third rate bass players they talk to you about!

Have a lesson .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJExqsrZzeA