Reader Spotlight: Scott Whitley

Scott WhitleyMeet 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 has kept his art and vision at the heart of his bass playing.

Location:

Burnley, Lancashire, England

Day gig:

Session bassist/bass tutor/recording engineer.

Years experience:

25 years

Bands & Gigs:

I’m in a few bands at the moment. I’m playing in the Chip Kendall band and do the odd gig/recording with Philippa Hanna. They’re both really great artists, and I feel really honored to work with them!

I’m also playing with The Ric Lee Blues Project. Ric Lee is the drummer from Ten Years After and this is a side project playing much more like the early Ten Years After, quite jazzy.

My main new project is my own band – The Scott Whitley Quartet – in which I get a chance to play Piccolo Bass amongst other fun things :-)

Gear:

Basses:

  • Richwood Piccolo Bass – Badass II, Dimarzio Js, emg preamp
  • Richwood long scale – Badass II, Dimarzio Js, emg preamp
  • Richwood 3/4 Fretless (stock)
  • Status Graphite S1 headed (early 90s wood necked)
  • Yamaha RBX4 A2
  • Vintage V1004SP Fretless
  • Kala U-Bass

Amps & Effects:

  • Hartke LH500 head
  • Ampeg Victor Wooten Model BXT-410HL cabinet
  • Boss GT-6b Multi Effects

Why I play the bass:

I was ‘pushed’ on to bass when I formed my first band with some school mates. This didn’t sit well until I first saw Level 42 live on TV, whose front man Mark King was touted as ‘the best bass player in the world’. Seeing the incredible up-front slap and pop antics of Mark stirred up an excitement and vision that’s still with me to this day!

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I got featured in Bass Player magazine around ten years ago. I had some original solo bass material up on mp3.com and several “unknowns” were featured.

My influences:

As far as bass players go: Mark King, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Louis Johnson, Pino Palladino (his early fretless work), Victor Wooten and Brian Bromberg. (slightly predictable, huh?)

More on the web:

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Leave a Reply to Nicola Scott Cancel reply

  1. Scott Whitley

    Wow – this is a little unexpected lol!

  2. Nicola Scott

    Very well deserved recognition. I’m privileged to get to see this guy jam on a regular basis. Whilst I disapprove of some of his sartorial choices he more than makes up for it in sheer musical brilliance.

    • Kurt Crompton

      doesnt sartorial have something to do with dressing smart?

    • Nicola Scott

      @[100000530472186:2048:Kurt Crompton] Yes indeed. You obviously have never seen him in his summer attire….