Reader Spotlight: Alex Browne

Meet Alex Browne, a bassist studying music and gigging in August, Texas – and someone who has a great “how I started” story. Alex is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of November 16, 2015. Here’s his story…

Bio:

I stated playing the bass by accident. I asked my parents for a bass for Christmas when I was ten years old thinking that the term meant electric guitar. Little did I know! Luckily my brother started playing guitar shortly after I received my first bass. We started playing in a rock band together, and the rest is history!

I played electric in my brother’s band and other rock bands through middle and high school days, and picked up upright to play in my high school orchestra. I started attending the University of North Texas in 2010 and started studying jazz with Lynn Seaton. I was a freelance musician during my time at UNT and played everything from Metal to Punk to Straight Ahead Jazz to Fusion to Salsa to Top 40 outside of school, as well as playing in the school’s Two O’clock Lab band and the Latin Jazz Ensemble.

I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in 2014 and moved to Austin in August, and I am currently getting a Masters in Jazz Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. I also play several days a week outside of school, mostly playing straight ahead jazz, soul and Indie Rock.

Location:

Austin, Texas

Day gig:

Student/Freelance Bassist

Years experience:

13 years. Whoa, really? Holy cow, where has the time gone!

Bands & Gigs:

Yes- I do lots of freelance work and one off gigs, and I am also in an Indie Rock band called Taylor and the Wild Now.

Gear:

• Early 1900’s 7/8 German Bass, unlabeled (a previous owner coined it “The Basstard”)
• Mid Century Juzek Flatback Upright
• 1963 Fender Precision
• Muckelroy 5 string
• Fodera Monarch 4 string
• Degier Bebop 5 string
• Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2
• Aguilar DB 751
• Markbass Little Mark Tube 800
• Bergantino 4X10 Cab
• Markbass Traveler Cab

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I can double – I’m equally adept on upright and electric bass. I can also read and adapt to (almost) any style!

My influences:

Upright: Paul Chambers, Scott Lafaro, Christian Mcbride, Ray Brown, Omer Avital, Jimmy Garrison, Sam Jones, Eddie Gomez, etc.

Electric: Paul Jackson, Pino Palladino, Thundercat, Chris Squire, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, Jaco, Cody Wright, James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Derrick Hodge, etc.

More on the web:

My personal site is under construction, but find me on Facebook.