Bassists - Page 91

Jeff Berlin will be following up his 2010 release, High Standards with the ironically titled album, Low Standards. Besides the pun, the moniker comes as the group will feature Richard Drexler on upright bass as well as piano. Rounding out the trio is drummer Mike Clark, who spent time playing for Herbie Hancock in the Headhunters. “I prepared for it...

Longtime Peter, Paul and Mary bassist Richard “Dick” Kniss has passed away from pulmonary disease at the age of 74. The bassist was referred to as the fourth member of the trio and performed with the folk outfit for nearly 50 years. He also made waves as John Denver’s bassist and co-writer of the hit “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Born...

Nathan Navarro has been experimenting with the bass’s role in different genres for some time now, but his recent exploration into electronica and dubstep bass have captured the attention of the bass community. His band’s live cover of Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” has reached over 2.5 million hits on YouTube. We caught up with Nathan to find out...

A Medical and Well Health Fund has been set up for bass legend Chuck Rainey, who suffered a major stroke last year. Though his family is hopeful for a full recovery, Rainey has not been able to work during his treatment. As his medical bills increase, his income has decreased, according to the message on the donation site. Rainey’s impressive...

Bassist and talent manager John Levy has passed away at the age of 99. In addition to Levy’s own career of playing with artists like Stuff Smith, Billie Holiday, Don Byas, Lennie Tristano and George Shearing, Levy managed a host of jazz legends including Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery. He’s often credited as the first African-American personal manager...

Meet bassist Andrew Rosciszewski, a musician living in South Bound Brook, NJ who spends his days teaching music to kids (love that). Andrew also anchors a very interesting band, one he calls an “electric chamber ensemble.” Andrew is our player in the spotlight for January 24, 2012. Bio: Described as “listener-friendly, but fresh, with a nice shimmer…” and “relatively delicate,...

Meet bassist Pete Sams, a full-time working bassist who was very busy in 2011 (he played 225+ shows), including many with a live karaoke band. Pete is our player in the spotlight for the week of January 17, 2012. Bio: I’m the bassist and bandleader for Rock-bot, a live band karaoke group (500+ songs, words on the screen, etc.), an...

After picking up on some of Victor Wooten’s techniques, Sylvain “Sly” Audet slowly began his own style. While experimenting with double thumbing, the Canadian bassist began what he calls thumbpicking. Audet also incorporates a Kahler tremolo bridge in for some cool effects. Not relegated to being a sideman, Audet has released his own CD, with half of the proceeds going...

In 1975, Mark Evans took the opportunity of a lifetime and joined an Australian pub band that would go on to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time: AC/DC. Just a week after joining, the band was gigging regularly, and within a year they were making the rounds in Europe. Evans’ turbulent years in the band included...

After some debate over the location, former Grateful Dead and current Furthur bassist Phil Lesh will be opening up a restaurant and performance venue called Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. The dining portion of the new venue will open in February with the “intimate” performance hall to begin shows soon there after. Though his original plan was to launch...

Meet Scott Whitley, a bassist from the UK who makes his living playing, teaching and recording. Scott is our player in the spotlight for January 10, 2012. Bio: Burnley born Scott Whitley is one of the most accomplished and innovative bassists in the UK today. Unlike many, Scott has never succumbed to fickle musical fashions of the day. Instead, he...

Esperanza Spalding is coming off of a monster year, which started in February 2011 when the bassist became the first jazz musician in decades to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist (and, much to our pure joy, beating out Justin Bieber for the honor). That award was for Spalding’s 2010 release, Chamber Music Society, which reached number 1...