Reader Spotlight: Alfredo Guerrieri

Alfredo Guerrieri

Meet Alfredo Guerrieri (Fredo), a bassist from Ohio in a place he calls “Amurica”. Alfredo is a very busy bassist, teacher and sometimes Italian deli dude who could easily work as a comedian if any of the three things falls through. But we’re betting this bassist will continue to do just fine.

Fredo is our player in the spotlight for the week of October 2, 2012.

Bio:

When I was 13, two of my closest friends played guitar and drums, so they tricked me into playing bass. From there I couldn’t put it down. When I reached 21, I decided this is what I want to for a living. I gathered various pieces of paper from Musician’s Institute, Berklee College of Music and Cleveland State University. I’m as busy as ever, and still living in my parent’s basement (just kidding).

Location:

Cleveland, OH/Amurica

Day gig:

I teach music five days a week, and help out at my dad’s Italian deli. Working at that deli since I was 13 (don’t tell the government) helped me afford my instruments and my CD collection. I don’t know where I would be without it.

Years experience:

17 years.

Bands & Gigs:

I play in too many bands, if there is such a thing. I freelance jazz, singer-songwriter and cover gigs. My two main groups are We the People – a soul band which I play bass and keys, and playing with Chris Hatton and Ism (Italian Sound Machine) – a funk, acoustic, hard rock group with some of the best musician’s and performers I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with. I’m always trying to find that blend of gigs that pay with gigs that are more creatively challenging. I’m lucky that these two groups can do both. What a concept!

Gear:

  • F-Bass BN4
  • ’78 Fender Jazz
  • ’75 Fender P-Bass
  • ’68 Fender Fretless
  • Campbell American 5-string
  • Ibanez Artcore 4
  • Aguilar DB 751 head
  • Aguilar SL410 Cab
  • Ampeg PF 500
  • Walter Woods Amp
  • Markbass 112 Cab
  • Nord Electro 2 for keys gigs and some synth bass stuff

Why I play the bass:

I was told I could pick up flocks of women if I played bass. Still waiting. I was really intrigued by the sound, and the fact that I had a lot of responsibility for the band’s sound, and not a lot of the attention, which is fine by me.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

Whether playing punk, metal, funk or blues, I find the pocket and I keep it there. I really try my best to find the right balance of laying down the groove, serving the song, and not stepping on the singer’s toes.

My influences

There’s too many at this point in the game, I’ll give you a few: John Paul Jones (I have his symbol from the 4th Zeppelin album tattooed on my arm), James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Larry Graham, Matt Freeman…

More on the web:

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