It's not just how you play, it's WHAT you play. For me, it's like talking about Jamerson vs. Jaco. Sure, Jaco had the speed and all that, but Jamerson laid down solid foundations without being boring or basic. Jamerson was the foundation of music that has been popular with the masses worldwide for decades. Jaco is admired by bass players.
I used to feel like your friend, back in the days when I played for a living. There was always someone better than me. One day, a friend of mine told me that he preferred my playing to a few people we were discussing, who played rings around me. He said that I was the one who knew exactly what to play, where the others just burned up the fingerboard.
Finally, play this for your friend. There is power in a single note, when used effectively.