Reader Spotlight: Tom Martin

Tom MartinMeet Tom Martin, a bassist from California who had some great answers to our “Why I Play the Bass” and “Superpower/claim to fame” questions.

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

Bio:

Laying the foundation and lifting up the music is my passion! Playing acoustic, electric, and brass basses for 45 years, I’ve kept busy with many ensembles… club and event bands, jazz combos, theater, and classical orchestras. I’ve broadened my skills as a music director, producer, and recording engineer. I’ve won national awards for my work as a music theater director (The Kennedy Center National College Theater Festival) and toured the world with bands and orchestras.

Location:

Cotati, CA, USA

Years experience:

45 years

Why I play the bass:

The ubiquity… all the music I liked required bass, and there was a ready demand.

Gear:

1930’s Juzek upright, 1972 Fender Fretless Precision, 1978 B.C. Rich Eagle, Jinbao ‘Miraclone’ tuba, Walter Woods, Mesa, and Phil Jones amps, Greenboy Fearless and Mike Arnopol cabinets.

My Influences:

Ray Brown, Charles Mingus, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Christian McBride, Edgar Meyer, Rocco Prestia, Bobby Vega, and many others.

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I once, unintentionally, performed a somersault on stage while carrying my upright, landing on my feet without a scratch on either of us!

More on the web:

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