One of the great things about being a bass player is that no matter what type of music you play, the function of the instrument stays more or less the same. I love the art of the "functional" bassist. I spent many of my early years as a musician trying to avoid the conventional types of playing. My heroes were the iconoclasts of the instrument.
Over the last ten years I have gained an appreciation of supportive and often "simple" playing, and I have spent much time trying to improve this part of my playing.
I have recently involved myself in some styles I have not participated in before. After playing jazz nearly exclusively for years, I am now playing in a Americana/rock band, a country and western swing band, and some gypsy swing here and there. I love the challenge and the diversity, and I enjoy all of it. Each style has its own requirements and subtleties. The learning never ends.
This summer is turning out to be a fun one. I had the pleasure of opening the new Vina Robles Ampitheatre in Paso Robles with Zongo All Stars and One Time Spaceman, and got the opportunity to perform at Live Oak Music Festival with Inga Swearingen. Later this month I will be entering the studio with her for work on her next album. In late August Jacob Odell and I will be getting together with our friend and New Orleans resident, Steve Campbell, for a reunion of our band Functus. Always one of our favorite projects, Functus is an improvisational power trio with a cohesion based on twenty years of playing together. I wish we could do it more often.
Save the date! August 30th at our home base, Sweet Springs Saloon, in Los Osos.
Over the last ten years I have gained an appreciation of supportive and often "simple" playing, and I have spent much time trying to improve this part of my playing.
I have recently involved myself in some styles I have not participated in before. After playing jazz nearly exclusively for years, I am now playing in a Americana/rock band, a country and western swing band, and some gypsy swing here and there. I love the challenge and the diversity, and I enjoy all of it. Each style has its own requirements and subtleties. The learning never ends.
This summer is turning out to be a fun one. I had the pleasure of opening the new Vina Robles Ampitheatre in Paso Robles with Zongo All Stars and One Time Spaceman, and got the opportunity to perform at Live Oak Music Festival with Inga Swearingen. Later this month I will be entering the studio with her for work on her next album. In late August Jacob Odell and I will be getting together with our friend and New Orleans resident, Steve Campbell, for a reunion of our band Functus. Always one of our favorite projects, Functus is an improvisational power trio with a cohesion based on twenty years of playing together. I wish we could do it more often.
Save the date! August 30th at our home base, Sweet Springs Saloon, in Los Osos.
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