Reader Spotlight: Hernan Gordon

Meet Hernan Gordon, a bassist living in Argentina who first caught the bug thanks to Sid Vicious, and later started following the work of Jaco Pastorius. Hernan not only plays, he also teaches and even builds basses.

Hernan is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story…

Bio:

I was born in 1978. At the age of 14, I decided to start playing bass because I was a fan of The Sex Pistols, at that time Sid Vicious was an inspiration. Then I joined the school band. I began to study electric bass when I finished school and also to play in more bands and different styles. The first recordings arrived when I was 20 years old. When I was 24, I started teaching bass and also to earn a little more money playing live. I participate in recording rock, reggae and funk records (Luxuria / Mistica / La Bodega). The tours started and it was also necessary to update my gear. I participate in recordings of Jazz, Swing, Tango and Folklore (Not so Standard, Lafinur, Alberto Davila, Trebol). In 2017 also ventured into the construction of two electric basses for me, one of which was featured by No Treble in 2017.

I am currently working with bands of different musical styles, making recordings and giving private lessons. This year I also started working on my personal project, recording my own album.

Location:

Capital Federal / Buenos Aires / Argentina

Day gig:

Currently, my workday begins with a few hours of bass practice. I give some bass lessons and then rehearsal with the bands I play

Years experience:

I’ve played bass since I was 14 years old. 26 years now.

Bands & Gigs:

I am currently playing the double bass in a band called Lafinur that mixes different rhythms such as swing, jazz, bolero, and cumbia. I also played in a jazz band in which we played classics of all ages since the 30s and also performed a repertoire of Brazilian music.

Gear:

• 2 Custom Handmade 5 string Gordon bass (made by me)
• Warwick thumb 5 string 98
• Warwick streamer lx 5 string 98
• Adrian Gunella 5 string bass
• Federico Caceres 4 string bass 32″ scale

Why I play the bass:

I decided to play the bass because I really liked the attitude of The Sex Pistols. Then I discovered Jaco Pastorius and I knew how I wanted to speak artistically.

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I do not have any superpower, in fact, I do not think there is one. I think the only superpower is to study a little every day and listen to a lot of music.

My influences:

Jaco Pastorius, Stuart Zender, Alain Caron, Jeff Berlin, Richard Bona, Carlitos del Puerto

More on the web:

• Website