Reader Spotlight: David Baron

David BaronMeet David Baron, a bassit from New York, and our player in the spotlight for the week of February 23, 2010.

Bio:

A native New Yorker, David has played bass in a variety of original and cover projects, including Tripping Monsters, The NY Ruffians, Huggy Bear & the Sweathogs, The Tremors and The Georgia 5. His most recent original project, The New Romans, featured violinist Allison Cornell (Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson). He has performed at venues all over the tri-state area, including the China Club, The Rainbow Room, B.B. Kings, Yale University, and hundreds of others. Outside of the club world, David played in several showcase presentations of “The 12”, an exciting new rock musical by composer Neil Berg (“The Prince and the Pauper”) which featured a cast of such legends as James LaBrie (“Dream Theater”), Patti Russo (“Meatloaf”), guitarist Alex Skolnick (“Testament”, “TransSiberian Orchestra”) and Dan Spitz (“Anthrax). David studied privately with bassist David C. Gross (“Mastering the Electric Bass”), and also earned a BFA from New York University in Film & Television Production.

His “day job” as a motion picture camera assistant has inspired numerous after-hours “celebrity” jam sessions with an eclectic list of talent, including actors Kevin Bacon, Jeff Bridges, Adam Busch (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and Betty Buckley (“Cats”).
He is currently working on season four of NBC’s “30 Rock”.

Location:

Nanuet/NY/USA

Day gig:

I’m a freelance camera assistant. Currently working on the fourth season of “30 Rock”. Previous gigs included the last two seasons of “The Sopranos”, over a dozen films with Woody Allen, and also “Donnie Brasco”, “Eight Legged Freaks” and HBO’s “Taking Chance”

Years experience:

About 27 years

Bands & Gigs:

Currently playing in three projects; “Huggy Bear & the Sweathogs”, which covers a lot of 70’s dance music, “The Georgia 5”, which plays a lot of 80’s music, and “Gang of None” which covers a little bit of everything. I’ve also been doing showcases for Neil Berg’s new rock musical, “The Twelve”.

Gear:

  • Lakland USA Joe Osborn (’07)
  • Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones
  • Fender Marcus Miller Jazz (’07)
  • Spector NS5XL-CRFM w/Bartolini p/u’s (’02)
  • Spector NS-2 (’85)
  • Kubicki Ex-Factor (’88)
  • Fender ’62 Re-issue Jazz Bass w/Bartolini p/u’s (’89)
  • Fender Precision (’85)
  • Eden WT-1205
  • Eden WT-400
  • MesaBoogie Powerhouse 610
  • Eden D210XST 2×10″ cabinet (4 ohm)
  • Markbass Mini 121p combo
  • Markbass NY121 cabinet

Why I play the bass:

It was more out of necessity really. I was one of two guitarists in my first band, and we needed a bass player. Somehow I got drafted. Glad I did, because once I learned what the role of the bass was, I instantly fell in love with it.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

It’s far from famous, but my custom green Lakland Joe Osborn has inspired a lot of debate around the online bass community. People either really dig the color, or they find it totally repulsive.

My influences

  • Graham Maby
  • Will Lee
  • Donald “Duck” Dunn
  • James Jamerson
  • Willie Weeks
  • Bootsy Collins
  • John Entwistle
  • Sting
  • Pino Palladino
  • Bruce Thomas
  • Jaco Pastorius
  • Tommy Shannon
  • Chuck Rainey
  • “T” Bone Wolk
  • James “Booyah” Richard
  • Patrick Dahlheimer (Live)
  • Flea
  • Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra)
  • Tommy Brown
  • Mike Mills
  • Derek Smalls

More on the web:

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Leave a Reply to David Baron Cancel reply

  1. Great to see David profiled here. He's a great guy and I'm glad to know him.

  2. Eche

    I've founded his pic on a Lakland forum and I felt in love of the color he picked!!! Its really tasty, and funky! Nice bass you have, dude!

  3. Lane, thank you very much, sir. Likewise, it has been great chatting with you about bass & life over the years!

  4. Thanks very much Eche!

  5. Lane, thank you very much, sir. Likewise, it has been great chatting with you about bass & life over the years!

  6. Thanks very much Eche!

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