Reader Spotlight: Ryan Szanyi
Meet Ryan Szanyi, a bassist who has undergone different transitions. He started on trumpet before switching to bass and lived in the US before moving to the UK.
Ryan is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight (you could be next). Here’s his story…
Bio:
I’m an American transplant to the UK who is an architect by day and a jazz/funk bassist by night. I love improvised music and like to keep evolving my playing and compositions in my bands. Blending genres and influences is an important part of my playing to create unique compositions and sounds.
Location:
London, UK via Chicago, IL.
Years experience:
Since I was 13, so about 23 years now.
Why I play the bass:
I was playing trumpet, but the jazz band needed a bass player, and I was tired of always competing for first chair position with my best friend on trumpet.
Gear:
My basses in America are fretted and fretless German Warwick 4 strings. In London, I have a fretted and fretless Japanese Fender ’62 reissue from the 80s. I have some effects pedals, but I rarely use them. I also have an upright bass.
My Influences:
Jazz and classical music, in general, are my earliest influences, with a love of free improvisation. In terms of players, Jaco/Weather Report, Marcus Miller, Chris Wood/MMW, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Miles, Monk, Squarepusher, Flea, Thundercat, JPJ, BADBADNOTGOOD, McCartney, Prince, Larry Graham/Sly Stone, Solange, Les Claypool, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marc Ribot, Tom Waits, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bach, Beethoven, and David Lynch.
My bass superpower/claim to fame:
My superpower is my chill/easygoing attitude to my band members while playing my heart out when it comes to music. I’m always willing to try something new and stretch out musically to keep the band motivated and everyone having a good time. My preparedness in my playing allows me to have fun and make the band members laugh on stage; this includes back bends over the bass drum during a gig where the drums kept moving forward and needed my strategic placement to keep them in place.
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