Reader Spotlight: Steve Carriere

Steve Carriere

Meet Steve Carriere, a man who started early in life in music, and made it his career – now spanning 25 years (teaching) and 37 years (playing bass).

Steve is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 1st, 2015. Here’s his story.

Bio:

I started playing bass in jazz band and with the “pop” singer groups through junior high and high school. I graduated and went to college. I tried to be a business major but that didn’t last long. After a year or so I changed my major to music education – partially due to the guidance of my band director. I picked up double bass in college. After college I was a “hired gun” on double bass in the area playing with 2-3 symphony orchestras. I also played in various cover bands and jazz groups over the years. I got married 10 years ago and now have 2 great kids (9 and 5) and decided a few years ago that I would take a break from gigging and spend time with my kids until they decide they don’t want to hang around dad that much.

Location:

Grand Forks, ND USA

Day gig:

My day job is high school and elementary orchestra teacher. This is my 25th year, all in the same district.

Years experience:

I’ve been playing bass for over 37 years.

Bands & Gigs:

My current “gig” is with the Contemporary Worship Group at church. It’s made up of guys that I used to gig with outside of church, so we’re pretty familiar with each other and have a pretty tight group. It’s a lot of fun. I occasionally fill in with those guys in my former groups. I’m hoping when the kids get a little older that I can start gigging on a more regular basis.

Gear:

  • Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5
  • Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 Fretless
  • Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T
  • Genz Benz 110 Extension Cab
  • Radial JDI
  • Boss TU-2
  • Rolls PM50S (for IEM)
  • Westone UM-2 In-Ears

Why I play the bass:

I start playing bass in junior high, around age 12 or so. I started in 5th grade playing saxophone. My cousin was a guitar player in a popular local band. Played our high school dances. Yeah, back in the day real bands played school dances! That got me started on guitar, but I quickly found myself playing just the lower strings. Sprinkle in some exposure to Rush , Journey, Iron Maiden, etc. and so it began.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I don’t have much fame to claim. I did play in the “house band” at a gig that featured Al Wilson who had a big hit in 1972 with a song titled “Show and Tell” so that was pretty cool.

I was doing a pit gig last month and one of the other musicians told me he loved when I was playing bass because he didn’t have to worry or think about anything. He knew the time would be solid, the notes would be there and it would be tasteful. He could just play. I guess if that’s what people think when they play with me, that’s all right.

My influences

It all started with Rush and Geddy Lee. Ross Vallory and Journey were also big. More recent influences are Rocco Prestia, Nathan East and Jimmy Haslip.

More on the web:

I don’t have a big online presence.

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  1. Woot Mr Carriere! Right on man!

    So glad you let me borrow a bass and also that we played some Charles Ives that year in orchestra.