Reader Spotlight: Mantis Evar

Mantis EvarMeet bassist Mantis Evar, our player in the spotlight for October 13th, 2009.

Bio:

As a musician, Mantis has performed live with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joey DeFrancesco. While home he acted as studio manager for TKO Recording Studios until he eventually set his focus on live sound where he has worked with Dr. Billy Taylor and Freddie Hubbard. As audio consultant for Sam Ash Music, Mantis has designed and maintained sound systems for many New York City hotspots including the Limelight, Palladium and The Tunnel as well as live systems used by Metallica and Guns ‘N’ Roses. After a few years at Capitol Records working with Beastie Boys, Butthole Surfers, Yoko Ono and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Mantis transferred to Blue Note Records where his list of credits grew to include Joe Chambers, Ron Carter, Joe Lovano, Pat Martino and Chucho Valdes. During a two-year residence at hallowed jazz shrine Village Vanguard, Evar recorded jazz greats such as Martial Solal, Greg Osby, Jim Hall, Bill Charlap, Bill Frisell, the Chucho Valdes Quartet and many others. A musical dedication by trumpeter Erik Truffaz whose recording titled Mantis has been released internationally.

Location:

New York City

Day gig:

Mantis currently operates the Indaba Music Studio and is Co-Founder and Executive Vice President for Indaba Music, an online music collaboration service that allows musicians to post files of their work, listen to other musicians’ posts and create sessions where multiple parties can collaborate on a specific project. Associated with professional and independent artists, Indaba Music supports all genres of music and can be found at www.indabamusic.com.

Years experience:

About 35 years

Bands & Gigs:

I continue to play bass with many bands in and around New York City. I mostly enjoy playing hard/edgy rock and dirty blues. I am currently playing with a pop rock band called Empire Road and we play the usual NYC rock circuit. I regularly produce albums live and in studio while mastering old jazz recordings for re-issue.

Gear:

  • SWR SM 900 (900 watts)
  • SWR Big Ben (one 18 inch subwoofer)
  • SWR Goliath (four 10 inch speakers)
  • Korg Pro Tuner

Why I play the bass:

My brother had a drum set I would attempt to play. I was really bad and everyone would keep me away from the kit! I started to play guitar and found, as there were tons of great guitarists in my neighborhood, it was tough to find a band. Many bands needed a bass player so, I switched to bass and that is what I have been playing ever since!

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I’m not so sure I have a superpower or a claim to fame! I will say that I have an affinity for all music and feel blessed that I have the opportunities to create music with many musicians on a daily basis. I love music and I appreciate others talent and contributions. It is the collaborative aspect that gets me excited. I guess its due to those reasons I get along with others musically.

My influences

Bassists: John Pattituchi, Steve Swallow, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, Christian McBride, Steve Harris, Lonnie Plaxico, Dennis Erwin, James Jamerson, Tony Levin.
Others: Joe Lovano, Joey DeFrancesco, Miles Davis, Greg Osby, Chucho Valdez, Jason Moran and you.

More on the web:

Indaba Music profile

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Leave a Reply to andylock Cancel reply

  1. brianbacchus

    My man!
    1love,
    Brian

  2. Mantis is bananas. Yeah Mantis!

  3. truffaz

    Dear Vice President

    all of this sounds really Nice

    alll the best
    Cheers
    Your Friend Erik Truffaz

  4. Schmool

    Mantis is the MAN!!!

  5. Big hugs to everyone for stopping by and leaving comments.

    Also, a huge thanx to no treble for the write up. I love this site!

  6. andylock

    Virtual Studio gives the facilities includes: Talk shows hosting, using virtual sets; live & on-demand web-cast streaming studio; recording by voiceover artists; production facility for audio video presentations; option for live call outs or live phone-ins; radio shows; panel discussions; training-educational videos with software demos audio-video processing, optimization & encoding facility.