Reader Spotlight: Paul Adams
Meet Paul Adams, our bass player in the spotlight for December 8, 2009.
Bio:
I am a busy professional electric and double bass player based in Stoke on Trent, England. I have performed throughout the UK, USA and Europe with various groups and artists, as well as working in the pit of many theatre productions, as well as being a busy teacher.
Location:
United Kingdom
Day gig:
Playing and teaching bass.
Years experience:
14 years (Professional for 10)
Bands & Gigs:
I work as a freelance player, so I could be playing a function, on electric bass, with a pop band one night and with a jazz trio, on upright, the next. It keeps things interesting (for me, anyway) when you are able to play a wide variety of styles comfortably, be it with an original singer/songwriter or a swinging Big Band.
Gear:
- Roscoe LG3005
- Shuker Singlecut 5
- Tobias Standard 6
- Clifton Electric Upright Bass
- Fender Jazz and Precision
- Various Amplifiers and Effects
- I Endorse Spectraflex Cables and iGig Cases
Why I play the bass:
Initially it was because I loved the sound of the instrument and it’s rhythmic aspects. However, seeing Marcus Miller live soon after I started playing changed my whole perspective of the instrument and blew things wide open for me.
My bass superpower/claim to fame
Two things that have really helped me are being able to read and the fact that I double on Electric and Upright Bass. Both of these have allowed me to do gigs that would have otherwise been unavailable to me. Also, knowing lots of tunes and having a pretty quick ear helps no end.
My influences
Marcus Miller, Janek Gwizdala, Victor Wooten, Jeff Berlin, Will Lee, Christian McBride, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Jaco Pastorius, Bryan Beller, John Patitucci. . . way too many to mention.
More on the web:
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