Reader Spotlight: Steve Harris

Steve HarrisMeet Steve Harris, a bassist from Long Beach, California, and our bassist in the spotlight for November 9, 2010.

Bio:

A former bar band road dog, I came to L.A. to be a rock star. I did the strip big hair band thing. When grunge hit, I went back to my first love – playing jazz. I now have my own jazz quartet and perform in the L.A./long beach area.

Location:

Long Beach, California, USA

Years experience:

40 years or so….

Bands & Gigs:

I have my own jazz quartet – a collective of very fine musicians. Clubs/gallerys/street faires – we’ll play anywhere. We just love to make music!

Gear:

  • 76 P-Bass w/birdseye charvel neck – p/j pickups – badass bridge
  • 2 Lakland Skyline 44-01s
  • 1988 (pre-Fender) Kubicki Factor bass
  • White Kramer Ferrington, complete with pointy headstock
  • SWR Redhead (pre-Fender)
  • Genz Benz 3.0 shuttle

Why I play the bass:

My two older brothers quit guitar after a few lessons. My parents wouldn’t shell out the money for mine (“you’ll never stick with it”), so in junior high I joined the beginner orchestra to learn how to play bass.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I did a 6 month tour with The Grassroots (“Live for Today”, “Wait a Million Years”, “Temptation Eyes”) in the late 70’s. Of course by then, there were no original members left, just the second drummer. Still, a cool gig at the time.

My influences

The usual – Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Rocco Prestia, Chris Squire… Listened to a lot of Ron Carter when I first started. Current guys: Victor Wooten, Adam Nitti, Richard Bona…

More on the web:

Want to be featured in an upcoming Reader Spotlight? Just fill out the interview questionnaire.

Get daily bass updates.

Get the latest news, videos, lessons, and more in your inbox every morning.

Leave a Reply to Collective associate Cancel reply

  1. Alan Knight

    Fail on this one. You can’t post a headline with the name Steve Harris and them provide a story about this dude. While I am sure this guy has mad chops and skills, there is truly only one Steve Harris

  2. Lisa Marie

    Given he also has rock background, maybe the two Steve Harris’ should team up and make a bass album together!

    I’ve attended a lot of events where his quartet has been performing. And he definitely has “mad chops”. He also has a rep as the “go to guy” to know you’ll have a super professional jazz band playing – he has great musicians who show up on time and get the job done. Audiences love them.

  3. Collective associate

    I’ve played with this Cat. Totally smokin monster player in any style! Reads anything put in front of him! Nice guy too…