Reader Spotlight: Alejandro Masafret

Alejandro Masafret

Meet Alejandro Masafret, a full-time musician and music educator from Spain. Alejandro keeps busy as an in-demand bassist, but his start was completely one of chance – and one he’s glad took place. Among the great stuff he shared was “I really love bass!”

That of course is what we want to hear, and so it was an easy choice to make Alejandro our reader in the spotlight for the week of May 12, 2014.

Bio:

I was born in Ferrol (Spain) in 1980. I started play bass in 1998 and since then, I’ve played in a lot of bands playing rock, pop, funk, blues, jazz and soul. I love play bass, and I want to play with as many people and meet as many styles I can.

Location:

Ferrol / Galicia / Spain

Day gig:

Full time musician / music educator.

Years experience:

15 years! I bought my first bass on 7/1/1998.

Bands & Gigs:

I play with several bands and musicians as a for hire bassist. I’m happy about not always playing with the same band, and I love when someone calls me for work in a recording, collaboration or as a replacement. Currently the bands I’m playing in are frequently are “EmanensBand” and “Angeles Dorrio Quartet.”

Gear:

  • Ibanez BTB 550 MP NTF
  • Markbass Mini CMD 121P
  • Markbass New York
  • Boos Looper Station RC50

Why I play the bass:

As many of the great things that happen in life, it was a fluke. In 1998 I was 18. My best friend’s band lost his bass player. Since I really love music, I wanted to be part of it some way, so automatically I went from being “the friend of the band” to “the bass player of the band”. Six months later, we recorded our first album. That first band didn’t last much longer after that, but many more groups have come since.

But I started playing bass before I paid attention to the instrument – without really knowing the role of the bass. Picking up the bass was one of the best chance moments of my life. Each passing day since, I am more sure that was meant to be. I really love bass!

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

Hahahaha! I just try to be a balanced musician.

Most people mention my slap playing and technique. I think the secret to be a great bass player is understanding and feeling the groove and make others feel it with you. It is a job for life, and that’s great!

My influences:

Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, James Jamerson, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Manring, John Deacon, Béla Fleck, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder…

Videos:

More on the web:

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