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Interview with: Matt Siffert

Photo credit: Elyssa Goodman

Matt Siffert is a bassist, composer and music director of a group that I have vested interest in. It features the talents of my music making & horn playing girlfriend. Aside from that, Matt is a bassist, composer, and songwriter from New York City. He is interested in combining his varied artistic interests into a unique and personalized musical vocabulary. He has worked in various contexts: with jazz musicians such as Jean-Michel Pilc, classical ensembles such as the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), as well as in his own groups as a bandleader. He has performed locally and internationally, from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City to the Siena Jazz Festival in Italy. He studied composition at The Juilliard School evening division, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in music and psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. Visit him online. I recently caught his group in action at Le Poisson Rouge. They were the opening act for Sasha Siem; another song writer who utilizes more instruments than just the traditional rock band to create music. Matt is able to harness the sound of french horn, drums, piano, electric bass, cello and percussion by way of stomping feet and snapping fingers to create sonorities that serve his songs aesthetics. Lyrically, he is just as acrobatic and incisive. Throughout his set you are presented with a mind that expresses motifs of introspection and irreverence. It is obvious that he goes beyond the calling of bassist and meets the title of musician. 1. What were some of the first gigs you played as a professional bassist? My first gigs were a smorgasbord of backing singer-songwriters, playing in theater pits, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and rock shows, etc. I enjoyed the variety, and still play in most of these contexts. The different elements all find their way into my music in positive ways. 2. Can you give us some insight on your practice routine? Since my creative output is divided between bass playing, singing, and songwriting/composing, I end up prioritizing based on what my schedule demands. If I’m gigging heavily as a bassist, then I drill my technical chops, parts for the shows I’m playing in, etc. If my performance schedule is light on bass but heavy as a singer-songwriter, I’ll practice voice. If I’m busy with commissions and personal projects then I’ll be focused on writing, which, like bass playing and singing, requires daily work.

At the moment my schedule is a mix of all three, so I do my best to play bass, sing, and write every day. I also have mandatory daily ‘listening’ time where I explore and listen to new music the importance of which I cannot possibly overstate. 3. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? There are so many! I guess I’ll talk about bass, since that’s why we’re here. My first influences were Matt Freeman of Rancid, Cliff Burton of Metallica, and Flea of the Chili Peppers, who played heavily and melodically. That then carried over to Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Oteil Burbridge (Allman Bros), and Mike Gordon (Phish), who had the same sense of melody with a lighter, looser style. Then came Jaco Pastorius, who showed me that the bass is charismatic enough of an instrument to carry a group.

As I grew into songwriting I found players like James Jamerson and Ray Brown, who showed me that a tight, un-flashy bass line could propel and energize a song. Then there’s Paul McCartney, who turned the bass into an instrument that could contribute counter melodies, much in a way that resembled a high string, wind, or brass instrument. 4. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? My rig is simple. I use a 5-string Music Man Stingray with a 10-inch Gallien-Kreuger amp. My recommendation for gear depends on what styles you play. The Stingray and GK have a smoothness and warmth, which makes me feel at home in folk/jazz/hip-hop/R&B gigs. I’d recommend both of them for people living in these worlds. (GK’s also work beautifully with upright basses.) Rock players usually opt for Fender basses and SWR or Ampeg amps, both of which pack more of a punch. They make for a great sound too, just one that’s different from my own style of playing and musical personality. 5. You are also a composer. When approaching bass lines what is your process? How has being a composer influenced your career? Do you ever compose starting with the bass? That’s a great question. My approach to writing bass lines is two-fold. I have to serve the character of the song/composition, and then give shape to the overarching musical narrative. So, firstly, I have to be aware of the nature of the piece I’m playing: is it a song that’s written from the perspective of an angry person? Is it a peppy swing tune? Once I figure this out I need to align my style of playing so it’s helping to bring that character to life. Then I need to figure out the overall structure of the piece; does it start quietly and get crazy at the end? Does it coast softly from start to finish, but change texturally? Once I understand this general shape I craft my lines accordingly. My life as a composer has helped immensely with this approach to bass playing. Through composition I’ve developed a more heightened sensitivity to the character of a given composition, and a more intuitive ability to make a piece of music compelling to listen to from start to finish. So, when I pick up a bass, I can take these skills I’ve learned and channel them through my instrument. It’s a thrill to learn these musical techniques and be able to realize them through writing and performance. With regard to composing on the bass, it’s funny; I almost never use the instrument as a springboard for composing. I either write in my head usually in weird places like subways or showers, where there are no instruments or on chordal instruments like a piano or guitar, where I can hear a broader spectrum of material. I’ve been playing bass much longer than piano, guitar, and voice, and when I write on it I gravitate toward old patterns and licks that are unconnected to what I’m trying to say musically. 6. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I always do my best to have a strong and clear artistic vision for my projects, and be mindful of how the bass (and other instruments) fits into each of these projects. When I’m hired by someone else to play bass I’m equally mindful of how my instrument fits into the instrumentation of the group they’ve assembled, and, more generally, how my musical approach fits in to and can facilitate what the artist is trying to accomplish. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? The Village Vanguard has always been my favorite room in the city. It’s one of the few places that are small, cozy, great sounding, un-flashy, and wonderfully curated. My second and more recent favorite is Carnegie Hall. It’s elegant and tasteful in design, and, despite being large in size, acoustically impeccable. Roulette, Le Poisson Rouge, and The Stone all have exciting and innovative programming, and Rockwood Music Hall and Caffe Vivaldi are great places to see songwriters. I also love house concerts! 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pastimes? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? Another great question. I have to say, I love going to museums. I learn so much about texture, character, emotion, and storytelling from visual art. I also love reading. As a songwriter, it’s tempting to use other songwriters as primary sources of inspiration. But at the end of the day, you’re dealing largely with language, and most of the masters of language are writers. It is from poetry, short stories, novels, non-fiction, and transcribed interviews that I get a majority of my inspiration for how to use text. Other than these "artsy-fartsy" activities, my most memorable moments are definitely hanging out with friends and family. Having friends who love me and will jump on my back in the freezing cold and refuse to let go until I fall my face into the snow, or a sibling (in my case older brother) who while dressed as ‘Death’ on Halloween when I am dressed as a ‘Pumpkin Rights Advocate’ will dance with me at a rock show until we sweat so hard we can barely see, it’s these absurd and goofy moments that make me happy and want to get up the next day and keep doing what I do. 9. Who are you currently listening to? I've been listening to Messiaen’s piano music. As I develop a musical vocabulary that borrows from different genres, I’m constantly trying to balance consonant, tuneful melodic and harmonic content with more dissonant, colorful sound worlds. Messiaen has this breathtaking harmonic palette that takes dissonance and makes it heart wrenching and beautiful.

I’m learning that harmony is as much a horizontal craft as it is vertical, which is to say that our emotional response to a certain chord is not just based on that fragment, but everything that comes before and after it. If you took some of Messiaen’s chords out of context, they’d be brash and unsettling. But he places his musical materials so intelligently on a temporal plane that you feel invited into his world, rather than pushed away. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring musicians who may or may not be reading this? Be mindful of what you like and don’t like, and be specific about why you do and don’t like these things. If you hear a song and hate it, figure out what caused the reaction. Were the lyrics cheesy? Was the drumbeat too cluttered? Or if a composition really moves you, what about it did that? You may find that you actually hated the brass arrangement, and never ever want to hear a trombone ever again, but that modulating from A major to F minor pulls your heartstrings inexplicably.

You may also discover larger-scale insights about yourself as an artist; you may find that instrumental music just doesn’t connect to you as much as vocal music does, or that you always need to play your instrument really loudly to feel like you are authentically expressing yourself. Regardless of what you uncover, as a musician you live in the world of details, and the more articulate you can be about the things that move and don’t move you, the more self-awareness you have, and therefore the more in control over your creativity you are.

Interview with: Nathaniel Chase

Photo by: Jose Pagan

The next interview of the year is with Nathaniel Chase. I met Nathaniel (Nate) through a gig with Mimesis Ensemble performing an opera by Mohammad Fairouz titled "Sumeida's Song". We performed the piece at the Ethical Culture Center and Carnegie. The two of us were also part of the bass section for the initial recording on Bridge Records. Nathaniel is a graduate of the Yale School of Music, is active as a freelancer throughout the Tri-state area. His performances range from early music and the standard orchestral repertoire with Ensemble 212 and the Metro Chamber Orchestra, to chamber and contemporary music with the Lucerne Festival and the Mimesis Ensemble. Mr. Chase is the conductor of the Really Terrible Orchestra of Westchester, a White Plains based community orchestra, and has appeared as a conductor with the Mimesis Ensemble and on the New England Conservatory Composers' Series. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and was a winner of the 2010 Yale School of Music Concerto Competition. 1. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? My first gig in New York was with Ensemble 212, a chamber orchestra on the Upper West Side. Pretty soon I picked up work with a group in Westchester and as a ringer with community orchestra. I found each of those gigs through someone I knew before moving to New York. Everything spread out through networking from there. Since I've received almost all of my work because someone I played with needed a bassist or recommended me to someone who did, I would say the most important thing for players entering the freelance scene is to always play your best. At nearly every gig, even the bad ones, there is someone who can give you work if they like your playing. Understand that it will take time to build a network, and go to lots of shows. Hearing others will help your playing and being around the scene will remind people that you exist. Not to mention that hearing music is fun. If it isn't, you might want to find another line of work. 2. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I think I've had some success because I know the rep. If you're playing a Brahms symphony and someone in the section doesn't know how it goes, it's a problem. Everyone notices, and that person is probably not getting called back. I show up to play music, not just lay down the notes, and I understand that the way you play Bach is not the way you play Bruckner. I think these aspects of my playing have helped me get noticed, which has led to those precious recommendations. 3. Can you give us some insight on your practice routine? My first principle of practicing is that you have to be analytical if you want to improve. Playing something incorrectly fifty times doesn't help you play it better, it just makes you really good at playing it poorly. When I encounter a problem, I look for the root causes and try to address those. I ask questions like: Am I breathing? Am I using my weight? How is my tracking? Does the shape of my left hand allow for reliable shifts? Is upper body movement helping or hindering me? Once I've addressed these sorts of issues, I come back to the difficult passage and it's usually better immediately. It's also important to develop a concept of how you want something to sound before you begin to work on it. Otherwise, your technical limitations will influence your artistic decisions. Analytical work is crucial, but you also need to play a lot of notes. The method described above can lead to 90 minutes spent on 8 bars, which is sometimes necessary but often counterproductive. I like to read through etude books like Storch-Hrabe and Findeisen just to keep my chops/endurance up, especially when I'm going through a period with few concerts. The point isn't to get everything absolutely perfect, but rather to work on the problems presented in an etude and then keep moving. This is good for sight reading skills as well. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? My teachers Don Palma, Ken Harper, and Sue Cahill have had a huge influence on me. Sue's influence was very important, as she was my first teacher and got me off on the right foot. Ken taught me a lot about analytical thinking, and Don helped me grow into a more mature musician. Jacqueline du Pre's playing inspired me a lot when I was starting out, and Edgar Meyer was an absolute revelation when I discovered him. Other muscians that come to mind are: Francois Rabbath, Paul Ellison, Ed Barker, Anner Bylsma, Pieter Wispelwey, Itzhak Perlman, Jascha Heifetz, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Emma Kirkby, Ian Bostridge, Carlos Kleiber, Claudio Abbado, Ton Koopman, and John Eliot Gardiner. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I play a German bass, made by Johannes Rubner in 1988. It has an excellent C-extension by Roberson and Sons in Albuquerque. That shop did most of the set up as well. I use a Marco Raposo bow. No matter what kind of gear you have, getting around the city is a pain. I highly recommend a solid rubber (not inflatable) wheel. I've had mine over ten years and it's still going strong. A thoroughly waterproof case (I have a Mooradian) is important, too. 6. Your primary focus is classical music, what insight can you give into the current state of the classical scene in New York City? Is it thriving, in transition or completely irrelevant? That's a hard to question to answer, because New York doesn't have just one classical music scene. I can think of at least three, and they're all doing differently. The biggest scene is the major institutions like the Met, Phil, Ballet,and Carnegie Hall. No other city in the country has so many, and on the whole these organizations are doing relatively well at the moment, although the financial difficulties of New York City Opera have been hard to watch. In the long term, I think the other big organizations need to be concerned they don't go down that path as well. Another scene consists of smaller organizations like chamber orchestras, both in and around the city. This is where I have most of my work. Many these groups are are struggling to find and retain audiences, but they are surviving. In general they are doing fewer concerts with fewer players than they used to, but I don't want to paint too dark a picture. Some groups are doing well, and there will always be a place for classical music beyond Lincoln Center and Carnegie. The third scene is built around new music, and it's thriving, with lots of excellent performances at places like Roulette, Spectrum and Le Poisson Rouge. Classical music in general could be much more relevant to popular culture, but most of the attempts I see to 'open up the concert hall' or 'find new audiences' are ineffective. It is not enough to do a few kids concerts, or hire a 'Director of Outreach' to solve the problem from behind a desk. There needs to be a radical and probably uncomfortable change in the environment around classical music, both for it's artistic health and it's financial sustainability. It's not just the environment: the way the music is performed needs to change as well, starting with the banishment of artless, audition mentality playing. Musicians, especially in orchestras, need to start thinking of ourselves as artists, not worker drones, and consider the aesthetic, moral, economic, and political consequences of our performances. It is increasingly clear that these questions cannot be outsourced to administrators, conductors, or star soloists. We have to take full ownership of, and responsibility for the music we create. I could go on, but I guess I'd have to start my own blog for that. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? I often find myself at Spectrum, The Stone, or Roulette. The Dimenna Center has interesting concerts. Sometimes I'll go to Smalls, Rockwood, or The Bitter End. There's always Lincoln Center and Carnegie. I recently discovered DROM, which is starting a classical series directed by Ransom Wilson. Ok, maybe that last one is a bit of a plug. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I enjoy reading and discovering hidden corners of the city, both in person and on the map. Pablo Casals supposedly said something like "I'm a human first, a musician second, and a cellist third". Real or not, it's a good quote, and with that in mind, I should probably get out more. My most memorable non-musical moment in New York is definitely taking part in the Occupy Wall Street protests. They were the sort of thing I know I'll look back on in forty years and say "I was there", even if they were in many ways ultimately disappointing. 9. Who are you currently listening to? I've gotten back into Webern recently, and I'm always listening to Bach, especially Ton Koopman's recordings. A friend turned me on to Gardiner's recordings of Brahms. I've always liked his recordings of the Beethoven symphonies. I'm a big fan of Schubert and Schumann Lieder- the human voice is the ultimate musical instrument and the best model for instrumentalists. My favorite singers for that rep are Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Ian Bostridge. Verdi, Berg, and Stravinsky have grabbed my attention lately. For newer stuff, I'm really liking Thomas Ades, although I haven't heard the opera of his New York City Opera is putting on. Can't forget Miles Davis and Mingus. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? If you're not putting your heart and soul into your music, you're not doing it right. Play scales to give your heart and soul the means to reach your audience. Don't let the pressure of success, jaded colleagues, or the insular atmosphere of a conservatory crush your artistic spirit. Have a life beyond music, so you have something to say with it. --

Catch Nathaniel at these upcoming live performances in 2013:

3/23 Ensemble 212 @ Good Shepherd-Faith Church, 8pm. Music by Felsenfeld, Schubert, Hummel, and Haydn. More info: here

4/12 Yale in New York @ Zankel Hall, 7:30pm. Music by Strauss, Barnson and Tchaikovsky. More info: here 4/27 Metro Chamber Orchestra @ St. Ann and the Holy Trinity, 8pm. Beethoven 9. More info: here

Interview with: Justin Goldner

The first interview of the year is with a bassist who is beyond up and coming but a full blown professional in the New York music scene. Justin Goldner‘s musical explorations have taken him to 25 countries as a bassist, guitarist, producer, songwriter, language junkie and lover of culture in all its manifestations. Working as a session musician and sideman in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville he has been privileged to make music with the likes of Paul Shaffer, Lenny Pickett, John Scofield, Chris Potter, Wayne Krantz, Richard Bona and Mark O’Connor.

As the founder of Funky Butter Productions, he has produced albums and/or written for Grace McLean, Carrie Manolakos, Abby Bernstein and others. As an educator, he has conducted music master classes in English and Spanish, in Latin America and Asia through the U.S. State Department's "American Music Abroad" program and writes regularly for the Subdiversity Blog with tips for professional and touring musicians. He hurls consistently snarky remarks into the Twitter-void via @JusBass. 1. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? For a few years when I first got to town, I was mostly playing with my college band at Village spots like The Lion's Den, The Bitter End, etc. At a certain point, I started scouring Craigslist to see what else was out there, and that experience-- of playing with groups that ran the gamut as far as styles, expectations, skill level (and quality!)-- was really instructional in getting my skills together both as a player and as a professional. I would take any and every gig I could find, more for the variety and experience that to make a buck because I was in school at the time. I was really lucky too in that I pretty much enjoyed it all, from the dive bar cover gig to the jazz brunch and everything in between. For players who are new in town, getting yourself out there is really critical as far as meeting people and networking, but ALSO for learning what's expected of pro musicians. Being an excellent player is the prerequisite; maintaining high professional standards, reliability, and just being a good person are what get you hired (and re-hired). 2. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I was a really obsessive listener as a kid, and so I think having that wide musical vocabulary has given me a broad palette for different musical situations. At a certain point, I had to "unlearn" some of the chopsier aesthetic I had once gravitated towards, so I think learning to "dial it back" and to listen to other musicians while I'm playing has really helped me as well. Attention to detail (sometimes bordering on obsessive!) has also been a boon- focusing on what note is most effective, where to place that note against the drums (pocket), and when to cut that note off lets me make informed choices when writing and playing parts. 3. Can you give us some insight on your practice routine? Nowadays, my practice is most often focused on listening, pocket, and tone. I'll sometimes learn the bass part from a record I'm inspired by, and then play along to it (with my volume down) and try and learn the other instrumental parts while I'm playing the bass part. This takes my focus away from my own playing and really trains me to be conscious of what everyone else is doing, making my own choices more supportive. I also love playing along to a metronome and varying my placement-- locked in, ahead of or behind the beat. Wayne Krantz once advised me, "When you're playing to a drum machine or a loop, it does all the grooving for you. Making a groove sit well against just a click is the real challenge." I'm still working on that one! 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? My influences-- the lasting, recurrent ones-- seem to be artists whose music changed repeatedly throughout their careers. Time and again I've rediscovered Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell, both of whom changed direction over and over, along with Meshell Ndegeocello, who was effectively the reason I picked up the bass. J.S. Bach has also marked several really formative periods in my musical growth. His melodies, his intervals and inversions are all unmatched and inspire me to try new things, whether I'm playing pop music, jazz, or anything in between. As far as other bassists: Paul McCartney, Sting, Aston "Familyman" Barrett (of Bob Marley fame). Meshell Ndegeocello once told me, "Every one of Familyman's bass lines is like a complete song in itself". David Hood (of the Muscle Shoals Swampers). 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? Portability is absolutely key in New York- my gear seems to get lighter and lighter each year! I end up using my '66 Precision and a Hofner Club reissue quite a lot, and I have a '67 Vox Sidewinder that is just dripping vibe. (I coveted Dave Dawda's Sidewinder for ages before finding my own!) For years, though, my only gigging axe was a Modulus VJ that Meshell Ndegeocello was kind enough to give me. It's a great instrument, but a modern active bass with a graphite neck is a far cry from most of the tones I was after, and as a result, I found that there's a huge range of tonal flexibility in your fingers alone. I'm not too picky about amps, or even really about basses, so if you find an instrument that inspires you to pick it up in the first place, I think the rest is about what your hands do with it. I also have a habit of acquiring random shit on Craigslist that makes weird sounds. I figure if I use an instrument on 2 tracks, it's more or less paid for itself. I have big Mexican bass guitarron that has way more than filled its quota, and a banjo that I bought off my friend in high school for $50. The pickup that I put in it a couple years ago cost more than the banjo did! If you're really curious about some other gear I try and maintain a list here. 6. You also run a production company and are a musical director. Do you feel musicians need to broaden their horizons in our new market place or is there still room for a typical "sideman"? I got into producing and MD'ing because I kept meeting artists that I was especially inspired to work with, and those sorts of collaborations soon proved to be incredibly fulfilling creatively. It's always a great idea to expand your skill set partially because it opens new opportunities for work but also, because it can open up new perspectives on your playing. At the same time, knowing when to step back and let someone else take the reigns is the mark of a mature musician. For example, recording and mixing has given me new respect and understanding for what engineers do, as well as given me ears to fine-tune my bass playing (and tone) to sit better with the other musical elements on a track or in a band. But when I'm producing, I always prefer to have an engineer on hand whose job it is to look after the sonic elements so that I can focus on musical texture, arrangement, and getting memorable performances. In fact, I think my best moments as a producer or music director have been when I've had the freedom to step back and put the bass in another person's hands. It's important to take on a single role at a time so you can best fulfill that role. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Rockwood Music Hall is kind of the center of the universe for me these days. To have a place where you can go 7 nights a week and see free music on 2 stages from 6pm to 2am and have it be consistently GOOD music, whether or not you know who you're seeing is damn near close to magical. I could go on for ages about how Ken Rockwood stepped up and filled a sorely needed gap in the New York music scene, or about how inspiring it is to step off of stage after a gig at Rockwood only to have the best musicians in the world playing before and/or after you. The fact is, I feel lucky to be in NYC with the scene existing there the way it does. Besides that, I love catching world and groove music at places like Bembe in Williamsburg, and some friends of mine have a hip-hop/soul jam called "The Lesson" on Thursdays at Arelene's Grocery. Those are consistent stops during my late-night wanderings. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pastimes? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I have a strange hobby of dabbling with foreign languages. It's proven to be a really incredible window into getting to know people from other places and cultures, in a similar way that music can be. I'm also trying to get my dancing chops together that is, to get my feet and hips working as well as my fingers do, since movement is a completely fundamental part of music that I dismissed for way too long. I think the most thrilling thing about New York in the almost 9 years that I've lived here is the unexpected day to day collisions as people stream through their lives. Random encounters, either with people you knew long ago and never expected to see, or with people you never knew who then become significant parts of your life... that's what keeps me absolutely addicted to New York City. And that moment in the train, when some crazy dude is making a fuss so you share a frighteningly amused moment of eye contact with the stranger across the subway car. Those times when the fourth wall of New York insulation is broken those are the most memorable for me. 9. Who are you currently listening to? Florence & The Machine: I love the unconventional arrangements and textures and (producer) Paul Epworth is brilliant. Della Mae: a fantastic bluegrass band that I met on a (wild) gig in Turkmenistan Salsa, merengue and bachata. I fell in love with this stuff during a tour in the Domincan Republic! A surprising amount of country pop (Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum) Crooked Still: Traditional blues and bluegrass songs with a contemporary but organic spin. J.S. Bach: particularly, the cello suites, French Suites, and a disc of oboe concerti 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? If you're going to put any time into a project, you might as well give it 200% in every regard. There are a million amazing musicians in New York City, and there is always going to be someone out there who's better than you. That can be utterly intimidating, but I find it really motivating as well, to hold yourself to the highest standards. You CAN be really fucking good at what you do, and you should. Once you've achieved that once or twice, it's no longer something you have to take on faith- it becomes a reliable part of your work ethic. I also think it's important to do some leveling with yourself and figure out what your lowest common denominator is. You've got to enjoy what you're doing, or you'll burn out quick! That doesn't mean every gig is going to be a breeze; in fact, it's unlikely that you're going to waltz into anything comfortable until you've cut your teeth a bit. But that experience is invaluable, and the truth is, the sideman/hired-gun route is not right for everyone, and is not the only career path in music. It's important to take stock of what you want to be doing musically and creatively 5, 10, 30 years down the road, and steer your course accordingly. And in case it didn't come through above- enjoy every moment. That's why we got into music in the first place, right?

-- Want to see Justin live? Check out some of his upcoming gigs in 2013.

3/8 Meaghan Farrell @ Tammany Hall, 8pm

3/9 Del Exilio CD Release @ Joe's Pub, 11pm

3/18 Jenn Bostic @ Rockwood Music Hall, 8pm

3/19 Alice Lee @ Rockwood Music Hall, 6pm

3/20 Grace Weber @ Rockwood 2, 7pm

Interview with: Bryan Percivall

After quite a hiatus, we're finally back with a new interview. This newest interview is with a player that keeps busy performing on double and electric bass. Bryan Percivall is a professional bassist, musical director and teacher. His 10 year professional career has seen tours from Athens, Greece to Los Angeles and studios from Avatar and Legacy in NYC to Ocean Way of Nashville and Q Division of Boston. In addition to session work in New York he is currently touring with his own rock band, Romans, with singer Jeremy Lublin (We Are the Fury) and guitarist Craig Bonich (Head Automatica). Bryin is also directing the band of country singer Emily Earle. Bryan will be performing with Emily Earle at 11st Bar on March 21st at 10 P.M. and will also be performing with his band Romans as a headliner at Bowery Electric on April 28th. You can access their music and other projects Bryan has been involved with via this link. Brian can also be contact directly at his email address

1. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city?

Just some of the worst things you would never want to hear, haha. I took anything and everything from everyone. Lots of craigslist gigs and random people from open jams, even a few gigs from a guy I met in a Sam Ash. I've come to realize that its not about what you're necessarily qualified for, but telling someone you can do it and figuring it out. I talked myself into a musical theater recording session with an orchestra on bowed upright. Not something for which I was particularly qualified, but I practiced the hell out of if for a month, made it happen, and they loved me. I've made several thousand off of craigslist gigs in the couple years I've been here. While many of these were not the greatest gigs themselves, the connections I made led me to some of the best musicians I now know in some of the most bewildering and unexpected ways.

Networking is huge obviously. It's surprising how many gigs you get from talking to someone at a bar without them ever having heard you, you might just be in the right place at the right time. That being said, remember theres a fine line between being an awesome networker and being obnoxious. Make connections and be friendly but don't be a creepy stalker.

In general: be on time, look awesome, be professional, rock out, be easy to work with, be fun to hang out with, and be a killer player. It's all of these things equally that make someone remember your name when they're looking for a bassist for their next awesome $1000 gig. 2. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Pocket, versatility and enthusiasm. Give me anything from a country gig to a musical theater gig and I'll be doing everything I can to make some butts wiggle, haha. I've figured out that what's served me best is doing as many different things as possible but still sounding like me when I do them. I'm doing a jazz fusion gig later and I know I'm not going to be a Patitucci and I'll probably sound more like a Paul Jackson but they hired me because they know that that's what they're going to get. 3. On a typical day what is your practice routine like? Recently, I've been learning guitar and key bass to try some different things and that's taken up a lot of the practice time that is not spent specifically learning songs for artists. I feel that learning something like guitar is important for us lowend-ers because it shifts your ear to hearing some of the upper structure of chords. Its amazing how hard it is to pick those things out if you're used to playing root-5 in the lower octaves all day long. I got a Roland Gaia recently to learn some key bass parts for a singer songwriter I play for and have been really running with it. I'm going to do some insane, brutal, saw-tooth synth, Presets/Rapture type group by the end of the summer and we'll wear insane costumes and every gig will be a huge mess of a party. Just wait and see, haha. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? As far as bass: Meshelle Ndegeocello, Raphael Saadiq, 'Family Man' Barret, James Jamerson, Pino Palladino and Justin Meldal-Johnsen, amongst all the others. Pino and Justin's careers really inspire me to be constantly evolving, searching for something new, even if that isn't just playing bass. Justin was Beck's bassist and MD for 11 years, then did Nine Inch Nails last tour, played with everyone from Black Eyed Peas to Bird and the Bee and has a ridiculous film session discography as well. As if that wasn't enough, he also produces; he did M83's last album and is finishing the Neon Trees. If I can have 1% that hip of a career, I'll die happy. Still, he finds time to have a great forum on TalkBass.com and answer on a daily basis. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? Mainly I use a Jazz bass that I got on eBay for 80% of everything I do. Its a '69 body with original pick ups and a replacement ESP neck from the 80s. It was all painted this horrid black and I sanded and refinished the body in my bath tub. I was going to put a '74 neck on it but ended up just going with the one that was on it. In addition to the Jazz I also have a Ken Smith 5 string MW, a hollow body '69 Vox Sidewinder that I got from my uncle, and a '50s reissue P that has 7 year old flats on it. I'm looking for a good 70's P with a J bass pick up in the bridge spot now.

We're blessed to live in a city where a backline is pretty regular, so take advantage of that. The only down side of that is you never know what you're going to get. Some rooms have great amps, like Rockwood and Living Room with their Aguilar rigs, and other times you'll have trash, (we wont name names...). I always bring a preamp/DI pedal to plug through so I can send something I know I like to the front of house and also try to mold the amp a little bit. I use the SansAmp bass driver for the DI or the VT Bass pedal to start with something I know I like. A bunch of companies like Mark Bass, Eden, Aguilar and others make some great options for relatively low cost, so try a few out.

As far as amps go, it's nice to have something on a little cart that you can carry around on the subway and not have to spend $50 of the $75 you're making on a gig on the cab. I have a Aguilar ToneHammer 500 powering a DNS-112N cab that Jaxon over at Rudy's Music helped me pick out. It sounds great, loud enough to play weddings or even venues like Glasslands, and it weighs nothing. The head is 4 lbs and the cab is 30lb, not my definition of fun to carry but sure beats spending the cash. Gallien-Krueger and Genz Benz make some great light amps as well. For larger gigs, I have a SVT-3 driving an Ampeg 4x10 hlf or I have access to a Ampeg VR-4 with an 80's 8x10 if I really need it. Pedals I'm using include: VT Bass Driver, Sans Amp Bass Driver, Rat Fuzz, T-Rex Bass Juice, EHX Bass Synth and Frequency Analyzer, Boss CEB-3 and OC-2, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal and the EBS Multi Comp. 6. When recording bass, what are some essential tools you like to use? (Plugins, DI boxes, etc.) What do you feel is key to laying down the right take? When I record from home I just go from direct out from my SVT-3 into an M Box and into Logic. Recording from home is something that is a definite possibility for just about anyone and can be a quick and easy way to make some cash. It saves the artist money and enables you to advertise to people that are anywhere in the world. Anyone with a computer can get a DI, go through an audio interface and into whatever program you choose. In the end, you're just sending them the .wav files. It's not hard and you have all the time in the world to fiddle with your gear and get a good sound.

If I record at a studio, I take a listen to what their style is and try to have some options when I walk in. Maybe a couple basses that fit the artists sound? Do they want some effects? How bout a couple fuzz pedals? Usually I cruise in with my Jazz bass and one other, a SansAmp, and a couple pedals I think might be fun. I haven't recorded at a legitimate studio that didn't have an amp and DI that I didn't enjoy, if I'm lucky I get a Avalon U5 and a crusty old SVT. Most of the fun of recording is being able to go through the studios toy chest and tinker about.

Getting the right take is about talking to the artist or producer to see where they're coming from and then giving them as many ideas as you can to fit the song. That could mean the part is simple and bassy, maybe they need a bright pick bass sound or a Jamiroquai modern funk line. Go with your instinct and make something you can sing. All of my best takes are when I'm tired, don't know the song and am just scrambling to catch up and put it down. Take 1 or 2 is always the best. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Rockwood Music Hall always has good music and it's usually free so it's fun to drop in there. There's a great community of musicians that hangs out there on any given night. One time I saw Tim Lefebvre and a drummer I didn't recognize until I saw him playing on a DVD of the Allman Brothers the next day, crazy. You can wander the Lower East Side and hit that, Pianos upstairs, and Living Room for nothing. Pianos also has the best margaritas for $4 before 8 pm. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I used to love video games, but COD ate too much of my life so I had to get rid of that, haha. I really love food and just exploring the city. Planning out a trip with a couple plans to eat brains at this Egyptian place in Astoria, have to try everything once... 9. Who are you currently listening to? Allison Moorer, Blondie, always have Bowie in rotation, Feist's last album Metals is awesome, Iceage, James Blake, Miike Snow, Foreign Exchange, Warm Ghost, NIN and Q-Tip are some of my recent favorites. Waiting on the new Santigold album... 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Have fun; no one gets good at an instrument if they hate it. And if you're planning on making music your full time career, make sure you're putting in the time. Fill your schedule with as many gigs as you can and if you're not gigging then go see someone else's gig. Some of my friends work 70 hours with more regular jobs, make sure you're doing the same.

#bryan #percivall #bass #electric #double #touring #emily earle #romans

Happy New Year!

Thanks to all the bassists who took time out of their schedule to interview with NYCBass! 2012 will be an exciting year with plenty more interviews and articles. Thanks for all your support and Happy New Year!

Interview with: Neville L'green

I first met Neville at Richie Cannata's Monday Night Jam at the Bitter End. His groove and sound was undeniable. Neville has performed with many great musicians over the span of his career. Neville was born in Australia and relocated to New York City in 2000. He has worked with a variety of groups and artists that include Hugh Wilson, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Paul Stivitts, Richie Cannata, Don Harris, Jim Moran and many others. You can hear him on many different jingles and recordings done in Australia and the U.S.; he also teaches privately. To reach Neville for a session or lesson you can email him here. 1. Since you don't reside in New York City but are a NYC Session player how is commuting from outside of the city? I live in Jersey City, Im 10 minutes away from Greenwich Village and World Trade Center. I go in to do recording sessions with 3 or 4 basses on the PATH train, or I drive in, it’s very easy. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? When I first moved to NYC I was a music director in a church, so that took up a bit of time. I recommend going to jams and other peoples gigs. And keep in mind that when people hear you play, they will suppose that’s what you do. So if you do a rock gig, people will suppose you are a rock player. If you do a jazz gig, or a latin gig, people will suppose you do that. And people will ask you to do gigs that they suppose you want to do... so, make sure to play a lot of the music you want to play, and don’t take too many gigs that you don’t like or fit into, just for the money or some other reason. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Um...define “successful”... Well, the most common complement that people have given me is that they like my feel. I have always been into the groove - the vibe...obviously I love everything about good music.. melody harmony, artistic expression, passion, rhythm groove - pocket - whatever you want to call that... I just think that the groove was the thing that got me first - when I was a little kid. One time I was playing at a gig and Anthony Jackson (who was there listening) said to me “hey.. good groove.” I was freaked out that he was there to hear the band, and really nervous to have to play in front of him (this was in Australia, before I moved to NY) and to get a complement like that from an Artist like him was an amazing thing. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? Well, in no particular order - Will Lee, Roger Waters, James Jamerson, whoever played bass on those old latin records my mum and dad had, Tito Puente, Greg Lyon, Victor Rounds, Anthony Jackson, Miles, Coltrane, Paul Desmond, Ray Brown, my Mum, my Dad, Mike Stern, Salvadore Dali, Jim Kelly, Lincoln Goines, Mick Kenny, Chris Falson, Christian McBride, Stan Getz, Marcus Miller, Thumbs Johnson, Daryl Jones, Neville Bros/Meters, Professor Longhair, Lonnie Mack, Oscar Peterson, Astrud Gilberto, Debussy, Dr John, Dr Bob, Omar Hakim,...Ok they are not all bass players.. but they are all vibe-mongers. All these people do their thing with passion and conviction. I love groove, I love vibe, I love passion... I don’t care if people play a few “wrong” notes...if the vibe is there, if the groove is there, if the music is alive and kicking.. I love it. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? Oh yeah, gear! haha! I recommend using a bass and amp that you like the sound of! Don’t buy it cause it’s lightweight, buy it cause it sounds great. Well, I don’t think I have anything really special. A lot of the time I use an old Groove Tubes pre-amp through a Gallien Kruger head. It’s heavy but I like the sound. I have an old Mesa/Boogie Bass 400, which is all tubes (heavier...), and I love the sound of that. I also have an old Ampeg Flip top (B15N). What a great amp! (insanely heavy!!!). One of the legendary recording amps. I use Hartke boxes a lot. I have a Music Man with precision and Jazz pickups added. I can get a lot of sounds out of that one bass. Also use a Fender Jazz fretless, an old Rickenbacker, and I have a really nice 35 and a half inch scale 6 string made by Dave Segal (New York Bass Works). 6. When recording bass, what are some essential tools you like to use? (Plugins, DI boxes, etc.) What do you feel is key to laying down the right take? The most important tool is good taste. Laying down the right take - just shut up and play. haha! You gotta care about the song, what’s trying to be done with the song. If you think “how do i get a clever bass line in here somewhere....?” you could hurt the song. So, be careful. I think you need to be able to play the clever line, you need to be able come up with creative ideas, and you REALLY need to be open to the idea of not using any of that, but only using what’s working for the whole song. Take notice of what the producer wants. The bass is not the featured instrument in the track usually, so support the song, support the other instruments, and support the melody and singing and soloist etc. When I first played with Jim Kelly in Sydney, I was so nervous for weeks before the gig, that I decided to play it really safe on the gig. What I mean by that is I decided to just play the bass parts straight and simple, just like on the recordings, or close, and not try to be clever, and I stayed in my comfort zone with everything. After the first set Jim comes up to me and says “Thank you, that was perfect.” He didn’t want me sticking fills everywhere and playing clever stuff all over the place - he needed me to play the song. Play the bass part and make the song work, and groove your arse off. I like to use the right bass for what sound is required or desired in the situation. Flat wound or round wound.. muted or not, pick or fingers. I even used this piece of rubber as a pick on a recording once cause it sounded cool. I like to use my Groove Tubes pre amp when I record, put that on one track, direct bass on another track, and sometimes an amp on another track. The B15 sounds great for recording. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Well, all the usual places I suppose. Bitter End, Iridium, Blue Note sometimes (it’s pricey!) Village Vanguard, all the joints along Bleecker street and round that area, I like a place in the east village called “the Newyorican poets cafe”.. some good latin music there. and there are lot more places, especially in the east village, that I want to check out some more, when I have time. I go to Youtube a fair bit too. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? Pastimes.. watching good funny movies. I love good English comedies (even though I don’t know if the English did much other good for the world... ok, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Stones and the Who.... and a couple of others! Oh, and meat pies. And I like to exercise to stay strong and healthy, which helps a LOT with playing by the way. Memorable moments not involving music... probably some good friends at the Jersey shore in summer. 9. Who are you currently listening to? well, lots of stuff. I love the old latin stuff.. Tito Puente of course, Paquito de Riviera, Mongo Santa Maria...and I love stuff like Jamiroquai, and my all time favorites the old R&B tunes...and Miles, Coltrane, etc. No surprises there I think. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Young and aspiring players...practice your arse off...while you can! haha! a couple of years from now you will either be playing all over the place, or you’ll have a day gig and there is not much time for practice. Look after yourself and keep your head and body in good order and practice and know lots of tunes so you are ready to do lots of gigs. Those who are not reading this...I guess I can’t tell you anything! ha!

Interview with: Paul Gil

Paul Gil has been performing on the electric bass since 1985. He has performed with many different groups including The New York Citizens, Itchy Trigger Finger, and the Squeezebox House Band which took place at Don Hill's between 1998 and 2001. At Squeezebox he would back up notable names such as Lady Bunny, Cherrie Curry, Bebe Buell, Debbie Harry and Dean Johnson.

Currently Paul is the bassist for The Bastards of Melody, Bunnie England and The New Originals and notably the bassist for Anthony Rapp's (RENT) band. Paul is also in a production of Rapp's theater piece titled "Without You" which just finished a run at the 2010 NYMF. Paul can be reached via email for sessions and other questions. 1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I’m a born and bred New Yorker born in Hells Kitchen. I lived on Staten Island throughout elementary school and college. I moved into Manhattan in 1989. While I love L.A. and and a few other places, there’s no where I’d rather live. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? I played my first bar gigs when I was 14 years old at clubs on Staten Island. We were a 4 piece all original band named Borderline (later changed the named to No Party). :istening back to the old tapes it was really great stuff for the time. My first big gig was at the old Great Gildersleeves on Bowery. I was still 14 and it was my introduction to being a Manhattan musician. Lee Rocker, the bassist for the Stray Cats, happened to be hanging out there that night and came up to me and said he really dug our stuff and that I was a really ballsy player. That was cool. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I really love to lay into bass line, I mean really play hard and deliberate. The presence in my sound is, I think, what sets me apart. It took a while to get the right balance between instrument, amp and attack but once I found it, I really worked it hard. In terms of writing bass lines in my original bands, I love to write to the melody line. My first bass “teacher” was Paul McCartney in that I’d come home from school when I was 12 and put on “Sgt. Pepper” or Wings' "At the speed of sound” and try to pick off the bass lines and sing. I love when a bass line really moves. It can be just like another voice. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? As I mentioned, Paul McCartney, but I also love Bruce Foxton from The Jam, Karl Alvarez from The Descendants/All. There are so many bassist that I love and borrowed from over the years like Entwhistle, Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, John Taylor, Bruce Thomas, Steve Harris, Roger Glover and the list goes on. I’ve also been fortunate to meet certain people at certain times in my career that guided me and or open doors for me. Some of those are Bucket from the NYC Ska band, The Toasters, who not only had my band at the time The NY Citizens on many bills with him but also owned and operated Moon Records that released all of our records. Barb Morrison, who I played with in a band called Itchy Trigger Finger from 1994 – 99 who wrote some great hard rock tunes that gave me the forum to grow as a writer myself and who introduced me to the people who ran the Squeezebox. Squeezebox was a gay/straight rock and roll party every Friday night at Don Hills and I got the opportunity to work as the bass player in the house band there for about 3 years. Meeting Anthony Rapp in 2001 and working as the bassist in his band since was also a big break for me. Lastly, although she’s not a musician, my wife Julia, who besides being my biggest fan, has always pushed me when I needed a push and supported every project I’ve ever done. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I am a huge fan of Peavey basses. My main axe is a 1987 Peavey Dynabass Unity that I put a passive bartolini P/J setup in. My current rig is a Genz Benz 410 cabinet with a Beringer 200 watt head. 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in new york? I really have not had an issue an issue with this. I have a fender 1x12 combo amp at home that use for rehearsing in the apartment. Headphones are useful late night. 7. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I love to cook, play poker and smoke cigars. One of my greatest memories was being at the Garden the night the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. 8. Who are you currently listening to? These days my 12 and 6 year old sons are turning me on to new music. I can listen to Beatles for hours still. 9. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? YES, play with anyone and everyone you get a chance to play with. The experience is priceless and that is how you’ll make contacts and branch out. If you really want to be a bassist for your career, avoid putting all your eggs in one basket (playing in just one band).

Interview with: Bob DiGiacomo

The next interviewee for NYCBass was a player I heard about while performing in a group I recently joined. After hearing him on Youtube with his main group Rubber Skunk, I was convinced that he deserved an interview. Bob DiGiacomo grew up in a musical family. His early life exposed him to all kinds of music from Bluegrass to Rock to Jazz to Soul. His high school days were filled with numerous school music ensembles as well as bands made up of various like minded friends. Any particular day could start with concert band in the morning, a madrigal rehearsal in the afternoon and one of many types of rock bands in the evening.

At the end of high school Bob saw the opportunity to gain a much deeper understanding of music and went for it. He attended Capital University in Columbus, OH and completed a Bachelor's in Music Industry. This degree was a combination of jazz performance and music business courses with an emphasis in recording techniques and technology.

Once out of school Bob found work as a bass player working for Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. This was fun and provided some much needed funds, but ultimately proved to be a stagnant environment. A brief stint living in Nashville during 2005 and 2006 provided him with some important insights into the music world and steeled his resolve to tackle the musical (and otherwise) jungle of New York City. Bob arrived in NYC in the spring of 2009 ready to hit the ground running.

Since then he has been gigging primarily in the NY area with some treks extending into the north east and mid-atlantic regions. Look out for him on his two main gigs with Hernan Romero and Rubber Skunk. Bob can be reached via his email or his website. 1. Since you don't reside in New York City but are a NYC Session player how is commuting from outside of the city? Actually, I do reside in Manhattan. But since I live in upper Manhattan it is still a trek to get to every gig. The subway is my best friend, but sometimes lugging the amp up and down the stairs is a real pain in the butt. My car died shortly after arriving in NYC and have been able to function quite nicely without one for a couple of years now. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city?

My first gigs here in the city were with a singer/songwriter. I got them through my friend who was the drummer at the time. The best way to get work is just to meet people. You could be the most amazing player, but if no one knows you how can they call you for a gig? 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I would say my biggest asset that has helped me out is my ability to listen and respond to changes in the music. Live performance can be crazy because you never know what direction the other band members might go in. The more sensitive you are, the faster you can pick up the new direction and play something that compliments it. I also like to write charts. It really helps me conceptualize the form of a song. It takes a little more time and effort before hand, but it really makes a rehearsal go smoother and gets everyone on the same page. Bands can really sound great when everyone plays the same chords.

As an example, this spring I had the opportunity to audition for Flamenco/Fusion guitarist Hernan Romero. After several scheduling conflicts Hernan told me to skip a rehearsal and just show up on the gig. The gig would be the audition. So I prepared two albums worth of material, charts and all, ready to go. When I showed up to the gig and showed him the charts he said, "That's great, but we're not going to play any of that tonight. Just follow me." Well, he is still calling me for gigs and I will be playing the Panama jazz festival with him in October, so I guess I passed the audition. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? The short answer to this question is Rocco and Jaco. Jaco Pastorious' fretless tone just warmed my soul when I first heard it. Of course the guy was a technical wizard, but some of my most favorite playing of his is with Joni Mitchell. It can be so delicate and beautiful. I am always trying to achieve this singing quality in my playing. Rocco Prestia of Tower Of Power was another huge influence. Who can deny the immediacy and propulsion of the bass line from What is Hip? When I am not trying to make you cry I am using 16th notes to make you shake your butt.

The long list of bass players and other musicians who have influenced me is too long to mention, but there are some in particular who have had a huge influence on my approach. Vinnie Colaiuta, Steely Dan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chick Corea, Bela Fleck, early Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Harry Connick, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Prince, Frank Zappa, Maceo Parker, and Charles Mingus are but a small sample. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention my father, Rick DiGiacomo. He got me pointed in the right direction from the very beginning. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? For a player who is playing a lot around the city? The lightest gear possible! Seriously.....the lightest gear possible. I have a Genz Benz ShuttleMAX 12.0 and an Acme 2x10 cabinet, but those stay home most of the time. This rig tells you the truth and I love it, but I use the house rig when there is one because moving my amp around is a real drag. My main bass is an F Bass AC-6 (fretless) and I also use a 5 string Peavey Cirrus for the more aggressive gigs. The Peavey is wonderful because every note is deep and clean. The F Bass is what i consider to be my true voice. Both basses are very stable and respond evenly across the instrument.

The most popular gear in the city seems to be a J bass or P bass through Ampeg or Hartke amps. They do the job just fine, but my for my playing style I prefer the extended range of 5 and 6 stings basses and amps that cleanly reproduce exactly what you play into them. It can be scary when all your flaws are clearly exposed but it certainly motivates me to practice! The current trend is to use vintage gear for the cool factor, but I never really felt the allure. Instrument design is still evolving and I feel that we should embrace the changes. I obsess over my gear with the goal of removing as many obstacles as I can between the feeling I want to express and the audience. 6. When recording bass, what are some essential tools you like to use? (Plugins, DI boxes, etc.) What do you feel is key to laying down the right take? For me to lay down the best take the most important piece of the puzzle is the drummer. If I am not comfortable with the drummer then I can never play to the fullest of my abilities. When you get together with someone who is on the same wavelength as you all the notes just seem to take fall into place. I usually prefer to record direct because I like a clean, clear signal.

Distortion can easily cause something to get lost in the mix so, even though I love distortion, I leave it to the guitar player. When I am recording direct the most important piece of gear for me is either the headphones or the monitors. If you are playing through wimpy speakers or crappy cans it is hard to generate the excitement needed to perform at your best. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Most of the time it seems that I see live music when I go out to see my friends play. I have a couple of friends on the jazz scene and I like to catch them at various clubs in the West Village. My wife and I like to go see rock concerts at the Williamsburg Waterfront. We saw Faith No More and Stone Temple Pilots there. Cool vibe although I wish the sound guy would realize that the kick drum is not the most important part of the song. Also got to see John Patitucci with Brian Blade and Joe Lovano at Dizzy's.

This is an excellent room to hear jazz in because you can hear all of the nuance. It was actually acoustically designed for music as opposed to 99% of the venues in NYC. The subway also has some great music in it. It also has much more terrible stuff. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? For me the whole reason for being in New York is the music. Outside of that it isn't really important to me where I am. What is really important to me is the people who are around me. I have met some incredible people here and look forward to meeting many more. New York just seems to attract those who are open minded and tolerant. They also tend to be people who are ready to achieve something great. Those people are quite inspiring. My most memorable moments come from the times that I get to hang out with these kinds of people. 9. Who are you currently listening to? The last two days I have been listening to Gaucho by Steely Dan like crazy. I recently signed up for Spotify and was checking out a whole bunch of McCoy Tyner the other day. Most days I just put my iPod on shuffle so I could be listening to anything from Chet Baker to Meshuggah to Baden Powell. I love the variety. My band Rubber Skunk has just finished its first album so that is etched in my brain at the moment. Look for it to be released in the coming months. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? To all the aspiring players I say follow your heart. Create the music that you want to create. Always be open to new influences and outside ideas, but never forget why you picked up the instrument in the first place. If you can play from that source of inspiration you will have a much easier time letting your own distinct musical voice shine through.

#Electric #Bass #Electric Bass #New York City #Cruise Ships #New York #Ohio

Interview with: Antar Goodwin

Sometimes it's ok to make an exception to the rule. Our interview today is with a New York City session player who currently lives outside of the city. Antar Goodwin was born in Philly, and spent the early part of his life moving with his family. He had a desire to play that showed at a very early age. By the age of five, he was playing drums, and by seven piano and classical violin When asked how he got started in music Antar states that “music started in me”. His earliest memories are of plunking out melodies on his family’s worn out piano or beating out rhythms on chairs. His first set of drums was purchased after his parents realized that a used drum set was cheaper than new chairs. By the time he was in his teens he traded in his violin and was playing bass, piano and beginning to write songs. A Berklee College of Music alumni, Antar next received a scholarship to study at Kripalu, in Lenox MA. Here he met an older fellow traveler who had a measure of success in the music industry, but had become disillusioned with the direction in which he saw his career going. The two became instant friends. Antar spent the next sixty days listening to stories and absorbing musical concepts. It was his new mentor that gave him his first acoustic bass, and even more importantly, the conceptual foundation that would shape his sound for years to come. You can contact Antar for session via his e-mail or by his website. 1. Since you don't reside in New York City but are a NYC Session player how is commuting from outside of the city? It's fine. My drive is remarkably uneventful. Personally, I like living just outside of the city, but being close enough to it to get in for gigs and sessions easily. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you first started here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? I went to lots of jam sessions and open mics. I went to jam sessions to hone my skills and check out other players and went to open mics to find singer/songwriters that needed a bass player. I would advise new people on the scene to do the same thing, but have focus. Go to the jams in the scenes that you like.

One of the mistakes that I made was that I went to every jam I could, I started making money right away, but I was spread way too thin stylistically. I became more successful as a side man once I had more focus and I was able to really develop my own sound and approach to the music that I was hired to play. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Depends upon the situation. In original music, I would say that even though I am a hired gun, I blend in like a band member. I have a good short term memory so I can do last minute one off gigs filling in with an original band without charts. I come from the James Jameson, Anthony Jackson, Steve Gadd school of thought. They were session players that came up with parts that were more like a long term band members would come up with. I do my best to do the same. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? On recorded songs, James Jameson, Stanley Clarke, Lee Sklar, Richard Bona, Matt Garrison, Steve Lawson. Personally, Buddy Booker was and still is a great inspiration. Check out www.buddybooker.com . He's the best teacher that I've ever had.Tyrone Brown was another great teacher. Aside from teachers, I do my best to learn from all of the gigs that I do. Some of the artists that I've played with have said really insightful things that stuck with me. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? Light and loud. For small to medium sized gigs I use a Bag End 1x15 cabinet and an Acoustic Image head. Both light and powerful. I think that any working bassist that does a variety of styles should have a jazz bass, a p bass and a fretless. Just my opinion,but most successful working bassists seem to have a well stocked arsenal. 6. When recording bass, what are some essential tools you like to use? (Plugins, DI boxes, etc.) What do you feel is key to laying down the right take? A great bass. I like internal pre amps. I install Audere preamps in most of my basses. Most good studios have good outboard pre amps in house. In terms of laying down a good track, I think that not being attached to a particular idea will allow for you to play a variety of different things and then pick the one that fits the track.

I heard a story about a drummer that went into the studio with Steely Dan and they kept on asking him for different approaches to the song and every time he did something that was remarkably different from his previous track. I like that idea. It takes a lot to separate from the track that you just put down. My goal as a session player is to be able to be attached to the track while I'm playing it and really connect with it and then be open to doing it again in a completely different style. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? I like The Zinc Bar, but truthfully, I've seen phenomenal players and great music in so many places, from tiny dirty bars to huge concert halls. Will Lee will play at The Bitter End and Richard Bona shows up at The Zinc Bar. In NYC you can see the best players playing anywhere. It's amazing. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I read a lot. I've been listening to audiobooks these days, because I've been doing out of town gigs. Yoga is a key. In our line of work, staying in good shape is really important. We don't have sick days and once work pick up, sleep is the first thing to go. In terms of moments in NY, there are so many. I like hanging out in the park and practicing on summer days, it's like a free concert all day long. You'll see gymnasts, dancers, skaters and of course great music. 9. Who are you currently listening to? Jimi Hendrix, Steve Lawson, Anthony Jackson, George Benson, 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Practice, Listen, Play, Read, daily in any order that works for you. Learn to make quick assessments of a musical situation with whatever info is available. Be patient. Sometimes things happen really quickly and sometimes situations take a while to develop. Be pro rehearsal. Don't always chase the immediate money.

#antar #goodwin #bass #electric #electric bass #New York City #New Jersey #Studio session

Which bass pedal will give my bass a deeper softer sound?

There are two ways to approach this. If you are looking for a much deeper sound you may want to check out an octave pedal. Some good options are the MXR M-288 which can be seen in action here. Another option is the Aguilar Octomizer. While this video is in Spanish you can tell the sound is very high end and will track well in a studio situation.

If you combine that octave pedal with a Chorus pedal or add some compression and keep your mid-range on the lower side you'll be able to get a smoother tone along with that lower octave that you may be looking for. For further discussion about octave pedals and tones check out the forums at Talkbass.com Cheers,

Joseph Wallace

www.josephwallacemusic.com

[email protected]

Interview with: Ian Kagey

The next NYCBass interview features an interview with bassist and recording engineer Ian Kagey. Ian is a Berklee college of music graduate and can be seen gigging around town with; Joe Iconis, Danica Dora, and Matt Hinkley. When not playing Ian spends his days as a recording and technical engineer at MSR Studios(formally Right Track Recording). Ian be contacted for sessions via his email. 1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I came to New York in Summer 2007. I had wanted to come to New York since I was a kid. I love the culture and the energy this city exudes. Then I ended up going to college to be a recording engineer so it worked out really well. I was able to find a job here before I moved down from school so it all sort of fell into place. 2. What were some of the first gigs you had when you moved here? What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? My first gig in New York was while I was still in school up in Boston. I came down with a friend's band and played at Arlene's Grocery for about four people. My first gig after I moved down was for Joe Iconis at one of the first Rock and Roll Jamboree concerts he had put together. My roommate in college and he had grown up together and they were looking for a bassist.

As far as advice on getting gigs the biggest thing is go to shows, meet people and make as many friends that are musicians as possible. All the gigs I've ever played have been for a friend or through a friend who recommended me to someone. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I also see you are an engineer as well, do you work more as an engineer or as a bassist? The biggest aspects of my playing that I think make me successful are a good sense of feel and genres and the ability to be versatile and willing to adapt to any situation. Also be prepared, show up on time and have a good attitude; those are basic but extremely important. I work far more as an engineer than as a player, but I still love and truly need to play music as well so I try to keep a healthy balance of both. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? I have always loved The Beatles, first as a kid, then as a musician, then as an engineer. And as a rock/pop bassist you can't top McCartney. As far as other bassists: John Paul Jones, Donald Duck Dunn, James Jamerson, John Entwistle, Robert Sledge. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I have three basses: a gold top Epiphone Jack Cassidy, a Fender 1955 P Bass reissue, and a Fender Jazz. My amp is an Ampeg BA115. It's perfect for most gigs in the city. For pedals I use a Boss Tuner and Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff. As far as recommendations, portability is key so smaller amps that still sound good are a must. I like combos with a single 15 and you can find some that aren't too big and heavy. Before you buy anything, make sure it fits into a taxi! 6. When recording bass, what are some essential tools you like to use? (Plugins, DI boxes, etc.) What do you feel is key to laying down the right take? I love to record with an amp and DI if possible. For the amp, I usually use a Neumann FET47 or a Shure SM7. For just a DI, I love either the Avalon U5 or a Radial JDI. As far as cool pluggins on bass, either the Massey Tapehead or Soundtoys Decapitator are pretty amazing. The key to the perfect take is all about the feel. You can have the best sounding bass in the world but if it doesn't work with the song or lock in with the drums it will never sound right. If possible, track live with the drums; it makes a huge difference in feel and performance. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren't playing it in New York? I love Rockwood Music Hall. It's a great venue and so often has amazing bands playing. They do 6 or 7 bands a night so there is always a great variety. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pastimes? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn't involved music? I love history so I love going to museums and art exhibits whenever I get the chance. My most memorable non-musical moment was probably watching the fireworks over the East River on the Fourth of July from a 14th floor apartment on Houston Street; that was pretty incredible. 9. Who are you currently listening to? My current favorites are Tdeski Trucks Band and The Punch Brothers; the new Foo Fighters record is also pretty amazing. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? If you truly love music and it is your passion, than nothing should stop you from relentlessly pursuing it. Get out and play as much as you can with whomever you can because you never know where that may lead.

Interview with: Max Johnson

NYCbass' next interview is with bassist Max Johnson. Max Johnson is a New York-born bassist, composer, and bandleader best known for his work in New York's free jazz and bluegrass scenes. He has played with numerous artists including Anthony Braxton, Candido Camero, Henry Grimes, John Zorn, William Parker, countless others and has studied with Henry Grimes, Mark Helias, Cameron Brown & Reggie Workman. He has also performed at the Vision Festival, the Bern Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Fender's 60th Anniversary Festival, Quebec City Int'l Summer Fest, Zappanale and the stages of Le Poisson Rouge, Abron's Arts Center, the Jazz Standard, BB Kings, and the Highline Ballroom. Johnson has toured internationally to Germany, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Scotland and Canada in addition to many other places across the globe. Johnson's musical life began at age 13, when he bought his first electric bass and by age 16, as a student at the School of Rock, Max Johnson landed a gig with King Crimson's Adrian Belew. Following the success of that performance, while still in High School, Max toured across the world with artists such as John Wetton, Jon Anderson, The Butthole Surfers while playing shows with Vernon Reid, Andrew W.K., Ronnie Spector, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and many others. After his graduation from high school, as a student of the New School University and a student of bass legend, Henry Grimes, Johnson's musicianship expanded, landing him gigs with jazz greats: Anthony Braxton, Henry Grimes, John Zorn, Ahmed Abdullah, Perry Robinson, Vinny Golia, Vincent Chancey, William Parker, Steve Swell, Federico Ughi; Latin Legends: Candido Camero, Bobby Sanabria, Johnny Rodrguez and bluegrass innovators Tony Trischka, Chris Eldridge and Greg Garing. Currently, Max Johnson performs regularly with the Birdhive Boys, Ellery Marshall, Federico Ughi Quartet, Guilford County Kings, Jillian Blutt, Melody Allegra, Vincent Cross & Good Company, and Will Connell's Sadhana in addition to performances with many other groups, including his own trio. Max Johnson is also a member of the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble and the Musica Bella Orchestra. He can be reached for sessions at his email or via his website 1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I was born in New York City and grew up in Hoboken and Montclair, NJ. I've been coming into New York ever since I was a kid, so it just makes sense that it's the place to be if you want to play music, and I'm kept here by the amount of work I have in the city. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? Being just over the river I've been playing in New York long before I started sleeping there, so I can't really remember which happened when. As for things to help young players find work in the city I would just say to practice every minute you can, go see a lot of live music and talk to the musicians. You can learn a lot from the wisdom of professionals. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? First and foremost is probably stamina. As a constantly working bluegrass bass player and often being found playing extremely intense free-jazz, I realized early on that I have to have the strength and ability to play really hard and loud for LONG periods of time. Being able to relax is truly important when in these situations, because having tension just makes playing those 6 hour gigs impossible. But I started getting a lot of calls for long gigs and jam sessions when people found out I could play the whole time with no breaks.

Secondly, although even more important, is listening. Being able to quickly respond and adapt to your musical environment is crucial to being a working bass player. I'm in situations several times a week where I'm asked to play music I have never heard, without any music. The only way to get through that is to listen and learn. Doing this a lot also helps with memorization, and knowing what sounds go where. Something else you can also learn by listening is where your instrument should fit into the ensemble, something that changes with every band and every style of music. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? When it comes to bass players, the first and most important influence on me was the great Henry Grimes. I met him on my 19th birthday and asked to take lessons with him. Since then, I've had the opportunity to perform with him, in a duo at the end of 2010, and we get together and play every now any then. But just getting to hear that man play so wonderfully from 4 feet away from him has truly been a blessing. Another great influence on me has been Mark Helias, whom I currently study with.

His knowledge of the instrument and the music are stunning, and his ability to explain them is even more so. He is one of the clearest, most intelligent and creative bass players, and he's imparted a great deal of knowledge unto me. In addition to those two, I would not be who I am without the knowledge and imput imparted to me by Mark Dresser, Reggie Workman, Trevor Dunn, Greg Cohen and Drew Gress. All of them have each given me specific and individualistic approaches to the music that without their words and great bass playing, I would have never discovered. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I play a big 7/8 Hungarian flatback bass from 1990-something. It's a hassle to carry around but it has a beautiful broad sound and it's loud and powerful. Personally I hate amplification of an acoustic instrument, because unless you have as many brilliant gadgets as Mark Dresser, there's no way to faithfully represent all of the beautiful nuances of the instrument through the sound of a pickup into an amp. I do not use amplification whenever possible and when I do, it's through an acoustic image head, or when I'm lazy, whatever's at the club.

I recommend that a bass player be able to play acoustically, which means not having your strings set up like an electric player, and actually putting some power into the instrument. Also, new york will destroy instruments if you aren't careful with them, so being able to know humidity levels and such is a good thing to know to protect your bass. 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in New York? I stay in Harlem, with loud neighbors, they don't complain about noise because they're making more than I am. And there is no way to afford housing in New York unless you know someone who can help. Other than that, just try to fit as many people into an apartment to get rent down. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? The Stone, Cornelia St Cafe, University of the Streets, Roulette & Le Poisson Rouge generally have some good music and I've enjoyed music in all of those locations quite a bit. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I don't really like doing things that aren't musical. I'm a bit of a hermit in that sense, because other than eating food, and walking places, I don't really do that much that's not playing, practicing, or seeing music. 9. Who are you currently listening to? A lot of different things! I just got a 3-disk William Parker solo CD collection that is wonderful, as is Mark Dresser's solo bass album “Guts”. I always listen to a lot of Jimmy Giuffre, Black Sabbath and Jimmy Martin, as they keep me going. I've been enjoying Ornette's Sound Museum records lately, and listening to a good amount of early 80's Hardcore, such as DOA, Black Flag, Fear, TSOL, and the Dead Kennedys. I try to just listen to a bunch of different things, and like what I like. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Be positive and appreciative, and try to find the things that will make you a stronger better player in every situation. Being a working musician, you may not always be playing the best music, or even music you like, but there's always something to be enjoyed and learned from every musical experience.

Interview with: Eric Day

Today's interview is with the very talented Eric Day. Eric plays bass and writes music in New York City. As a pit orchestra musician, Eric has subbed on Broadway's American Idiot and Memphis, as well as Off-Broadway's The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World, Power Balladz, and The Toxic Avenger. He plays regularly for cabarets, new musicals, and various singer-songwriters. More info and tunes from Eric can be found at www.monsieurjour.com.

1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I moved to NYC from Chicago in 2005 to attend grad school at NYU. Also, my then-girlfriend (now-wife!) was living here already. I was teaching music full-time before that, which I loved, but I wasn't quite ready to settle into that lifestyle for good. I was drawn to the theatre scene, both as a composer and a bassist, and that has been my main focus for the past 6 years. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? I played for a lot of cabarets and new musical readings, many of which were for little-to-no pay. I also did a lot of charts and arrangements for friends and friends-of-friends, which was a good way to meet other musicians and get my name out. (I still do some of these things!) I do think that "networking" is a big part of being a musician in NYC, but not in the schmooze-y way that the word can suggest. It's just about being a good person to work with, a good communicator, and of course being able to play the part.

I also think it can be a good move to do some work out of town. I did the first tour of The Wedding Singer in 2007-2008, and I noticed a change when I got back to the city; having some regional or touring credits on your resume gives people a reference point to feel like they can trust you with a gig. Plus, you'll be a better player for it, and those scenes are a little easier to break-into. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Being a strong reader has definitely helped with the theatre gigs, since there's rarely an excess of prep time, and since you're playing a specifically orchestrated part and can't just go on feel. That being said, playing with musicality, having a sensitivity to the ensemble, and being able to watch and react to the conductor are all important too. I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I definitely go for a "less-is-more" approach when crafting my own parts, and balance between interacting with the bass drum and the vocal line. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? Hailing from the Detroit-area originally, I grew up hearing a lot of Motown on the oldies station, so I had those James Jamerson lines in my subconscious even before I got serious about bass. I'm also a big Mike Watt fan, and I really appreciate how he has carved out his own music/lifestyle niche. The punk guys in general have always impressed me, especially Matt Freeman from Rancid and Mike Dirnt from Green Day. It was cool to play Mike's lines when I subbed on American Idiot. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? My main bass is a Fender Jazz 5-string that's actually something of a Franken-bass. I recently learned how to solder and put some nice Seymore Duncans on myself. I quickly sold my rig after moving to New York when I realized that almost every room has a back-line. I use a little Line 6 cube as a practice amp and for small gigs. Best to always keep it lightweight and compact when you can in NYC. If you have to schlep an amp around, invest in a good pull-cart. 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in new york? I've lived in Astoria for three years, and am a big fan. It's *relatively* affordable, and the spaces can be large, especially if you don't mind a bit of a hike to the subway. There's even plentiful parking in certain places, if you are the car-driving type, particularly up near Astoria Park. My wife and I have been in a pretty big (for NYC) 2-bedroom (2nd bedroom = music room!) for 3 years and plan on staying for a couple more. I've never had trouble practicing at home, but I try to keep the amp low in the evening and don't practice upright too late. Getting a place through friends is always best, but the apartment brokers in Astoria aren't quite as blood-sucking as the ones in Manhattan, so depending on your level of patience, it might be a worthwhile investment--it was for us. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Recent favorites: Brooklyn Bowl, Bell House, Joe's Pub, and Le Poisson Rouge. For little local acts, I like Rockwood Music Hall, Parkside Lounge, and a small place in Queens called Waltz Astoria, which has a killer baby grand piano. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? My wife and I do our best to keep the NYC restaurant industry in business. I like good food and drink in general, and I brew my own beer. Crossword puzzles are a must. I run, play tennis and golf, and root for most sports teams from Detroit and Chicago. 9. Who are you currently listening to? I've been spending some time with Patti Smith's "Horses" as I've been reading her excellent autobiography, "Just Kids," both of which I highly recommend for any artists looking for a little inspiration, especially for people trying to "make it" in NYC . I really like the new Fleet Foxes album, particularly how much it sounds like Simon & Garfunkel. The new Foo Fighters rocks, for the most part. I can never get enough Wilco. As for bassists, that Esperanza Spalding record is pretty damn good! 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Make sure you have all the essentials. Get strap locks! It's really embarrassing to have your bass crash to the ground at a gig or rehearsal. (Tip: use the red rubber gaskets from Grolsch beer bottles, they work perfect.) Get a tuning pedal! I seriously don't know how I survived without one of these things. They're almost worth it for just the muting function. Always bring your own high-quality patch cable b/c they often suck, especially at those sketchy rehearsal studios on 30th St! Otherwise, be a positive presence in rehearsals, listen to the drummer, sit back in the pocket, and as my buddy Mark Vanderpoel once told me, "bring your friend chicken and paperweights!"

#eric #day #electric #double #bass #eric day #electric bass #double bass #broadway #off-broaday

Interview with: Jacob Silver

After a brief hiatus we have an interview with an incredibly talented bassist. Jacob Silver is an upright and electric bassist, recording engineer, producer, composer, and booking agent. He owns Media Blitz East, a record label that specializes in vinyl records. He has performed or collaborated with many prominent and award-winning musicians, including Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, The Mammals, Emmylou Harris, Gary Karr, Rushad Eggleston, Christina Courtin, Aoife O'Donovan, Tao Rodriquez-Seeger, The Shalants, and many, many others.

Silver studied music at the Berklee College of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the University of Victoria. He studied the double bass privately for two years with famed classical bassist Gary Karr. After completing his studies in 2002, Silver moved to New York with his longtime friend and musical collaborator, Robin MacMillan. Together they built the Media Blitz East recording studio, and served as a rhythm section for many emerging New York artists. In 2008 they recorded and performed on the album, “Let There Be Peace On Earth, and Let It Begin With Me”, a collection of children’s songs written by Jill Jackson and Sy Miller.

In 2009 they acted as house band for Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, accompanying such musical legends as Taj Mahal, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Paxton, Steve Earle, Tommy Sands, The McGarrigle Sisters, and many more. Silver also recently appears on the album, “Preservation: An album benefitting Preservation Hall and the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program”, where he plays bass with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Silver’s current projects build on this experience. He recently scored a short film entitled Grave Dawn”, a story of a young German soldier during the waning months of WWII. He is currently preparing the next release for his record label, and has plans for more! His busy touring schedule will continue next year as he joins some of his favorite musical partners, including Aoife O’Donovan, Christina Courtin, Mike and Ruthy, Shalants, and more. Jacob can be reached for booking via email his website can be found here. 1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I moved to New York City in January of 2003 with my longtime friend and musical partner, Robin MacMillan. We were both living in San Francisco at the time, and were struggling to find other musicians to play with, and couldn't really find a good environment to "live" music. I was practicing a lot of double bass then, so it was probably really good for me, but eventually both of us got restless and made the decision to move out here together. We rented a U-Haul trailer and stuffed it to the brim with everything we could fit in there and drove east. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? When I moved here, I just made a bunch of calls to friends, and friends of friends, and just generally tried to make my presence known. It's usually not in my style to tell everyone I meet that I'm a bassist, but it is my style to vocalize my hopes and dreams quite often. I think that has done very well for me. People tend to be very helpful to others with clear dreams and visions. I do remember one of my first gigs though: I had been going to karaoke every Thursday night at this place called Stinger in Williamsburg, and became friendly with the host. As it turned out, he was the drummer in a band that was about to go on tour opening up for David Lee Roth in Texas, and their bassist couldn't make the shows. So he asked me to play bass with them! He told me later that he just knew I had to be good at the bass because he discovered via another friend that I was a bassist. The fact that I didn't say anything about my skills as a bassist led him to believe that I must be good!

That was one wild month, because after the 4 shows we did with David Lee Roth, I flew to Mexico and performed the Koussevitsky Concerto with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra! 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I'm generally open to all kinds of tones and styles. One of the reasons I started playing bass was because bass is found in almost all styles of music! So I figured if I really learned the ins and outs of the instrument, I'd be able to play with anyone. And also, since I have a good familiarity with classical music, I have a knack for counterpoint and lyricism. So I tend to write bass lines that really complement lead melodies in a lyrical and hopefully memorable way. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? My main influence is Gary Karr. Gary taught me how to approach the instrument in a lyrical way before anything. This approach works whether you're playing upright, electric, solos, or bass lines. But more than that, he taught me to always search for my voice. That’s what brings me back to music every day. Greatness is found in so many people. What's so exciting about music for me is that there is no single definition of greatness. Everyone brings their own special gift to music. So, as corny as this might sound, everyone has been a major influence on me! 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I have one upright bass that I've played since around 2002. It's a bass built by Brock Radelet in Victoria, British Columbia. As far as electric basses, I've had a bit of a rotating cast of characters over the years. I currently have an old Harmony hollow-body and a Gibson EB-0. I've also owned jazz basses and p-basses. All flatwound, of course! But in my opinion, there are really only two kinds of electric basses: Ones that go "dong", and others that go "doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong".

A friend recently showed me a new upright that folds into itself and can fit into a small case with wheels. Amazing! It even sounds pretty damn good. It can even be checked on an airplane without any extra baggage fees. So that's a great instrument for playing around the city. I'd also recommend anything that is generally lightweight, like a lot of hollow-bodied electric basses. It's not worth breaking your back just to get around. I avoid like the plague any venue that doesn’t have a bass amp. 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in new york? When Robin and I moved to New York City, we found a good-sized loft in Williamsburg. We had every intention of building a room to rehearse in when we moved in, and we got straight to construction as soon as we moved in. It took us a few months to build, and in the meantime I found some friends who had a rehearsal space close by where I could leave my upright. I would go there in the mornings and practice. But as soon as our music room was built, and later on the control room, we would have almost every rehearsal at our place. Now the room is better than ever, and the studio is in full effect. We're constantly recording our own projects as well as many of our friend’s projects, and I've even started a small 7" record label called Media Blitz Record Co. that releases albums recorded in our studio.

I barely know anyone who lives in Manhattan! Sure, Brooklyn and Queens can be expensive too, but don't be afraid to just talk to everyone you know about places to live in NYC! The best deals are not found through an agent or through craigslist. They're done by word of mouth. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? I tend to go see lots of friends play music around the city, so you’ll often find me at Rockwood, Pete’s Candy Store, The Living Room, and so on. What’s really great is when friends play at some of the larger venues, like Music Hall of Williamsburg or the Bowery Ballroom. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite passtimes? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I practice yoga almost every day at studio in Soho called Virayoga. It’s the best non-musical pastime I’ve ever discovered, and has actually improved my musicianship a whole lot. I’m able to focus better, and I’m able to play longer because I’m able to stand easier. Virayoga teaches yoga based on principles of alignment, and many of their principles can be directly applied to bass playing. 9. Who are you currently listening to? I’ve got Queen’s “A Night At The Opera” on repeat. The song “’39” and “Love of My Life” have really been doing it for me specifically. One new record I’ve currently been listening to has been Bing Ji Ling’s “Shadow to Shine”. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Play music every day, and learn how to apply everything else you do in your life to the art of playing music.

Interview with: Tony Tino

Our next interview is with bassist Tony Tino. Tony has been playing bass professionally for 10 years. He has performed, recorded and toured with such artists such as: Gavin DeGraw, Laura Warshauer, Lyfe Jennings, Clay Aiken (The View), Brendon James, Ronnie Spector, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, LaBamba & The Hudcaps, Billy Joel, Chevy Chase, Doug E. Fresh, De La Soul, John Scofield, G.E. Smith, Branford Marsalis, Sean Pelton, Mark Rivera, Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Broadway show Movin' Out, Lou Del Gatto, Clyde Stubblefield, Cornelius Bumpus, Carl Burnett, Drew Zing, Zhane, Jeff Campbell, Jeff Kazee, David Letterman), Jon Cobert (John Lennon, Tom Chapin, Bobby Banderia (Bon Jovi, Dave Edmunds), Aaron Brooks (Moby).

Tony has also performed at New Jersey Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremonies w/ LaBamba & The Hudcaps in 2008 & 2010 hosted by Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Susan Sarandon, Writer's Guild Awards hosted by Jon Oliver (The Daily Show) (2009), Daytime Emmy Show Created Crafts (2008), Daytime Emmy's hosted by Tony Danza (2005), The Sports Emmy Show live in NYC (2003), Montreux Music Festival in Atlanta, GA, Laura Nyro's Eli’s Coming, Hair, Little Shop of Horrors. When Tony is not on the road he resides in New York City and is actively writing music, performing, and doing record/jingle sessions. You can reach him by either his email or his website. 1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? Well, I'm from NY. I lived about 30 to 40 minutes Northeast of Manhattan in Westchester. I've been hanging and playing in NYC for over 10 years or so and have been living in the Bronx since 2002. I decided to move out of Westchester because I wanted to get closer to the music. There's music being played in NYC 24/7. Everyday of the week. NYC is probably one of the only cities in the world where you can see great live music with great bands or musicians on any given moment. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? The first gigs I did in NYC were $30.00 jazz gigs. I did that for about two months and decided that eating canned cat food wasn't enough for me. (I kid.) Some of the first few gigs I did were with an ol' school soul band called Professor Crewcut that keyboardist/producer/singer/songwriter/band leader Jeff Kazee (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes/Bon Jovi/Crystal Bowersox/G.E. Smith) started with his friend guitarist/producer Jeff Campbell (Sting, Mama Mia, Bob James, VH-1's Dvia's Live w/ Aretha Franklin). I Played ol' school soul tunes by Sly & Family Stone, Dyke & The Blazers, etc. Some obscure, some B sided hits. Played for the people by the people. At the same time playing with lots of up and coming singer/songwriters at the Bitterend, Rockwood, Living Room, Arlene's Grocery, etc. I also subbed on some off - Broadway shows.

I suggest to young cats to start your own band. Get creative minded musicians as yourself and put something together that you believe in. The other way is going to jam sessions or sitting in at your friend's gigs, and play with as many musicians as you can. Find out where all the cats hang out and do the hang. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Aspects of my playing that have made me successful? I don't know, you would have to ask the people that keep on calling me. Maybe it's my great smelling breath or my nicely combed hair. LOL!! All I know, my goal is to be supportive for the song/lyric/groove/vocals and having some kind of movement to let the song develop or maybe not and let the song breath. It depends on what the vibe is. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? It's a long list, but here are a few: Paul McCartney, Chuck Rainey, Jerry Jermont, John Paul Jones, Rick Danko, James Jamerson, Joe Osborne, George Porter Jr., Larry Graham, Bootsy Colins, John Entwistle, Pino Palladino, etc. Then there are cats around town such as John Conte, Tim Luntzel, Whynot Yansveld, Conrad Koresch, Richard Hammond, Brett Bass, Andy Hess and others.

5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? Right now on tour with Gavin DeGraw I use an Ashdown 550 Amp Head and 8x10 cabinet. Around town I use gear in the clubs usually. It's a rarity that I have to use my own gear. If I do, I use a small 15 inch speaker Hartke Combo Amp 150 watts. I changed the speaker to an Eminence, which I love a lot. I've tried the Gallien Krueger MB 500 small heads they got. Those are great. They're light and you can put it in a small shoulder bag. 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in New York? Well, I live in the Bronx and I found my place on craigslist. It's a quiet neighborhood and there are a lot of musicians around the area. I sometimes practice or work on stuff during the day at a fairly low volume. If I have to work at night, I use headphones so I don't disrupt the neighbors. I wish I knew how to get affordable housing in NYC, but I don't. Maybe the musician's union could help. I know a lot of musicians that live out in Brooklyn, Queens, or Bronx. Those are all great places to live and still close to Manhattan. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Rockwood Music Hall, P&G Bar, Bitterend, The National Underground, Banjo Jim's, The Red Lion. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn't involved music? Reading auto-biographies and watching movies. Most memorable...I don't remember. Haha! Meeting my wife and finding a place to live where I can park my car. 9. Who are you currently listening to? Currently I'm listening to Ray LaMontage, Black Keys, Taj Mahal, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, The Meters, Beatles, The Band. The Rolling Stones, Tori Amos it depends on what kind of mood I'm in. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger & aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Save your money. Be careful and watch where you step. Always know who your friends are and always floss your teeth once or twice a day. Exercise regularly and eat your vegetables and try to always be positive. Don't forget: RAAAAAAAAWK!!

Interview with: Craig Akin

Our next interview is with double and electric bassist Craig Akin. Craig is an in demand upright and electric bass player in New York City. Between 1997 and 2007 he averaged 270 gigs a year in his musical hometown of Kansas City. There he developed his rhythm and tone while playing or recording with nearly everyone on the jazz and blues scene. Craig also had the pleasure of working with Tim Hagans, Pete Christlieb, Frank Mantooth, John McNeil, Dick Oatts, Karrin Allyson, Gary Foster, Bobby Watson, Dave Pietro, Claude Williams, Ken Peplowski, among others.

To continue his growth as a musician, Craig moved to New York in 2007. He honed his skills even further with the help of Jay Anderson, Scott Colley, and Larry Grenadier. Craig was thrilled to be able to study with legendary Miles Davis bassist, Ron Carter, for two years. Craig recently took the time out of his busy schedule to give us an interview. He just arrived back from performing in SXSW and his interview with NYCBass.com has given some great perspective onto what it takes to make it in New York. You can contact Craig by emailing him or visiting his website

1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I moved here in August 2007. For years I considered other cities, then suddenly woke up one morning and said to myself it had to be New York. If I was going to drop everything to start over it needed to be the real deal, the place with the biggest population of great musicians from all over the world. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? My first gigs were with the band Barnaby Bright. Then it was with people I had met out on the scene and from playing afternoon jazz sessions. To tap into New York, I recommend being open minded and pro-active. Play upright and electric bass. Play any chance that comes up, whatever the style, whoever it's with. Network like crazy, out on the scene as well as the internet. Exchange numbers then follow up. That's very important, to follow up. Everyone is busy so don't wait for things to happen, make them happen. Reach out to people and schedule afternoon sessions. Be professional, easy going, on time, then one thing leads to another. 3. What are some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? I have put a great deal of attention on time, tone, and tunes. Time is most important to me because I think if it doesn't groove and feel good then nothing else matters. I work on my time by playing with great players and working with a metronome. I constantly strive for the best, most authentic tone that is possible for each situation. I want the notes to be felt as well as heard. I like the attack of my notes to be heard and the pitches to be clear. As far as tunes go, play the standards, a lot. Figure out what people around you are playing and learn them. For pop, rock, folk, etc, learn the songs inside and out, then play the gig with just a setlist. Almost forgot to mention sightreading. Being a good sightreader has enabled me to do so many cool gigs, on short notice. I try to read any music I can get my hands on, treble and bass clef. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? The musicians of Kansas City, so much history and groove. Bass playing influences are Dave Holland, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Scott Colley, Charlie Haden, Larry Grenadier, Scott LaFaro, Paul McCartney, Rocco and Jaco, and so many others. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? My upright is an 1850's Tyrolean, though a plywood bass is much more durable for schlepping around the city. My main electrics are a '73 Fender P bass and a '63 Danelectro. In New York, it's always nice when there's an amp at the venue. When there's not I usually use the tiny ZT Lunchbox amp with the Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp. That rig I can fit in a regular size backpack, so it frees up both hands. If I need more volume I'll take my GK MB150. If the venue has a PA system, I'll tap in my AMT mic that is attached to my upright bass tailpiece. More details about gear can be found on my website: http://www.slapfiddle.com 6. How did you find a place to live that was appropriate for practicing at home? Do you have any tips for finding affordable housing for a musician in new york? I found a very musician-friendly building by playing sessions there. There are sessions and people practicing all the time. For affordable housing, have lots of roommates. Also, join the Local 802 musician union to hear about subsidized housing for artists and musicians. 7. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? Rockwood, Living Room, Fat Cat, 55 Bar. Really it's where ever I want to hear friends or meet new musicians. 8. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memorable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? I like hiking, biking, skiing, anything to do with mountains. Some nice moments have been skiing in the Catskills and Vermont. I love spending time in Prospect Park, or heading down to the beach. 9. Who are you currently listening to? The bands and songwriters that I'm playing or recording with. Learning the songs takes up all my listening. If I want to clear my head sometimes I'll listen to heavy metal. 10. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? Play your instrument as much as possible, with as many people as possible. Stay healthy and positive. Be ready for anything, and be very patient, music is a lifelong process.

Interview with: Nick Lenchner

As an electric and double bassist, Nick Lenchner has appeared with the Chelsea Symphony, New Jersey Philharmonic, Staten Island Philharmonic, Aytia/Matia, and Paul Haas’ "Sympho". He has performed at many of New York's prominent venues including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, NJPAC, Symphony Space, Beacon Theater, Highline Ballroom, Le Poisson Rouge, and the National Underground. Nick has played in and with the New York Youth Symphony for four years, three of which he served as principal bass. He also has performed in the School for Strings Summer Chamber Music Workshop and the NYYS Chamber Music Program where he now works as Program Manager.

Nick is passionate about teaching and maintains a substantial private studio in Northern New Jersey and Westchester. Nick graduated from the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division and has a B.M in double bass performance from the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.

Nick will be performing with "Sympho" as part of the Tune-In Music Festival at the Park Avenue Armory on February 16th at 7:30. For more information please visit Symphoconcerts.com

1. When did you come to New York City and what was the deciding factor to move here? I grew up in the area but I moved to Manhattan in 2007. My girlfriend and I decided to take over the lease of an apartment where she had been living. It turned out to be a good location for keeping my private studio in New Jersey while gigging in Manhattan and Brooklyn. 2. What were some of the first gigs when you had moved here. What do you recommend to new players on the scene in regards to getting work in the city? My first paying gigs were actually outside of the city with freelance orchestras like the New Jersey Philharmonic and Staten Island Philharmonic. Freelancers, especially orchestral players, should prepare to look outside the city for work. A lot of people I know work with orchestras in the surrounding area like Westchester and Allendale. 3. What were some of the aspects of your playing that have made you successful? Versatility: being able to play in different styles, and on both upright and electric. This will allow you to expand outside your usual networks. 4. Who have been some of your major influences throughout your musical career? Teachers and colleagues, specifically Linda McKnight and Alexandre Tannous, who have always been extremely generous with their wisdom and input. I generally try to soak up as much information as I can from the various musicians that I meet, regardless of their instrument or level. 5. What kind of gear are you using? What gear do you recommend for a player who is playing a lot around the city? I would say one piece of equipment that has been particularly valuable in the city is a wheel. I would recommend the Gaines bass wheel because it's inflatable and has better shock absorption for when you're going over curbs and snow in the city. 6. Where do you go to hear live music when you aren’t playing it in New York? There are several non-profit performance spaces that always have something interesting going on such as The Stone, Issue Project Room, and Tribes Gallery on East 3rd Street. I also like to attend the various free music festivals that happen from time to time like the Bang on a Can Marathon or Albert Ayler Festival. 7. Outside of being a musician, what are some of your favorite pass times? What has been one of your most memborable moments living in New York that hasn’t involved music? Music honestly consumes almost all my time and attention, but I am interested in politics and sports, and read avidly. 8. Who are you currently listening to? I've been really into a double bassist named Stefano Scodanibbio; he has a relatively new record out called Oltracuidansa that is amazing. Robert Black's recording of the Complete Works for Double Bass by Giacinto Scelsi. Samuel Barber's "Knoxville: Summer 1915"; my favorite recording so far is by Barbara Hendricks with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. Beyond all that one of my favorite rock groups right now is a band out of Boston called Fat History Month. 9. Any words of wisdom for younger/aspiring players who may or may not be reading this? The best advice I can give would be to hang in there. It's not going to be easy, but it's worth it. The world needs musicians now more than ever, and it definitely beats having a real job. On a practical level I would say to never underestimate the value of professionalism. Being respectful and punctual go a long way.

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