Bruce Gertz Returns With 13 Solo Bass Pieces on “It’s Only A Bass”
Bruce Gertz has returned with It’s Only A Bass, marking his fourth solo bass album. It features 13 compositions performed on his double bass, rooted in bebop and modern jazz.
Gertz studied bass, composition, and arranging at Berklee College of Music from 1972 to 1976 under Charles Banacos and Ron Carter. He later became a professor there in 1976.
“That training remains central to my approach to writing and playing,” he writes in the liner notes for It’s Only A Bass. “After retiring from a 50-year career as a professor of bass at Berklee, I can now devote more time to my own music. I have been recording solo bass pieces at PBS Studios in Westwood, Massachusetts, for nearly thirty years.”
Although the music is from a single instrument, Gertz’s clear articulation and thoughtful lines create the feeling of a fuller arrangement. Gertz says the album, which continues his musical exploration and expression, was crafted with that feeling in mind.
“The pieces are unique, and the double bass gives the album a warm, resonant presence,” he writes. “One may feel it as a sonic hug. I invite you to slow down, listen closely, and enjoy the album.”
Get a feel for the album with the opening track, “Neuro Modulation 8”:
It’s Only A Bass is available now digitally via Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other platforms.
It’s Only A Bass Track List:
- Neuro Modulation 8
- HDITO
- Data Brokers
- Lucky 11
- I Didn’t
- Feel No Pain
- Neuro Modulation 1
- Neuro Modulation 12
- Wheel of Misfortune
- False Social
- Three Things
- Red Meat for the Bass
- Day One
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
