Reader Spotlight: Paul Adams

Paul AdamsMeet 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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