Lately, I have been discovering quite a few multi-instrumentalists who create their music by playing all the instruments involved. The most amazing aspect of this to me is how proficient they are and how the bass plays a significant role in their music. Dave Perry is one such talented musician, and plays all the instruments in the band “Fear of Wat…

Henry Johnson quite simply is a guitarist's, guitarist. I can amplify that by saying that he is the guitarist that I have had the most requests to interview - “Hey, have you ever thought about Henry Johnson, he’s amazing”! I heard it a hundred times... I have known of Henry for a long time and admired his playing and wanted to get him in Jazz Guita…

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to very seasoned career bass players. Hank Horton is a heavy-hitter vocalist, producer, and bassist who fits into that category. Hank has a diverse skillset where he can play electric for Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (and a ton of other renowned musicians), play upright in the Detroit Symphony, or be excellent in a Bro…

Blues Traveler has always been one of my favorite bands. Whenever “Run Around” would pop up on MTV, I would always drop whatever I was doing to watch. Now, The band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Grammy award-winning album “Four” (I still have my copy from back in the day) with a very cool limited edition purple vinyl record set. Sinc…

Do you remember back in the day when a certain song came on the radio that just made you feel happy but you didn’t know who was playing? This was the case with “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys. I was glad when I finally found out who the band was as I could look for more of their music. BTW, this tune still makes me smile from the opening few bars. Afte…

I just had the opportunity to interview a very talented player, who you might already know, Suzy Starlite. She is our newest contributor here at Bass Musician, and her “Walking the Bass Line” series, is a wealth of incredible information, including gear, history, and insight into the bass world. Join me as Suzy talks about some of the points from h…

I am always impressed by musicians who can play and sing simultaneously. I am even in greater awe of these multi-instrumentalists who are highly proficient on many instruments. Richie Kotzen is one of these very talented musicians. His upcoming (September 27, 2024) album “Nomad” is proof as he plays every instrument in all but two tracks and does i…

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to fellow bass players as they travel on their musical journey. Jonny Rubin, AKA Dr. Funk has been at this since he was a kid and has made the huge leap across the pond to make a go at it in sunny southern California. Join me as we hear about his musical past, present and future. Photo courtesy of Jonny Rubin …

JGT Podcast: Jazz Guitar Today's Bob Bakert talks to guitarist David Becker about his unique compositions and performances. Face Your Ears Explore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.…

If you are an electric bass player, this is an exciting time to be alive as this relatively new instrument evolves around us. Some creative individuals have taken an active role in this evolution and made giant leaps in their own direction. Lee Barker is one of these inventive people having created the Barker Bass. Fortunately, Lee is also an excel…

Once again, editor Bob Bakert engages in a conversation with the jazz guitarist Fareed Haque, including an update on his health. September 2024 Face Your Ears Explore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews an…

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to luthier Linda Manzer about some very special guitars she is working on. Face Your Ears Explore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.…

In this podcast, JGT's Bob Bakert talks to jazz and improvisational musician Camila Meza about her influences, guitars, and touring. Face Your Ears Explore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.…

New Album From Peter Bernstein Convenes a Remarkable All-Star Quartet. Better Angels, out September 27, Features Pianist Brad Mehldau, Bassist Vicente Archer, and Legendary Drummer Al Foster. Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to guitarist Rodney Jones about what's going on in 2024. Face Your Ears Explore home recording and music creation with Rich and Justin on 'Face Your Ears'! Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

I am sure many of you are very familiar with Mark Egan as we have been following him and his music for many years now. The last time we chatted was in 2020. Mark teamed up with drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Shane Theriot to produce a new album, “Cross Currents” released on March 8th, 2024. I have been listening to this album in its entirety an…

I am sure many of you are very familiar with Mark Egan as we have been following him and his music for many years now. The last time we chatted was in 2020. Mark teamed up with drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Shane Theriot to produce a new album, “Cross Currents” released on March 8th, 2024. I have been listening to this album in its entirety an…

Bassist Adam Sullivan… Hailing from Minnesota since 2012, By the Thousands has produced some serious Technical Metal/Deathcore music. Following their recent EP “The Decent”s release, I have the great opportunity to chat with bassist Adam Sullivan. Join me as we hear about Adam’s musical Journey, his Influences, how he gets his sound, and the band’s…

I am sure many of you will remember my chat with Will Turpin in 2018 when he released his solo album Serengeti Drivers. We had a chance to get together again as his band, Collective Soul, is celebrating their 30th anniversary and releasing their new album “Here to Eternity”. Join me as we get caught up on the new album and all of Collective Soul’s …

Many of you will remember the last time I chatted with Derek Frank was back in 2017. The main thing that impressed me was how busy Derek was and how he juggled playing with many huge acts. Now, I am happy to hear that Derek launched a new album last March titled “Origin Story” where he digs deep into his roots and pays homage to Pittsburg. Join me …

Trey Hensley is the reigning IBMA guitar player of the year. He has performed with Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Earl Scruggs, Marty Stewart, and literally hundreds more household names. He is a guitar phenomenon and his list of fans are among the best guitar players in the world. He can play authentically in many genres and by the way, he is a he…

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to Frank Vignola, Jimmy Bruno, Ken Smith, and Joni Forte about the upcoming guitar camps. Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to Peter Henriksen about the Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival Sept 13 - 15, 2024 Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to guitarist Bruce Forman about a variety of subjects - video podcast August 2024. Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

I am always impressed by the few members of our bass family who are equally proficient on upright as well as electric bass… Edmond Gilmore is one of those special individuals. While he compartmentalizes his upright playing for mostly classical music and his electric for all the rest, Edmond has a diverse musical background and life experiences that…

Blues music has universal appeal. We all have our ups and downs and this particular musical genre often fits our reality. Just hearing that we are not alone makes us feel a bit better. Danielle Nicole writes and sings the Blues. She does an amazing job at delivering both exquisite smoky vocals but plays just the right bass line to drive the tune ho…

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to event organizer Joel Harrison about the Alternative Guitar Summit Camp in the Catskills, August 19-23. The Alternative Guitar Summit held in the Catskills August 19-23 features some of the greatest guitar improvisers of our time. John Scofield, Mike Stern, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gilad Hekselman to name a few. The camp allows fo…

Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future. Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album…

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to Kurt Rosenwinkel about his latest release, The Next Step- Live At Small’s 1996 and about his new book, Kurt Rosenwinkel: Ultimate Book of Compositions. Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

It is always great to meet a super busy bassist who simply exudes a love for music and his instrument. Erick “Jesus” Coomes fits this description exactly. Hailing from Southern California, “Jesus” co-founded and plays bass for Lettuce and has found his groove playing with numerous other musicians. Join us as we hear of his musical journey, how he g…

JGT's Bob Bakert talks to Jon Herington and Madeleine Peyroux about a new release "Let's Walk" - available now. Jon Herington has been a part of Madeleine Peyroux's touring band for a while now (between Steely Dan tours) and the new release “Let’s Walk” contains 10 original songs that Jon co-wrote with Madeleine. Jon also plays multiple instruments…

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, bassist Curly Hendo has been super busy. Starting with dance from a young age, Curly took up bass shortly after and has been going strong ever since. She has collaborated with numerous acts worldwide and is an in-demand session/touring bassist and musical director. Join me as we learn about Curly’s musical journey, h…

You might remember that we had him on our cover back in 2017 and did an update when he launched his book “Everybody Loves Me” in 2020. It was exciting to hear that The Immediate Family had got back together in the studio to work on their own music in 2019 and are now up to two albums. Just last December, Magnolia Pictures released a documentary tit…

Ciara Moser and I sat down for this interview a few months after the launch of her debut album, “Blind. So what?” Blind since birth, she is a powerhouse of talent; she is not only a professional bassist, but also composes music, and is a producer and educator. I am just blown away by her talent and perseverance. Join me as we hear about Ciara’s mus…

Brian Bromberg is one heavy-hitting bass player and I am in awe of his talent as one of the few individuals who is equally proficient on electric and upright bass. You might remember our conversation back in 2018 when he released his powerhouse Funk album. Brian’s “A Little Driving Music” album is a staple on all our road trips and his Jaco and Jim…

It is very rare when I talk to a band where all the members play bass. The K3 Sisters Band is a perfect example of a group where Kaylen, Kelsey and Kristen Kassab are all multi-instrumentalists and take turns playing bass. Hailing from Texas, these three sisters have been playing music since they were very young and have amassed an amazing amount o…

Face to Face… Suzi Quatro On Her Album With KT Tunstall. Album releases are always exciting and more so when the final product is simply amazing. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Suzi Quatro about her album with KT Tunstall “Face To Face”. There is no one more qualified to talk about this beautiful piece of work than the artist he…

Finger Eleven Bassist Sean Anderson Anytime a band releases a “Greatest Hits” album it is often a testament to decades of excellence. I was thrilled to hear that Finger Eleven released their “Greatest Hits” album in CD and digital format, with Vinyl soon to drop in August. It was a perfect time to chat with the band’s bassist, Sean Anderson, and ge…

Interview with bassist Russel Blake… I am always blown away when I meet someone whose activities seem to exceed the number of hours in a day; Russel Blake is such a dynamic individual. Russel has been holding down the low end for over 44 years during which he has played with many of the biggest names in music, many of these in Jazz. He has performe…

It is always exciting to have the opportunity to talk to an artist who has been prolific for decades. Suzi Quatro has been rocking our world since the sixties and has been super-creative as a bassist, musician, actress, singer, songwriter, author, radio show host and so much more. Most recently, Suzi released a new album titled “Face to Face” where…

I have always been a huge STYX fan. Their music kept me awake during countless nights studying and gave my imagination a place to escape when I had a moment to take a break. I had the immense opportunity to chat with STYX bassist Ricky Phillips for our August Cover in 2017 and follow his projects as time passed. Now, I am thrilled to have the oppor…

Rock is alive and well and Todd Kerns is proof of that statement. He is a very busy bass player taking the stage with many bands including Slash, featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Toque, Black Bird Angles and many more. Join us as we hear about Todd’s journey and influences, his gear and his plans for the future. This interview with Tod…

I am always learning new details about Bass history when I get the opportunity to talk with seasoned players like Tony Newton. Tony, a Detroit native, came up in the golden years of Motown and laid down the low end for countless performers and studio sessions; he has performed on over 25 gold and platinum hit recordings. As time went by, and the wh…

Bluegrass music has had a very solid following over many years and I am always happy to hear from one of the pioneers in that genre. Travis Book plays bass for the Grammy award-winning band “The Infamous Stringdusters” and has recently released his first solo album “Love and Other Strange Emotions”. As if he wasn’t busy enough, Travis also hosts a …

I am on social media a lot and one bass player who I come across often is Vittorio Longobardi from Italy. Vittorio has the look of a serious rocker, (and that is his most preferred genre) but he is extremely versatile and is comfortable on both electric and upright bass. In addition to Vittorio’s many performances, he finds time to teach as well. T…

This Will Lee and Binky Griptite interview will be referenced in decades to come. It’s a conversation between two ”low-end” visionaries that have been championed and celebrated in small pockets of praise over the years by those that are hip enough to be “in the know”. Luckily we are sharing the magic with you all today for this special edition of “…

Those of us who were around back in the 70’s remember how certain songs on the radio resonated with us. It turns out that many of these iconic melodies came from Foreigner and they were part of our personal soundtracks! After all these years, the band is going as strong as ever with Jeff Pilson firing away on bass midstream into a 2-year farewell t…

Time really flies when you are having fun! Just over a decade ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michel “Labex” Labaki for our July 2013 cover. At that time, much of our conversation concerned his personal approach to bass playing and his techniques. Fast forward to now and I am pleased to discover Michel’s new endeavor, the Labex Funk Project…

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.De către With Editors Bob Bakert and Raúl Amador

I am pretty sure that everyone is aware of Malcom-Jamal Warner’s work as an actor. What may be less known is his work as a director, poet, musician, and most importantly for us, a bass player. With four albums of his own, Grammy nominations and wins, as well as a sizable amount of ongoing live gigs, Malcolm is dedicating a serious amount of his att…