For Lillian

Forward
What is it that motivates bass players? It's pretty easy to see why someone chooses to take up say,
guitar, piano or voice. Why not play an instrument everyone loves? There's the chance to be the centre of
attention, maybe the possibility of standing in front of throngs of adoring fans, maybe even the chance to
get rich in the process. And there's no denying drums have a certain primal appeal. Certainly anyone with
anger management issues would jump at the chance to beat on things for fun and/or profit, and of course
there's all that shiny hardware! But why would anyone choose an instrument that's almost certain to
relegate them to the back of the stage with little chance for the glory paid to their counterparts? Why pay
for and carry around lots of heavy gear, and suffer through multiple rounds of blisters for an arcane art
form only a handful of folks seem to appreciate?

This book is perhaps the definitive answer to that question. Of course, as you will see in these pages there
are many answers, but common threads emerge. There's the unique excitement from the rumble of low
frequencies in your belly; the delight of creating rich, low sounds; the satisfaction of feeling of those big
strings vibrating under your fingers and the sly knowledge that, although you're not likely to get the same
kind of attention as your band mates, you know they really couldn't do without you.

The appeal of the bass is subtle and sometimes takes time to develop and bloom. Many bassists come to
the instrument after trying something else first, but once they get a feel for the "bass thing" they become
devotees. There's a special power and mystery to the bass that causes deep, interesting people to be drawn
to it -- the kind of people who don't always need to be the centre of attention, or the kind of people who
like to be supportive or who can appreciate hidden joys in life. In reading through these stories you might
start to discover some hidden joys yourself. If you're a bass player you might find some familiar, yet
inspiring words here. But whether you're a bass player or not, the next time you listen to a group where
the bassist is really on, you might just tune into what's going on underneath the more obvious aspects of
the music and smile.

Michael Manring
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Front Cover Collages
Forward
Dedication Page Page 1
Photographs of some of the bassists this book is dedicated to Page 2
Why I Play Bass Page 3
One Liners Re-visited Section Page 146
One Liners Photo Gallery Page 147
Photographic Acknowledgements
The Why I Play Bass Photo Gallery
Why I Play Bass Comments
Front Cover Quiz
Back Cover Quiz
Message Boards
Autographs
The CD Package
Out-takes Pages
Sympsonic Creations
Back Cover Collages
Alphabetical Index
Why I Build Basses
Notes
Dedicated To The Memories of:-
Domenico Dragonetti (10-04-1763 - 16-04-1846)
Franz Simandl (01-08-1840 15-12-1912)
Willie Dixon (01-07-1915 - 29-01-1992)
Jimmy Blanton (05-10-1918 - 30-07-1942)
Scott LaFaro (03-04-1936 - 04-07-1961)
Jaco Pastorius (01-12-1951 - 21-09-1987)
Leo Fender (10-08-1909 - 21-03-1991)
John Alec Entwistle (09-10-1944 - 27-06-2002)
Gito Baloi (30-09-1964 -04-04-2004)
Sipho Gumede (1957 26-07-2004)
Fred Hayward (19-08-1967 - 28-06-2009)
 Jaco Pastorius John Alec Entwistle

Gito Baloi Sipho Gumede

Fred Hayward
On Monday the twenty fifth of October 2004, a few bass players
went along to the monthly South African Bass Players Collectives
Bass evening that was being held at The School for the Performing
Arts in Kensington (JHB). The events of that evening inspired me to
write this piece, which started out as an article but over the years, has
grown into the size of a small book.

As usual, the attendance at this particular venue wasnt that

encouraging but never the less, we got down to business and Jason
Green presented us with a workshop on playing different styles. Hed
brought a drummer along called Marcio and together, the two of
them went through a few routines, covering Rock, Blues, Funk and
Pop. Concord was asked to play something for the half dozen or so
attendees and he went through a reggae routine with Marcio, which
then moved into a Jazz routine. Young Nick Cook volunteered to get
up with his fretless bass and went through a kind of rock / blues type
of routine.

All three bassists had given us something in completely different styles and it was very interesting to see
the contrasts between them.

Jason is a schooled musician that reads very well and is the bass teacher at the School. His playing is
extremely solid and he can play quite comfortably in a number of styles. Like me, he isnt shy to point out
which styles he hasnt really mastered.

Concord is also a schooled musician and has worked at being more than competent in just about all
musical styles, as he doesnt want to restrict himself to working in one genre.

In contrast to these two guys, Nick isnt a professional bassist. Although a competent bassist with pretty
good intonation, his playing is a little rough around the edges here and there which is probably due to the
fact that he isnt able to spend as much time playing his instrument each week as Jason and Concord.
Nick plays bass in a band called Miseriecord and although they play Heavy rock / Metal type material,
Nick prefers fretless to fretted a very curious decision.

Having watched these three guys in action I asked myself, where did bass playing fit in my life? Why do I
play bass and why do my bass playing friends actually play bass? So I sent out e-mails asking them this
question and received over five hundred replies!

In 2007, The Limit bassist, Todd Grosberg commented on what he thought of the article thanks Todd!!!
This inspired me to contact other bassists and ask them for a comment. Id also like to thank Trish Bailey,
Vuyani Wakaba, Barry Irwin, Judy Foxcroft, Joseph Patrick Moore, Andrew Warneke, Richard Sims,
Gareth Sherwood, Jason Marsh, Mark Egan, Jim Stinnett, Damian Erskine, Michael Manring, Bryan
Beller, Marten Andersson, Richard Bodkin, Leon Bosch, Chris Badynee, Dave Meros, Kirwan Brown,
Dereck Walstra, Alan Goldstein, Mary-Anne Ray, Graham Jacobs, Edo Castro, Bob Skeat, Phil Peters,
Bruce Gertz, Adam Nitti, Steve Doner, Joseph Milstein, Schalk Joubert, Virgilio Venditti, Martin Motnik,
Anthony Scelba, Gary Jibilian & Tony Senatore for their comments towards the end of the book.

In 2010, with some help from Yvette Nash, I learned how to insert photos into the book and this took
things to a whole new level but also posed a few problems especially with the people that had supplied
one liners their photos would be tiny!! I got around this by creating the One Liners Re-Visited section
this gave me the opportunity to insert decent sized photos. A big thank you to Marco Schoots, Vuyani
Wakaba & Steve Doner who supplied me with a number of photos.

I added a Photographic Acknowledgements section towards the back and noticed that a number of the
photos had actually been taken either by the bassists Spouses or another relative (father, sister etc) and
there were a few photos that had been taken by other musicians notably, the photos of Brian Lawrence,
Tom Kennedy, Jiggs Downing and Denson Angulo, whos photos were taken by other musos that were
on the gig with them. Some bassists made self portraits notably Al Garcia, Peter Tambroni, Delton
Daniels, Ed Poole, Byron Santo, Dan Hestand, Dan Rubel, Austin Underhill, Errol Strachan, Ivan Bodley
& Cladio Juliano. Some bassists had their photo taken by another bassist notably, Brittany Frompovich
who photographed Michael Dimin, Dave Askes, who photographed his son Miles, Julian Mayer, who
photographed Mary Anne Ray, Jimi Glenister and Trish Bailey who took the posed photographs of each
other, Myself, who photographed William Slimmerts, Grant Stinnett, who photographed Rob Gourlay,
Graeme Currie who photographed Marius Liebenberg, Gary van Zyl who photographed Kai Horsthemke,
Dylan Harbour who photographed Ronald Pillay and Michael Brown who photographed Dave Askes
presenting a 2008 SABPC Bass workshop, Trevor Muller at a 2007 Denis Lalouette SABPC Bass
workshop and the photos of Brad Davies (2005), Garth de Meillon and myself (2007) on stage.

Most of the people that responded to my inquiries were bass guitarists, and why this was, isnt very clear,
but Id like to thank Double / Contra bassists, Fred Charlton, John Goldsby, Rob Perl, Taylor, Peter
Tambroni (and his students), Leon Bosch, Hilton Vermaas, Benoit Grigaut, Dr. Donovan Stokes, Mark
Neuenschwander, Anthony Scelba and Nico Kruger for their involvement. It must be said that without
the Internet and websites like MySpace, Facebook, The Cape Town Bass Centre, Linked In and the Bass
Musician Magazines Bass Community website, a book of this size just wouldnt have been possible. I
was genuinely moved by many bassists humility a great number of these bassists are from South Africa
and I know them (and their playing) personally people like Bert Askes, whos an incredible bassist,
spoke as though they themselves werent really that proficient. This was what I was told.

Randy Kertz : I play bass because I

am drawn to it. I have played on and
off over the years and been through a
ridiculous amount of gear according to
how I feel my chops are at the
moment, good chops, more gear, not
so hot, liquidate. At this point in my
life I am happiest with my playing- I
am playing better but often playing
less note wise. I am supporting rather
than stepping on the rest of the band. I
am playing bass. It took long enough
to learn this, but the timing is right. I
have just started playing upright, and I
really feel the pulse, the bass, the
factor that makes us bass players
vibrate through my body. I have been
able to translate this new
understanding; this feeling to my electric playing and it is thoroughly satisfying. This is what I have been
looking for. This is why I play bass.

Barry Sherman : I play bass because nothing can make a song rock like a steady eighth-note groove..

Denis Lalouette : I started off on guitar at age 8. I went onto drums at age 13. When I was 16, a guy at
school came to me and said: "You play drums, right?' I said yes. He said: "Good. We need a bass player;
will you come and play with us?" I said: "I told you I play drums". He said: "If you can play drums, you
can play bass, so will you come and play?" I thought about it for a few seconds and said:"Ok." I have
never looked back since...
Adam Nitti : "At the
beginning, my decision to
become a bass player was
purely experimental, at
best... The garage band I was
playing keyboards in at the
time lost its bass player. I
thought it might be a
challenge to try and double
on both instruments, so I
started to pluck around on a
borrowed bass. I still
remember the very first bass
line I learned: "Carry On My
Wayward Son", by Kansas.
Once I developed a little bit
of facility on the instrument,
I instantly fell in love with it
and never turned back. My
affinity for the bass
eventually would influence
me to drop the keyboards
completely as a main
performance instrument. I
love the fact that the bass can
simultaneously convey
harmony, rhythm, and melody, and I love the fact that my bass can make the walls shake. At this point in
my life, my bass has become my primary tool for sharing my life and experiences with others. It's the gift
that I want to give back, and that's my primary reason for playing".

Quintin Berry : I started playing the bass at the young

age of 12 because I didn't understand or know the
difference between bass and guitar, so I chose bass. I
am glad that I did because it helped me understand
music in a way that I never thought I could. Plus its
the coolest instrument you could ever play. Even
though it has brought me to learn about different types
of music and made me go back and forth from the old
school of playing to listen to the new school because
you have to keep up with the times if you want to stick
around in the music business. My real reason for
playing bass is I love the sound of the instrument, it
takes me to another place no matter what type of music
it is. I think its very cool.

Andy Gonzalez : During the mid 50s, I went to an

excellent elementary school in the Bronx that had a good
music programme. In the third grade, I passed a musical
aptitude test and started playing violin. Two years later,
one of the two bassists in our orchestra, moved away; I
was the tallest violinist, so they asked me if I wanted to try
bass. I liked it and I took to it very seriously. My dad got
me an Ampeg baby bass and I started playing in Latin and
Jazz groups with my older brother (trumpeter / conga
drummer) Jerry. By junior high I was already playing
Latin gigs and studying with Steve Swallow, who helped
me gain entrance to the High School of Music & Art.
While there I joined Monguito Santamarias band and did my first recording at age 16.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine April 1998)

Lee Barker : It took years to fully appreciate the good fortune offered me when a Tuba was thrust into
my hands in the 6th grade.
I never forgot the feeling in the soles of my feet when I heard those low, rumbling notes. When,
similarly, a Fender Precision Bass was handed me at age 21, that feeling came back and I've been plugged
in since. Life, like music, has lots of changes: from playing regularly to suffering wrist pain that
prevented me playing to developing a new instrument, the Barker Bass, which now I play with great joy.

Dean Barbour : I play the bass, because theres just something about bass that allows such freedom,
even though youre the one keeping the groove! The way you play isnt limited. Its one of those
instruments where youre constantly discovering new things to play and try Luv it man

Steve Bailey : Growing up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I played piano and then trombone in my
junior high school band. One day when I was 12, some kid came up to me in school and said, You know
how to play trombone how about playing bass in our rock band? I went to his house that day and
played All
Along The
Watchtower
with one finger
of my right hand
and one finger
of my left. I
came home with
two blisters
and a blistering
desire to play
rock & roll. My
early influences
were Jack Bruce
and Noel
Redding and the
bands Jethro
Tull, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Black
Sabbath, Led
Zepplin and
Yes. Later on someone gave me a copy of Chic Coreas Light as a Feather (Polydor), with Stanley Clarke
on bass and I plunged headlong into Jazz.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine January 1996)

Bryan Beller : I started playing bass - upright

- at age 10 because it was the most obnoxious
instrument in the orchestra, I started electric
bass at age 13 because my hands hurt from
playing upright. I continued through music
school because it was the easiest instrument
for me to get around on, and bassists were in
higher demand than other instrumentalists.
But over the years, as my petulant youth
burned out into a mellower middle age, I
came to appreciate why I really play bass - to
serve as the natural and unique bridge
between the rhythm and the harmony in a
modern rhythm section, and to serve the
music as wholly and unselfishly as possible. Bass allows me to do that...so I play bass.
 William Teags : Over the past few years, the question of why do I play bass? has become easier to
answer, than when I first pondered the matter some years ago. Since beginning this journey that has
spanned some 40-years I have managed to find myself employed in myriad musical genre from smokey
blues, to funk, rock, and even piano trio! Along the way, I have been blessed to meet such luminaries as
the likes of Stan Kenton, Muddy Waters, and Maynard Ferguson! It has been a thrilling ride, and maybe
that answers the question in itself.
So why is the question easier to answer now, than in times past? It may have something to do with my
decision some years ago to work in the corporate world
while raising my family. Having made that choice, I feel
that I made a mistake. Though, I dont completely regret
my choice especially as my family is, and has always
been, wonderfully supportive of my musical efforts!
During those years away from pursuing music as either
vocation or hobby, I felt a great deal of loss that
manifested in feelings of jealousy and depression and a
desire to be the one on the stage, instead of watching from
the audience. That feeling eventually led me to avoid
attending live shows for several years.
In time, I relocated my family to an area that proved to be
culturally and artistically wealthier than where we had
been living. Because of the vibrant music-scene in my
area, I was presented with opportunities to play, and those
opportunities have grown to the point that Im playing
nearly every night! Playing energizes me, and I feel more
alive now than Ive felt in many years! The need to
express oneself through music never goes away. At least,
it refuses to do so in my case.
Though I can play several musical instruments, I really
love the challenge and responsibility of holding the
musical foundation. When the bass suddenly stops
everyone takes notice! For my tastes, no other musical
instrument has the magic the bass possesses! It is my
voice of choice, ever since I spent my entire life savings, at 13 (and against my parents wishes) to buy
a Gibson Kalamazoo and Sears Silvertone amplifier. I play bass, because bass is the foundation and
that fact goes beyond the clich!

Steve Crozet : There is no other modern instrument that resonates with me as much as a bass, whether it
is acoustic or electric so I have naturally gravitated towards playing it. For me, a well played bass sets up
the rest of the music and is totally responsible for the sound of the music that I enjoy.

Victor Bailey : It happened strictly by chance.

I had been a drummer since I was ten years old
and I was doing gigs and sessions by the time I
was twelve. In December 1975, when I was
fifteen, I was rehearsing in the basement with a
band my brother and I had. In the middle of
rehearsal, our bass player said I dont want to
be in a band anymore. I said, Okay, Ill play
bass. May I use your bass and amp? One of
my best friends, Johnny Harrison got behind
the drums and I took the bass. It was
immediately evident that this was what I
should be doing with my life. Though I had
never played bass before, I could play all the
songs and improvise; I instantly understood the
whole neck, from first fret to the last! My
father, who never came downstairs when I played with my friends, came running down the steps yelling,
Who is that playing bass? When he saw it was me, he said You should be a bass player. I said, I
know!
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine: January 1997)

Jeff Plant : I was the youngest of six children, everyone playing an instrument or two. I started on violin
at an extremely young age. I played violin throughout my whole school career, including college. I added
piano lessons, starting when I was about eight or so. At the same time, I started playing Baritone in the
elementary school band. Then I started guitar in the fifth or sixth grade. After realizing how horribly
agonizing it was to play the baritone in a marching band, I started learning rhythm rudiments and finally
made snare position in the drum line. It wasn't actually until high school that I started playing bass. I
first started playing bass when a few friends were writing some weird music for the yearly talent show,
but we had no bass player. I figured, "how hard can THAT be?" ;) So we all pitched in a few bucks and I
purchased a fire-damaged Hondo bass guitar with pickups that looked ceramic! Wow, it sounded weird!
Anyway, I picked it up fairly quickly and then one of my friend's mothers (who happened to be Leon
Russell's sister) gave me some records to check out. She gave me Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke,
Alphonso Johnson, and Back Door (with Colin Hodgkinson on bass). I was never the same. I had no
IDEA bass could do all of those things... Then, shortly after, I heard Bela Fleck's first group album and
caught "Sinister Minister". That was it. I was dedicated to BASS from then on. It filled every nich I
needed filled as a musician. I never looked back.

Pino Palladino : I began playing guitar after seeing a priest play

one at a folk mass and I worked my way up to a local rock band.
One day, when I was about 16, I strapped on our bass players
Rickenbacker, just to mess about and I felt at home immediately.
So I got my dad to buy me a Fender Precision and made the switch
to bass.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine: November 1996)

Matthew Moss : As a young player I feel honoured to even have an entry here. For me I feel I didnt
have a choice and that the bass guitar found me. No one in my family played anything. I mean what a
jump to make something happen, but once I randomly picked one up, my knowledge and hunger for
music grew rapidly. Everything I learned melodically and rhythmically, I wanted to play on my bass.
As I grew with my instrument so did the reasons why I play. I agree with the few above that said it is a
new and exciting instrument that has already seen so many changes, yet so many more to come!

Graham Jacobs : Why bass? Because bass is the glue

in the mix. Because playing bass helps me to listen
better I refer to what the band is producing, rather
than just what Im playing. I have played a number of
instruments starting with piano, and then moving to
drums while still at school. I picked up my first bass
before I could play a chord on a guitar, and it was love
at first sight. This was despite the instrument being
home-made and sounding horrible. I went on to play
guitar and a number of other stringed and wind
instruments in bands during the next few years, but
always found myself gravitating back to bass. I guess
thats because I enjoy being at the juncture of the
rhythm and harmony. I also like the fact that of all band
instruments, the bass is the one most bands can least afford to be without. Think about it actually Im
sure you have.

Steve Rodby : I had a very early almost pre-verbal affinity for the bass: It remains, like the bass itself,
an enduring mystery to me. I remember seeing a bass player on TV, when I was very young and falling in
love with the sound and look. My father, whose a great music educator, picked up on that quickly and
kept reminding me of it until I was old enough to start lessons. He always told me Everybody needs a
bass player and bass players always work. I hope hes right. I started out playing classical acoustic bass
but quickly made the transition to pop music and jazz on electric and amplified acoustic. I always felt
bass was the one instrument that felt right to me. It was so much fun from the very beginning. In a way,
the bass itself inspired me. I love those low notes.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine September 1996)

Kevin Brandon : When I was 4 I started playing my sisters

Piano then went to my brother s saxophone.
When I was 9, my father told me it was my turn to have my
own instrument. I wanted to play drums but because of my
handicap, he told me to pick an instrument that was less
physical on my legs so I wouldnt get discouraged down the
line. He brought back home, that Christmas, a St George bass
from the swap meet. The rest was history; my Career started at
that point playing bass in my family band.

Matthew Bairstow : Its the glue that holds all music together, the
skeleton I cant live without, Nothing comes close to that feeling of a deep
bass tone running from the top of your head to the tips of your toes,
melting any internal organs you had left. I love the way that when Im
playing, nothing else matters, every worry I had before I picked up my
bass is gone, I find it a sort of meditation, a release and even a cleansing,
Thats why I play bass.

Billy Sheehan : When I was very young (around 10 or 11), there was a "teen explosion" of music &
bands. I had an older brother & sisters who were of
course, caught up in it. As the youngest of four, I tried
to get into things that were meant for the older kids.
Hearing The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys & a
zillion other early 60's bands and music was exciting
and inspiring. Around the corner from my house lived
my friend Joe Hesse who actually had a band, and
they rehearsed in the basement. At that time there
were bands everywhere. On summer nights you could
hear rehearsals and jams all over town. As you walked
down the street, and the sounds faded, another band
further down would come to your ears. Joe was a bass
player & one of the coolest guys around. I wanted to
be like him. He let me pick up his bass one time--it
was huge & heavy. The strings were giant and thick.
Just a few plucks and I was blistered, but I knew that
was the thing for me. Soon after, a band called "The
Beatles" played on Ed Sullivan. I saw all the girls
screaming, and instantly knew that was the job I
wanted. I used to sit in my room with my bass and
listen to the hit radio stations, and learn how to figure
out by ear, every song that I heard. To me, bass is the
coolest instrument. It links rhythm and melody,
holding together the sound of the band. It gives the
time a pitch. Very early on I learned it was unlimited
in scope. No less than a grand piano. From the simplest groove to the most complicated nonsense. After
over 40 years, I'm still learning every single day.

Ed Poole : I was always attracted to the sound of the bass on first hearing Andy Fraser with FREE and
Jack Bruce with CREAM.
It wasn't until I bought my first 6 string electric guitar, joined a band and realised I was only playing all
low single notes, that I thought I should really be playing the bass. I bought my first at age 14, a 'jazz'
copy. Later in life I discovered Larry Graham and others, then Jaco. I feel very lucky that I still love my
job.

Sting : The bass feels strange in your hands when you've been used to the smaller instrument with its
narrow strings and short neck. The bass has a weight and a heft to it that feels like a weapon, yet there is
a quiet beauty to it as well. This instrument is
the root of all harmony, the bedrock at the
bottom of the stave upon which music is
constructed. When I accompanied Ken, I
realized that whatever he played was
harmonically defined by the notes on the bass.
If he were to play the upper partials of a C
chord on the guitar, it would only be a C chord
if I played C in the bass. So I began to form in
my mind what I can only describe as a
strategy. A vague one, but nonetheless a
strategy that the bass, while being far from
flashy, would suit the covert side of my
personality much better than the guitar. It
would be a quieter heroism I would seek, stoic
and grounded like my father's. My ambitions
would become concrete from the ground up,
hidden yet effective. I would suppress my desire to shine spectacularly in favour of digging deep and
marking time in what I somehow knew would become a long campaign.
Excerpt from "Broken Music"

David Hughes : I started to develop a more serious interest in music when I discovered the Beatles.
McCartney's wonderful
basslines, that are melodic yet
supportive and often serve as a
sort of counterpoint to the
melody drew me to the bass. I
loved the sound of some of the
Swedish studio bass players in
the 80's (e.g. Rutger
Gunnarson, Christian
Weltman), growly, compressed
and up-front in the mix. It is
also an instrument that gives
you a lot of control of the
music, but being a somewhat
shy person, it lets me hide
behind the frontman of the
band. Without a great deal of
natural affinity for the instrument, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it for this long.

Stuart Hamm: Im from a very musical family. My father is a musicologist, my mother is a voice
teacher and my two brothers are musicians that led me to try the piano, the flute and the violin early on.
One day when I was about 13, there was a rock band playing at a park in my hometown of Champaign,
Illinois. I went to listen and the bass player had a white curly cord going from his Fender to his Orange
Sunn amplifier. I thought it was the coolest thing Id ever seen in my life! In addition, I was a big fan of
the Partridge familys bassist Danny Bonaduce he was a role model for chubby, red haired geeks.
Soon after, I began playing electric and upright with the goal of getting into the Champaign Central High
School jazz band, which had national-caliber status. I was in the band for one year and we won the state
championship before my family left Illinois to move to Vermont.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine July 1997)
Greg Olwell : Why I play bass is both a simple and difficult question to answer. The short answer is that
its endlessly fun and gratifying. To me, the resulting emotional response is the most important part; the
why of the response is the difficult part to answer. Upright and electric bass are powerful, elemental
instruments that can shake buildings and hips. Of course, there are plenty of talented musicians working
the bass as a solo instrument, but I feel that it works best with other instruments and in the process, fosters
a sense of community and support, whether its a duo or an orchestra. Doing that, requires a sense of
selflessness that forces me to place myself in the overall picture of the music. By playing such
foundational notes, I can exert so much power on the music. And, have fun.

Stanley Clarke : Violin was the first instrument that I started playing
in school. I sort of liked the idea of playing violin, but it was really
tiny. Man, I was tall at 12. It was like seeing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
playing a piccolo trumpet it just didnt fit. I had a great teacher
named Mr. Birch, who was really good. He was so good that when I
said, Look, man, this violin stuff is really not good for me, he said
Well, well go one more up. So he gave me a cello. That wasnt
happening, either, and then after about two months with that I went to
the acoustic bass. I loved the sound of the cello, but the one that I had
in school was simply too small. String bass was the perfect size for me
tall so I got it. I remember my first remark about it was, Well, the
sound is a little rough, but what the hell, I guess Ill be able to work
with it. I was always a melody-minded person, but I just had to find
the instrument that fit best with the size of my body.
Excerpt from Bass Heroes

Mark Egan : My first instrument was guitar at age 10 then at 11; I started playing trumpet, which was
my main instrument from junior high school into college at The U. of Miami in Florida. Even though I
was a trumpet player I was always attracted to the bass. The popular music in my teenage years was rock,
soul and R&B and
the bass was usually
prominent in the
mix. Bands like
Jimi Hendrix,
Cream, the Beatles,
Led Zeppelin and
the Motown sound
was blasting
through my car
radio speakers.
I can remember
visiting the local
music store in
Brockton Mass.
every Saturday and
looking in the
display case at a
fender jazz bass.
For some reason I
tuned into the bass. At 15 I bought my first bass, a Delray, and studied with a guitar teacher named Mike
Lalli. He taught me scales, arpeggios and ways to play through chord progressions that made musical
sense of which I still apply today.
While at the U. of Miami I became completely involved with bass to the extent that it became my major
instrument rather than trumpet.
The reason why I play bass is that I love to be in the moment of the constant flow of rhythm and
harmony. Im drawn melodically to the cello like sound of the bass and I can never get enough of playing
in a groove with inspired musicians.
Rufus Reid : I played trumpet in junior high and high school, and later in
the air force band. In high school, I was drawn just to touch the bass, to
fool with it in some manner; while I was in the military, I began to teach
myself and very quickly found that the bass satisfied something in me the
trumpet never could. Listening to live performances and such records as
Miles Daviss Walkin (Prestige) with Percy Heath, Oscar Petersons
albums with Ray Brown, and ones by the Dwight Mitchell/Willie Ruff
Duo, I was convinced the bass was for me.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine July 1996)

David Houghton : I joined the police band after school I was employed as a tuba player. When one of
the bass players was getting close to retirement, I changed over to bass guitar playing bass guitar
seemed a far more attractive option than standing on parade with a tuba. Since I already had a fair
understanding of the guitar, and I was a good reader from the tuba, the transition was pretty smooth.

Glenn Letsch : The bass speaks to me like no other

instrument
I intuitively gravitate to bass first when listening to
music
Always have, and always will

I can try and intellectualize why I play bass but I just

love playing bass
It is the nucleus and the one instrument that can
singlehandedly make a song "dance"
Playing bass is my way of dancing, I suppose.

Chris Garner : It just feels great.

Victor L. Wooten : I am the youngest of five brothers who all play music. My four brothers have been
playing pretty much since I was born. Regi plays guitar, Roy plays drums, Rudy plays Sax, and Joseph
plays keyboards. My oldest brother, Regi, realized that if there were a bass player in the family, we would
have a complete band.
That ended up being
me. So, I became a bass
player because of them.
I like the bass because
its main role is a
supportive one. Its job
is to make the other
instruments sound
good. I like that. U
must be a good listener
to play the bass
properly. There are
many other reasons
why I enjoy playing the
bass. Here are a few:
First of all, I really
enjoy it. The instrument
as well as the music
that comes through it
makes me happy. It can
also make me sad or
any other emotion. That is a wonderful thing. These emotions can be transferred to the listener so that
they feel and experience it too. That can be very powerful.
The instrument is still very young and changing fast. It feels very good to be a part of the growth of the
instrument. We are still in an age where some of the first people to play the electric bass are still around.
That's very cool. I can only imagine where the instrument will be in a few years.

The bass is an instrument that people are still surprised to hear played well. We are used to hearing a
piano or guitar player perform a complete song on their instruments. It is still rare to hear that from a bass
player so, when it is done, it is responded to in a big way. that works in our favor.

The bass is my way of expressing music. I thank the bass for providing me with such a wonderful
doorway into this beautiful world. I don't know how I would enter into music without it.

I could keep going but I will conclude with this thought.

In their own way, all people are musical, but not all people have an instrument to express it through. An
electric bass allows others to hear my musicality. Without it, my music might be locked inside forever.
So, in a sense, the bass is my musical saviour. I am thankful for that.

Peace,

Jean-Bertrand Carbou : I had my first bass after my dad made me

listen to the Stanley Clarke Album School Days. I was amazed and I
switched from drums to bass at age 15. Bass is the foundation of
music and bass is in every style of music. Plus, its a rhythmic,
harmonic and melodic instrument. It has everything! Thats why I like
it, its the versatility

Derek Oliver : It was Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones that gave me the bass bug. Although I loved
music and bands from the moment I became aware of it, as a toddler, I was always most impressed by the
(usually bearded) guy at the back next to the drummer. The one with the far off look in his eyes. The bass
is the defining instrument in any band. It bridges the gap between the drums and guitars etc. When well
played it makes a band sound hot, without even being visible. I love the feeling you get when your bass
causes the rest of the band to rock and the beautiful melodic sound when playing a solo line.

Adrian Davison : I started playing at age 16....I played bass

because our band needed a bass player. We were 2 guitarists with
a drummer and singer,...and we didn't need 2 guitarists.........it
was unanimous ........ The other guitarist knew all the songs and
was a better player, so I went out and bought a bass.... a blonde
Rickenbacker 1977/ 4001 ..........I think I played my first gig a
few days later!!!!!!!! Also, later on I added Hipshot d tuners and
an ABM bridge as well as waxing and re-wiring the pick-ups...I
probably played about 3000 gigs with that bass!!!

Jay Terrien : "Because Bassists RULE!!!"

Concord Nkabinde : do I play bass? Oh! I guess I

dont see myself primarily as a bass player but a
musician. I could have been a pianist, a drummer or a
dancer for that matter. However, I believe the BASS
chose me. Circumstances and fate may have been
instrumental in that process. I have no regrets for having
been chosen to play bass, as it gives me an opportunity to
be highly effective whilst I am in the background.
Affording me the power to influence without being too
upfront. Bass has helped me develop a strong sense of
harmony and rhythm.
Ben Jones : The story my mother tells is that one year, for Christmas, when it was still bigger than I was,
my dad brought home a guitar for me. She asked him what are you doing with that?, and his response
was Im going to teach him to play it! I actually started my music career as a drummer and thought I
would do that forever. I attempted a number of different instruments in school band programs and was
listening to a guitarist on a Stanley Clarke record (Ray Gomez) trying to cop licks and the bass sound just
called to me. I have been doing that ever since!

Michael Manring : I just love the sound of this instrument. To

me, it seems full of passion, beauty and limitless possibility.
There's something about the message the instrument has to
convey that I find very compelling. I often dream about the
sound of the bass and even after all the years I've been playing,
I still wake up every day just itching to play.

Scott Pazera : I began playing bass because there were too

many guitar players in my junior high and my friends needed a
bass player. So for my 12th birthday I bought a bass. I continue to play bass because I love the ability to
control a groove as well as manipulating harmony to create spontaneous energy. Bass players also make
great leaders in that we have to be so aware of everything that is going on that if we miss something,
everything could fall apart. With advances in modern technology and the quality of instruments being
made today, I cant think if there has ever been a better time to be a bass player. I can walk into a gig
with a 4 pound amplifier, 20 pound speaker cabinet and my bass on my back and blow the doors off of
most gigs. I love playing bass.

Dave Segall : I play bass for the chics, man!! Bass is just so mysterious, and Im a mysterious guy!

Jeff Berlin : I suppose I started playing the bass out of sheer laziness.
When I was 14 years old, I was into my eighth year of intense violin
studies and frankly, I was tired of working so hard to make myself
play this instrument. I figured that the electric bass would be an easy
instrument to play, which it really was. The hard part came when I
later began to seek out different music that was unusual for a bass
player to pursue. Exercises, transcriptions, and compositions that
mostly belonged on other instruments became the concept that I lived
by as a bass player for nearly 40 years. There's nothing mystical about
my initial attraction to the bass. It was convenient to play, and I didn't
have to work hard to make it sound good.

Tim Seisser : I play bass because it is my voice. It is my tool to express myself musically. It is truth for
me. It is all I know and it is all I want to do in life. I play bass because it allows me to connect with other
people on a level that cannot be matched by any other experience.

Shaun Moseley : Why do I play bass? Well, I

thought about becoming a drummer but having to
carry those drums & symbol stands around
everywhere changed my mind very quickly. I
enjoy hearing stupid jokes from guitarists as well,
what's that very "funny" one I have heard literally
about a million times? Oh yes, bass players can
only count up to four. That's funny but do you
know what is really funny? It's when that bass
stops playing, you can literally feel the soul & the
heart beat being ripped right out of that song. I am
proud to be a bass player! I am proud to be the
soul & heart beat of the band! That is why I love
playing bass.
Phil Raath : I started playing because the band I auditioned for as a guitarist decided they rather wanted
someone else on the guitar but they did have a bass position open and couldnt find anybody that was
interested. I took the job on condition that they show me what they wanted and Ill play it that way.
Unfortunately, that took away the basics of playing the instrument and to this day I still dont know what
bass is actually all about I think if that light one day starts coming on it will be a major revelation in my
life. Still love playing bass though probably just because of the way the low frequencies tingle through
your whole body :

Ross Pickford : It all began with the usual

story: I wanted to be the cool guitar guy but
was too average on that instrument. Our
band needed a bassist and I knew someone
who had one lying around. So being the nice
guy, I volunteered to give it a go, knowing
all of 3 chords at the time. That was 14
years ago, the rest is history I guess. I love
the emotion and feeling you can bring to a
song with a bass. It really can be the heart
and soul of a song, or the driving force. The
longer I play, the less I try to play, and
rather let the bass fill the gaps between
guitars, vocals and the drummer. If you let
that be the guide, a whole world of space is
opened for you. I still only know about 3 chords...

Winton Palmer : If Music is the ephemeral, temporal and infinite expression of the Divine in the
material reality, then the bass is the expression of the thoughtless, all pervading and powerful dark matter
that moves between each particle in the universe.

Brian Ogawa : As I said in Bass Player Magazine, I started when I

saw a bass player at Disneyland; play the song, "Do I Do" by Stevie
Wonder. When I heard the bass player play the unison line with the
horn players and I realized you could play rhythm and melody at the
same time I said that is the instrument for me. I started on
Trumpet and played that from age 8 to 17. At about 15 it became
more bass and less trumpet. For me, Bass and Drums are the
foundation on which all the great music that I love is built upon.
Incidentally, Jeff Berlin was one of my teachers.

Quinn Hawley : Music has helped me to understand the world better and through music, I discovered
bass. I began playing bass at my grandfathers urging when I was sixteen. Ive been playing ever since. Its
like an addiction and my ultimate satisfaction. I love being a bass player on stage its taught me to hide
my needs and show my skill.
When youre a bass player, groove is something you live every day. Time is our most valuable asset, yet
we tend to waste it, kill it, but playing bass is my way of investing in it. Thats Why I Play Bass!!!

Francois Marais : I got my license to resonate from a friend of a

friend who needed a bassist. So I too, was Chosen and I never listened
to a song in the same old way again. A bassist feels what to play,
understands the mood of the song and glues the melody and rhythm
into one. That, and the feel of thick, elastic coils at my fingertips are the
root notes to my fetish...Oh Whatever! Next time people move at your
command, youll know what I mean.

Ray Riendeau : I play bass because it is my other voice for expressing myself. It can convey feelings and
statements that mere words cannot express. Music IS the universal language and my "voice" is the bass.
Tony Senatore : I never wanted to play music professionally. I was a straight A student, in all the
honours classes throughout my high school years. I planned on being a writer. My father was a
professional musician, a trumpet player. He was always away when I was a kid, and I never wanted a life
like that for myself. My Dad found me the finest teacher around (the late Mr Al Faraldi). Dad drove me
to all my lessons, paid for them, but discouraged me to embark on a life as a pro musician. You think
after 50 years in the music business he knew something that I didn't?
Paul McCartney was certainly my first influence. Hearing him made me want to play the bass. Mars
Cowling blew me away when I heard him on Go For What You Know, Pat Travers Live. Stanley Clarke
just shocked me when I heard him play on Romantic Warrior. It opened my eyes to just what could be
done with the bass guitar, but hearing Jaco Pastorius on Heavy Weather changed my life - in particular,
his playing on A Remark You Made. Nothing has ever impacted me as much as that, even to this day. I
learned from this that I wanted my music to move people in a deep, emotional way, not a "Gee, he plays
so fast" kind of way...

Nick Bellinger : I play bass primarily because I wanted to hide at the back but now I do it because its so
darn funky!! Oh and theres only 4 strings to worry about too!!

Llewellyn Buzz Bethwaite : The fist time I knew I wanted to play

bass was hearing Cliff Burtons playing on Metallicas For Whom the
Bell tollsthats when I knew I wanted to be a bass player! NO other
instrument has the presence and quiet power of the bass on stage. It
fits my personality as someone that likes to be in control, but at the
same time, I can stand back and let someone else take the lead. I love
the simplicity and power that comes from a thundering bassline and
that growl of a well-fed dinosaur as it dominates the low end. WE
DONT NEED NO TREBLE!

Andre van Zyl : Bass is Ace! Sending Vibrations down your spine - something no other instrument is
capable of doing. The quiet tone of firm strong rhythm! Its drums without the bang. A guitar without
the twang. The lead singer by merely the slap of a finger! Theres just no doubt that I have to shout that:
Bass is King.

John Goldsby : I started out playing just about everything else before I finally found the bass: piano,
clarinet, trumpet, and guitar. It wasn't until I started
playing guitar in rock bands in about the 7th grade that I
even considered the function of the bass at all. There we
were, the typical garage band with three guitars, drums,
lead singer, and no bass. I met an old trucker who was
passing through our neighborhood and had a Goya bass
guitar for sale - which became my first instrument, and
which completed the instrumentation for our garage
band. The Goya was stolen shortly thereafter (anybody
seen it?!?) and I picked up a '65 Fender Jazz bass, which
I still like to play today. After the rock and fusion phase,
I found the proverbial "upright bass in the corner" of the
school band room. That really changed everything - I
found the sound that I was hearing in my head. My life as a bass player was signed and sealed at that
point and I've never looked back since.

Andrew Pfaff : I started playing piano at about six or so, and later took up some other instruments, but in
my later teens I began playing bass and quickly realized two important things: a), that I enjoyed the
influence I could have over the sound of an ensemble as a bass player, and b), if you can play a bass even
a little, lots of people will want you to play in their bands.
This meant that I could enjoy a position of power and influence in the music I played, AND be more
employable than players of almost any other instrument. I quickly became aware that good bass players
are more rare and coveted than good guitarists.
As a bass player, I enjoy a position of incredible power over the rhythmic and harmonic dimensions of the
music. With bass, one note can change everything.

Eelke van der Hak : After running a jazz cafe for

seven years (near Amsterdam - Holland) I was so
inspired by all the musicians who played at my place,
that I wanted to play an instrument for myself.
The first jazz hero of mine is Miles Davis and I was
thinking about playing trumpet but after every gig in
my cafe, I was always talking about the bassplayer, so
my wife said; why don't you start playing the bass?
and so I did and I am very happy to now play the bass
in a gipsy band called; Peu de Feu and can't imagine a
life without playing the bass, with special thanks to
people around me for their support

Pat Wilkins : I started playing bass at the age of 12. I had been playing guitar in a rock and roll band for
about a year. There was a band down the street that had this amazing guitar player in it. He could sing and
play every Beatles and Stones song and he knew all the Cream and Grand Funk Railroad songs too. The
only instrument that they couldnt keep around was the bass player so I bought a $65 Crown bass and a
Silvertone bass amp and joined the band. Ive never looked back. I love to play bass. I listen to the bass
when I listen to music. I hum bass lines when Im daydreaming. Its in my DNA. I cant imagine my life
not being a bass player.

Al Turner : I started playing bass when I was 12 years old. I wanted to play drums but my
parents didnt want to hear the noise in the house. My older brother plays guitar and he
suggested that I play bass. I began learning the bass lines from the many Motown artists that
I heard on the radio. James Jamerson was a huge inspiration for me. I love the way that the
bass moves a song along. It's all about the bass. Where would the world be without Bass?

Adam Engela : Because its cooler than guitar.

Chuck Bianchi : It is hard to recall what drew

me to the bass guitar. In the beginning it may
have been the personalities of the bassists in my
favorite bands as much as it was the sound of the
instrument. Of course my reasons for playing the
bass when I was 14 are different than my reasons
today, but it was always the melodic aspect of the
instrument that attracted and intrigued me, and
that is still true today. It is no secret that the bass
is the foundation of nearly any ensemble, any
genre, but I believe that the full melodic potential
of the bass is just beginning to be realized. And it
is the idea of unlocking the puzzles and
discovering the mysteries that lie within the
fretboard that motivates me to compose, perform
and teach today.

Danny Fox : I started playing bass in 1995 at age 15, as my dad had when he was younger. I was heavily
into the rock and metal at the time and began teaching myself. I took to the instrument pretty quickly and
looked for someone who could expand my knowledge. I studied with Billy Evans a great LA bass player,
for 6 weeks, he introduced me to funk, jazz and the blues, which set me on the path I'm currently on.
After struggling with illness for a lot of my adult life, music has been the most beneficial thing for my
wellbeing more than anything else. I live to play, and love learning and teaching every day. I feel very
lucky.
Yves Carbonne : Bass guitar is the best way to express myself
through music. It has the good physical proportions for me. Its a
young instrument, so its evolution is not finished and I play an active
role in its development with my sub-basses. As I was a kid, I used to
sing in my head, the bass parts of all the music I had the chance to
hear I love to assume the bassists role in music, and I love also
singing with my bass or playing chords

Rob 'Acebass' Perl : When I heard the bass line on 'Don't Be Cruel' by Elvis,, I knew that was what I
wanted to play - tried to make a bass out of a cigar box and rubber bands! My family tried to have me
playing other instruments, but I didn't stick with any of them though. Luckily - I ended up in the Junior
High Orchestra Viola Section, talking too much to all the girls there, and got moved to the Bass Section.
Once I picked up the bass, it was just like hearing that Elvis song! I've been playing bass (and that song)
ever since.

Clement (Mr Crazy fingerz) Georges : I really didnt

have a choice in the matter. I had two friends that both
played guitar and they asked me if I could play bass- my
answer to their question was no I cant, so they showed me
the fundamentals of playing bass, which in their way was
playing root notes. I found this very disturbing and boring,
so I evolved it to my way of playing and by that, started
really enjoying playing bass because there was just so much
space to play in. So after five years of playing bass, I still
enjoy playing and I've come across so many good bass
players with such diverse playing styles and ideas and by
that, I never felt left out as a bass player with a weird sense
of approaching the bass.

Dino Fiorenza : I play the bass. Its my very reason to live.

Bernhard Lackner : When I started listening to bands like Toto and Simply Red....at the age of 13 or 14
I was really fascinated by the fact that, that single note which the bass played could make a song sound so
full and powerful. There and then, I knew that that was the role I wanted to play in a band. Of course,
later on in my development I also was fascinated by the fact that you can do so many things on the bass
(comping, soloing, solobass...).

Tammy Wilson : My mom is a music teacher and

I have fiddled around with instruments my whole
life, guitar, piano and cello but never really got
hooked until I heard John Paul Jones on the bass.
He made me realize that the bass could be used to
keep a groove down while being creative at the
same time. The different dynamics and dimensions
of music have always blown me away and I feel
that the bass is the key instrument holding
everything together even if it isnt up front in the
mix. Also playing bass is more of a "team sport",
you cant just go on your own mission, you have to
consider where the drummer is going. I am always
more impressed by tight rhythm sections rather
than flash bassists for example John Paul Jones
and John Bonham (Led Zepellin) and Tim
Commerford and Brad Wilk ( Rage Against The Machine).

Adrian Lay : To meet chicks and make money!................Why am I still single and penniless?
uuuhh. I dunno,. (thinks, with think bubble) yes, why am I still single and penniless?
. (sudden self realization moment) Oh no!! AAAAARRRGGG! Im a failure,a
miserable (sob) useless failure! (groan)forget me, forget all of this,.damn you, you cool funky
bassists of the Bass Collective and your stupid dumb secret handshakes!.....Damn yoooooooouuuuu!!!

Victor Masondo : Bass is the only instrument that has the last
word. You see, if you are a bass player you have so much that you
command. Other instruments are really there to hang with the bass,
you know? - so they can be recognised!! On a serious note, I fell in
love with this instrument when my brother who was a bass player
decided not to go on stage because he had a couple of problems
then. Opportunity was not knocking it was shouting loud at me. So
yeah, right now I could not have any other instrument as my main
one more that the bass. It is the essence of rhythmif played right
of course!!

Fedis Gray : I play bass because I have no choice, I am possessed by bass, and love it .. An exorcism
could not remove my love and passion for all things bass, from its majestic nature, its aura, to the feel of
its strings, the feel of its neck and body .. All of its curves and angles/balance, a joy to embrace .. Its
infinite colour and tonal and harmonous possibilities .. Its melodious sweet song to its rumble, thunder
and boom!!! .. Its overtones, chime, squeaks, farts, whistle and feedback .. Music's backbone and all,
music is life .. For me bass is an ultimate voice .. "The Om" ...

Joseph Patrick Moore : When I was a freshman in high school, I decided to

quit the saxophone partly out of my frustration of trying to sound good with
braces. I decided to switch to the bass drum because I thought that the
drummers we're the coolest people in the marching band:) During this time, I
realized that it wasn't just the drums that interested me, it was the low
frequencies and tones of the big bass drum that turned me on. During my
sophomore year, I started having reoccurring dreams of holding an electric bass
guitar although I had no concept of what that meant. I'd never had dreams like
this before or since and I know it sounds corny, but I decided to sell that dusty
saxophone for a bass at the local music store. That was it; I was hooked on the
low rumble and thunder of the bass. While I continued playing drums
throughout the marching band and beyond, it was the bass that made me want to
become a musician. Soon, I knew that I had found my home.

Tony Vaughn : Music is spiritual, healing, mystical, forgiving and a conduit for compassion and
goodwill. Music is the untainted ambassador of trust and honesty to the universe.

I play Bass because it allows for a great deal of fun and maximum creativity, it can also help to create an
environment of hope and healing in the worst of times.

Alexander Kalinovski (State Orchestra of Belarus) : I like the low sound of a

bass. I played guitar during my childhood but not chords I played bass lines,
having inclined a head to the body of an acoustic guitar and played on the low
strings. I prefer the lower sound of a bass to that of the violin, which I studied at
Musical School.

Harald Weinkum : I sort of have to blame Paul McCartney: becoming a die-hard Beatles fan in my
high-school years, I realised that playing piano and guitar is not enough, if I want to go McCartney all
the way. By the time I realised that that practicing bass was also the worst economic investment in my
life, I already enjoyed it way too much.
Still, getting paid to make people listen or even dance is not the worst occupation in the world, so I am
grateful that it worked out for me, and the experience of putting together the bass bolero (featuring 14
of todays most gifted bassists) was a once in a lifetime treat!

Jonathan Dimond : I was first attracted to the recorded sound of the electric bass on radio - hearing
recordings of Jaco Pastorius and the likes during Junior High School. As a trombone player and composer
I was really attracted to the sound and function of the instrument. I feel ever-inspired about the ability of
the bass to solo, direct chord progressions and of course groove with the percussion instruments.

Chris Badynee : I play bass because no one else

played bass in my Detroit neighbourhood back
1974. We didnt play sports because the Catholic
schools in my neighbourhood didnt have sports
programs. We were children of low-income
artists. We had banjos, guitars, violins,
accordions, drums, ukuleles, paints, paper and
pencils everywhere. We were child poets and
storytellers (creative liars). I was frustrated as a
guitarist because I could actually hear the bass
lines that I wanted to hear as I played guitar. I
decided to become the bassist that Ive always
wanted in a bass player. Its been 32 years since I
made that decision, and I can remember the
feeling I got when I hit that first G note on the A
string. It was more of a successful discovery than
it was a choice. And it filled my spirit with joy.

Jade Abbott : Besides the fact that there are large numbers of bands lacking
decent bassists its a long story involving the fact my dad and sister were
guitarists, my cousins were guitarists and drummers but no bassist in sight! I
struggled to perform with them with only the cunning use of classical piano
training, so I suppose my original reason was just so I could play with them!
Bass felt right! I could FEEL it more than any other instrumentit seems to hit
me in my lungs and heart. When I feel upset, my bass is upset with me, when I
am flying over the moon, the notes sing through the air along side me. I dont
play bass, I play WITH my bass.

Graeme Currie : Because I can!!!!!

Franc OShea : I play the bass

because as a composer it gives you an
amazing power to shape the way an
entire composition sounds. You can
create dynamics, invert chords, play
basslines that are laid back or pushed,
busy and driving or floating and
spacey. Play counterpoint melodies,
add chords, lock with the drummer,
and punctuate someones solo. The list
is as endless as your imagination. You
can turn a song inside out, upside
down, left, right, centre. You have a
creative power that can take
compositions to higher levels. You are
the link between all the instruments
and you can also sometimes play the
role of each instrument. I also like the
way the bass hits my third eye and soul simultaneously, the link between the earth and the skies and with
my fretless I can channel the heart of the universe.

Philipp Rehm : Its the power of the instrument, the tons of sound I move. When I play a tone, its that
place down there in the belly, where you feel the instrument. Its the universality of the bass - the variety
of music styles that use this instrument. No matter, if you hear juicy fat funk, African dance, pop or
Russian folklore - the bass is always the gravitational center of the music. Its the variety of sounds that
you can create with fingering, slapping, tapping and picking - and of course, I like the understatement, a
bassist makes. He has the big hidden power in the band, that not everybody recognizes - but everybody
feels it.

Wayne Fox : I dont play bass, my bass plays me. When I have my
bass plugged in I am a different person. Im lucky I play bass, coz
most other instruments couldnt survive the suffering my bass makes
me inflict upon it. But seriously, bass is what holds the music
together, it makes what the drums are doing fit with what the guitar is
doing. Initially I started playing bass for two reasons : coz I liked
playing low notes, and no-one ever notices a bass player, which is just
how I wanted it to be. But now I play bass coz the thought of playing
anything else just seems wrong.

Joris Teepe : I grew up with classical music and studied classical piano since I was 6 years old, which
was not much fun for me as a kid, so I gave up at 12 and didn't go back to music until I was 17 to join the
school band as a bassist. From this moment, I knew this was my future. I had always been the guy who
forgets lyrics, but never the bass lines.
I've been playing for 31 years and (now that technical problems are not an issue anymore) playing is just
my favourite way to express myself. It's easier than talking. Composing is my second favourite way.

Joe Penn : Stuart Zender, Return of The Space Cowboy is all that I can say. Since then I
have discovered a million and one amazing players that keep me inspired to pick the damn
thing up, but it was Stuart Zenders fluid melodic lines on the 2nd Jamiroquai album that
kicked my hiney off the white picket fence and forced me to buy my first bass, a cherry red
Fender Squire P-Bass warped neck, terrible action and busted pick-ups; but it rocked.

Zuzo Moussawer : Before playing bass I played a bit of drums and guitar. When I was a
young teen, a band I played drums in, needed a bassist so I tried it. Naturally, I loved the bass sound even
though I had no idea about the tuning I played just by ear and played some tunes with crazy tunings just
because I didn't know how to tune up. After that, I liked the idea of being in the background. Since 1994 I
have hade a solo career but I still like to groove in the background, conversing with drummers and
percussionists.

Nik Felbab : Bass is the instrument with the most groove, and it really is the most
versatile instrument. Can you slap and pop on a guitar? I think not! Bass is the
keystone in a band it provides melody and rhythm. You've heard of drum and bass
bands... Ever heard of drum and guitar bands? (And no, not the White Stripes,
because Meg White's drumming is too crap to count!). And anyway, it seems that
circumstance forced me to play bass, so I guess it was just meant to be, right?

Stefan Henrico : Why do I play bass? Well, how long is a piece of string? I cant tell you why I play
bass, I just do.

Darren Michaels : Electric bass is too young to have a

solidified tradition. It resists definitions and transcends
boundaries we have spent centuries creating. For electric bass,
there is no dogma. No one can validly say that I am playing
wrong. Playing the electric bass is like exploring an unspoiled
land without checkpoints or borders. Bass gives me a bigger
world.
I speak a voice with my bass that approaches a universal
tongue. My listener understands. Between us, we mouth a
wordless language that whispers what it is to be alive and
human. I am compelled to continue along this path of playing
bass because it enriches my life with wonder, humility, passion, humor, challenge, and healing. It is not
about how I change my playing, but how it changes me.

Alfred Kallfass : I never learned anything else, so I have to.

Christoph Victor Kaiser : After playing the classical piano and violoncello
in my childhood the bass just felt more natural to me it was the instrument
that gave me the possibility to find the perfect spot in the music for me. The
bass primarily supports other players and connects the rhythm with the
harmony it is the musical melting point in the band and you have a lot of
possibilities to sculpt the music with the way you play. Other than that. I
love low notes ;-)

Lige Grant Curry : Bass tones were always going on in my head from the time I started Listening to the
radio as a child at home. The whole rhythm section was my first draw to a song, then the lyrics later. The
Bass guitar was very clear to me since I grew up in the Midwest. Motown was the music to listen to at the
time they had the hit records. Motown then had a special way they would mix the Bass Guitar up louder
than a lot of other records, And for me that was great because it brought out the fullness of the song.
James Jamerson & Bob Babbitt The Bass Gods at that time were able to benefit from this as they started
with the stand up and then later the electric Bass. Bringing those Basses out on those recordings changed
the way we listened to the Bass guitar and the overall song. At lease for me, it did. I then fell in love with
the Bass at that time and still play as much as I can. Currently touring with George Clinton's Parliament
Funkadelic P-funk All-stars. Keep that Bass in yo Face Sucker, or your nose will grow. lol!

Tom Genovese : I've been a musician most of my life. I began formal music training on an accordion. I
was a kid back then in an Italian household, so what else was there? As the seventies approached, my
friends were buying guitars, drums, and basses and began forming bands. Unfortunately, there was no
room for an accordionist in rock and roll. My dad came to my rescue and bought me a Vox Jaguar
compact organ and from there I have had Hammond organs and Fender Rhodes pianos. In those days we
played loud and my hearing began to fail. Music was getting increasingly more difficult to enjoy. My
ability to distinguish notes on higher octaves began to disintegrate. I finally stopped playing all together.
The only instrument I had left was my old Titano Accordion. but, as musicians know, making music is as
much a part of you as your body. Then it hit me. My hearing loss was in the area of higher frequencies, so
why not an instrument that gets down low? I determined that I would make the transition from keys to
strings. That's when I bought a bass. The bass has an incredible effect on music yet, in most cases, is not
in the limelight - that appeals to me. I had the opportunity of communication with John Mayall's bassist,
Hank Van Sickle, a few years back. I was impressed by his subtlety in the way he played. He laid down a
nice groove, but made the guitar and keys stand out. That's what a bassist does and I like that.

Cobus Keyser : I developed an affinity for the bass, its sound and the role it plays in the band setup. I
moved away from bass after a year (I moved to Botswana) and decided to focus my energy on guitar
playing for a while, since there was no
band to play for. In that time, I always had
the wish to play the bass again, but
persisted with guitar. Bass still amazed me
during that dry spell. It was only when I
played my first audition after I moved to
Cape Town where I auditioned for a
guitar-playing spot when the guy told
me that they also have a spot open on the
bass and asked me if I would be
interested. I jumped at the chance to play
the bass again.
Being in the background and yet playing
such a vital role in the sound of the band,
is one of the thrills I enjoy from playing
the bass. The understated importance of a bass player is a thought I really enjoy.
Sometimes you find that there are tiny movements in certain songs that sound so cool, you get chills
down your spine. Personally, a lot of these moments have been created by a bassist doing something out
of the ordinary.
I also like the idea that a bassist can commute between musical genres. OK, all other instrumentalists
can also do it, but it seems that we, as bassists like to expose ourselves to as many styles as possible. With
the one band, you are a rocker and with the next one, you play groovy jazz bass lines.
So, there you have it. Thats why I play bass.

Jose Aponte : I dont know the exact reason why or how, but as far as I recall, when I was watching
music videos and concerts, I was always paying more attention to the bass player. Geddy Lee, Steve
Harris, Billy Sheehan, Gene Simmons, and most of the 80s Glam Rock bands bass players just caught
my attention. I remember the first time I ever saw a live group, was two blocks from my house, a
drummer, a guitar player, and a bass player, they were jamming. And I was stunned when I saw the bass
player performing, with a white precision electric bass. The bass player was a great friend of mine, and he
let me use his white bass for a talent show, we used to go to talent shows to imitate rock bands, but not
actually play live. I do remember how excited I was to have that bass in my room, it was like, I just
stared at the bass for minutes, and I did not even know how to tune it. Today, playing bass is the way I
can communicate through music, its my tool to speak the universal language. When I play, it doesnt
matter what I play, I just enjoy it so much, to contribute to that groove or musical piece, to communicate
through music with the drummer, or the piano player, and the audience, its a great feeling. That passion
for the electric bass is what still drives me, and it's why I love playing it so much.

Lee Smith : I began with the typical beginners route of classical guitar. I cut my teeth and developed a
taste for blues. It wasnt long before I decided that the low end was where I belong.

Edo Castro : I started playing bass because it only had

4 strings on and I didn't have to deal with chording.
(Boy was I in for a big surprise). Piano and Guitar was
very lovely but I didn't have the chops to be in a band as
a guitarist or pianist. It seemed easy at first, you know,
4 strings and all. But as you all know, the bass, its part
in the band and its function are gravely overlooked. Not
to mention quite challenging. (Plus no one paid much
attention to the bass anyway). The real attraction was
really how it felt against my body, the big strings under
my fingers and the big Baddah boom you got when you
played. I think it's a great time to be a bassist. With all
the new building techniques, improvements on
Amplification, electronics, Midi and Multiple strings,
the modern bassist can explore timbres that were only
known on the Guitar and Piano.
When the 7 String bass came onto the scene, I
immediately took to it. (Prior to that I had been playing
5 & 6 string bass, including the Chapman Stick.) From
that point on
the 7 string bass became my voice and more
importantly an instrument from which to compose from.
I play 7 string bass because of its tonal range and
harmonic possibilities, yet at the same time
I can still fulfil the role of the traditional bassist. I've
tried 9 strings but a 7-string neck is about as wide a
neck that I am willing to deal with!
I also sold my Chapman Stick because I was able to do the same thing on my 7 String basses without
reinventing my technique. (it's not fair to compare the Stick to Electric bass. So I'd say I can tap upper
registers of the 7-string to give me another timbre to work with and at the same time tap with the left hand
to emulate the Chapman Stick sound. I would say Emmet Chapman gave us the tapping sound, but Billy
Sheehan and Stu Hamm made it ubiquitous to the bass community)
I've recently returned to playing 4 string Electric upright because of the gorgeous sound you get with a
longer scale/string length. The most difficult part was to find one that was suitable for my playing needs,
yet at the same time, gives you that "other worldly" sound of the Electric Upright bass. Besides that you
have the advantages of bowing that you can't do on Electric Bass Guitar.

Vernon Hodgetts aka Hodge: When I was younger I started my musical journey on piano, then guitar &
then drums, but when I was about 14 I saw a friend of mine playing bass & was immediately drawn to it.
I got my first bass when I was 15. It was an el cheapo with the highest action ever, but I loved it & never
looked back. I have been playing for 19 years now & I love it more than ever.
In any ensemble you have melodic & rhythmic instruments, but to me bass has a unique musical duty. It
compliments the rhythmic elements of the drums while enhancing the melodic nature of the other
instruments through the harmonic nuances that it is capable of.

I consider myself a feel player. I listen intently to what is happening around me musically & try to
convey that through my playing, whether it be sensitivity or intensity. When I am playing, it is very
important to me that I put my heart & soul into every note I play. This might sound a little weird, but for
me, my bass is the conduit to my soul. I want to make sure that every time I hit my strings that I give the
person listening an authentic experience of the music I am playing so that they can feel the true emotion
of a song. If at the end of a show I have not left my heart lying on the stage I feel like I have done the
listening audience an injustice.
Players that have influenced & inspired me are: Tony Levin, Nathan East. Cass Lewis (Skunk Anansie)
Patrick Dahlheimer (Live), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette, The Panic Channel, etc)
Pete Turner (Elbow), Graeme Currie, Concord Nkabinde, Victor Masondo, Denholm Harding (Just Jinjer)

YoYo Buys : I started playing bass cos I thought a certain bass

player looked cool Ive realized since that Ill never look as cool,
so now hopefully its all about the music.
I suppose the real reason is that, Ive always been drawn to the low-
end of the spectrum, and low frequencies have a soothing effect on
me theres a certain tactile sense to the sound of a bass whereby
one can almost physically grab a big juicy note out of the air. I love
being able to combine that with other instruments to make it all
sound complete.

Jose A. Valentin Caro : I love to play the bass because it goes with my personality very well. I don't like
to show off and be in the spotlight all the time, and the bass is the perfect instrument for support and
foundation in music. I have no problem holding the groove and keeping it all together for the band all
night!

Rob Gourlay : I began playing bass for a simple reason, a gig! I was a
guitar player and my brothers band needed a bass player for their big up-
coming gig and I was more than happy to give it a try. I thought I was only
going to play the one gig, but I loved it so much and had a lot of
opportunities to play so it was an easy decision to continue with bass. Its
been such an amazing instrument to play and there is always so much
more to learn. The ability to constantly learn and grow with the instrument
is what keeps me playing. God has blessed me with so many great
opportunities and with a very supportive wife and family and after many
years of playing I feel like Im just getting started!

Wan Abdullah Wan Salleh : Bass is a unique instrument its the best instrument ever created. The
sound of the bass is so deep and soulful, it should be played with your heart and must be felt not heard
its all about vibration. The big bottom sound will fill the room with its groove. When I'm on stage,
nothing gives me more satisfaction than to play the groove and create the vibe, without over-playing, of
course. Groove is everything in the music world. I LOVE BASS - It makes me happy, having fun on
stage or playing alone at home.
Richard Sims : I can't say with traditional certainty why I am a bassist. I didn't choose the instrument out
of necessity (a garage band
needed a bassist) and I had
no particular penchant for
bass players (or their
supposed role in a band) as
a whole, never been very
interested in learning
someone's parts, any of
that... Even today, my
relationship with the bass
is always in a state of flux.
I believe in the presence of
divinity when this
instrument (or its
variations) is in my hands.
I have come to think of the
music cosmogenously.
Have rid myself of the
need to posess it - to compare it - to think I must be a master of any one particular style, let alone many -
choosing rather to accept its presence as a musical indication of my progress in life. I do know
intrinsically that it is the instrument I was meant to use for the conveyance of the sounds and vibrations I
hear and feel.

Trevor Muller : I started playing bass in 1977. I was already 25 years old. My interest developed after I
heard groups such as Weather Report and Brand X, musicians such as Stanley Clarke, Jeff Berlin, Bunny
Brunel and our local band Theta, who had Denis Lalouette, playing with them. Listening to them was
very inspirational. There was also a lot of Jazz happening at a venue called Sinatras. All of this was the
catalyst that sparked my interest in getting started on bass. I was basically into the pop thing throughout
the 60s and 70s. As I got older (into my teens) my interest in Jazz developed. I listened a lot to Dave
Brubeck, Stan Getz and Herbie Mann. I listened to a friend of mines band rehearse and I found myself
listening more to the bass than any other instrument. My interest in Jazz-fusion grew as I got older and
then of course, along comes Jaco Pastorius. Local bass players who were making their mark at the time
were Denis Lalouette, Nippy Cripwell, Ashley Kelly, Les Goode, Trevor Gordon etc. They were the
players you wanted to listen to. Ive done some studio recording but not too much. Im not a great reader.
Most of my studio recording was done with Didi Kriel and Snakeshed.

Mark Meadows (a.k.a. The Bass cowboy) : I started playing bass for the same reasons most guys
did....1)....GIRLS, GIRLS, and more GIRLS!!! Any guy (sorry girls...this isn't about you) who says
otherwise is either not telling the truth or is
in denial! 2) Because everybody else wanted
to play guitar.... playing bass made me
different...which meant...MORE GIRLS (see
reason #1)! I was already singing bass in
church and school choir so I knew the
awesome power of the low end. I also knew
that I could be as good as I wanted to be on
any instrument, so.... why not use "the force"
to get more chicks! Of course I later grew
into the fun of mastering the instrument and
all that came with it, but...the question was
"why did I start playing bass?"...right? Let's
be real here shall we! My low-end groove
makes the girl's low-end groove, which
keeps the world a happier place. :) I feel I
can "hold my own" in any bass situation, but.... I also prefer to be called a bass player as opposed to a
bassist, 'cause there are more important things in life than bass..... sometimes that is. :)
Gonzo : The Bass Guitar is my first weapon of choice. What instrument is more responsible for makin'
the necks work and the butts shake, truly defines the 'funk' in funky, the 'groove' in groovy, can add both a
'smooth' and 'cool' swing to jazz, puts the 'walking' in walkin' blues and brings the true meaning of
POWER to the term power chord? What instrument can you pick up by its E string? Able to take a solid
punch or a throw to the floor, but is just the right size
and shape to gently put your arms around. Mighty
enough to move sound reinforcement equipment and
amplifiers from an 18" speaker down to a tweeter.
Possessing dynamics as subtle as a whisper, while
still capable of being as rude and belligerent as an
airhorn on Sunday morning, and also covers
everywhere in between. As effective at mimicking
the piano and the guitar as it is at coloring the drums
in its role as a member of the 'rhythm section'.
Sublimely competent at holding the band together
like glue when it's needed, but independently it can
keep 'em dancing through an unaccompanied solo.
Dressed up pretty in gold hardware and a little chorus
or with one foot in the gutter in stickers and
distortion. Fretless and round-toned with flatwounds
or popping high and compressed with roundwound
lights. As simple as root-five and pounding eighth
notes, however qualified for something as complex as
Bach or Beethoven. And let's not forget - also
available in piccolo, acoustic, semi-acoustic, solid
acoustic, hollow body, semi-hollow body, electric
upright, baby upright and the awesome traditional
upright...with ARCO!!! HipShots, E-Bows,
Subwoofers, Biamps, Optical pickups, blendable
Piezo pickups, active, passive, coated strings,
wrapped strings, nickel, steel, nylon strings,
flatwound, roundwound, half-round and even double-ball-end-headless strings! Oh, and while we're on
strings: How about 2 or 3? 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10? 12?!!! Low, lower, lowest to high, higher highest!!! Bomp!
P-Kank! Humm. Pling! Ba-doom-doom-doom-doom. Woooosh. Chug-chug-chug! Dunta-dunta-dunta.
Mwah. Chang-a-lang-a-lang. Rrt! Nah-nah-nah. Mmm. Screech! Booga-da-bop! K-chunk! Wah-wah!
Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun. Brang!!! Ooo... It's all there. It can't be the hours or the pay...

Jeff Schmidt : The practical reason I play bass is because it's the instrument my friends needed covered
in order to join their band when I was 13. Over the years I've come to love it's sound and the way it feels
in certain forms of music. Much of what I'm dong currently travels very far away from "standard" bass
playing - but I still enjoy the foundational nature of an inspired bass part.

Daniel Gray : I had been messing around on

a battered, borrowed acoustic guitar when I
started high school and when my musical
interest developed, I had always liked the
sound of the bass and wanted to try out the
instrument. Then something very interesting
happened. My school friend Gina Mombelli
invited me to one of her Dads gigs. Little did I
know, after seeing a German band Triosphere I
would see the great Carlo Mombelli play with
his band, The Prisoners of Strange. It sounds
cheesy, but my life has never been the same
ever since. Something happened to my head
that night, (and at the tender age if 14) I think
Carlo took us all to another planet. I will never
view music in the same way, and I fell in love with the bass. My parents would not give in to me begging
for a bass and an amp.Tthey couldn't understand why I couldn't just play guitar. I eventually managed to
earn money by selling honey to anyone who would buy it and getting about R6.00 commission for every
bottle. After about 8 months of selling honey and tuning my guitar strings as low they would go
I could eventually afford a Cort Action bass and a little Ashdown practice amp. I haven't looked back
since. Im finishing high school now, ready to see what the world of music can offer me, or what I can
offer to the world of music.

I love how bass tone can be so crisp and clean, yet so full and warm. I love how sometimes when its
really cranked up, you feel the sound thump in your chest - it feels like the sound is inside you, coming
out of you and surrounding you. I love how fat the strings feel under my fingers. I love how a walking
bass line can paint a picture in your head. I love how some slap can wake something inside you.
Cause involuntary movement. I love how much fun it is to jam. I love how impossible it is to get sick of. I
love hearing other bassists. I love th... I could go on forever.......

If you have played bass you know what I mean. I cant place my finger on it, but theres just something
about it that only bassists would get.

Pete Ball aka Bones : While doing

keys and rhythm guitar in Germany a
thousand years ago, I fancied the 4
stringed instrument, mainly because
our bass player wasn't too hot, and I
fancied I could do better, so I jumped
in when we did a comedy skit, did the
Hammond thing for a while with
brothers Denny, (ex Baldry Band,
now in Oz,) and Dave, (ex Procul
Harum, now in NZ) Got asked to play
bass in a cabaret band out of
Manchester, which was fun, but I was
heavily policed by the boss man, like,
no fingers, use a plec!!

Came to South Africa in '74 and got the freedom to play with a great 6 piece band, Copperfield, and yes,
used my fingers!!

Long story short, during my semi pro years doing all sorts, ended up on the Jewish wedding scene on
keys, (again) till Dave Abbott (Abbott & Crabb) and Dave Dale (ex Copperfield) formed Double Dave &
Bones, and I was back on my favourite instrument, and 3 years later, having more fun than ever, doing
our 2 nights per week, doing stuff we like, and our regular punters like too. It's a win-win.

They say the guitar is for the head, the keys are for the heart, but the bass is for the ba--s. I agree.

David Heyes : Why do I play bass? What else could I do? I started playing the double bass at the age of
14 and the passion for it has continued to grow and now the instrument 'won't let me go'. From the time I
wake to the time I go to sleep I am a double bassist - whether as a soloist, teacher, publisher,
commissioner of new music, or organiser of workshops and concerts - and I love every minute of it. My
wife and I celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year, having met 31 years ago at the Royal College
of Music in London and have been together since 1981. Sarah is a professional singer but has been more
supportive of me and my bass life than anyone deserves and without her none of this would have
happened.

Kevin Charles McGinnis : I started playing trumpet and marching in the high school band when I was
in the 4th grade. I ended up playing almost all of the brass instruments over my school years and even
played in the drum-line. At the age of 13, I picked up an electric bass in a local music store and soon
after bought my first P-Bass and a Kustom 100 amp. Even though I was a trumpet player, I had always
been attracted to the bass. The music that got me started was rock, R&B and soul/funk. Bands like
Cream, the Beatles, Led
Zeppelin, Chicago,
Tower of Power, Chase
and the classic Motown
sounds.

I have truly been

blessed to have played
with 5 great guys for 11
years in a fun, show
band from 1974-1985,
playing all around the
Midwest. I continue to
be blessed today and
play out several times a
month with some of my
best buddies and
brothers in the world.
The bass is really the
center of my life I
look forward with anticipation all week to the Friday or Saturday night gig or jam session. I am 51 years
young and when I am playing the bass, I feel like I am 16 again. There is no better feeling in your bones
and medicine for your soul, than when you are locked into the pocket of a great groove and your bass
becomes an extension of you. That is why I play the bass, or the bass plays me?

Cesare Cassarino : My initial attraction to the bass was that I found it to be the easiest way to string a
sequence of notes together that made musical sense. So I suppose it was the instant gratification. After
years of paying the bills with adventures into the land of guitar, voice, synth bass, upright bass and
computers, the bass guitar still feels good to me... like it did in the beginning.

Jan Olof Strandberg : I always did love the strong sound from a
bass. One of my favourite records were/is Abbey Road by the Beatles!
That record has some amazing bass playing, strong melodic bass lines
and great music! Abbey Road was actually the first LP record I ever
owned, and to this day I think it's the best POP record ever made.
Soon after, I got into Led Zeppelin and what a great bass player that
band had as well!
I knew Bass was my instrument and bought my first bass guitar. I did
study upright bass as well as a suggestion of my teacher in the -70`s. I
did love that instrument too and discovered how melodic an
instrument, the bass could be.
Many of the great classical bass concertos and chamber music pieces
had nice bass lines. Then things started to happen in the Jazz/Rock
world and people like Steve Swallow, Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke,
Louis Johnson, and Jaco Pastorius did put the bass in a different light.
Not changing the role of the instrument but opened new doors and
gave the bass more respect! Bass is definitely my instrument I just
love the bass and the whole bass community, great people all over the
world dedicated to bass!

Delton Daniels : Being the underdog! This is the character most preferred by most human beings but yet
when faced with the opportunity of getting into the limelight they go for it thus discarding the underdog
character like a used condom. Bass players are the ultimate underdogs they keep the band together,
they introduce and compliment the chords, they create the beat for the drummer and not visa versa and
suddenly the limelight has grabbed all bassists around the world and urgently required them to play solos
longer than 15 seconds, yes my friend the ultimate underdog has come to the front and yet remains in the
back. This is something that only bass players understand and the ultimate reason why I play bass.

Scott Kungha Drengsen : I'm sure you will get as many

answers as there are bass players -and, this is how it
should be. My simplest answer is my most complete and
the most true; I love fretless bass (especially my 12
string)... On some fundamental level, it completes my
voice. It fits my body, my emotions, my sensuality and my
spirit. I created what I could not find. Other instruments
feel like afterthoughts, or toys. It's easy to get impressive
results on guitar, keyboards or oud. It's just not as
physically satisfying as playing the bass!
But your question also reminds me of having to "explain
myself" as a bass player. It saddens me that almost 30
years after Jaco, bassist's can still almost assume being a
unique artist or an assertive soloist, is a bad career move in most areas of popular music. I feel obligated
to explain on my CD's that most or all the sounds were done on a bass, because I see bass as a complete
instrument that can do anything..

Hilton Vermaas : Started because of a show I wanted to be a part

of that didnt have a bass player and ended up discovering a
whole new world of music.
The bass has me in the engine-room - driving; playing solo-like
without having to compete; constantly listening and adapting to
the sound and the soul of the music.
The instruments are big, so comfortable for my size, the range is
down the bottom end - thats where all the good shit happens.
Playing/working with a good drummer is a whole trip in itself,
playing with a good guitarist/pianist/horn-player/etc and feeding
off each other likewise. Playing bass gives me the opportunity to
be off out of the spotlight having a groove laying down a base
but still being part of the whole.
The bass is a wondrously primal instrument requiring sound
theoretical skills what a combination!

Ben Allison : I grew up in New Haven, CT. The instrument that first caught my ear was the guitar. I have
recordings that I made
myself at a very early age,
basically banging on a nylon
string guitar. I have fond
memories of those early
years. I had no technique of
any kind. It was all about the
joy of making noise. By high
school I had become more
serious about music, playing
mostly hand drums and
studying West African
drumming traditions, but I
was also working out tunes
on the piano and playing
guitar. I discovered the acoustic bass in my senior year (while I was at the Educational Center for the
Arts) and quickly immersed myself in a thorough study of its history and mechanics. To my mind, the
acoustic bass is the love-child of the guitar and the drum. It has the harmonic and melodic capabilities of
the guitar but also the percussive qualities of a drum (at least the way I like to play it). Charles Mingus,
Dave Holland, Scott LaFaro, Charlie Haden, George Duvivier, Oscar Pettiford, Milt Hinton, Wilbur Ware
and a host of others, all had a huge impact on me. I was especially attracted to the bass players who were
also band leaders and composers. I think they have a unique perspective on how to build a band sound
and how musicians interact while playing. The bass has tremendous power to set the harmony and
rhythmic direction of a piece of music. . Im proud to be a part of the world-wide community of bassists.

Jitka Brzek : To me, playing the bass is about

having a passion for music, the love of performing,
the love of that connection you have between your
band members and the audience when you're on
stage, the freedom of expressing yourself. Of all
instruments the bass is the one that allows me to do
the above things in the most suitable way, I have
never picked up any other instrument and felt as
comfortable and confident. In a band, the bass is
the only instrument that forms such a fundamental
role in such a subtle way. Vusi Mahlasela:
"between the bass and the drums there is a silence
that forms a part of the music".

Seamus Doyle : I started playing the double bass out of ignorance. My school brass band conductor also
led the local orchestra and as I could already do bum-bum on the tuba he thought I could give it a go on
the double bass. I didnt know what a double bass was so I said ok - only discovering afterwards the
awful truth!! However 30 years later I am still playing and making a living from it too. To me there is
nothing more satisfying than playing a great piece of music well, and the knowledge that if there's a big C
major chord there I'll be rooted there on that wonderful tonic - especially if I can use my low C extension!
For many years I thought I was a humble orchestra member, but now I know I am the most important
person in that band, and I am in the driving seat as regards the rhythm.

Chris Chard : I find the connection between rhythm and melody/harmony completely fascinating. I
began playing the bass and it took some time to really connect and find a comfortable place bridging
those two worlds. Once that connection was made and I was off to the races! Playing the bass has been
the longest and most gratifying relationship I've ever been in.

Bert Askes : Well, from the moment I

understood what bass was I knew this was the
instrument for me. I seem to have the necessary
attributes to be a bass player, a good ear, am
disciplined & have reasonable rhythm (in my
head only, cant dance to save my life!). I dont
get bored playing the same things over & over
as long as I can keep the groove & help make
the band sound tight, Im happy, which is
really where its at, isnt it? Im not much of a
musician though, cant read & dont endlessly
practice scales & stuff, that would mean taking
this too seriously! I do regret not doing these
things now, suppose its never too late to learn,
just too lazy, anyway I always just wanted to
play for fun.

For me, one of the greatest things about playing bass is that you are able to feel your way around the
music & can often stand back & listen to the band as a whole, which, as we all know, most guitarists
seem unable to do! The feeling of being the driving force behind a band is just too good to describe, thats
what keeps me going, been playing bass for 30 years now & love it more than ever!
Dave Askes : Because its easy I guess
was the original reason. In the 70s, I played a
bit of guitar and enjoyed playing in bands,
however there were so many guitarists around
and very few bassists and I did not have a
great chord knowledge at the time so I
decided to give bass a try. I mean, what could
be easier than playing the root and fifth (I
didnt even know that is what it was called at
the time). I started this when my brother
(Bert), a fellow bassist that had been playing
for a few years, had to go for his 2 year
military service, so I took his place in one of
the bands he played in. I slowly learned more
and more and enjoyed it more, I even tried
giving it up at one stage but I almost died with
the craving to play, so fortunately started again. I am so impressed with the vast styles, tones and
dynamics of the bass, to me it has more than any other instrument.
At least now I know a lot more musically now (I can play more chords on the bass than some guitarists I
know) and will take this passion of mine to the grave.

Miles Askes : The reason I play bass

would be, well Im not really sure, it
just happened, when I was still
growing up I used to switch a lot
between bass and guitar, but then I
found that my ego was most probably
too small to be a guitarist, so I
became a bass player But I guess
my main influence would be because
my dad is a bass player and I got to
use his equipment, so I had a choice
of using a not so good guitar or to
play a kinda proper bass, but also I
can say I dont actually play bass, I
say that because I am not very good, I
keep it fun and just learn what I can,
Maybe one day I will be able to say I
can play bass, then when that day
comes, I will be able to answer the question why do I play bass?.

Jeroen Paul Thesseling : "Playing fretless bass gives me a tremendous amount of musical freedom".

Simone Vignola : I started playing guitar when I was a child, then I moved
to the bass just So that I could play in a band. I was really lucky!
The first thing I found incredible with the bass (as well as the fact that I was
really having fun with it) is the part it has in a band: When the bass is
working, nobody hears it but when the bass is not working, everybody says
"where is the bass?".
The bass, from its sound, to the way its played, can be the main factor in
what kind of music you're playing, too.
I also realise that the bass guitar is a very young instrument and its best has
yet to come!
When Im writing songs and singing, its the bass thats the instrument that
best suits my voice. I'll never move away from it!
Rudy Sarzo : Im one of those musicians who believes that the
instrument picks you, not the other way around. Having said that, the
reason why I play rock bass is because I was born in Cuba, a country
that has been under communist rule for nearly 50 years. When my
family arrived in the US during the early 60s, I quickly got hooked on
rock with its rebellious and liberating lyrics and rhythms. Since then
the bass has become the instrument with which I have continued to
exercise and celebrate my God given right to be free and to Rock!!

Julian Mayer : I used to play folk guitar in restaurants

bored out of my mind. One fine day, a friend, a classical
pianist, told me he'd been asked to form a band to play on
a three-week cruise to Mauritius. He'd already pinned
down an excellent drummer and female vocalist and
needed a bass player to complete the combo. Did I play
bass, he asked. Of course, said I, lying shamelessly.
Warp 3 down to Darters Music to take an Ibanez Beatle
Bass (R50:00 new) out on appro and Mel Bay's "How to
Play Bass". Practiced the whole weekend to the album
"Super Sessions" to the tunes of Al Cooper, Mike
Bloomfield and Steve Stills. Auditioned on Monday,
stank, but managed to whinge my way into the band. We
played on the ship Europa, mainly to a great group of
pensioners who were travelling steerage. We cooked. The
first class passengers sneaked into our lounge because the
Italian band, up in first class, were stodgy. This was 1972, I was an eager young stripling and it was the
start of a long and happy bass-playing career. Nowadays I see no reason to return to folk guitar.

Errol Bong Strachan : The frequency range that is produced by either upright or electric bass gives
my soul peace and harmony. The rhythm that bass implies in the context of a song and the role it plays
within that song, is a direct parallel to every breath that I take, the very relationship between life and
breathing. How can I deny this feeling?

Lloyd Wilke : I play bass for the enjoyment of the instrument as well as a way to relax and because of
great guys and teachers like Graeme Currie who are such an inspiration to listen too, and who show that
nothing is impossible.

Lars Lehmann : That is a funny story! A friend of my father owned an electric guitar and a bass. When
we came to see him, I would be totally
fascinated by the electric guitars tremolo-
system and the sound you would get out of it.
15-year-old Lars decided he had to become a
guitar player a.s.a.p.! I told my friends at school
about my plans. They were really cool cats
because they were playing in our school big
band at that time already. Since the band was
still in need of a bass player, they convinced me
I had to learn bass, not guitar. So far, I think this
was one of the best decisions I have ever made
in my life the bass has led me to a great
number of foreign countries, countless cities
and stages. At times I think I have experienced
more things in say one month than other people
do in one year! After playing for so many years
now, I still discover new things on the instrument almost every day. The great thing is that through my
playing I can also see how I, as a person, have changed over the years. Im really looking forward to
whatever will be happening to me and this beloved instrument in the future!
Phil Kloppers : To say it short and sweet, playing bass is like riding a Harley Chopper. Not the quickest
way to move - its loud and bulky, but once you get her moving, youre the bad kid on the block. Totally
offbeat and free to move where you like.

Alvin Hendicks : I was born into music, since I can remember, it's all I wanted to do - started playing
drums at age 13 but the low end frequencies were always pulling on me until I picked up the bass at age
18 a decision I'm ever grateful for, even though I started late in life, the bass guitar has taken me farther,
deeper and higher than I ever thought I'd go in life, I couldnt imagine doing anything else, I feel
extremely blessed by God to do what I love and earn a living from it.

Barry Irwin : I play the bass because it always represents a huge emotional
involvement, excitement and a challenge to me. I really love the instrument. Its
been a lot to me, and with me for so long, I just cant see life without it. Of course
my first love is the music, but how better to serve music than through the bass.
Being a bass player gives one an opportunity to play so many kinds of music and
with so many kinds of musicians. For me thats very enriching. Also probably
because it keeps me sane. Its the place to go. The closest to the womb actually, for
me anyway. It feels safe and it inspires the gift of life. No one can give you that.

Barry Sparks : I originally started playing bass because, well, I wanted to be just like Gene Simmons of
Kiss! When I was ten years old, Kiss were like super heroes to me, but it didn't take long for me to fall in
love with being a musician, for the sake of playing music as best as I could and I think music is the
ultimate way for me to express myself. To this day I put my heart and soul into every note I play and if I
fall short of my expectations, it really bums me out, it sounds kind of silly, but playing well and always
struggling to become a better player is what motivates me and keeps it interesting, I guess always having
a goal keeps the drive of being a musician alive inside of me, besides, what is better than playing bass
with drummers like Tommy Aldridge? Its pure inspiration!

Kai Horsthemke : Am shy, have long

fingers is the commonplace reason offered
for taking up the bass. But as with all
clichs, there is more than a kernel of truth
in this: playing bass suits both my
temperament and my physique. With regard
to the former, I rather like fulfilling a
musical function that is at the same time
just out of the limelight and
indispensable. Only a few people actually
listen to the bass but everyone knows
somethings missing when there is no bass.
Yet, Im not into the merely functional
aspect of bass-playing either: I love the
sound of wood, I love melody which
explains my lasting infatuation with fretless
basses, both vertical and horizontal. But my
main reason for playing bass must be that
this enables me to hang out with drummers.
Some of my best friends are drummers and thats not a joke.

William Slimmerts : There was no one else at Church to do the job!!!

Darren McGregor : Reading through all the comments by all the different bassists it looks like we all
started playing bass for the same reasons. I was "pushed" into playing bass in '97. Birdhouse had just
started, they had their first gig coming up in a few days and they had no bass player. I said, "Ill give it a
bash." Standing there on stage, trying to keep up and playing with one finger on the frets, I thought
"Woooo, this is hard..." It was love at first note. Never quit since and now use two fingers. It just gets
better.
Roald Nel : I believe that music is a channel that is
meant to reach the inner psyche of its listeners and create
meaning and importance. The reason I play bass is
simply that it is and has always has been the instrument I
can accurately and effectively use to convey these
messages on a satisfactory level. It is also the most
rewarding experience on a physical level since it is one of
few instruments that you can actually feel the sound
emitted from it. My bass signifies my passion for music.

Kristin Korb : I spent the summer before my 7th grade year playing the bottom 4 strings of my guitar.
My guitar teacher found me a bunch of building walking bass line books, but she never hipped me to any
recordings. She did the best she could for a classical guitarist, but I wish I could have had some listening
references at that point.

Reggie Washington : There were a few factors working @ or

around the time I started playing. (11 yrs. old) (1) I met
Reggie Workman when I was 5-6 yrs. old. I saw him play &
my father used to play jazz & other genres of music in the
house via a huge record collection. (33, 45 & 78's)
This was ALL DAY!!
(2) My father also ran the Staten Island (New York) Music
Workshop in the early 70's.
Instruments were left @ my house & I would plunder inside
& mess with them.
One of them was a 1969 Fender Precision Bass. I was in the
school orchestra & city youth orchestras playing cello. I was a
gifted cellist playing the front of the section & I was maybe
12 yrs old. (3) Conductor Anthony Diaz asked me to switch
from cello to bass to help out the sad ass bass section until
they auditioned more students. I never went back to the cello
section. (4) During the mid-late 70's, 16 yr old Marcus Miller
use to come to my house over the weekend with my brother
Kenny to learn & listen to jazz.
I would mess with his Sunburst Jazz Bass & watch and listen
to them talk music.
All of these things together made me settle into bass! I also have a thing for control!! The bass controls so
many aspects of the music. I love to support the music with my sound... from the bottom!

Keep the Bottom.

Marius Liebenberg : I have been playing the guitar since the age of 12
and still enjoy the guitar but something about the bass always grabbed me.
I guess it is in your blood, or not. I always find myself turning the low end
up. It speaks to our innermost being. I went through a dry spell, not
playing music at all, when a guy I worked with before on a two-piece,
invited me to come to a gig. I think he wanted me to get a taste again, for
the stage I mean. Well the next week I got invited to play the bass in that
outfit. I had never played the bass before, but being hungry to play, I went
to Juries and got a second hand Fender Precision Jazz Bass and a 400watt
PV bass amp. I never looked back from there. The band was called True
Blue and we worked the circuit extensively at the time. The thrill to
culminate the harmonies with the rhythm section is just too much. The
drums, lead and keys are like the skeleton of the body and the bass is the
flesh.
Scott Hubbell : I chose to play bass because I want to be the one controlling the
music. Bass is a complete instrument. Rhythm? Check! Harmony? Check!
Melody? Check! How cool is it that the bass covers all those things? Very cool.
Take for instance Country music. Country folk love to 2-step. Without bass, there is
no 2-step. Funk? Cmon! Bass IS funk! Bass IS music!

Andy Pietropaolo : The reason why I started is as simple and casual as starting a band in high school.
Why I actually still play the bass after 17 years I think has to do with my personality and the way I tend to
express my emotions. Musically, I like to support and interact with my band mates. At the same time I'm
aware of the extremely powerful role that the bass covers within a band, the power of changing the
harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic direction of the music like no other instrument, in my opinion. When I
play, I feel that power and the responsibility that goes with it.

Jacques Steyn (aka Stoomtrein

Steyn) : I can play guitar, keys, drums
and some brass instruments I would
not mention in the company of
bassists, but why I prefer bass?:
Sometimes the right note at the right
time makes absolutely ALL the
difference in a song.
Places where the keys player uses
chords/effects, the guitarist
chords/licks, the drummer uses fills,
and you can use only one note to make
it happen!! One note! And I guess its
the thrill of pulling it off (interesting
coincidence) that keeps me clinging to
my bass! I love laying the foundation
for others to build on. My rhythm
section partner, drummer Iwan Kemp,
and I have a saying whenever we
session for different artists: Lets make these guys sound good!

Bill Parish : Bass is the most subtle of instruments in the band, whilst it contributes so much. The deep
resonance is felt as much as it is heard without any loud banging and crashing or screaming feedback.

Bass sets the pace.

A uniquely, versatile instrument that

can produce a range of different sounds
as diverse and numerous as the skills of
the performing artist.

Bass is at home in all genres of music,

and would be conspicuous by its
absence from any assembly of
instruments engaged in the production
music.

Most people wanting to play an

instrument, at least a stringed
instrument, will head straight for a
guitar, wanting to emulate their musical
heroes. another Hendrix or Clapton, Alvin Lee or Stevie Ray Vaughn.
No matter where you go in the world, there will always be a glut of guitarists, ranging from barely able to
strum; to magnificent, yet the Bassist will always be in demand.

Donn Dowlman : Why I Play Bass???

Because if I dont play bass, you might as well cut off my oxygen supply! I have to play bass, its that
simple.
I fell in love with the bass and the
sound of jazz when I was about 18 or
19. The passion to learn the instrument
took over and I eventually came to
study under Marc Duby at PTA Tech in
1997.
The reason I have stuck to the bass is
because of the immense satisfaction I
get from holding down a solid groove
with the drummer, the way the bass is
the glue that keeps a band together and
the sheer utter funkiness of the
instrument.
On a more serious note I believe
music is a gift from God and is given
for our enjoyment. Playing bass allows my soul to express itself where words dont suffice.Thats
why I play bass.

Willem Perold : The reason I play bass is: We could never find a bassist. But now I wouldnt trade
playing bass for guitar or drums. Bass is the thing that gets the people going at live shows. Guitar just
gives the band colour! But bass and drums make or break a band!

Short and sweet! Playing music is not a hobby its a lifestyle!

That is what bass means to me!

Paul Bass-Ace Martin : Its not so much about what you hear; its
what you feel When youre playing that exquisite creation in wood,
your inner being thrills to the timbre. When you can feel the music inside
of you before your ears hear it, thats when you are truly alive! As that
magic moment unfolds, your fellow musicians and your audience will
know, I assure you. Whatever the future may hold, life and music will
always remain bland without the essential sounds of the bass. Peace

Sue Condie Stephenson : - My first Bass Experience was sitting in my fathers car listening to
Fleetwood Macs The Chain in very loud stereo. That was a long time ago and I was in the process of
becoming a very proficient acoustic guitarist. I never thought about actually playing bass myself, that was
always left to someone else in the various bands I played in. I was playing in a three piece in 1998-a
drummer Steve, Gene on bass and lead and myself on rhythm and vocals. One night at practice we had a
problem because Gene wanted to do lead on Black Magic Woman but it sounded bare with no bass so he
told me to play it. He put his very heavy Gibson bass onto my lap and showed me how to do the riff.
And that was me! Sold! The very next day I purchased a Samic 5 string electric bass that I virtually slept
with for the next few years. In line with the type of music I play, I swapped my 5 string for a fretless
acoustic, which I play until I have blisters and holes on my fingers! I love the full vibrations and the
resonance that this instrument grants me. (It doesnt feel the same playing an electric bass.) I can FEEL
the acoustic with my whole body when I play it. It truly moves me. Another thing I love about bass is, it
can be as simple or as difficult as you want it to be, anytime..
Bass is about rhythm with your fingers like tap dancing is rhythm with your feet. I love my bass

Mark Roberts : Bass, in particular, an extended-range bass, to me, is like an artists palette with my
fingers as brushes. Vivid colors as sound from sub-contra to piccolo bass to be stroked upon a waiting
canvas from an instrument that easily communicates an artist's touch. I play the instrument because I
enjoy communicating the textures and passion it can bring to music. I enjoy the challenge of the
instrument knowing that I will never be done learning with it.

Abel Stoltz : The sound of a bass guitar just touches

everything in my feeling for music. The look of the fat
strings and size of the amps is just amazing. When I
heard my first live band doing some numbers of the
"Shadows" I immediately knew that the guitar with the 4
strings is the instrument I wanted to play. Also, most
bass guitarists are backstage boys, well, I am one of
them. I love to be part of the backbone of a band (drums
and bass). The tighter the drums and bass play together,
the better the band. The sound and feel of a bass guitar
is, to me, far beyond any other instrument.

Calvin Jones : I started playing when my mom got me a bass and amp for Christmas when I was 12. I
was drawn to the sound when I was 10 and I heard Sly's "If You Want Me To Stay". I didn't look for the
instrument to bring attention to myself by playing with a band. It translated the voice that I heard in my
head. As a young kid I never seemed to learn the lyrics to songs. Instead, I would try to sing one of the
instrumental parts like Fred Wesley's trombone solo on "Funky Good Time". It was later in my musical
development that the instrument became a way for me to express my appreciation to God and the
steadfastness of the ancestors.

Glenn Topping : I started playing pots and pans at the age of about 3. I made a broomstick-bass at the
age of 4, and thats when the music bug bit my bum properly.
At age 10 I started playing guitar, and
that was my main instrument until the
age of 19 when I started messing around
with percussion instruments, which I
loved. I picked up our bass players
guitar at band practice one day, and felt
that percussive, melodic, beautiful
groove that we all love. I was sold!
The zip on my guitars gig bag was
heard less frequently as my new
mistress ruled my life: Bass Guitar!
It was as if I had been born with a
missing limb, and Doctor Bass was the
perfect prosthesis.
Bass is so versatile, with its boundless
techniques and constantly evolving
sound that it holds me tightly in its grip.
I truly love my big bottomed mistress, Bass guitar!

Joe Smith : Nothing intricate about my answer. I love the power! Since I started playing bass (when I
was about 15) and got hooked, I've never once gotten bored with it the musical possibilities of bass are
just endless. I've gone from rock to punk to metal, and every genre requires a different style of playing,
making the instrument so much fun and so interesting. I also like the fact that we are a very rare breed of
people, and therefore it seems quite original to be a bassist. But yeah, it's such a big part of my life now...

Jo Janssen : In 1966 I heard baby baby balla balla (a Scorpions the British, not the German - song),
which blew me away. After that I learned about Chuck Berry and I noticed it was mostly groove, which
inspired me.

A few years later I learned that it was not the drums I was listening to, but mostly - the bass. At the age
of 14 I got my first bass (a Framus Nashville) and started to listen to Alphonso Johnson and Chuck
Rainey, who are still my heroes. I think Ive played in over 30 bands since then, Ive lost count.
Lots of great moments, one of them: meeting Lemmy Kilmister in a studio in Hamburg, quite a character
(and bassplayer).

Andra (Fuzz) Reitz : My good friend Nathan Ro (Lonehill

estate) started his first rock band in high school and I thought it
was such a silly fantasy. I mean how clich, everyone was
starting a band and I wanted nothing to do with it. Then one day
I visited him after school during one of his rehearsals. His bass
player didn't pitch up and he begged me to help him out, so he
gave me his beat up old ELK bass guitar and taught me how to
pluck away to the tune of the Zombie by the Cranberries. I have
never put the damn thing down since. I play bass because it is
such an expressive instrument, it can tell a story in a way that
no other instrument can. I have dabbled with other instruments
as my musical interest grew over the years but nothing makes
me feel more in control of the songs feel then when I get behind
my old 4 string. Suzi Quatro said it best "Guitar is for the head,
drums are for the chest, but bass gets you in the groin" Its the
glue of any good song and sadly most people wouldn't know
that until you pull the bass level down. I feel like I'm a ninja in
the musical empire, kicking ass in secret.

Johann Kruger (1) : Its all in the groove, man, all in the groovebut seriously, isnt the bass really
THE instrument that drives a song/band along? A good bass & drum combination can make virtually
ANYBODY sound good. Theres something physical and emotional in the groove when it happens. A
g****r player without bass is just fiddling around. A keyboard player without bass is just showing off. A
singer without bass is just floating by. A drum without bass is just noise. Bass brings it all together.

Johann Kruger (2) : Passion! I was a (not very

accomplished) guitar player for many, many years.
Most of the time, I played with my intellect and not
my heart. Then there came a time the onset of
which is rather vague that when I listened to
music I heard the bass and drum interaction, and
not the guitars wailing in the background. Then, to
clinch matters, I developed a nerve problem in my
right hand which made it difficult to hold the
plectrum. Since my perception was that a bassist
does not do the intricate right-hand stuff that
guitarists do, I started switching to bass guitar.
Man, was I ever wrong.

Then, as I grew into my bass playing, I discovered

something new: playing with a natural passion for
the music! Currently, I think Ive developed a
substance dependency called drum-and-bass-
synergy. With a good, grooving drummer I can play
for hours, I can even endure so-so
singers/guitarists/violinists/whatever. But the
energy that comes from the low frequencies locking
with a kick and a snare thats something rather
special.

Hey, Mr Soundman, can I please have some more kick in my monitor

Chris S. Harris : Although Id love to say that a watery damsel thrust a gilded bass at me from the
depths of a mighty lake, while the heavens opened and a choir of angels heralded the occasion, the real
reason is not quite so spectacular. At the age of
ten I was a contented guitarist with my own
band of similarly aged musicians.
Unfortunately my days as a guitar hero
wannabe were numbered when an eleven year
old guitarist came on the scene and started
jamming with us. He had worked out Dire
Straits Sultans of swing note perfect. He was
asked to join the band and I was demoted to
bass.
I accepted my fate and dutifully removed two
of the strings on my acoustic guitar. I thought
then that having only four strings on your axe
made you a bassist. After watching a lot of
bands and paying attention to what the bass
player was doing, the roll of the bassist became
apparent to me. Fortunately it wasnt too long
before I was given my first electric bass.
We have the honour of linking the melodic with
the rhythmic elements of a band. I have never
looked back at that day of my demotion with anything other than joy and pride. Great guitarists are pretty
plentiful but a great bass player is a rare beast indeed.
Happily I have returned to six strings but these strings are quite a bit thicker now and theyre attached to a
beautiful hand made bass.

Jaime David Vazquez : I play bass because I love the low frequencies in music. The bass is still a young
instrument with lots of possibilities that have not been explored enough. You can hear the bass in all
styles of music. Playing bass for me is a lifestyle, a religion, a passion, etc. The bass is a very versatile
instrument - as a soloist or accompanist. I love it!

Ed Friedland : My reason for playing bass has changed over the years. Originally, it was
because the strings were the same as the bottom 4 on a guitar, which I already knew how
to play. It was also because my mother, in her infinite wisdom decided she couldn't bear
to listen to me learning how to play violin.
At some point I played it because it was a source of income, and a way to define myself
in the world. Saying "I'm a bass player" gave me a sense of identity. Now, I play mostly
because it's fun. Playing the bass is the most fun you can have without smiling. There are
more profound reasons too, but describing them tends to take on a ponderous, self-
indulgent tone, which I'd like to avoid.

Brent Lovell : When I started high school I joined the Scottish pipe band, playing the snare. An
instrument that I think may not have been for someone with as little co-ordination as me. I ended up
quitting about six months later. But the droning sound of bagpipes has never left me, thanks in part to the
fact that my stepfathers family is Scottish. At the age of about fifteen, I picked up a second hand guitar
and amp. After many hours of giving the neighbourhood a headache I realised that I wanted to play an
instrument with a bit more power and passion. So I bought myself a bass. That was about 4 or 5 years
ago. And the rest as they say, is history.

Lex Futshane : Well, Bass was the only instrument I could lay
my hand oops! Sorry, fingers on without risking giving my
parents heart attacks by asking them to buy me a musical
instrument let alone disclosing to them that I wanted to be a
musician. I don't regret the encounter, as Bass is the pillar of all
music, whether it is there or not, one cannot escape its ghostly
presence in the music. Its like driving a car from the back seat.
Its the easiest instrument to play "wrong" so every time I touch
it, the challenge is to play it "right".
Michelle Ohlhoff : Bass kinda found me - and I decided to keep it! Standing in front of the bass amp
makes me feel like I'm in the arms of something bigger. It's an exceptionally satisfying instrument to
play, because I'm really into harmony and by merely changing/sustaining the bass, the entire flavour of
the progression changes. It's a thinking instrument (although you can get away with not thinking).
There's always an opportunity to do something clever (fancy yet discreet)! There's also a mysterious
synergy between the drums and bass I love. But frankly? I enjoy the attention (and the opportunity to
surprise).

Marten Andersson : I switched from

guitar to bass when I saw Gene Simmons
in a kiss video as a kid, I had no idea
how to play the bass at that point but I
knew that was instrument for me. People
kept telling me how restricted I would be
but I saw Chris Glen (bass player from
MSG) do his bass solo in "Into the
Arena" and I went, "yeah that sounds so
cool". The weight and proportions on a
bass are so powerful, hell compare that
to some dinky guitar, its truly like you
run the show with those bass
frequencies, it's like you have the AK47 of musical instruments. Don't screw with me when I have my big
gun around my neck. It definitely takes a special personality to handle the bass; did you get the (bass)
clearance? No, I didn't think so..

Ernie Leblanc : At age 3, I listened to everything for hours. The sound I remember the most is the bass
(which could be increased with the turn of a knob), especially from the LP and title track 'A Taste of
Honey' by Herb Alpert. The wildness of the other instruments, and those hypnotic horns, really grabbed
this toddler's ears. But, I knew intuitively that the bass made it all work.

Eleven years later, I got my first bass. I actually wanted to play electric guitar, but my first band said,
"BASS!" Things got on and in a very
short time my reputation grew. Many
players to this day pay me
complements such as 'your the reason
I play bass.' I was never satisfied with
any of the bass books on the market -
all inadequate! I turned to trombone
music by chance and found that these
players spoke my language.

When I was seventeen, my jazz piano

teacher heard me play bass one night
and remarked, 'You remind me of
Jaco.' Jaco? What's that?, I asked.
After fourteen years of playing, I
quit. Fourteen years later, I missed
my bass. It's good to be back. These
days I've stayed with only two of the
instruments I taught myself to play. I
compose songs primarily on a six-
string acoustic guitar but keep the
compositions simple so that my bass
can have a big back yard to play in.
Why Do I Play Bass? Because it is
a GREAT AND EXCITING QUEST OF EXPRESSING THROUGH MUSIC MY LOVE OF LIFE
AND PEOPLE!
Bass is the Voice of My Imagination Dancing on Strings! But, as was the case many years ago, the
voice is restless with curiosity and amazed by the incidental occurrences that spring to life when I ponder
upon the Bass-ics with only the intention being to refresh my memory. The experiments I was creating
in secret back in 1978 (secret because if you didnt groove, the money didnt move) were abandoned
when I heard Dance the Night Away by Van Halen. He was playing his guitar the way I was
developing my bass playing - Go Figure! Well, whos gonna believe me now? There goes developing a
first.
Imagination dreams, performance dances, but, individual Feel delivers the real deal by bridging and
bonding the abstract with the arpeggios regardless of how we chose to execute them. Alright Now
written by the great Paul Rogers and recorded by a band call Free back in 1970 is one of my favorite
songs both on my play list and on stage. The techniques are so basic but the results are brilliant! Lots of
space and a groove with nothing to lose derived from the pentatonic place with very little waste!
Many musicians have said, and subsequently asked, Ive never heard anyone play like that. Howd you
learn to play and sing like that? My reply, Thats Gods Love! I Exclaim! Which is usually followed by
my favorite prayer, "I Know You Love Me Lord, but Please Save Some for the Rest. I Love Everything
About Bass: The Spirit, The Music, The Dancing, The Playing, "MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY!" with
Sounds and Other Unexplainable Sonic Mysteries and look forward to many more moments of
possibilities and beyond! But, the techniques, be they Bass-ic or Discombassulating! feel
restricting to me if they interfere with my stage show. I dont want to blaze the neck with tapping if it
takes away from my singing and change the feeling I get when I play a song my way with my friends for
my fans.
My greatest dislike is learning other people's songs: Very boring! Why copy what's already been done?
Challenge yourself and your infinite creativity to create something that's at least different, be it in the
context of orchestral music or solo-bass That and being compared to someone else when I've been playing
like me all my life causes me to ask, "Why should someone else take my bow and credit for my hard
work?" The less I study the works of others, the more I learn from the music itself and the more unique
my style remains. As for being accused of being a "solo-bassist" it reduces down to this: Think of your
favorite solo?...Now, think of your favorite song! The Song Remains in the Brain! The solo and the
soloist are soon forgotten.
And the band played on!

Lorenzo Feliciati : It's easy,: my brother was singing and playing guitar and a
friend of ours was playing some sort of drum kit that he crafted from some pieces
of wood (but for us, it was the best drum kit in the history of rock'n roll...) so all
we needed was some bass notes...but I think the reason is, I discovered that
playing the Bass means that you have to glue together the harmonic and rhythmic
elements in Music, a very big responsibility but also a very big chance to drive
the band. When I'm playing my music with my band, I can change the dynamics
of all the musicians very fast by just modifying my approach and my volume.... It
will be a Cmajor, only if I play a C and if I play an A, you will immediately hear
an A minor.... isnt it great?
And of course, seeing Weather Report with Jaco when I was in my early years of
playing, changed my life....... forever.

Celste Reyneke : During my high school years, a bunch of my

(girl) friends and I, decided to start an all-girl band, and because
none of us really played music, we just assigned ourselves to
instruments. I got bass and it stuck.(Side note: I always liked
bassy sounds, but back then I didn't even know the difference
between a guitar and a bass guitar, let alone what a bass player is
supposed to do).

I must say I love it as an instrument - it adds so much soul to

music and. well, a girl with a bass guitar just works! Yet, the
one thing I've learned (in the words of a wise friend), bass might be the easiest instrument to initially pick
up, but its the most difficult to master!

Todd Johnson : I've always been attracted to the "bottom" of the chord for
some reason. I also remember my mom calling me into the house because
Ray Brown was going to do a solo piece on "The Merv Griffin Show". I
don't remember exactly what piece he played, but I do remember that it was
the coolest thing I'd ever heard up to that point. It had a profound effect on
me. After that, it was all over.........except for all the practicing!

Emil Nysschens : Basses were on sale, the day I went to the music store.

Alex Davison : I always wanted to play something, so I started

off on guitar, then trumpet, then bagpipes. But I found that
whenever I thought about a song, I thought about the bass-line.
So I got a bass and became a bass player. I suppose I could
philosophise about how a bass players perspective is more
holistic, or how bass is the thing that makes music groove, or
any one of a number of birds-eye-view reasons for being
attracted to bass, but Id be misleading you. Im really a bass
player because its more fun than any other instrument Ive
tried.

Lisa Jonker : I Play bass because for me, electric bass playing is a total mind-body-feel-experience! Its
an overall elements experience of movements, grooves, feeling whole which spontaneously arise when I
play in a band. A bass guitar is a mixture of harmony and beat and therefore I can musically understand
and feel all the other instruments. To feel the low frequencies in my stomach when I play on stage can
only be understood by other bass players. Playing bass is the way to stay connected to the things which
matter on this earth: harmony, melody, beat, making a difference between dull music and interesting
exciting music, the only instrument which is the connection between al the others, not being able to stay
and sit on the chair but live and feel the energy of this great instrument!

Theo Klassen : I know its been said before, but the bass really chose
me. I always loved music and I knew that one day I will be a muso.
So, at the age of 12, I started playing the guitar and at age 16, I had to
stand in for the bassist one night and never looked back since. It has
been an amazing 23 years. There is an indescribable feeling I get
when I touch the bass, listen to it and when someone else plays it
really well.

Patrick Paco Mller : I was 15 years old. I had played guitar and drums for years in different bands
since I was 10 but we always had the same problem; we had no bass-player. Not just someone who was
good enough to play with us there was nobody in our town who played this unattractive instrument!
Then one day my best buddy, the lead-guitarist of my band, had the brilliant idea of me playing bass! It
was so clear; because I wasnt as good a guitarist as him. I had to play the bass it was logical.
I borrowed a black Fender Precision bass from my former guitar-teacher. At the first rehearsal with my
band, I danced with this black beauty through the cellar room where we practised and it was so great to
experience how much power I had in the band. I was sure Id made the right decision and Ive never
regretted it!! Far from it; the Bass was responsible for my decision to become a professional musician!!
By the way, for me the Bass is the perfect combination of Guitar & Drums - harmony & rhythm! In
hindsight this experience was very helpful in every way for my work as a professional bass-player!

Nicola Lori : I started playing with my brother Elio, at a classic guitar studio but found my real passion
was for the bass. I found that I could form an entity with the drums of Daniele Iacono, Angelo Strizzi and
Gavin Harrison.
Playing bass, I have a more rhythmic vision than when I play acoustic or electric guitar, thanks to having
the freedom of expression of having the use of a fretless instrument.
Cladio Juliano : Music in general is something that I always loved and listened to growing up. When I
first heard this instrument by its self, I was 14 and I didn't hear it in its traditional form I heard it being
played with the slap style and I could not believe what I was hearing. I've never heard anything like this
before. Guitar licks always caught my ear but it was nothing like this. From that point on I knew this was
the instrument I was searching for. I grew up around many musical players and without them I would
have never been blessed on hearing the capabilities of this instrument. From the 4th grade to 9th I played
the alto sax. In a way it felt forced it just didnt seem to have the passion that I have when playing the
bass. For me, music is the ultimate form of self-expression and the bass is my way of showing it. It's a
musical instrument that anyone can be drawn to and it's gotten me where only in dreams I thought I
would be. This is my 6th year of playing and I've been featured in the 2005 Hartke catalogue and it blows
my mind to know that my love of bass has already gotten me this far. Playing in a band and solo has
given me so many ideas for music and has showed me the greatest musical power, which I think, is an
open mind and I think that's something all bass players can relate to.. Haha and it's gotten my rhythm so
good I can almost dance now. The instrument is still young and so am I and together we have a great
quest to accomplish.

Pierre Schnehage : I play bass because it expresses a part of me that cant be expressed in words.
I play guitar for the same reason.

I suppose it all started with the need to be recognised and accepted. It developed into much more than
that. I describe bass as my soul
instrument and guitar as my heart. I
cry, shout and laugh with guitar. I
sing, meditate and fly with the
bass.
Music is a language of that which
is unutterable. Without it I would
be a cripple.
I also know that humans function
metaphysically as their bodies are
constructed. Together, in healthy
group energy, creativity always
allows a result that is joyful and
unexpected. If we, as humans and
part of one universal body, could
emulate the way music happens, I
believe the human race could heal.
At the moment all the notes are sounding at once. Harmony is a mystery.

Martin Engelien : Why do I play Bass? Is there another reason to live?

Bob Skeat : I started on piano as a kid, went on to guitar when I was a young teenager wanting to be a
'pop star', but it wasn't long before I realised that it was the bass lines on records that were turning me on,
then my uncle (jazz bassist Len Skeat) gave me an electric bass and I've never looked back!!

Gareth Sherwood : The reason I started on bass was a simple supply & demand,
as a guitarist in the UK I needed work and bassists are rarer than guitarists.
The reason it's my main instrument of choice is:

We get along well, nobody really bothers me unless they've really thought about
the bass line, this gives both me and the song a LOT of freedom, mostly "below"
the radar where it's most effective :)

It leads me to listen to the other instruments in order to hear what's missing.

Lastly it's just that rhythm groove thang, when it's right you know it, and it's
better than any kinda drugs.
Michael Brown : I have not been playing bass for long and cannot really say that I am much more than a
serial one-note bassist looking for a good mentor. It has however taught me a lot about the structure and
rhythm of music and to feel the groove rather than anticipate it (which never works). Every time I have to
play bass at church (which is not that often - I usually play rhythm guitar and mandolin) I have a slight
dread beforehand (of my own incompetence) and by the end of the set I don't want to put it down - It is so
cool because it immerses you in the music rather than just adding to it (a bit like swimming in a beautiful
place versus standing on the edge of a dam and throwing some crumbs in to the ducks). I also like the
bass because the people I have met that play bass are so nice! I have had the privilege of meeting and
being "allowed" to talk to (so many other musos are too aloof or too intimidating) some great bassists in
the last few months and have been struck by their general lack of ego. They are good, solid people content
to work in the background and move the universe (musically) whilst everyone else wonders what
happened and who did it! My type of people...

Nikolai Neronski : I was introduced to music at the

age of 16. I learned three chords on a guitar, and a year
later began a professional career, playing bass because
the band needed a bassist.

I had been switching from bass to guitar for the next 15

years, until I finally decided that playing bass is my
life. Four years ago I took up bass in earnest, got into a
jazz band and that changed me completely.

I had been playing funk before that and knew little

about jazz. In Belarus it is hard for a musician to
express himself, there are no specialized colleges or
knowledgeable instructors. I had to discover everything
myself. Fused in me now, are jazz, funk and soul, and
my technique has largely been affected by my guitar playing.

I am happy to have chosen bass as I consider it to be a most important instrument in music. It is the basis
for all other parts. And the drums, of course, if the drums and the bass play it right, success is 80%
guaranteed. Every arrangement I make, I begin with the drum part.

I now have enough power under my belt to play with the world's best musicians. I don't know how to do
this but I feel God will assist me somehow.

Greg Cavanaugh : What a great question! I started my life as a guitar player. Oddly enough I should
have known better! I grew up listening to the
music of my fathers Big Band. I was always
mesmerized as a child by how he played the bass
with his feet(he was not a circus act, but a organ
player). I actually started life as a drummer and
quickly decided that was not for me. I then played
guitar for 8 years, it wasnt until college when I
realized everyone was a guitar player!! I always
found myself listening to bass lines anyways, so I
went out and bought a bass. I am still playing that
bass today, although I have pretty much outgrown
it. I became really inspired when I first saw Victor
Wooten in concert, he blew me away and I knew I
had made the right choice. My favorite part about
playing bass is the way the bass drives and shapes
music. If I want to turn a blues tune into country,
all I have to do is change the bassline! Besides the
drums I dont think any other instrument has that
power. I also love the tone down low and the power that it has. What a marvelous instrument, it can go
from the very bottom of the frequency range and way up too. The sounds from this instrument are
tremendous, from fingerstyle to slap, to tapping, fretlessit just keeps going!

A.L. "Artie" Terry : I play the bass mainly for two reasons: 1. It's a big contribution
to my church and 2. I LOVE sittin' in the pocket and holdin' down the groove, Baby!
THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! After having given up music entirely for over 20
years its so refreshing to discover this instrument. No matter what kind of music you
play, there's always another level to explore on the low end! It's an instrument of
much more possibility than people realize. I can't tell you how much I love to play
and the feeling I get when I do!

Peter Tambroni : Because my students

make me! Just kidding. I began playing the
double bass at the age of 16 (after playing
the clarinet since elementary school) when
the director of my high school jazz
ensemble asked if anyone would be
interested in playing bass. After playing
electric bass it was suggested that I learn the
string bass. When my teacher introduced the
bow to me, I completely fell in love with the
bass and have been spreading my bass
addiction ever since! These are some of the
comments from my students.

Henry (13) : For the fun of it! I like jazz

and classical and I like listening to different
kinds of music.

David (13) : My dad plays the bass (and

owns a Pollmann!!). It's a beautiful
instrument.

Alex (11) : I love the notes and how the

strings sound.

Eric (9) : Because it's big and fun to play.

Joey (12) : It teaches great discipline and I like being yelled at.

Mattheus (10) : It's big and low.

Grace (8) : I like to play the bass because I don't have to carry it around.

Mitch (11) : I like the low sounds.

Valery Bashkov : Why I play bass? I started, as a

guitarist. In 1983, I heard fusion for the first time - Brand
X "Product". Magnificent, fantastic music. Beautiful,
original bass lines and a sound I fell in love with. Ive
now fallen in love with this instrument. A low sound, so
powerful! On this instrument its possible to play silently
and loudly. Its possible to play with your fingers or with
a plectrum. Its possible to play slap, tapping, mute and
fretless bass! This sound bewitches. I dont go anywhere
without a bass guitar.
Jos Vera jvera: Ever since I was a kid I was drawn to music and some of my relatives were
musicians.
When I turned 12, my mother decided I should take sol-fa and piano lessons and signed me up at the local
conservatory, but back then, that didn't feel hardcore enough for me, it was the early 80's after all, so I
took up some guitar and started a band that consisted of my cousin, a common friend and I, all three of us
guitar players.
Given that I was the youngest member of the band, it was easy for the other two to decide which of us
should play the bass. Best forced decision ever: I immediately felt the magic lying on its frets and
switched to double bass at the conservatory at the first chance I got.
Bass playing, and how it shapes both rhythm and harmonics, fulfils me as a musician, there's no way I
would trade it for any other instrument.
Nowadays I'm blessed with a professional career as a bass player that allows me to enjoy my life's
passion... what else could anyone ask for?

Reggie Worthy : Bass is one of the most natural and easiest of the string instruments to play as a
beginner because it has only 4 strings and has got mainly a
single note, often-repetitive melodic approach. Thats what
many of us and I, thought when we first started playing and
in many ways its true. But that also brings us to the
challenge. Somewhere down the road it got boring for the
bassman to have to play the root and the fifth. And in his
search to fulfill his creative musical desires, totally
transformed the instrument.
Today, the sky is the limit for what you can do with the
bass. I mean, melodically, we can play the same stuff that
Coltrane and Bird played on the saxophone, thanks to
Stanley and Jaco for leading the way. Rhythmically, we
can beat the bass like a drum, thanks to Larry Graham for
that awakening. And with chords, harmonics, tapping, and
5 string, 6 string, 7 string, 8 string, 12 string basses, and all
the effects and pedals, theres just so much one can do.
Thats the dual nature of the bass, its the easy way and at
the same time its an amazing creative challenge. Thats
why I love it.

Ricardo Rodriguez : Growing up in a musical family, playing an instrument was inevitable. I initially
started playing guitar but in my early teens I quickly learned guitarists were a dime a dozen. I figured if I
switched to bass everyone would need me. Boy was I right! Years later, this still holds true. The initial
reason I started playing bass was to become famous and tour the world but that type of thinking has
evolved. The reason I play my bass today is because there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I love
being a part of the creative process and performing with several projects helps keep things always new
and interesting. Its beyond passion, its my therapy!

Bruce Gertz : I play bass because it is a fun way to experience

spiritual growth. For me it is always a work in progress, evolving.
Each day is a chance to learn and enjoy new grooves and melodies
on a beautiful sounding instrument. What a gift! I also love the
bass community and teaching.

What drew me to the bass at age 14 was the feeling of vibration in

my gut when I heard a good bass groove. That can set your whole
being in motion.

Anton Marshall : I guess the bass as a part, a role or an instrument has come the closest to connecting
with my "intuitive" nature. I actually started learning the bass and its mechanics on a double bass, and
picked up the techniques of country and rockabilly first. Soon thereafter, I bought my first electric bass
and hooked up with a progressive metal/rock outfit. Huge learning curve! But useful to push yourself,
playing somewhat advanced runs and progressions with musos who were far more proficient on their
instruments than you were on yours. Anyway, the rockabilly and country roots didn't rot, and soon I was
back into that with minor excursions into improvisational and freestyle.

At present the music my band produces allows me to dabble in country, rockabilly and blues variations,
which all suit my preferred style well.

Mark Neuenschwander : I took music store guitar lessons until I was told I couldn't learn anymore
unless I bought an electric guitar & amp. A couple of years later my 6th grade music aptitude test
pronounced me a clarinet (rather than trumpet)
player. The next fall I was told to go to the music
store and rent a clarinet. Reluctant to deal with a
music store again, I asked what the school would
provide (oboe, bassoon, french horn, tuba.) Thus
began a very serious French horn career, which I
pursued into college.

My band director was a very hip jazz trombonist,

who did many studio dates in Memphis with Isaac
Hayes, Booker T et al., and started a school jazz
band. I was immediately looking for a way to
participate in the jazz band (did I mention how
much I despised marching band?), beyond the
couple of Kenton charts with French horn parts.
The tuba player playing bass in the jazz band graduated and there was no replacement. I immediately
began to teach myself to play the school upright and soon purchased a Hagstrom electric for the
obligatory garage bands.

Luckily, one of my clueless (I liked those fancy CTI covers) early jazz record purchases was Freddie
Hubbard's "Red Clay." When I heard Ron Carter's opening bass line on 'Intrepid Fox' the die was cast.....
I was a double bass player......and I now know why my band director said "if you want to be a bass player,
learn every tune ever written!! "

Vuyani Wakaba : All my life I have

been drawn to songs by their bass lines.
Even as a non-bassist, the bass line was
the sweetest part of the song, even
though I couldn't define it. Once I
discovered the bass, I felt like I had
finally found my voice and I could
finally speak after years of silence. The
next epiphany was in discovering the
power of the bass, as part of a rhythm
section, and how it can move people.
This discovery deepened my respect for
the instrument and I learned the high
responsibility that comes with playing it.
Although I've been fortunate enough to
make money as a bassist over the years,
my playing the bass never was, never is, and it never will be about money. It is just about the love and I
feel blessed enough to have been directed to the instrument.

Wilbert van Niekerk : Music is my life, life is bass, bass is one note at a time... the way I live my life
one day at a time. I started playing bass when I was 15 years old with a 5cent coin on a nylon string
guitar. Curiosity was the spark of this love for melody. With no training or musical background, a journey
of exploring sound began. My friends and I started a grunge garage band. We didn't care about anything
and loved making lots of noise! Once I taught myself how to play, it was my main priority. I remember
how my parents would punish me by taking my amp and guitar away for the holiday. At an early age I
already realized how much playing bass meant to me, it became my sanctuary and escape, now 12 years
later and it still feels the same... I grew up in a small town about 3 hours drive from Cape Town. When I
had the opportunity to play in a hard-core band, it seemed I was destined to make music for the rest of my
life. I was still in high school, and would catch a lift every weekend to play a show. All the nagging of my
parents and effort was worth all the memories and friends I have made. Connections I still have today.
My bass has been my best friend, my travelling partner and definitely my escape from reality! Bass is my
adventure of finding the perfect note and melody. I can't imagine a life without music and my life without
a bass guitar. It's such a privilege to create sound it has no judgment and cleanses my soul.

Justin Maree : I think lets start with the main reason. I love it and of course,
bass keeps us alive or loved (you know what I mean). When youre down and out,
bass is all you need! Secondly, I found that I could make an acceptable living out
of it. Thirdly, I think you just get to meet some of the greatest people on planet
Earth. Theres a whole lot more but Im supposed to fit all this into only 100
words. Lastly I can say that Ive dedicated my whole life to music so I dont know
what its like doing anything else really. Im not very good at being a
housewife

Roy Melville : Because I love it.

John Lester : I was 14 years old and playing trumpet in my high school concert band. Two friends of
mine, a guitarist and a drummer, were starting a rock band. The drummer was also in the high school jazz
band and knew that they needed a bass player. He said to me, "if you join the jazz band, you can get the
school bass (a Fender copy) and join our rock group". I said, "sure, why not?" I went on to be a
professional bassist playing both rock and jazz, and a solo singer-songwriter-bassist! First song I ever
learned? Smoke on the Water, of course...it was 1974!

Al Garcia : My first instrument was the flute, but that didn't last very long. Shortly after, a friend of mine
got the bright idea to put a band together. Since he
had already started to learn guitar, I became the
bass player by default, a fate familiar to many
bassists, I suppose. My very first 'bass' was a plastic
toy guitar. I removed the high E and B strings to
simulate the feel of a real bass. That and a Mel Bay
method book got me started. I developed an
unusually strong melodic sensibility for a bass
player right from the start, which is why I
developed an interest in the guitar. I dabbled but
didn't take it seriously until years later when I saw
Allan Holdsworth play with I.O.U. I was so blown
away by his guitar playing that I couldn't sleep that
night. I kept thinking, "It's impossible, it's
impossible..." I believe that my bass playing
informs my guitar playing and vice versa. Being a
bass player makes me more aware of rhythm and feel when I play guitar. Being a guitar player makes me
more aware of melody, harmony, and the importance of using a wide range of techniques when I play
bass. Each instrument allows me to express myself in different, yet complementary ways.

Anastasia Ferrara : Ive always loved the way bass and drums compliment each other and how a low
bass tone makes any song. As a drummer Id have to be a part of that rhythm as well. It was a challenge
to sing lead vocals and play bass at the same time for my band ANEVA but it has become second nature
to me now. I've been playing bass guitar for twelve years now and I will never stop" Music is my life!"

Brian Bromberg: I started out as a drummer and I was playing professionally in jazz clubs in Tucson,
Arizona by the time I was 13. I also played cello in elementary school but I wasnt very good. So when I
got to junior high, the orchestra director said to me We have a whole bunch of cellists but no string
bassists which, I think, was his polite way of saying hed rather have one bad bass player than no bass
player and another bad cellist. Making the switch to bass was a blessing in disguise: It enabled me to
combine my rhythmic background from my drums with my melodic sense from the cello. I took to the
instrument right away and began practicing like crazy. By age 15 I was playing bass in the same Tucson
jazz clubs where Id previously played drums.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine December 1997)

Herbert Smith : My mom, a singer from Bermuda, bought me a guitar for my 10th birthday. As I listened
to the radio, in Chicago, Illinois, to the music of the day, Temptations, James Brown, Beatles, Miracles,
Brenton Wood, Archie Bell and the Drells, the bass lines instead of guitar riffs reached out and grabbed
my ear. My brother, Darrell, went to the local
pawnshop and for $39.00, bought a huge Kingston
Bass. The instrument had terrible action but it was my
first. By the way, my friend from the next block,
Steven Palmore and I, traded instruments. Steve is now
a bassist living in New York and an alumnus of the
Ellington Orchestra. I didnt develop a love for the
acoustic bass until high school, when I saw the bass in
the band room.

As I look Back, the bass and its traditional role in a

band fit my personality perfect. Not necessarily the one
out front, but a strong ingredient w/ good people skills.
Rufus Reid, Steve Rodby, Reggie Willis and Bob
Stoltenberg all gave me encouragement and guidance.
This comradery was also very special to me. Its too
bad I had to wait till I got to California, to study
privately with Carol Kaye on electric bass and Fred
Tinsley on acoustic bass. With Carol, I got to hear how
bass lines worked with chord changes, as she teaches
with the guitar as well as the bass. She rescued me
from being a scale player. Im forever grateful. Fred
took me through the tradition classically trained bass
repertoire. He taught me to not fear the instrument.
Take it slow and repetiously you will get through the difficult passages. Im also forever grateful.

In my current band, Rumba Menco, the role of the bass is different from its role in traditional music.
There I mark the route of the chords and its changes. Im not a time keeper. The guitars create the tempo.
Its a very special sound. We have five Nationalities in our band: Iraq, Iran, Mexico, Puerto Rico and
United States. I play acoustic, upright electric, Fender Precision and Jazz bass with the band. Its great!!!!

Brian Lawrence : The power is in

the low end!!! I see the bass as the
leading instrument in a band,
bringing rhythm and harmony
together, even though the
conventional bassist is never on the
foreground. One phrase to describe a
good bassist is: Follow me, Im
right behind you!!! I also dont
like to be the centre of attraction, so
playing bass really fits my
personality. The fact that you can let
your creativity rip, without the
normal listener even noticing what
you did is also kinda cool. I have
tried a couple of other instruments
but none can compare with the feeling of playing bass. Its like coming home!!!

Nico Kruger : I truly get a kick out of it. I have been playing since I was thirteen years old. (I am 42
now). I just love being at the "bottom" end of the orchestra. I also love the instruments. I can sit and stare
at a beautiful double bass. Bass players also stick together.
My very favourite thing is to play a Brahms symphony in the orchestra.

Al Caldwell : I play the bass because it brings me joy. Ive

always loved the power thats associated with the bottom.
Barry Whites voice thrills most women. The God like tone
of a bass is commanding. I love playing my 11-string
Benavente/Caldwell bass model. It allows me to play lower
and higher than I ever thought possible. In a musical
conversation, Im allowed many voices with this midi
instrument. Im on a quest to find my voice. I have the right
tool, but the content of your conversation is what you are
judged by. The Bass teaches me about Life! The
Foundation of everything starts with the root.

Daniel Burger (aka Unholy Terror) : Why I play bass has never had an easy answer for me. Is it the
power, the groove, the growl deep down below, or the steam-train thump? Was it the godly Geezer
Butler, the brilliant Steve Harris, or the sleazy Nikki Sixx? Is the answer clichd, like its an extension of
me? Or is it merely that any other instrument just does not feel right?

I have not played actively for some time, especially since assuming the role of front man over a year
ago. But it never takes much to remember why I strapped on my bass the first time. So, then, why do I
play bass? Simple: because I am a bass guitarist.

Kerry Blewett : I changed from playing guitar to playing bass

a an early stage of my playing career. I think my natural feel
for rhythm and a good sense of timing led me in this direction.
Over the years Ive become excited by the dynamic interaction
between bass and the other instruments in a (mainly) rock band.
I thrive on being able to drive the band and set the mood of the
music provided of course that the other musos are good at
listening to whats happening around them. I relate especially
well to drummers and I believe that I feel the music from a
drummers point of view, which can make for some tight
rhythm section playing. In short I find the sound of the bass,
especially electric bass, incredibly exciting.

Sander Huiberts : I played the piano at first. When you walk away from a double bass, it falls down and
breaks. The piano just stands there. The feeling that the bass needs me to hold it combined with the low
vibrations appeal to me so much that I take the heavy instrument and amplifier into the bargain...

Byron Santo : Why do I play bass? If I were asked that question 10 years ago my answer would have
been different then from today. It would have been something like this. I started on trumpet in the 8th
grade, switched to french horn in the 10th grade, learned guitar because playing Zeppelin wasnt cool on
french horn and later switched to bass when I was 18 years old because the band I was in needed a
bassist. I decided to stick with bass because at the time bassists where in demand.

Today I have a totally different view on music in general. I view all music as a spiritual experience in that
it can affect a persons emotions, personality, etc. Granted, I do play 7-string guitar and keyboards but
only when Im composing and recording. For live performances, the bass guitar is my primary
instrument. I love how the bass guitar can glue all other instruments together to create that spiritual
experience for the listener. It is the foundation on which all the other instruments build upon!
Albey Balgochian : Bass is the voice of the Great Mystery. It is the rhythm that
connects the heartbeat of the drums to the song being sung on top. I've always
loved every aspect of the bass, the way they look...cool, warm, sexy; the
sound...so organic; the feel...and what that feel can do to the psyche. There is no
greater feeling than coming to a musical environment fully prepared so that the
spirits may flow through you...out your bass...and into the hearts of your listeners.

Peace

Rob Dakiniewich : When I was about 13 my older brother rented a bass from a music store. When he
wasn't playing it, I picked it up to try it out. It turned out he didn't have much interest in it and let me play
with it for the month. I instantly felt a connection with the bass. After the month was up, I convinced my
parents to rent me the bass again. After that, I found an old bass and practice amp a friend of mine
wanted to sell. I purchased that bass and amp for $80 and never turned back.

Brogan Thompson : Why I play bass, the question should

be why not! Because bass is such a versatile instrument
every genre uses bass and that is just such an appealing
point, the minute I layed my finger on a PHAT e-string I
was in love.. its just so low and has the balls that a guitar
will never have! As a bassist I have opened my doors to all
genres of music, I could be a jazz bassist a metal bassist a
punk bassist a double bassist, that is why I play bass,
because I want to play every genre on one guitar.. The Bass
guitar!

Alliston Europa : What's a band without a bass? If there's no groove there's no soul. What a GREAT
feeling to know that youre the most important person in the band. It's a kinda cool feeling to know that
everybody is following you while the band is playing. Imagine a band without the LOW FREQUENCY
hey? Bass helped me develop a strong sense for harmony and rhythm.... Bass brings it all together so
ya...Keep Groovin...

Frederick Charlton : When in able hands, the double bass is the most beautiful, sonorous sounding of all
the bowed string instruments.
However, that is not the reason that I
finally decided to choose the
(possibly) most difficult instrument
in an orchestra.

By the time I was in the sixth grade,

I had already been playing the piano
for many years. I had had a six-
month stint with the violin in the
third grade (why anyone would want
to put such a high pitched, shrill
instrument that close to ones ear is
beyond me). But finally at the age of
twelve, I found myself tall enough to
play my Fathers double bass.

One day after Id only been playing

a few months, I was carrying the
bass from the orchestra room to the auditorium when a very cute girl saw me. She stopped right in her
tracks and said, Wow! Thats a really big instrument you got there!

Wellthat did it for me. I knew from that moment on that the double bass was my destiny.
And by the way, all these years later I still enjoy impressing the girls.
John Flitcraft : I started playing bass because I loved the power of the low end (and I still do). As I
progressed, it was the attraction of playing grooves for other people to solo over. Then I got into soloing
myself. Now I love it because of the interaction with other players, creating grooves, improvising and just
having fun.

Roy C. Vogt : Like a lot of bassists, I

started when I was 14 years old. I was
too shy and a terrible dancer, but I
thought that if I could be in a band with
my friend who played guitar both
problems would be solved. Ironically,
we didn't ever play together except for a
few "one off" gigs in high school. I
started with a mother-of-particle-board
Kalamazoo EBO copy (I worked on the
loading dock of my father's plumbing
supply to get that bass) and wanted to
be Jack Bruce and Harvey Brooks on
the Super Session record. From there it
was lessons, gigs, better basses, Chris
Squire, Greg Lake, Stanley Clarke,
Jaco, Jeff Berlin and the long slow
descent into music school and a career in the Biz.

Duncan Bell (LIBIDO) : I started my musical journey at the age of 5 on piano, but got bored pretty
quickly, through all the instruments I have tried, bass just seemed to grab my by the bollocks and held on
like a pit bull!! Being responsible for the bottom end of a hard rock band has enabled me to take my
playing to a new level and the bass just seems to look at me and say So where to next?

Pat Cullen : Because manwhen it comes down to it, bass is the essence
of Funk. And all music comes back to funk its the groove. For example, is
there anything better than playing slap bassseriously? Okay I can think of
one thing BUT THAT DOESNT COUNT! Bass is all about funkability
how u can get into a groove the way no guitarist or drummer can, thats
why I play bass. And besides all that. its really cool!

Moses Andrew Rixi Roman : If you listen to two people, one with a deep voice and the other just
normal, usually the deeper voice just commands you to listen to it. Well the bass has got four strings only,
but what you can achieve with it both rhythmically and Harmonically is just so amazing. I suppose that is
the most appealing thing to me about the bass...Take the least and make the most from it.

Today I feel blessed to make a living doing what I love. A bad day of playing music is still better than a
good day of doing any other job some 35 years later!

Stefan Held : I started on piano when I was 5.It still is a great foundation to me so Im glad it happened,.
but piano never felt quite right to me. When I was 13, I started to play drums. I liked it a lot and it still
helps me to this day, but it also didn't feel a 100% right. When I finally picked up a bass 20 years ago, it
immediately felt perfect (even though it was a piece of @%$& bass). I guess it really is the
glue/connection of the melodic/harmonic side of things (piano) and rhythmic aspect (drums) that makes
this instrument so special to me.

Adrian Maruszczyk : It seems to me, that the idea of becoming a musician caught me, when our local
band was looking for a bassplayer. It was a huge challenge for me, because as a 15 year old guy, I had
become completely independent and responsible for the work I had to do. For the first time in my life, I
had experienced this magic thrill and the joy of making yourself better, working on your own weaknesses.
For about 30 Years now, it still hasnt changed. I feel the same thrill everyday.
 Arlyn Culwick : I play bass because its the
instrument that most naturally lends itself to
the expression of what I consider the ideal of
music, where every part in a piece has been
brought to its fullest, illimitable identity,
complete in itself, not inhibiting any other part,
and yet deeply dependent on every other part
for its meaning. Bass exists at a unique
confluence of rhythm, melody, and harmony; it
is neither saddled with the burden of leading
a song (as a vocal part would), nor does it
subordinate other parts for the sake of its
agenda. The converse is also important: bass
is never its true self as mere backing, and
whenever music contains a prescriptive part
that requires all other parts to follow it, then
the music cripples itself by its own internal
dynamic. Bass, better than any other
instrument, facilitates the pursuit of such a full
interdependent selfhood. Lead instruments, in
contrast, do not have to pay such close
attention to the rest of the music, but are free to
break off and depart (or just widdle away
inanely). Rhythm guitar is too often a brute
imperialist that eliminates space and freedom
for expression, and must be followed at all
costs. Drums embody rhythm too singly, at the
neglect of other elements of music. Keyboards
have great potential, but in their massive versatility there is not the scarcity necessary to push one to
distil a single unique part; they are too easily watered down. Bass, on the other hand, holds the potential
to revolutionise musical consciousness, to raise awareness of the possibility that music can embody such
deep freedom and such deep interrelation (without conflict), and to suggest the daring possibility of
cultural forms that emulate such a structure, freed of the oppression and rigidity of life as we know it.

Norm Stockton : My older brother (a guitar player) used to tell me that good
guitarists are dime-a-dozen, while good bassists will always have work. Years
later, I had become an absolute Beatles nut, and wanted to get deeper into their
music. At least from the tunes I was listening to at the time, Paul McCartneys
lines seemed sing-able and fairly simple. With my brothers words still
echoing in my head, I promptly removed a few strings from an old classical
guitar, and learned the bass lines to I Should Have Known Better and Cant
Buy Me Love within the first few days. I was hooked from that point on. I
still absolutely love it, although my motivation for playing has completely
changed since those early days. Ive come to believe that music is an
enormous gift, and I play today to simply offer everything that I am (musical
and otherwise) back to God with my gratitude.

Anthea Buys : Why do I play bass? Hmm this is one of those questions to which one is certain one
knows the answer until, a nicely articulated answer is actually required. I have only been playing bass for
about two (and-a-little-bit) years, and prior to that I had played guitar for about eight years out of my
fledgling, twenty-something year life. I became intrigued by the somewhat exclusively bassist notion of
groove while going through a huge Sting phase in 2002. I later heard Gito Baloi play, realised I was at
the tip of a very large ice-burg, hijacked an ex-boyfriends bass, and I have not been much of a guitarist
since. What I love most about the bass is its ability to define a piece of music harmonically, rhythmically
and atmospherically and yet remain discreet (some people dont notice what youre playing until you
botch it up horribly). I feel it is a powerful instrument to play because it is the musical intersection of pure
rhythm and pure melody. I am now a firm believer that once the groove finds its way into your hands and
head, there is no turning back!

Craig Bissell : To be totally totally honest, I grew up always wanting to be a guitarist. Yes, I loved the
powering guitar riffs, the gut
wrenching solos, the amazing array of
sounds and the way you could
manipulate them on the Electric guitar.
Jimi Hendrix, Slash and Billy
Corgans guitaring immortality are
probably the main reasons why music
is the main influence of my life.
But before every single bassist here
snaps my vertebrae in 187 pieces, I
have to say, this obsession was
immediately displaced after I picked
up a Bass Guitar and started grooving
out a few Bob Marley tunes. DOES
IT-GET-ANY-BETTER-THAN-
THIS-HUH??? No is still the
answer Bass is melody, groove, lust
and feel; its the hip in hip-hop. Its that one instrument that hasnt quiet reached its full potential and is
probably the reason Im so in love with its sound and power. Oh, and chicks dig it

Donovan Tose : I started playing drums at the age of thirteen. For high school, I went to a boarding
school and this made it impossible to continue drumming. Due to my love for percussion and rhythm I
picked up an old Ibanez bass with a bent neck for R850.00 at a second hand store. I used a capo to bring
the strings closer to the neck and well.. I've loved the instrument ever since and have advanced to a five
string and own a number of basses and amps now. Still enjoying the groove..

Johann Eicher : I started playing guitar when I was about 11 and couldn't seem to make it work for me.
My hands just would NOT obey! Only after
picking up a bass guitar at the age of 14, music
started making sense to me. I appreciate all
instruments but bass seems to have a richness, a
smoothness that no other instrument can
capture. A single bass note can sometimes
exude so much more than a guitar. Bass for me
is all about versatility and dynamic: the
versatility to write songs including sounds with
the instrument that it wasn't actually designed
for and the dynamic of being able to play the
same song 10 different ways and thus create 10
different fundamental moods. But besides all of
that, I guess the most important reasons are still
simply that I can play bass (and enjoy it) and of
course all the wonderful people I get to jam
with.

Ryan Norton : I started playing bass in 2002. I have always been one for being different and liking the
not-so-ordinary things in life.

Playing a bass guitar is about as raw as it gets. I only play with fingers and it is this closeness with the
instrument that made me want to learn more. The thunderous song that my bass sings when I play is what
keeps me going, playing harder and faster.
I have a Thumb because its my favourite bass of all time. I love naturally finished basses and guitars. I
am a huge fan of Warwick basses and also have a 5-string corvette $$.
Jess Handley : Bass..hmmwe live in a society of rules and regulations (without them it would
fall apart) But bass gives you the freedom to just live! There are no limits. Thats what makes it so
appealing. But just the deep sound that makes it so mysterious and dark other instruments can be
figured out easily, bass is a complex instrument with many levels

Robbie Sanna : I play bass because I was forced into switching from lead guitar to bass by a strange
situation - 4 of my friends and I decided to start a band
in 1982 but 2 of them didn't get on with the other 2, so
we decide to make 2 bands, however we only had 1
drummer, so he had to play drums for both bands.
Because the rest of us were all guitarists, 2 of us had to
switch to bass for the respective bands. So the one band
featured Jimmy Gomez on lead, Mike (I can't
remember the surname) on bass and Wayne Edgerton
on drums, the other band (EXP) featured Tony O Dwire
on lead, myself on bass and Wayne on drums. Needless
to say, the schedule got too heavy for Wayne so he had
to drop out of Jimmy's band and concentrate on EXP.
We played our final gig at Plum Crazy about 2 years
later and smashed up a 63 Strat on stage. What a bunch
of idiots!!

The bands I played for after that, all had better, more established guitarists than myself so I have
continued playing bass until the present.

Eric Owens : I have a simple approach to playing the bass that has worked for me and has allowed me to
grow in my playing and in my life. Have fun with it. Move things around change styles absorb all the
knowledge you can from every source possible. I approach the bass like a child approaches life.
Constantly absorbing information from everything around them. Ask questions, experiment and let your
imagination and creativity be you guide. In every language on earth, there are slang words that have
different interpretations. That is a great example of having fun with music. Remember to listen, learn and
most importantly, groove.

Max Theron : As a child, my dad played bass for a while

and later guitar. I grew up knowing the difference
between the two. For some reason still unknown to me, I
was always drawn to the low frequency notes of the bass.
Later on in my childhood I "drifted" away from music for
a while, but despite hearing blistering guitar solos and
distortion guitars on radio which were great, it was always
the songs with creative and innovative basslines, that
caught my attention most and these basslines REALLY
caught my attention and stuck with me, despite the fact
that I did not fully understand what these musicians were
doing at the time. Then there were also bass riffs' like the
break in "You can call me Al" from Paul Simon. I had no
clue what Bakhithi Kumalo was doing (I didnt know the
difference between slapbass and finger style), but it really
caught my attention!
When I eventually decided to take up a musical
instrument (back in 1991) there was just one instrument for me - the bass. I didnt even give the guitar a
second thought, and I've never looked back.
I've always been a more rhythmic orientated musician and therefore I feel most comfortable holding
down the bassline and keeping a consistant groove going.

Tony Saunders : I only played piano until I was 13. Then my Dad Merl Saunders and Tom Fogerty who
were playing together decided to produce a gospel group Walter Hawkins and Selah, which was a secular
record. The bass player Anthony Davis played so great I was hooked. He played everywhere on the bass
and you felt it. So melodic but still the bass holding down the bottom. This followed up a few days later
when I sang a song for my Dad on a 45 and the bass player Lee Miles who was playing with Miles Davis
at the time played bass on the session. I was in love with the sound of his bass and continue to Romance
The Bass ever since. It was the melodic James Jamerson like bass line that got me hooked. Chuck Rainey,
John Kahn and Jack Cassidy then guided me. It was the solid sound that guided me to love the bass and
the way these players controlled the songs. They made the vocals have hooks and there bass lines were
copied to this day. Exciting things happened when these players took the bottom somewhere else other
than just the basic root. Up from the bottom and reaching for the top is what I felt from these great
players.

Bill Clements : My initial reasons for playing bass when I was a kid, had to do with what I was hearing
in the music around me. All the riffs that captivated me had strong bass. When I finally got hold of my
first P bass copy, it felt like the right tool for the job... That job was giving my musical ideas a voice. I
was in love with the sound, the feel and the curvaceous female form of the instrument from the git-go. I
had to play all the time. The act of practice became a path to spiritual and intellectual growth - as well as
bringing a command of the fret-board. All still works in progress..... Eight years later an industrial
accident waits to take my right arm. I had my resolve tested by that horrible moment and many times
thereafter, the whims of the music business and the problems that we all face, love, its loss, alienation,
pain, conflict, etc. All of lifes demons would have overtaken me long ago, if not for the bass guitar. Its
gifts continue to sustain me.

Monk Montgomery : I was a firm family man, a hard worker, and had held my foundry job for years. It
wasnt enough. One night when I was hanging out at a local jazz joint where Wes had a group, I heard his
bass player work and suddenly just simply said to myself, I can do better. I beat it down to Fidds
Fiddle Shop in Indianapolis, bought an old $75 Czech upright and began practicing That was the beautiful
beginning and its something Im still saying to myself. Life is constant growth, man.
Excerpt from Bass Heroes

Leon Bosch : It wasnt really so much a question of me choosing to play the double bass; it was more a
case of the double bass capturing me.
At the age of 16, I entered the South African College of
Music, University of Cape Town as a cellist and my dear
cello teacher, Edna Elphick, suggested that I should give
some consideration to the idea of learning the double bass
as a second study. The very suggestion seemed
preposterous to me of course, but that was probably
Ednas sophisticated way of telling me that my chances of
earning a living as a cellist were somewhat slim. Early one
morning, in the University coffee shop, she introduced me
to Zoltan Kovats, who was then principal double bassist of
The Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, in what was clearly
a pre-arranged ambush.
Zoltan, an imposing figure of a man, asked me a few
seemingly innocuous questions, and after taking a cursory
look at my left hand, announced, sternly, that my studies
with him would begin the following morning.. I
appeared not to have any choice in the matter and for
whatever reason I didnt protest. but instead meekly
turned up for my first bass lesson the next day.
Within a few months of commencing double bass lessons
however, Zoltans exceptional teaching revealed that I did
have some musical talent after all. Thus began my love
affair with the double bass, a love affair which quickly
turned into an all-consuming passion, which endures to this day.
David Geschke : Well, my ORIGINAL reason for picking
bass might not be as honourable as some. When I was
younger - like 13 years old - I told people I played bass. In
reality I had never even SEEN one! Then, one day the call
came - our bass player quit, you want the gig? (it's THAT
easy to get a gig when you're 13... Actually by then I was
14)... So I bought a $20 Kingston bass, the guitar player came
over and showed me how to play the 5 songs they knew and I
became a bass player. That was 31 years ago! I fell in love
with bass right away, though - started practicing 2 hours a day,
learning by ear playing along with records. By the time I was
17 I was in bands playing clubs. I love playing bass; to me it's
always been the coolest instrument in rock and roll. When I
listen back to my favourite songs of the 60s almost all of them
have killer bass lines, I think I was predestined to play bass! I
love it!

Martin D Fowler: I have always loved being the glue of the musical language. We play music to
connect ourselves to each other, and I find no greater joy than placing myself on the front of each of those
connections, rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically. I couldn't imagine doing anything else!

Prof. Marc Duby : My earliest influences were the great rock bass players of the
sixties like Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones and many others. Later on I discovered jazz and
really listened hard to such great musicians as Jimmy Garrison (with Coltrane), Charles
Mingus, Dave Holland, and Eberhard Weber. Most of these players also were active as
composers and their different ways of seeing or hearing music have been a lasting
influence on my activities as a musician and composer.

Sergio Groove : I play the bass because the low end has such possibilities for making many different
sounds. It makes me feel happy.

Colin Brown : I used to, and still do, play the guitar, but it was
only when I heard Denis Lallouette play bass at the Branch Office,
in Jeppe Street, Jhb in 1979 with a group called Theta, that I sat up
and took notice. The kind of things he was doing on the bass, I had
never heard before. This was the kind of stuff that was either going
to make you quit because, you'll never be that good or it'll inspire
you. Obviously, in my case, the latter applied and although I don't
think I'll ever be as good as Denis, it doesn't matter, I love playing
bass. The bassist, together with the drummer get to set the feel /
groove / ambience / mood or whatever you want to call it and can
evoke all sorts of emotions, from funky to sad, even though people
are not always aware of it until its missing. I see myself firstly as a
musician, but primarily as a bassist, even though I also play the
bagpipes, guitar and am currently experimenting with the sax.

Gregory Moonsammy : My very first conscious acknowledgement of the bass was checking Paul
McCartney in the Beatles movies; HELP and HARD DAYS NIGHT. I was 12 years old at the time and
just learning to play guitar. I come from a family where music is a big deal, so there was always new
records coming into our home. The next great bass thing was Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad.
Although at the time it was just an interest as I had started my first band and played guitar. I then joined
my second band as a rhythm guitarist, I had just received an electric guitar as my 16th birthday present
and it was just cool to be in a band. I was then asked to play Bass as the current bassist figured he was
more of a guitar player and we duly swapped places in the band.
But ultimately my life changed forever musically when I went to watch a performance of the band Spirits
Rejoice who had the late great Sipho Gumede on the Bass. Had I any doubts about playing the Bass, they
were forever banished by the way Sipho Gumede played his Bass that night.
SoWhy do I play the Bass? The simple answer is Sipho Gumede.

Michael Auer : I like to think the bass chose me, possibly for my large
hands. I started and still play guitar and drums and dabble with various
other instruments, but the bass
has always stuck with me as the instrument of choice. Not many kids
my age played bass growing up , and I seemed to fill the gap in bands
looking for members .

I've played in Metal bands to alternative to acoustic jams to my 'at

present' ska, reggae, rock band 7th Son. My preference in music has
expanded over the years and draw from a wide range of musical
influences, and find that 7th Son gives me a wide area to explore these
inspirations as the bass is quite prominent in the overall sound .

There is nothing in the world that can beat the feeling and not many
ways to describe those moments where you are totally in sync with your
band, when the music takes you deep in the moment and out of it at the
same time . Moments like that are what I live for and why I play music
and why I play the bass .

Mlungisi Gegana : The first time I touched the bass; I fell in love with it immediately. After I tried
various other instruments like drums, guitar and piano, I realised I liked the deep sound and the freedom
you get when you improvise. For me, as an artist, I also make a bass a lead instrument as sometimes I
play melodies and solos.

Julian Fairall : I had been playing drums for 16 years when I first
really picked up a bass. The worship team at church was suddenly
without a bass player and as I could play guitar, I figured that I could
play bass. Boy was I ever wrong, but the journey to that discovery,
and the knowledge that I have as a result has been incredible. Bass
players have always been the other guy in the band, but without
bass, music is lifeless and lacks any of the passion that makes people
nod their heads. In short, bass is the power behind music. That and a
really good triangle player!

Sue Both Fourie : Since I was very small I have always had a good appreciation for the bass in any
music. I used to listen to the male voices in choirs and I heard the melody there. I am a qualified piano
teacher but somehow I have never felt at ease playing the piano - it was always a sort of distant
instrument. At school I used to sing with the male bass voices in the choir in order to help them keep the
note - I have always had a very good ear - very beneficial if you play a threadless instrument. After
school I established myself as a jazz vocalist and played with various bands including the late Gerry
Bosman and his big band. As a vocalist I also, always depended on the bass section of a band in order to
keep the melody. Later I moved to Bloem and was one of the founding members of the B-Flat Jazz Band.
The band sometimes did some instrumental tracks and I became bored with doing bits and pieces of
percussion in between. I wanted to play a more substantial musical role. Then I got the opportunity to
actually rent a double bass and I jumped at it. In no time, I managed to grasp the basic principles and
fingering and I was on my way.

I feel very comfortable playing the double bass. It becomes an extension of the self - such a huge
instrument has to! Also from a stage point of view, it works very well. The chick with the short dress and
high heels playing the double bass is something unique and it draws a lot of attention - I wouldn't say that
I don't like the attention either. I just love those deep vibrations of the double bass - also the fact that its
a threadless instrument opens up more musical opportunities. We have also used the bow with the jazz
and it gives, yet again, another sound and dimension.
What can I say Im hooked!

Richard Bodkin : Bass players were

short to come by in high school. Any
man and his dog wanted to be a singer
or a lead guitarist. Even drummers
were relatively easy to come by.
Although, years later, I have found
that good drummers are exceedingly
rare (as are good singers). The laws of
supply and demand persuaded me to
pursue bass playing. As soon as word
was out that I was playing bass, school
bands were asking me to join them,
even though my first bass was only
acquired months after my saying that I
was playing bass. Disillusioned by one
shocking school band after another I
chose to equip myself with as much skill to become a better bass player. The rest, rock 'n roll history...
not quite!

Arran McSporran : At 15 my Uncle showed me his bass guitar which he'd bought in the 80's, but hadn't
really played since then, which I immediately fell in love with. He showed me a video of Billy Sheehan
playing and I was instantly hooked by the instrument, but I'm not sure what it was specifically that
initially drew me to it, apart from a deep desire to play the instrument, even though I had no real musical
history. Once I really started to explore the instrument, different genres and other bass players, I realised
that because the instrument was so young there were still so many things that could be done with it, and
there was so much untapped potential there, that maybe there would be room for my voice too.

Llewellyn John : My mom always

tells everyone this story. When I was
in the womb my mom went to watch
my dad and his band play the battle of
the bands. As the first note of his bass
guitar and kick drum started the show I
kicked my mom really hard.
Throughout the show I was kicking
along with the rhythms. Music has
never left my passionate soul. I love
expressing myself through the bass
guitar.

Daniel Sher : It all started in a dusty garage, I was jamming on a guitar along with another
guitarist/singer and a drummer. After making a terrible amount of noise on our instruments we realised
that something was missing, so as a band, we made an outing to a local club in Namibia to see a small
band playing. The first person I saw was a tall woman holding a massive guitar with four, thick strings.
As her fingers plucked at these strings I heard a wonderful sound, a deep, thunderous vibration which ran
through the ground, up my legs and straight into my chest making it vibrate.

Suddenly I realised what was missing from my band, shortly afterwards I started learning to play the bass.
I bought a cheap bass guitar second hand and every night I would plug into my brothers little P.A system
and enjoy the deep tone that would course through my body and which caused my fingers to become
calloused and blistered.

Today every time I look through the classifieds and see WANTED: bassist to join established band
repeated again and again I appreciate the fact that I play the bass guitar!
I have now grown to love this instrument, the way it completes the sound of a band, the way it sounds
when my bass is in time with the drummers bass drum, and the way my scales pass over the guitarists
chords adding melodious stability and a great beat to the bands sound!

William Maxwell : Bass is the ultimate unifier and perhaps the

most flexible of all instruments. It blends seamlessly into about
every conceivable genre, into just about every conceivable
ensemble, and effortlessly blends with just about every conceivable
sound. It can be as rhythmic and powerful as drums and as mellow
and melodic as the French horn. It functions well in an ensemble
and as a solo instrument. It doesn't require the spotlight, but can
happily play the role of featured instrument. Its tone is a unique
combination of power and beauty. In short, its the ultimate
instrument!

Shaun Dutton : Just because I love it, I suppose is my best answer, but I think as for most bassists its a
passion/love that grows as ones talent grows. And I think for me and for many other bassists (again)
playing bass started as a coincidence or mistake. Being a bassist is great its the one position in the
band where your involvement is so critical yet not noticed by the average listener, its an instrument that
binds the rhythm and melody together so perfectly. Its like and engine in a car, so many people take it for
granted, but when its gone youll notice, and only mechanics (musicians) notice and appreciate the
difference and quality. Bassically (ha, I said Bass!) its an instrument that holds such power and we the
players control it. Exciting!

Jake Kot : Well, I wish I had the story of

playing since 3 years old, but the truth is I
was 21, never played a note, and someone
gave me a bass and an amp. I figured what
the hell, I'll try it. After a few years of just
enjoying being a musician, I had 3 musical
experiences that changed my life
musically, as well as my appreciation for
the bass. First was hearing a duo record by
Bill Evans and Eddie Gomez. Gomezs
playing on that record was brilliant and I
saw the bass in a whole new light. Then I
heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra---
unbelievable musicianship, all anchored
with incredible harmonic integrity by Rick
Laird on bass. Then Jaco came out with his debut record and I haven't put the bass down for more than
one day since then, which has now evolved into the solo career I now embrace as a bassist.

Prakash John : Two main things

amongst others:

1. As a teenager I heard the great bass

singer J.D.Sumner, of a white southern
gospel vocal group called The Stamps
Quartet, sing at an evening service at The
Peoples Church in Toronto where my
parents attended. Although I didn't realize
it at the time..... how hip was that? The
sound of that true bass voice literally
shook me up and I was hooked to that
sensation for life.

J.D.Sumner sang for Elvis and Johnny

Cash and countless others - JD, Jimmy Jones of The Harmonizing Four (50's black gospel quartet) and
Ray Davis of The Parliament/Funkadelick (who I was fortunate enough to tour and record with) are the
greatest bass voices of ALL time. Listen to Jimmy Jones sing 'Father Alone', JD with the original Stamps
and Ray Davis "Tear The Roof of The Mother Sucker' and tell me I'm wrong.

2. When I arrived in Toronto from India in 1960, I was blessed to have accidentally stumbled onto a
black community radio station called WUFO in Buffalo (NY) - one notch removed from this lily white
station which we in Toronto were cursed with. In fact, #1 on the Chum Hit Parade was........and wait for
it...... " I'm like a rubber ball, I come bouncing back to you....ooh ooh ooooh." ..... and you thought I was
being mean when I said "cursed"!

Thankfully, WUFO played only the hip, 'original', authentic R& B for their constituents (the African-
American audience) from sunrise to sunset. That's when I heard the masters - James Jamerson, Duck
Dunn, Chuck Rainey, Jerry Jamott, Phil Upchuch, ....and other anonymous icons of electric bass
playing.......of course a few years later - Larry Graham from Sly.

After hearing all that - I had to follow suit...how could you not!

God is good,

Stewart McKinsey : Music

has been a part of my life
since before I can remember
and I tried several
instruments as a boy, but
none of them felt right. It
wasn't until I was 14 or so
that I really wanted to play.
At that point 2 things
happened. First, I saw a
friend of mine's brother
playing bass in a punk band.
Second and at about the same
time, I realized that the way I
learned songs I heard on the
radio was through the bass
line.

I talked my father into

renting me a bass and he agreed as long as I took some lessons. I was gigging almost as soon as I picked
up the instrument and have only fallen deeper in love with the bass since then.

To my way of thinking there is no more expressive instrument and nothing that resonates with me
physically, emotionally, and psychically than the electric bass. I realize this more and more each day and
have no desire to stray elsewhere musically!

Kerry Hiles : Hmmm. It's by default, really, that I started. But something about being the bridge
between melody and beat just appealed to me. I'm also a fan of the underdog, and who could be more
"underdog" than the bass player? That understated (often unnoticed by the audience) musician has - in
my bottom-end opinion - one of the most important parts to play in any piece of music: expressing the
groove. The drummer can beat away for days, the soloists can play their fingers to the bone, but few feet
tap until the bass glues it all together.

Djordje Stijepovic : From the day I started listening to music, I liked "the bottom end". When I was 12 I
got hooked on the slapping sound of the first Elvis Presley Sun records and the Stray Cats. From that time
I started enjoying and loving different music styles from all around the world. I realized that solid bass
plays an elemental role in its construction. That foundation is very important in almost any genre.
Julian Spruce : It all started for me with bands like The Police, some Sabbath here and there, Led Zep,
Queen, pretty much, a lot of the legends... I decided I wanted to be a bassist after hearing Steve Harris
from Iron Maiden, it was then and there that I decided this was my instrument... I didn't want to be a
guitarist, I didn't want to sing... I wanted to be a bassist...

Tommie Rademeyer : Playing bass isnt something you do or dont , its who you are Only a bassist can
truly tell you how those low frequencies makes him/her smile from the inside out, makes him/her get up 5
oclock in the mornings to practice and keep us willing to play and play and play. Thats why I play bass.
Not because it looks cool, not because it sounds great, not because I give substance and colour to the song
Im playing, but because its the best thing there is to do, and its who I am.

Ashley John Long : The bass for me is just a way of telling stories through sound. The instrument has so
many sonorities and inflections available to it that makes it so versatile that it can be used in most
contexts. Im just really attracted to the overall sound more than anything!

Evan Marien : Be creative. That is

what I strive to do every time I pick up
the bass. Bass has the ability to do
what most instruments can't or have a
hard time doing, it can carry both the
melody and the bass notes at the same
time. I can't think of an instrument that
I love more than the bass. Whenever I
pick up my fender jazz, it just feels
right ya know, like it belongs with my
hands. With all the slapping, tapping
and thumb technique stuff around
today, the bass can be a complete solo
instrument for me. Plus it is a nice
feeling when you get up in front of a
crowd of people and you can hear them muttering "He's doing that on BASS??"

Colin Deacon : - Cos I love it when my Nuts rattle on stage

Alistair Andrews : I started out at on violin at the age of five. Violin then was regarded as a girly
instrument so I soon took up guitar. I grew up in a jazz family and playing walking bass-lines on guitar
was not uncommon. During my first year at university, two guitarist friends and myself started a band,
one of us had to play bass. I made the switch and never looked backed.

Ilze Fourie : I guess I started playing bass in 2001 by just being at the right place at the right time...

Derron Ferreira : I could just go on about how magnificent the bass is, for pages and pages, however
due the fact that a lot of great players in this article have already covered a great deal of it in fine words I
shall try to keep this succinct. As a child I was listening to the Jimi Hendrix Experience and suddenly a
lightning bolt of understanding struck me- I was hearing Jimi play an awesome solo but then suddenly I
heard what the bass was doing underneath him and how the totally different counterpoint of the bass
made what he was playing sound a lot hipper. This was when I started hearing music differently: I started
hearing the various parts. My ears never tire of the sound of the bass; those frequencies are just pleasing
to my ears and body. If I listen to fast, shrill violins or incessant high piano tinkling or screeching shred
guitar I soon tire and start becoming annoyed (I respect and enjoy those instruments and styles in
moderation). Not the bass, I can listen to sub-sonic rumbles all day long! The bass has a unique quality to
me- if it is played in a solid, deep, looping groove it has the ability to become extremely hypnotic and
trance inducing. Just watch what a killer bass line does to people the eyes close, the heads start bobbing
and the bodies start moving. If drums are the rhythm of the waves on the ocean and all other instruments
are plankton, debris, floating plants etc. on the surface of the water then the bass is a colossal sea monster
lurking just below the surface moving smoothly with grace and power. Thats why I play the damn bass!
Llewellyn Alberts : When I lay me down to groove (fire in the blood) I die for the song dance. I am the
cause of the hole, dig, dig, dig. Irresistible drive into the core, dig, dig, dig. Dying to live, love; This bass
is my death and you can dance on my grave. Dig?

Shaun Scott : I play bass because my schoolmates were starting a band and
needed a bass player. 4 strings sounded easier than 6 so I decided to give it a
go. (I'm sure I'm not the only one who started like this). In retrospect, my dad
played drums and helped me build a solid rhythm foundation - bass also fits to
my personality better. I gave up playing for around 20 years and started again
when the same guys approached me to restart the band. It wasn't too difficult
starting again because I found that I'd been listening to the bass lines in my
music and I could remember the theory. It took some time for the fingers to
loosen up and gain strength. Things have changed dramatically in 20 years and
a whole new bass world has opened up to me. Not only is there a massive
amount of info and services on the Internet, but also training techniques and
disciplines have changed. I no longer cram practice before band practice and
find myself working on a daily basis on techniques I pick up from web training
courses, videos, DVD and clinics. My love for bass is growing. Its not the easy
4-string, just follow the chords, instrument I used to know. Its my enjoyment,
my escape, and my challenge.

Chris Tarry : I started playing bass in about 1987 while I was in high school. I had been playing
saxophone in the stage band and wanted to start playing some of the rock music I was listening to at the
time. I bought a guitar and joined a band with a bunch of friends called Molotov Cocktail. When I showed
up to the first rehearsal, there were about 10 guitar players all with shiny, brand new guitars and no bass
player so I decided if I was going to make this band and meet girls by being in that band, I better trade the
guitar in for a bass. I took up the bass chair and was hooked right away; I never did meet any of the girls.

Grant Stinnett : I started playing the bass when I was about 14 years old. My father (Jim Stinnett) had
been teaching music lessons in the house for as long
as I could remember but for some reason I never got
into music. I had owned two CDs in all of my life.
A few years before I started playing, my father began
putting on these things called Bass Workouts. At the
Bass Workout anywhere from five to fifteen people
would show up at my house and hang out and learn
how to play bass from my dad for a three-day
weekend. They turned out to be like small bass boot
camps. These would happen every few months and I
was always on the sidelines. I brought the coffee and
brownies. Everybody at the Bass Workouts always
seemed to be having so much fun that I felt left out.
One day my dad said, Why dont you learn how to
play so you can join in? So I did. My first bass
workout was incredibly fun. I couldnt do everything
because I had only been playing for a few months at
that time but that didnt matter. It was such a fun
experience that when it was over I couldnt wait for
the next one in a few months. My father in his
infinite wisdom said why dont you learn some of
those things we worked on over the weekend so you
can sound better next time? Ever since then the Bass Workout has been one of the only reasons I keep
playing bass. This next Workout will be my twenty-third and I am still trying to learn new things for it.

Nick Cook : Its hard to put into suitable words why I feel drawn to the bass guitar above any other
instrument. In some ways its like that old mountaineering clich - "because its there". I climb it because
its there, because its a means to reach the summit. Stumbling, falling, and losing my breath
sometimes.... and yet I climb
Sometimes I look around and see other mountains and hills that look easier to climb and wonder perhaps
they have a better view. But even though there are others there are none like this... I take a moment to
catch my breath, look at the beautiful scenery, look back up to the summit -determined. Aware that I am
not alone, with the help of my fellow mountaineers, begin to climb again.

Jamie Canivet : I wasn't always a bass player. I started off playing piano because the Beatles didn't have
a piano player and in my 8 year-old mind that was the way to get their attention. The fact that they were
in England and I was in
Canada made no
difference, I was 8. I also
wanted to be a singer and
as everyone was playing
guitar or was a lead singer,
I thought keyboard might
be a good alternative. Then
came rhythm guitar as well
as keys. Sometime north of
my 40th birthday there
came what I must call
divine intervention. The
worship team at my new
church need a substitute
bass player. I told her that I
wasn't a bass player but
Janice said "that's okay.
My brother, the drummer,
has a bass you can use." I said "Okay but I'm not a bass player About a week later a drummer friend of
mine called and asked if I might come over and jam some keyboard bass with this guy who was putting
together an ELP tribute. Well my answer was no, I'm not a bass player, especially not with the keyboard.
Kevin, my friend wouldn't take no for an answer so I borrowed the bass that the church worship team had
and the rest is now history. After one jam with Steve and Kevin I became the new bass player, singer and
acoustic guitarist for Seven Virgins and a Mule, Canada's only ELP tribute act. Three years later we are
starting to gig and Im having a blast playing some very technical bass!! Check us out at
www.sevenvirgins.com. I'm also heard world-wide on the internet and on short wave every Sunday
playing bass for Good Friends Fellowship church out of Orangeville Ontario Canada.

Carlos del Pino : My first inspiration came from my father Rafael del Pino who was also an excellent
bass player. He showed me the first steps and with him I learned the discipline and the passion for the
instrument. I have been playing bass for almost 35 years and still I am studying and finding new
techniques. My dream is to be known all over the world to show my new sound and my new way of
playing pizzicato and to contribute to the development of the Double Bass. I want everybody to enjoy my
music.

Corn Dannhauser : I guess the bottom line is divine intervention. I was on my own
plug, studying B.Sc when I saw an advertisement for a bass player. For no apparent
reason I answered the call, got a bass and amp and started playing. It was love at first
sight!! My first performance with the band was at Hoskool Garsfontein. I was still
looking at my hands the whole time, but at some stage I looked up and saw all the
kids on their chairs partying away. That was it. Ive been hooked on playing ever
since and started studying music the next year. Its not just cool. Somewhere deep in
my soul I really believe this is part of what I should be doing. I also get to hang out
with amazing people and it even pay my bills. What more do you need?

Keri Moore : I cant even remember what possessed me to wanna start bass, Ive
just always been obsessed with that awesome sound that grabs you from the inside. Im still learning all
about my bass and the more I learn, the more I love it!

Siyabonga Ngubane : When I wanted to learn an instrument I was seriously considering the lead guitar,
until Ron Kenoly & Don Moen (with
Abe Laboriel on bass) came to
Durban. I was blown away, from
that moment; I decided I was going
to play bass. Then another challenge
was to find a teacher. I met Concord
(at varsity). I begged him to take me
on as a bass student; eventually I
ended up with a friend (who's been
trying to shake me off lately, with no
success). Over time, during my
playing, listening and observing, I've
realised that my imagination is more
rhythmic than melodic, so being on
the bass gives me that sense of security. Another nice thing about the bass is to be at the back of a song
and still drive it, only being noticed when you choose to, commanding the feel and the direction of the
song, that's awesome. What I enjoy lately is playing songs only on bass, that takes my imagination to
another level.

William Japhta : I play bass for a variety of reasons.

One of the reasons is that I am fairly good at it.
Playing bass gives you the opportunity to create something. Although you are using keys that already
exist you can combine them in very unique ways.
In a lot of musical pieces the bass forms a foundation where upon the other instruments can build and
maneuver around. When I play guitar sometimes, I realise how important a bass is.
With the bass, the standard of the music being played is raised immediately.
Music and bass playing is an art and there always seems to be something that you havent played or
discovered yet.
You develop your musical talent in general when you play in a band. Playing the bass does exactly that.
Ive met a lot of people just because Im a bass player.
You are also in the limelight a lot. Youngsters and sometimes-even grown-ups look up to you.
Playing bass can be a fulltime commitment and it can pay your salary. This is an option that a player has.
Bass skills are in demand and it travels well.

James Sunney :
Well I started
playing guitar in
high school -
nothing serious (a
camp fire
guitarist - for
want of a better
description). One
day, I walked into
my local music
store to replace
my 6 month old
guitar strings and
there she was. If I
remember correctly, it was a Tobias - the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. So I started playing bass -
with the dream of one day owning her. A couple of months down the line I happened to hear a self-titled
album by a character called Jaco Pastorius. That was that!! I was hooked, have been ever since and will
be forever! Gotta love the crunch!
P.S. I still dont own the Tobias!!!

Tony Scelba : Why do I play double bass? That is a very

big question whose answer could run on indefinitely. I
would rather state it, Why am I a double bassist? because
being a bassist is the central identifying attribute of my life.
It affects my family, my career, my very identity. My
father is a pianist with whom I used to perform. I married a
violinist whose sister was a pianist and with whom we
formed the Yardarm Trio. My profession has always been
that of a double bassist whether I had orchestra or college
faculty positions. Ultimately, the best answer to why I play
the double bass is because I can. Although music has
always been my passion and Ive always considered myself
a musician (I began composing, arranging, and improvising
at the keyboard very young), I didnt take up an instrument
seriously until I was in my mid teens. The double bass is an
instrument that will accommodate late acquaintance and
still permit a career in the classical field. Once I became a
conservatory student and recognized the versatility of the
instrument and the possibility of my making a significant
contribution to its repertoire, I was hooked. As I look back
on my life, the opportunities given me for being a double
bassist were magnificent. I have been able to make a good
living at a most interesting and demanding profession that
has brought me around the world and has allowed me to
interact regularly with great artists performing musical
masterpieces. Why wouldnt I play the double bass? It is a
privilege to do so.

Paul DeLano : It is the first instrument I was able to pick out in a song and still the first instrument I hear
when I listen to a song.

Vaughan Ross : A fascination borne of Ignorance is how I got

my start in the art of bass:

I considered myself an avid and concerted vocalist/lyricist for

many years though never made it to Pro; then later realising (at
33yrs) that this small factor in itself, did not constitute a musician
or even embody the broader celestial spectrum of musicianship.
Though Id tried and attempted to seek the deeper meaning of
classical guitar with various patient tutors, I didnt grasp the sense
of it all. Maybe it was too dainty an instrument; or my insufferable
musical intellect? I needed to experience something that suited my
temperament: Something that could be tapped, plucked,
hammered & even stroked. I chose to seek the sense in
senselessness, as my biggest quest was to resolve this burning
question: What is the true purpose of this instrument?

Some of you may spit or even hurl abuse at what Im tentative to

share here, but of all the musicians of any of the bands Ive played
with; this was the least desirable instrument to me! Yet my
intrigue has grown along with my willingness to learn and practice
a new art form and warm a new passion, and grow in my extended
love for music within the realms of the bass. In understanding; I
have found appreciation. I am discovering new keys to the secret
understanding of songs or instrumentals.
My mentors, are 2 fascinating yet vastly different players, and have sown many deep hours of intrigue
and insight into the amazing wonder of this instruments world. Ive also found Wooten astounding; re-
discovered the funkiness of Flea; the genius of Carbonne and the awe of Pastorius music.

The bass: Sometimes illusive; sometimes sullen; sometimes brazen; and many a time less than none:
being that low steamy-tone that drives the locomotive out of the station and gets it flying and merging
with the surrounding sounds.. To its destination.. The inner seat of the soul.

Sometimes humble and sometimes upfrontly arrogant (especially when in the hands of an xlnt vocalist)!
Though subliminal, the tone that drives and brings each song to life is that which I am now am able to
dissect in my comprehension for certain types of music, in each song that has made its presence known
both past and present:

Ive divulged many a pleasurable hour in bands such as The Cure; Zeppelin; Boo; Morphine. Though
these are artist that grabbed my musical intellect, it was rather the older classics played with the bluesy
moan of the contra-bass that I remember best.
Yes, somewhere in the recesses of my mind; a deeper understanding had already been birthed for, the
blessing of the bassist!

Christo Groenewald : Many other bass-players have said it before: the reason is that it is immensely
gratifying. From playing basic rhythms to intricate pieces, to the "voice" of a well built bass guitar or
double bass, to fully understanding the sound of the music and to support other instruments. Bass playing
is more than just churning out low frequencies; it's also an integral part of providing the harmony of
communicating via music. Just like some individuals will drive conversations by talking non-stop and
others only add interesting trivia that stimulates conversation; others create the harmony and sets the
mood of a conversation. It is here that I feel I can add valuable input and is where I feel comfortable. Bass
playing provides me the opportunity to set moods, drive dynamics and say what I feel. It's my voice.

Ronald John Pillay : Well Ive

tried many other instruments
and they all have their own
unique sounds and playability,
BUT the bass is the ultimate in
musical greatness as it brings all
of these instruments
togetherAll you have to do is
modify your technique a bit and
hit the strings and frets
differently
-Piano/Keyboard:
apping/Harmonics
-Percussion/Drums: Slap-Pop
-Lead and Rhythm Guitar:
Fingering, picking and
strumming chords
And there you have itliving proof the bass is the most awesome instrument in the world

PS: CHICKS LOVE US BASS PLAYERS

Bernard Myburgh : It always looked cool when someone was playing guitar, so I started playing too. I
first started playing guitar for one year, and then in May 2002, I started playing bass and I'm still going.

Jerome Robinson : Why do I play bass? Well.., I can kinda feel the essence of the song in the bass, the
bass being the foundation along with the drums. I also enjoy the role of supporting the various guitar
players Ive come across. Each one has a different approach to their music, which enables me to see each
song differently, even when its the same piece of music!
Andrew Warneke : growing up in a very musical family, I
was always nervous that if I tried music, I may be the black
sheep who was tone-deaf or something. As I grew, I began to
appreciate the ability of music to influence the way people
felt in a given situation, both for good and bad, and listening
to music began to become an important emotional outlet for
me. At the age of 14 I found a REALLY old bass in a
cupboard (had belonged to my grandfather), and decided to
learn to play. I got a lesson on the basics, and taught myself
from there.
Since then, music has become an all-encompassing part of my
life. It is the way in which I am most free to express myself
both spiritually and emotionally. I believe that I connect with
the function of the bass in its role of groove creation, as the
foundation for others to play on top of. It does not stop here
though. I desire to play my bass with freedom in all areas of
music. I want to play rhythms like a drummer, chords like a
pianist, and melodies like a saxophone (as well as grooves
like a bass player). The bass enables me to do all these things.
I do not play the bass though, I play music. The bass is
merely the means for this music to come out. I desire to play
music because I have a passion for it, which I believe comes from God. I believe that He chose the bass
for me, and I doubt that my music would be the same were I not using the bass, as the tool used to
produce art does add its own individual flavour, and lead the artist in his work.

John Archer : I was a teenager in the 80's. Big hair. Shoulder-pads. Baggy breakdance-trousers. What a
tool! We looked ridiculous, but the music was great! (Well I'm biased, so bite me!)
Initially it was wall to wall synthesizers which I couldn't relate to very well, but I was caught by the
whiplash in the tail-end of punk and it's various offshoots and permutations: Joe Jackson, The Clash, The
Police (early albums) and they were the bomb! They played real instruments (ah, the arrogance of youth!)
and I just knew I was destined to play music - you always think you're gonna be a rock-star when youre
young.
My buddy at school, Matt, he played guitar and convinced me to buy a bass so that we could 'rock and be
cool.
My first bass stared
back at me from a shop-
window in the seriously
un-hip town of George
one afternoon; it was a
cheapo baby blue
Westone which I played
through an orange and
black Specialist Audio
bass-amp. I bought the
amp from the troglodyte
who owned the local
music shop (Strangely
enough, he and his shop
are still there,
unchanged, twenty-five
years later - shows you
that being involved in
music is beneficial to
your health! Either that
or he has a pact with
The Dark Dude
downstairs!)
That damn Westone sliced my fingers to ribbons until I grew calluses hard enough to withstand carelessly
finished frets and cheap round-wound strings, but I persevered. We ruined cassettes by the dozen with
constant re-winding, pulling the basslines and guitar solos from the 'band of the moment'.
And we did learn to rock. (I don't think we've ever been 'cool' though.)
We started a full-on rock band - a goofy keyboard player, guitar, bass and Sukiyaki - the Japanese drum -
machine. We started getting gigs. We got drunk. We got stoned. Sometimes we even got laid.
Ten years passed and we were still doing it, despite minor inconveniences like National Service.
We played clubs, restaurants, bars; hell we even played for beer and pizza a few times. Sometimes we'd
get paid and sometimes our bar-tabs were higher than our earnings, but we were paying our dues.
We found an experienced drummer and canned the drum-machine. We moved to Jo'burg with big dreams.
We played in dives, we starved, our equipment broke and our car was stolen. We borrowed another and
kept grinding away. We were good, experienced, rock and roll kids but nobody cared. We turned into
vampires looking for that edge, taking speed to stay awake all night at the gig and drinking so that we
could sleep all day. The band was tight. We shared E.S.P., telepathy; I knew exactly what the drummer
was going to do before he knew himself. I made minor adjustments, I knew hed slow down if he partook
of the green stuff and I knew he'd speed up if one of his cocaine buddies were around. Matt played
guitar like Jimmy Page. We rocked places. Nobody gave a damn.
Fifteen years after I bought that dodgy Westone, I walked out, all hopes and dreams shattered by my
experiences. Burnt out. Strung out. Out.
I had no money, no trade and my wife was pregnant, Time to get a life.
I gave it all up for ten years. Went to work, got paid, raised my daughter and hummed nostalgically to all
those songs we played on my way to work.
But something was very missing in my life. I would wake in the night, in a cold sweat, from a dream
where I was back on stage and I swear I could see the imprint of those round-wounds on my now un-
calloused fingertips.
I bought a bass-rig again. My wife freaked. I calmed her down a week later and explained that it was
something I physically needed - it wasn't the booze or the speed or the hangers-on; it was the music.
She understands now and smiles sweetly when I trundle my bass-amp out onto the deck for a practice-
session. My daughter twangs one of my bass-strings every now and again, smiling indulgently at her
crazy old dad - then she plugs her I-Pod into her brain and zones out to the music. Just like her old man
used to do all those years ago.
I see Matt the guitarist from time to time, he teaches a few kids guitar in the evenings and has a day-job -
He drinks too much, has a seriously receding hairline and a string of ex-wives and kids. (But maybe that's
just a lead-guitarist trait?) Our ex-drummer drives call girls to their clients around Homburg.
I play to soothe something inside me now, and I feel whole again.
You want to know why I play the Bass? The soundtrack of my life was played on that instrument, the
good and the bad and the downright desperate. What more can I say? I wouldn't change a thing.

Maxim Starcke : This is just a small window of my musical journey and one of the various instruments I
perform on. I am
originally a saxophonist
but played classical guitar
as a second instrument in
high school. I was into
metal at the time so I
joined a thrash metal
group and ended up being
handed the bass (the other
two guys were already hot
electric lead guitarists so I
thought "Why not...?"). It
slowly 'grew on me' and I
discovered that I had a
natural affinity to groove
like a motha%#*$er really
well and with that machine-like accuracy that was so important in the death metal genre. I then soon took
the lead vocal position as well in the band called Damnatia, those were the days... Around the same time
my father introduced me to the music of Eberhard Weber, Miroslav Vitous and of course Jaco Pastorius
with his ECM LP collection (amongst others) and that made me think: "...thats really beautiful, one
doesn't have to just play the foundation and groove on bass, it works well as a melodic instrument too - if
played in the right way or even both at the same time!". After high school I entered the South African
College of Music and studied Classical Guitar. So I was now delving into subtlety, control, almost
silence, space, resonance and delicate sounds as opposed to speed-picking and sub-frequency mayhem.
Finally I started fusing the detail and control I learnt from the Classical and South American guitar
repertoire onto the electric bass and incorporating this where I could in various projects, some still in
progress. The tone of the bass reminds me of certain images and feelings...so difficult to put into
words...a natural substance or landscape represented in sound, like wood or stone. I love the trance-like
groove aspect and the bass's deep resonance as well as the untapped possibilities of its tone (recently
explored by Carlo Mombelli) especially when accompanying in a duo or trio. An instrument of high range
and the depth of the bass together creates space in between to breathe and imagine. I also love the feeling
of the strings under my fingers and the thickness of the neck. I feel solid, supported and content with a
bass and holding a great band together with the deep groove of the bass is exhilarating, I am transported.
www.myspace.com/maxstarcke

Jeremy Howard : I started playing bass at the beginning of 2000 moving

across from guitar, when the band I was playing with at the time needed a
bassist and there were just none available.

I was always told by all the bands that I previously played with that I
would make a better bassist than guitarist simply because of my technique
and style of playing.

Trish Bailey : Musings on Why I play Bass;

I play Bass because

It's easy to play and yet impossible to master

It flows from my soul
Its like a direct connection to the Universal muso mind

In the traditional role of a Bass, its like a Mother, and the Band is akin
to
the family ...thus, in the way a mother holds the family together, does
the
bass bind the band. As she plays the supportive role to husband and
children, so supports the bass the other instruments. As she puts the
needs
of her family first, so the bassist allows the soloists their heads without
having the need to do the same.
No family is complete without the Mother, nor a band without a bass.

Of course that was in the good ole days.

Seems these days, few marriages stay together, resulting in those delinquent bassists who wanna be the
front men show-offstake up lead guitar, dudes! ;-)

Ariel Garcia: I come from a musicians family. My dad had a band and when I was a kid, during
practices, I was able to tell when someone made a mistake. I would tell my mom, the piano player made
a mistake she wouldnt believe me and right after that, they would stop the music and there I was right.
Later on, my uncle was putting together a teenagers band with my cousins and me, but he wanted me to
be the singer of the band, but I didnt want to sing. I wanted to play the bass, but his son was going to be
the bass player so I had no chance but I insisted, insisted and insisted finally his son wasnt able to
learn bass and he gave me the chance to learn. Right after, he taught me a bass line and I learned it really
fast - until this day I still remember the bass line. From that day on, I fell in love with the bass..
I discovered that with the bass, you didnt have to play only bass lines, I discovered that you could play
chords, harmonics, melodies, that I was able to create a complete song with one instrument, I discovered a
new world of music that motivated me to become a bass player until this day

Lorne Peakman : I couldn't get a grand piano on the bus ha ha ha.

In reality, I didn't care for the widdley diddley "I

wanna be Satriani" guitarists, plus I had a habit of
breaking the strings with my heavy handedness.
Drums - I do not have the right amount of Epilepsy
for and I can't sing to save my life

Steve Harris was also a big influence

I became a Bassist as my fingers seem too fat to play

those silly little cheese wire strings that guitars use, I
also hated the tinny sound that emitted from guitars,
but loved the deep booming sound a bass provides.

It's also very hard to play Slap on a guitar ha ha ha

Ponkey Reilly : While I was in the army in 1963, I learned how to play guitar. On coming back to
Bloemfontein, after my 9 Months army stint, a band approached me to play bass for them and I refused
because I was a rhythm guitarist. After many weeks of nagging, I finally decided to try it. It was the
BEST
change I have made in my life. That day, I used a homemade bass guitar, which I had borrowed from a
pal, and the strings were about 2cm from the neck. That first note which came out of that Guitar gave
me gooseflesh and I was hooked. We were rehearsing at the tearoom of the newspaper, The Friend
where I worked, and this 2-hour practice turned out to be a marathon 8 hrs. I ended up wrapping masking
tape around my fingers,
which were almost
bleeding from the
punishment they had
received that day, but I
couldnt stop. I ended up
using that homemade
for about 4 Yrs, after
buying it for R7.50c
(You should have seen
my fingers)
Why do I play Bass? I
play, because of the
feeling I get when the
low, beautiful, big, warm
bass notes vibrate
through your body. I
play, because of the
independence I
experience while other
musicians have to stick to
a script. I play, to have
the ability to change the mood, and power of the music, just by what I play. I play, to enjoy that other
world I enter, when playing in a really hot Jazz trio, or Rock Band, and blow your mind on the music and
nothing else.
I could carry on forever, but Martin will throw a thrommy, and ban me from this honorable association.
You guys out there, who are thinking of maybe taking up bass, go out, and get into the amazing, beautiful
world of bass playing. You wont regret it! Ive been there for 46 years.
Dave DeMarco : I started off as a drummer and keyboardist and later discovered that playing bass
allowed me to combine what I loved most about both instruments - the ability to drive the rhythm but also
use melodies to influence the harmony. My keyboard sensibilities stayed with me though and early on I
was drawn to basses like Alembics and Gibson Thunderbirds, which were capable of lots of different
textures. Like most who play multi-string basses, I got my initial exposure from Tom Petersson and later,
Doug Pinnick. My 15-string bass, effects and bi-amped rig allow me to create multi-timbral sounds like a
keyboardist would without sacrificing the low end. To paraphrase Zappa - having the ability to inflict my
will upon those poor, unsuspecting note clusters - that's what keeps me playing. There's much more
beautiful damage yet to be done!

Dave Meros : I started out on piano when I was 9. Switched to various brass instruments when I hit 7th
or 8th grade and that was the cool thing to do, gradually working my way down in pitch. Started with
trumpet, moved to French Horn, then trombone, and finally bass trombone and tuba. Played bass
trombone throughout my college years.

When I was 20 years old a friend asked me to be in his new band. I thought I would be playing a horn,
but he said no, it was a rock band. I figured then that it would be keyboards. He said no, they had a
keyboard player, and that I would be playing bass!

I had taken exactly two guitar lessons

in high school, so I was familiar with
how the strings were laid out and
how the whole thing worked, but that
was it. I hated guitar. .. I completely
admire a good guitar player but it
feels completely foreign and
uncomfortable in my hands and still
only know those three chords that I
learned in high school.

Anyway, I told him that would be

fantastic, but I didnt know how to
play bass. He told me I play all these
other instruments so of course I could
play bass. I then told him that I
didnt have a bass. He said the guitar
player had a really nice 62 Fender
Jazz Bass that I could use. I told him
I didnt have an amp. He said the
guitar player also had a bass amp that I could use. I then was out of excuses and became a bass player.
To this day I still havent decided if I should thank him or curse him for that.

The funny thing is that I have always been a bass player. It just took 20 years and 5 or 6 other
instruments to figure that out. As soon as I picked it up I automatically somehow knew how to play it and
I had every bass part already imprinted in my brain because that was what I always focused on when I
listened to music, even as a kid. This sounds like bullshit, but its absolutely true. The time it took from
that first bass encounter to my first gig as a bass player was less than three weeks.

Magnus Rosn : My interest in bass playing was born towards the end of the 1970-decade. When
everyone in my school class started to play recorder (flute), my biggest wish was to play a recorder bass.
The next instrument that caught my attention was the Bass Tuba. An electric guitar was available, but it
never did get a hold of me.

So came the day when I opened a case with a brand new Electric Bass Guitar in it and I can still
remember today, the smell of plastic, gum and wood. This was the magic box that would fill my life with
world tours, golden records, Euro awards, Grammy nominations, charity tours, 6 solo albums with great
reviews and albums recorded in heavy metal, rock, funk and pop - about 25 albums.
I still play bass after 34 years of playing. Its my life and my love for the instrument is still there every
day. I feel more and more connected with the instrument.
For my Spirit and soul, the bass playing is something that gets me connected with my feelings of life.
My bass playing opens doors - there I can also help poor and vulnerable humans. Ive done many charity
solo bass concerts around the world.
So bass playing is my toll in life and my pleasure.

Vic Bergh : As with many bass players I started off as a guitarist and changed to bass due to the band not
being able to find a bassist. Once I
understood the function of the bass,
in relation to the rhythm section, it
became a journey of fun. Bass
players are generally humble people
and dont express ego when it comes
to sharing info on techniques and
playing styles. I think it will take a
few more years before the other
string players understand what its
all about. I think the only way to
explain how much I enjoy my bass is
with the answer I gave my wife. She
said I had to choose, her or the bass,
to which I replied, babe, Im gonna
miss you and take good care of the
kids. My wounds are healing well and the doctor said I should be able to use my right hand soon.
Find the groove and you will find your bass.

Jiggs Downing : Went to the Entertainment Unit in the army as a classical guitarist and was ordered to
play bass guitar by the Major for a Nurses Dance, and as they say, the rest is. hysterical!
I mean really, rather the bass clef than the trouble clef! The bass IS the soul!

Peter Murray : One reason I play bass is that I relate to the role of the
instrumentthe way its extremely powerful and yet understated at the
same time. Thats a mysterious and seemingly paradoxical role, but I
think that bass players tend to revel in it whenever theyre truly
musically engaged and interacting with a band. Bass players like
having this huge impact on the music, and knowing how indispensable
they are, but they derive their sense of self-worth from the knowledge
of this fact, as opposed to attention and adulation (although attention
and adulation are always welcome perks!). I also love playing bass for
physical reasons. I love the vibrations through the floor (and
sometimes sit on my amp to enhance this pleasure), and the way the
bass feels when it coincides with the bass drum... And I love the fact
that it can sound good with the bass drum in so many different and
subtle ways ahead, behind, totally locked in Loving those little
yet huge things allows you to enjoy any music, no matter how simple.
In fact, when youre playing simple music, it becomes more about the
little things, which are in fact the hugest things.

Simon Cox : I play bass 'cos it fits. On a superficial level that is the answer.
The more in depth answer would take more years than I have left, to explain fully ... but I suspect another
bass player will instinctively know what I'd say.

Stuart Watkins : I really enjoy being in the centre of it all, while not necessarily being the centre of
attention. The bass is such a satisfying thing when things are cookin', kick-drum is buried, and you're
moving a room full of sweaty people. There's voodoo there. There is also an introspective quality to the
instrument too. That is, we as bassists are constantly mindful of playing the most careful things,
constantly simplifying, crafting to make those beside us sound better. It's a good analogy to life!

Jauqo III-X. : For me, bass embodies all that

is enormously beautiful and sacred about
sharing. Bass is definitely a being in and of
itself. It has a way of commanding control
without being obtrusive and if it is, it shouldn't
matter at all because it only gives what it is
allowed. For me, bass just has a way of asking,
how can it be of help to you and those who
care to listen and feel? Bass massages the heart
with a pulse that is the life line unto the
threshold of the groove. It looks to marry the
groove and take the listener onto heights
beyond the highest of highs. I first picked up
bass because it spoke to me but at the time I
had no clue what this entity was called but I liked what it was saying and each time I listened, I always
walked away with something.

Marc Levine : I saw Paul McCartney on TV when The Beatles hit America for the first time. The bottom
end seemed to call my name, and I immediately began to play along to their records on my acoustic
guitar. When I bought my first bass, a Hagstrom, and plugged it into my first amp, a Fender Solid State
Bassman, I could feel the power of the low notes. All right, I am driving the bus!
And now, all these years later, there is still no feeling like the one of getting into a deep groove, locking
in with a cool drummer, and feeling the repetitive zen of the bassline. Nothing else seems to matter except
that pocket.
I hope to die with a bass in my hands.

Lucas Senyatso : I started off stealing my mothers strings that she used for
curtains when I was still very young. Well, you see, my mom couldn't afford
to buy me a guitar, so I had to improvise by making my own. So, when I put
the finishing touch to my tin guitar by putting on the strings, the result was a
bass sound which I fell in love with immediately. Bass guitar is one beautiful
instrument that lays the carpet for the entire rhythm section. The fact that you
can strum just one bottom note underneath a particular chord, and
automatically give everyone direction as to where they are, that, to me, is the
equivalent of the king of the jungle, a LION. What would this world be like
without bassists? Groundless...

Dan Hawkins : I play bass because my mum signed me up for lessons when I was 11 - against my will! I
earn a living from it now and it has given me much pleasure and a fantastic lifestyle. Thanks mum.

Dereck Walstra : Why do I play bass? Simple- Ive played rhythm

and lead guitar for many years and found there was always some
thing missing in my musical career but could never place what it
was until one, not so fine day I was attacked by criminals which lead
me to being 60 % paralysed. I could no longer play the rhythm
guitar my fingers were no longer able to move, I forced myself to
continue playing the guitar. Slowly my fingers started coming right
but still with difficulty. I was auditioning a bass player, who didnt
seem to know much about basses. He asked whether I could tune his
bass guitar. From the time I had his bass guitar in my paws and
played a few notes I fell in love with the bass, of course not his bass
because it was not far from being a bow just short of an arrow to
lead him on his way, and it was then that I decided to trade in the
guitar and amp for a bass guitar, of course very unwise I had a
choice between a Cort action and a 70s Fender Jazz bass, like the raw idiot I was at the time about bass
guitars. I chose the Cort.I eventually discovered that the missing link in my musical career was that I got
more enjoyment and played bass better than the old rhythm guitar. What a price a price to pay to discover
the missing link in my music career. I have been playing bass now for 12 years..

Trevor Smith : I suppose my earliest recollection of playing a four stringed instrument was beginning
ukelele in primary school as part of music education. The melodic lines always stuck out for me above the
one-fingered chords and I always wanted to be in the group that played those. From there I moved to the
trumpet cause I thought everyone else was doing the sax. I continued with that all the way through to
university whereupon wanting to play with a friend of mine who was writing songs I decided to grab an
acoustic bass I had seen. (The four strings were back!) I quickly proceeded to learn lines of favourite
songs and have never looked back. What an experience to lock down a groove, the thrill of pulsating
eighths or the warm floating cushion of a sustained note.

Taylor : Double Bass was

an arranged marriage for
me at the time it was on
the endangered
instruments list, which
meant that the schools were
willing to get as many kids
as possible playing bass,
Tuba, Bassoon etc. I had
been playing the violin.
Ive grown to love the
instrument, but to be honest
I didnt give her the respect
that she deserves for a long
time. Yes, my basses are
all female. Theyre named
Sandy, Flossy and Macy. I love them all because for years they sat patiently in corners of my room,
waiting for the day that I might be able to understand the nature of their beauty. Its not what you love,
its who loves you.

Mike Campbell : I began playing bass because I thought being in a band would be a good way to meet
girls. However, many years subsequent experience proved that while you were busy playing, other guys
met the girls and took them home before the gig was over. Also, I loved listening to Jim Fielder who was
with Blood Sweat & Tears in the early 70s, and tried to copy what he was doing also the jazz guys
like Ray Brown and Ron Carter.

Paul Vosloo : When listening to music, I always end up focusing on the bass line of the song. I guess its
because the bass is connecting with me. I love to create that same feeling when playing Bass and having
control of the song. Its as if the bass is the backbone to all other sounds.

Corrado Canonici : 9 years old, already mad about

music. 10 years old, I discover prog-rock: Emerson,
Lake & Palmer, Genesis, etc etc. I bother my parents
to death for an acoustic guitar, my first ever
instrument. I bother them again one year later for a
bass guitar; including a staggering 30W amplifier,
considered in 1972 a pretty loud one I start playing
in bands, and double as the lead singer (I know you
cannot believe it!). 16 years old: classical music and
jazz sink in, I opt for a life in music and enter the
Rossini Conservatoire in Pesaro, Italy. I study
composition, and then I notice that a pretty famous
Italian jazz bassist of that time starts teaching in my
College: Bruno Tommaso (later recording for ECM as the band leader and founder of the Italian Instabile
Orchestra). I go to his class, touch the double-bass, and cannot go back anymore. I am hooked.
I was born and educated in Italy, and its there where everything started. I then moved to London UK a
long time ago, and now London is my city (happily).

Lenny Padayachee : I started playing

bass when I was 14 years of age, purely
because the church I was attending,
needed one. A friend who was a guitarist,
offered to show me the basics over a
weekend; I started with just playing that
and was happy doing it until I saw
Abraham Laboriel live at Rhema
sometime in the 90s! He changed my
perspective on bass playing, dont even
mention Mark King from Level 42, with
the LEDs on the neck of his bass! Since
then, my passion for playing bass has
never died.

Edwin Paanakker : At age 16, I started playing guitar, while a friend of mine started playing bass. We
learned and played together. In that time I listened more and more to various bass players and wanted a
bass myself. I bought an Ibanez Rickenbacker 4001 copy. It played well, but it didn't sound well. After a
while my friend quit playing the bass and sold his bass to me. It was a precision copy of a brand I forgot.
But it was a good bass! It had an ash body. I put in a jazz bass pickup and made the bass fretless. Due to
Jaco Pastorius and Mick Karn I loved fretless bass most. Those basses I don't have anymore, but fretless
is THE ONE for me! I still play guitar and other stringed instruments (... Hey,,, I even make them! :-)),
but I love fretless most. Since then I have had tapping basses (10 string), fretted basses, fretless basses,
doublenecks etc... I played in many bands and even did a tour through the US and played the SxSW
festival in Austin Texas (1993 edition). Nowadays I make instruments with Frans Haarmeijer. Our brand
name is Convolution Instruments.

Jim Stinnett : I started on guitar, and like many of us,

I moved to the bass because someone had to hold down
the bottom. As I became a better player, I liked the
strength and power of my role as the bassist in a band.
Playing the bass just felt right.

When I went off to college and heard real jazz, I fell in

love with the double bass violin and spent 25 years
with the dog-house.

Today, I play the bass because it is so much fun

working with my students. I now spend far more time
teaching than playing professionally. The role of the
bass has broadened so that all things are possible and
we continually explore new sounds.

Lastly, and not the least, I play bass because bass

players are easy-going folks. I love how we can get
along. I am fortunate to be a part of a large bass
community that loves the bass.

Charles Adams : Why do I play the bass as opposed to another instrument? Well, if left to my own
devices I would probably have been blissfully playing classical guitar right now, but that, it seems, was
not my destiny. My brother and I became interested in playing the guitar at about the same time shortly
after, out of curiosity, listening to some of my dads old Jimi Hendrix records. He took more to the idea of
making music than I and before long was writing brilliant songs which he then wished to share with other
people and for that, of course, he needed a band. The long and short of it is that I was basically coerced
into buying a bass guitar and playing in his band (Ive been keeping my nails short ever since). Why do I
play the bass? While I dont consider myself a musician and will probably not contribute anything
meaningful to the world of music, I cannot help but want to celebrate all the aural beauty and pleasure
experienced throughout my life. From the first time hearing Jimi to Jaco, Pat, Ornette and countless
others; when I pluck the strings of my Ibanez I imagine that Im experiencing a resonance of what they
know about sound and what it means.

Jimi Glenister : There are all sorts of reasons why I play bass, some of the very same reasons as other
bass players have mentioned, but the essential starting point, the initial impetus that had me pick up an
instrument can be the only reason I play. Because no one in their right mind can turn away from a bass
once first played successfully. The music world is populated by bass players and frustrated bass players -
frustrated because they'd rather be playing bass than sax or guitar or whatever.
So, that starting point; back in 1970 two friends and
I joined the school choir so that we could get out of
marching around as cadets. Back then the schools
had these cadet parades with everyone dressed up in
brown uniforms and boots, marching up and down
very military like - not pleasant. Anyway we
discovered the choir was easy for us, no real
surprise to us though, we could sing in tune and
made up the entire bass/baritone section of the choir
at the time. As one can expect, we decided to start a
band and after much discussion about what to call
the band we decided who would play what. The one
guy from a very musical family said he'd play lead
guitar, flute and backing vocals. The other guy with
a reasonable voice wanted to be lead vocal and
rhythm guitar. Me, I was tall (back then 6 foot was
tall) and skinny with big hands and long fingers -
there was only one choice - no, not drums. It
clinched the deal when the guy I went to for lessons
said that with those fingers he's going to have me
on TV playing bass. It was only then when I started
to focus on the bass part in all my favourite music I
started to realise that I was perfectly suited for that
musical roll - an accompanist, not a lead/front-man
type, an essential element marrying the percussion/drums rhythm with the melodic "chordal" elements of
a tune. Also, echoing what several other bassists say, I'd somehow always heard the bass in a mix even
way before choosing the instrument. Take the bass away from a line-up and the sound seems to become
soulless, the sound loses its definition somehow and I was told that a vocalist in many contexts listens to
the bass for their queue. Wow - at last I seemed to be indispensable!
Okay, so fair-enough to all of that, but I'm also basically a lazy bloke and although to do the job properly
one needs to know the notes on the neck, play the scales and use all the fingers, man, other instruments,
all those notes at the same time in a chord and all that melody widdling was just too much work and much
too much to remember, as for remembering words to a song - forget it.
A sax player I played with once told me that in his experience bass players are some of the few musicians
that actually choose their instrument rather than falling into it by accident - well in my case I think the
instrument and its idiom chose me!

I have just recently developed arthritis in both my hands which causes quite some pain when playing
bass, but you know, there is no way I can part with my bass, particularly this one - I first saw one on the
cover of Bassist magazine with Jack Bruce's ugly mug resting on the body of a beautiful chocolate brown
oil rubbed, smoothed no-sharp-edges ergonomic shape, comfy but business-like - and then I got to play
one and, of course, I heard the 'growl' and, as they say, it was love for life - my Warwick Thumb and I.
Okay so the Double Bass standing in the corner of the living room also needs attention!
Daniel Rezant : The Bass guitar to me is a very interesting, creative, innovative and versatile instrument
I fell in love with the Bass at the age of 11 at that time I only watched the guy that inspired me to play -
Mr Abraham Laboriel. He was
totally, the best for me at that time.
I started playing at the age of 14
and when at the age of 15, I did my
first major gig, I realised why he
has and shows such great stage
performance because the Bass is
something you feel. When you play
it, every little sense of your body
shuts down and it gives a great
feeling both inside your soul and
externally .I absolutely love the
sound of the Bass, especially when
Ive put on new strings - the sound
of fresh strings, bouncing of my fret
board when I slap & pop is the best
ever, an interesting fact about why I
love playing it is that before I could
play any chord I could slap & pop
why? I dont know?

Something else discovered is that when people ask me what instrument I play and I reply, saying bass
guitar they say at times (those who dont know) oh nice, a guitar! It really irritates me coz I dont play
guitar like they know it - they always think of George Benson. I then have to explain to them thats
something that irritates me. A band can go without a guitarist, vocalist or keyboard player but not a
Bassist, with the bass you can literally play anything from harmonics to low bass notes to full chords, to
leading like a solo guitarist thats wot I love about it. Like the Gangsters say, A BULLET MAY KILL,
A FIRE MAY BURN BUT A TRUE BASSIST WILL ALWAYS RETURN!!!!!! Much Love and
Respect to the late EDDIE JOOSTE the guy with the Biggest Heart and love for all bassists and
musicians all over - especially in CAPE TOWN!!!!!!

Pippo Matino : I just started to play the bass because in my first band, at the age of13, there was a
drummer, guitar player and piano player, but...there wasnt a bass player! So, I started to play some bass
lines on my guitar and then I bought my first bass guitar (it may have been an EKO from Italy based on
the Fender Precision bass).But then I found some albums from Mr. Pastorius and Mr Clarke.....and that
was the reason......

Rob OBrien : I never set out to play bass actually. I was always
going to be the singer. Seemingly someone upstaged me in the
vocal stakes and I was awarded the opportunity to play bass. It
was never an instrument that I felt limited by, from the onset. I
pushed it very far when I was younger (in an almost Jack Bruce
sense). I soon began to lean more into the groove of whatever
drummer I was playing with and realised the power and command
a solid rhythm section could exude. Ive been playing now for
over 15 years and have been through many bands and performed
with some truly exceptional musicians. Why do I play bass then?
Because it commands so many musical colours, it drives, it
grooves, its the thinking mans instrument. Because I could never
have achieved any of these musical goals without it and still feel
the same way about this instrument as I did 15 years ago. Without
it there would be nothing. Amen.

Stef Neumeyer : The reason why I play bass is that I believe that the instrument keeps the bottom ends
together.. nothing nicer than sitting in the pocket with a simple groove or working out a serious lick and
you crack it and all is done with awesome tone...even better when you lock in with a good drummer and I
say that with respect :-) because I play by ear I have taken shortcuts and copied all my life and only since
getting educated have I really come to know the BASS better, for me thats awesome and I have realised
that its what you dont do that counts big time. Its lekka for me to put up a nice tone and get the smiles
from the band and the sound engineer asking for more volume because it creates an atmosphere only the
bass player can initiate. Another reason is because its so simple yet so complex and you get rewarded for
work and time spent exploring the bass.

Tom Kennedy : I was next in

line behind my Sister and
Brother to study Piano, but
somehow the instrument just
didn't speak to me. My parents
told me, many times, that I used
to run around the house at 2 or 3
years old, singing bass notes to
anything that was being played
on the stereo........ my sister's
Beatles records, my Mom's
musicals, or my Dad's jazz
recordings. When I was 8 years
old, my brother brought home an
upright Bass to practice, as he
had decided to play in the school
Orchestra. I'll never forget the
day I was allowed to try it
.........feeling the incredible
vibration as I plucked the strings,
and hearing that deep resonance.
I was hooked! In a matter of just a few minutes, I realized that this was the instrument for me.........
almost 40 years later, it's STILL the instrument for me!

Judy Foxcroft (GrannyBass) : I have always wanted to play bass guitar since my young days (I only
started in my 40s) Hence the
nickname Grannybass. After
attending a worship team
seminar, which exposed me to
my first Christian upbeat band, I
was so excited that my husband
bought me a bass guitar for
Christmas. For me, the bass
guitar is the most expressive
instrument and has awesome
impact. You can either make or
break the song. Without the bass,
there is that emptiness in the
music that only a bass guitar can
fill. I love the way you get to
express your feelings through the instrument and of course, its soooooo cool to be a bass player and
when mixing with other bassists, you get to feel so special, whether you are good or not. Bass players are
a very special breed of muso.

Gareth Langdon : Why did I start to play bass? Honestly?? Well, mainly because I couldn't get my hand
around chords, so I just started playing the notes on Electric Guitar. I was about 17 at the time! My friend
told me I should try a Bass... I didn't even know it existed! But since then I've never looked back! I've
been playing in various Christian Rock outfits now for about 15 years, including Church worship and
session bassing, although probably only the past 7 years have been of any real depth!! Although I'm
currently not in any bands, since my arrival in Cape Town, I really feel I've matured as a player! I'm so
keen to get back into the scene again! I can't read music as I'm Dyslexic, so everything I play is from the
ear via the heart and soul! I just love it! Improvisation rules! Well, most of the time! Everyone I know
says I'm the best bassist they know, so I keep telling them, they obviously don't know many bassists!
Still its nice to have the encouragement! If you don't already play bass, go for it! you'll be hooked and
will never regret it!

Benoit Grigaut : Why I play Bass? I have been blessed with the love of music
and jazz listening especially through my father from the days when you can't
speak yet... The headphones were falling off my head! I then listened to music
for many years but without any sense of direction... Direction fell upon me when
I was living in Berlin and my best friend was a bass player, I went to his gigs and
I will never forget the huge smile on his face on stage with his big fender bass... I
never let down the bass since then and would love to play with him one day! I
then received the ultimate inspiration boost listening to Bass Players such as
Ntsooleng Stetso 'BIGCITI' in Botswana, Concord Nkabinde, Bongani Sokhela,
and many more in SA and abroad... I play Bass because Bass is like me :
demanding, beautiful, grooving : I ultimately want to contribute into making
people happy through music! Music without bass does not touch anyone, I
believe.

Bill Ellison : I played the violin for 10 years as a kid & I was miserable, all I did was stare at the bass
section. It looked so great & my best friend was playing it so I tried it one day, sold my Roth & never
looked back! Both the rich sound & function in the orchestra is why I play bass. Not only being a rhythm
instrument but being the bottom of the harmony has always felt like such an essential & honored roll in
any ensemble. I am SO much happier as a bassist & now I stare at the violins, fondly!

Clive Jackson : I enjoy playing bass as it allows me to express myself as a musician.

Antonella Mazza : I really dont know why I play bass. I wonder

if I chose bass for a special reason or just for a destiny joke! The
only thing I know is, its that, bass makes me special, makes me
happy, gave me the opportunity to grow up, makes me smile
everyday when I wake up! Its like the Aladdins lamp for me. I
can realize every desire thanks to it!
Im not a real bass player, Im just a musician and I express
myself through an instrument in this case, it happens to be
bass!!
Peace

Theo Josias : Well, it started with a few friends of mine who could play guitar and wanted to do pieces in
church, I was roped in on the bass (without ever touching the instrument before) and that was it. My view
on the bass changed when I realised that I was the instrument and the bass simply an extension of who I
am. Today every gig is an opportunity to create my rhythm, my harmony and blend it with those of my
fellow musicians. What an awesome connection when it all comes together..

Jimi Curve : It all started in Port Elizabeth, where myself and mates were studying at 1st and 2nd year
level at varsity and PE Technikon .We would hang out a lot after a days lectures and catch up to normal
mischief making a fire, getting intoxicated and talking about the world around us. One day I picked up
my mates acoustic guitar and started strumming, realizing that I had some rhythm and soon there were
more guitars, more friends and more intoxication. Within months, it led to a jam spot in the industrial area
of PE, and even an electric guitar and drums came into the works. It was great fun and awesomely loud.
Wed be at the factory 3 to 4 times a week making music and having parties on the weekend. Within in a
month or so, a mate of mine, Ian, bought a Samick bass guitar and amp and when he brought it that night
for the first time, I was mesmerized, and just watched him taking this guitar on, but he wasnt too good at
it. The next day, I knew I had to try it and that next jam, I asked to have a go. Wow, it felt so natural and
sounded so warm and full and filling the jamming with groove. Within a few days I was designated bass
player. It was so exciting. The other interesting thing was realizing that all those years of listening to
music which I loved doing, and then picking up the bass, I figured out that the bass guitar, and even bass
synths were what made the groove, and me, move with the music and then this experience of finding the
bass so comfortable to play.
That was it, a natural calling. The next year I enrolled at the music department at university.

Hadrien Feraud : I started to have an interest in music at the age of 6 or7. I

remember I loved to play drums on the stuff in my mothers Kitchen . My
father was always playing guitar at home and at around 10 years old, I used
to borrow the guitar from him and tried to make music with it ...He showed
me how to use the guitar to start to learn ...We played simple pieces together
sometimes .
After 2 years I stopped with the guitar ( I lost interest ). I was more attracted
to the Drums and bass ... At 13, my father bought me the birthday concert of
Jaco Pastorius and made me hear Weather report ...I had the revelation
immediately - hearing that "strange sound" of a fretless . I knew that I would
be a Bass Player ...I think its the most emotional instrument Ive ever heard.

Carl Rohrbeck : The honest answer to why I play bass is that back in the day, when I first started
playing, I wanted to play drums, but my folks said no, its too expensive. My cousin had a spare bass
guitar and said that I should start to play to get the feel for rhythm. So I started. A month later, my friend
wanted to start a band, and needed a bassist and I said why not?... its something to do while I wait for
drums. Seven years later I still play bass in the same band, with no regrets, and love every minute of it.

Alex Searle : Ive been playing the bass for nearly four years already, and
everyday it gets better. I think its important to fall in love with the idea of it
being the heart and soul of the band; pumping that low groove driving the funk
of the song. Why do I play bass? Because without music, my life would be quite
trivial and mundane and bass for some strange primal reason is the easiest way
to express that gratification, if you like, for this. Ive always had music flow,
and while I range from being reasonably proficient to down right shite with
many other instruments, the bass (and more recently, the double bass) seems to
strike a chord (if youll pardon the pun) within me. From the moment I heard
my hero Geddy Lee of Rush pop away on his Wal bass on their fantastic Power
Windows album, or hear the master Mark King slap himself into a daze on his
Alembic, I fell in love. And this is the only way to go about music.

Bart Tarenskeen : I don't think it was a conscious decision to play bass. When I was young I used to
play guitar with 2 of my brothers, and most of the time I ended up playing the bass part. I never even
bought a bass until I was 19 and was asked to play in a band. It was an epiphany for me when I was on
stage for the first time as a bassist and realised I wasn't nervous but got a real kick out of it. I never had
that before playing piano or guitar in public before an audience. The rest is history:)

Martin Motnik : My brother brought home a bass when I was 13, and I
instantly fell in love with the instrument. I loved the sound and the feel of
the big strings, and practiced every day when I was a teenager. Now when
I'm on stage, I really enjoy having an instrument that can stand energetic
playing. If I were to play guitar, Id probably be breaking strings all the
time.

Kirwan Brown : I switched to bass from piano at an early age. I think it was mostly a love for low end. I
started piano lessons at five and went through a typical classical piano training: much emphasis on
learning existing pieces, preparing for recitals, etc., with none of my teachers covering improvisation or
jazz or pop piano. Around age 12, I was playing in a garage rock band with a drummer and a guitarist
who were around my age, and we couldn't find a bass player. Finally we auditioned a kid who owned a
bass and a small amp, but he couldn't play it. It didn't matter; when he plugged that bass in and the open
strings were rumbling around and shaking the floor, I was VERY intrigued. Around the same time, my
dad bought bigger speakers for our
stereo at home, and for the first time,
you could hear the bass parts to all
these familiar songs on the radio, like
all the Motown stuff. Hearing these
"counterpoint" lines -different from the
vocal part, simply blew my mind - it
was a complete revelation. I started
hanging out at the local music store
and plunking on the early 70's Fender
basses they had, and I managed to
figure out the bass line to Gordon
Lightfoot's "Sundown." My dad
finally bought me a cheap bass and
away I went. It was a much more
personal experience, because there
were no bass teachers in our area so I
just taught myself. From that
experience, I now know how I would relearn piano if I could!

Alexander Vankevich : I started out playing the guitar but Paul McCartney became very influential and I
switched to bass. Im also left handed but I play right-handed. Other influences were from Gary Thain,
Jaco and Marcus Miller. I play in rock bands and Im now a Bass guitar teacher at a music college. I love
bass its a remarkable instrument

Alan Goldstein : I started playing bass as upright in a class in middle school that was called String Lab
or something. Each few weeks, we would switch from violin, cello, upright bass and nylon guitar. After
learning nylon classical guitar in school, when I was 14, I got into Heavy Metal more and wanted to be in
a covers band with my guitar buddies. I think the real deal that grabbed my attention was the Sweet Child
of Mine song and video by
Guns n Roses and the
Metallica ones video. That
was it - I wanted to be a
Rockstar guitarist but none of
the bands needed guitar! They
needed bass, so my dad rented
me a bass to make sure I stick
with it before buying one fully.
I joined a cover band with my
rented pink Starforce bass, lol
and the rest was history I
guess... I'm self taught, more
of an ear player as I hated
theory and piano lessons when
I was a young boy.

Eventually on bass, I got into funk jazz and fusion and thats where I learned some cool chops and runs
from. Marcus, Patitucci, Clarke, Wooten, Willis, Jaco, Stu, and Manring who were all super influences on
me. Also Cliff Burton, Billy Sheehan, Les Claypool, and Geddy Lee changed my life forever...
There was just a certain magic about both fretless and fretted alike in the hands of those guys... I love
bass, as my main thing obviously, but also enjoy drums / hand percussion and guitar, still, as a hobby. I
hope that people enjoy my music and playing, and take care everyone reading this ;)
Thank you !

Marcin Suchodolski : First of all, its fun. Great fun. I play in a jazz-funk band, and this kind of music
is purely for having fun either whilst playing or listening to. I actually love the physical sensation of
playing bass particularly 4-string bass guitar or acoustic upright. I like the feeling of plucking the
strings with my right hand and grabbing the notes with the left one. I like the way the instrument
resonates and vibrates against my body.

Playing bass is also an intellectual challenge for me - or intellectually-emotional. Its because I have to
learn, and work really hard to get all the harmonic and melodic concepts in my ears and fingers, and to
know how to show my feelings through learned skill. Really important for me (when soloing) is the fact
that a bass guitars range of frequencies is somewhat similar to male vocals which helps me improvise,
as I believe that the best melodies are the ones that could be sung.

I also love playing bass guitar, cause it has so many different sounds. It can be hard, punchy and strong.
It can be deep and groovy, perfectly integrated with the drums, felt rather than heard, moving audiences
hips. It can be soft, singing and mellow like in a fretless, with lots of mmmwwwah. It can as well, be
zingy and metallic.

And the main reason for me playing bass is the responsibility it holds in a band. The bass has a decisive
role it gives song a particular groove be it swing, latin, funk or rock. If a song was a living creature,
drums and bass would be its heartbeat and breath. It also tells people about harmony a bassist can
change a chord completely just by playing, say, a sixth instead of a root note.

To make it short being a bass player, I can play some pretty melodies, spacy chords or bang some
strong and simple rhythms. And make it all great.

Shaun Johannes : I started out as a self-

taught pianist from age 12. Later went to
learn jazz piano at the Jazz Workshop under
Merton Barrow and George Werner
respectively. Whilst at the workshop, I
started noodling on some of the basses
there. It started getting addictive as
sometimes Id miss my lesson because I
was busy messing around! In 1999 I
became a founder member of a
township/cape flats music band project
called The Little Giants. I started out on
keys but like every other band we didnt
have a bassist. I was then forced to get one
(a 5-string ACADEMY & a VANTAGE
amp) and after two months of practicing (one of which was unplugged because I couldnt afford a cable
or strap) did my first gig at the Jazzathon Festival in Cape Town. Sadly my fresh blisters from the
practicing decided to bleed on that gig and after gaffer taping them good and proper, I had a crash course
in intense pain and when that was too unbearable, a crash course in slapping the rest of my gig!!!

After that great start I was sold

Doug Johns : Looking back, I realize how lucky I am to have grown up at

the time, and around the musical influences, that I did. I hear those influences
in my playing now, and it feels good.

Everything Ive experienced right up to this very moment good and bad
will come out in the music when I pick up a bass. It allows me to open a
window into my soul, and I love that about this instrument.

When I play the bass guitar, I feel free. Whether I play by myself or with an
audience it doesnt matter; bass is the tool that allows me to express myself.

Im pretty sure the bass found me. I didnt search for it.
Steve Walters : I play the bass because I had a guitar lesson at age 8 with Phil Chen. He was the bass
player for Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart at the time. As an 8 year old sitting in his front room full of basses
hanging on the wall something clicked. I made a connection not only to the bass but also to the fact that
as a bass player you can
make a good living and have
a cool apartment with loads
of guitars and basses and still
have time to give an 8 year
old boy a lesson.

I also play bass because

when I'm in the pocket or the
zone I feel so at one with
music, I feel it from deep
within yet I know it comes
from just as deep from
outside of me. It's not me
playing on a good day it's
some higher power playing
through me, I feel so close to
GOD 'or' my experience of
him/her when I'm in that
place, where time stands still and it all happens in super slow motion, spaces have a gravity and notes
have a density or lightness that surpasses technique or musical harmonic structure from a book. It's not
until after the experience has passed that I realise from those around me what has actually taken place.
I play bass because its where I'm truly at home and comfortable to express myself through my entire
'mind, body and spirit'. It's where I feel connected to all things.

Rami Lakkis : I love all instruments, but the reason why I think bass
was my choice is because it is the precise medium that is best suited to
compliment, or just in general, express what I have to say in a musical
context. Its one of the keys for shifting from one mood to the other.
Now a little less spiritual and a little more common talk.... it creates the
pocket! HAHA!!

Hilliard Greene : I started formal music lessons on cello when I was eight
years old and switched to bass when I was twelve. In sixth grade another cellist
and I were the last stand in the school orchestra. One day he said that he
wanted to do something major in life and that was to switch to bass when he got
to seventh grade. I thought that was a good idea.
Soon after I started playing bass I realized how much I liked being with the
bass, studying music, performing music for people, musicians and the music
teacher. I told myself I should become a professional bass player because that
would be an excellent way to a make living.
At the same time I started to train and study the bass I began to conceive a
sound. It took me several years to find that sound. When I heard Ron Carter
play arco on the piccolo bass I told myself, "That's it! Thats the sound I have
been imagining!"
Performing unaccompanied recitals on that type of bass (piccolo bass) is my favourite way to perform.

Ebinho Cardoso : I began playing acoustic guitar when I was 13 years old. At 15, my parents bought
me an electric guitar. My family was very poor and this purchase was a great sacrifice for them. Because
I learned to play the guitar relatively well, I was invited by a group of adult musicians to join their band,
but they wanted me to play the bass. Not only had I never played the bass, but I did not own a bass. I
decided to trade the gift that my parents had given me for a bass. My mother was so upset that she would
not let me come into our home until I had retrieved the guitar. I had such a desire to play in this band and
share my music with others that I could not bring myself to do as my mother wished. My father returned
from a week of travelling and understood my reasons for trading this special gift. Finally, he convinced
my mother that I needed to play in this band and share my love for music.

At first I missed playing the guitar. It felt more like my musical voice. The traditional way of playing
bass was not attractive to me. I started developing a specific technique on the bass and after a few years it
became my identity. I eventually wrote a book about my chord voicings and the style of bass I now play.
"Harmony and Chord Dictionary for Electric Bass" was published in Brazil in 2005.

Adam Taylor : I started playing bass because they needed someone

to play at church. I had only played guitar for a year, and was then
asked to play bass in the band context. I wasn't very good at first
(obviously); walking the bass was more playing a game of multiple
choice with notes. The initial view of the bass was that it was very
easy to play, but further down my journey with this instrument I've
discovered an infinite depth and intricacy to it, including different
tonal approaches (finger techniques, muting, ghost notes etc.), groove
and the personal ability to be creative/original. I'm falling more in
love with the tone and possibilities almost constantly. I now love bass
because of Fender :)

Rika Hebrst : Nothing beats the low, Earth-Moving sound of a

BASS!

Raul Amador : I play for the love of the instrument. Playing Bass goes
beyond merely hearing. When you are on you can feel your Voice reach
up like it is going right through the roof! There is nothing like it!
If you can combine your Voice with that of fellow musicians . Well now
you have a conversation in the universal language.. Music!

Mark Grandcourt : BASS JUST ROCKS

Since Ive been playing bass I would always watch other bass players to see what they are doing but
above just watching a good bass player, I would listen and enjoy the sounds that they create. I think its
one of the greatest pleasures in life to listen to good bass playing.
I just find bass totally amazing.

Thats why I play bass.

Jorge Pescara : Playing bass makes me reach higher spiritual levels, and while I play the bass the low
frequencies produce in me beneficial vibrations all over my body

Chris Adams : I first started out on acoustic guitar,

then electric, but there was something missing, even
though I could play pretty well, it didn't always suit
me. It was when I finally figured out that everywhere
(Church, school, bands, your grandmother's living
room, in the Kitchen sink, etc.) there were too many
guitarists, then I realized that hey, here is something
new to try - so I got myself my first bass, at age 16, it
was a Peavey P bass that I later gave to one of my
students. From there, I progressed quite quickly, from
a 4 string to a 5 string, from that 5 string to a 6 string,
and from that 6 string to a fretless, and now to an
upright. I'm currently enrolled at Palo Alto College in
the great state of TEXAS! with my band, Years After
Jericho (Rock), its been a great run so far and I will be honored to continue playing!
Don Campbell : I started out wanting to be a drummer and banging on things, then moved to the clarinet
in grade school at the urging of my dad to learn to read music. Then I got lit up by the guitar in the early
60s (who didnt?). But a local band needed a bass player when I was in junior high, so I borrowed one,
learned it a little bit, and never looked back. Bassists are never out of work. Plus, I tend to be a behind-
the-scenes guy. Im not a big soloist or a flashy player. Studying all those old B.B. King bass players,
Jerry Jemmott, James Jamerson and those guys, I learned what the pocket is and how to stay there. I dig
being the musical version of the kick drum. Theres just something powerful about moving that much air.

Mel Brown : I play the bass because I love it. I want to play every time I see a
Jazz Bass. It looks cool. It sounds cool. It offers an opportunity to unite with,
show love, and support my fellow musicians. It offers an opportunity to be
featured in the most powerful way. I live the Low Life and wouldn't trade it for
anything in the world!

Mischa Marcks : I started playing bass at 15 years. But long before that, I was dancing in one of my
Mothers expressive dance courses. So I always had this connection of movement to music. I have to
admit, that when I listen to new music, at first I listen to the drums, very closely. The drums will tell me
how to move. Later on, when I was playing bass for a few years, I found out that the bass actually makes
your body move just by its voluminous sound. That was, when I really fell in love with the instrument.
You can feel what you play. Its an Instrument, that not only speaks to your ears, but your whole body.

Mary-Anne Ray : Why do I play bass?

Theres something else??

How else does a girl get to grrrrrrrowwwwl?
Bass links drums to music
The groove, the patterns, the discipline
Bass and drums together
Because even when I dont play it stays with me
It keeps me out of trouble

I saw a piano, I played it. I saw a guitar, I played it

I heard the bass

I dont know how I played six nights a week for twenty-five

yearsit ruined my nails
I still hug my bass
I dream in bass.

I play bass because I dance to the bottom end of the music.

At age ten I taught myself to play the piano and to read. I
understood the left hand.
I heard Jack Bruce in Cream...I felt where he was going
At seventeen I bought an accoustic guitar and a book of chords.
Songs started writing themselves. Most of them were terrible,
but all were bass driven.
Stanley Clarke...Return to Forever
In 1978 someone needed a girl with a voice and legs to play in a
showband. She had to play bass. I had two weeks to move my
head from guitar to bass. My heart was already there. Two
weeks to learn the repertoire, toughen the hands, strengthen the
wrists, develop biceps and attach myself to the bass drum. I bled
but was utterly comfortable.
I had to work very hard to be accepted as a musician rather than
a girl bassist. I played bass professionally in all genres for
almost thirty years and loved every minute of it.
I retired but yearn ...
Virgilio Venditti : I play the bass because I am a solid man, one that likes to organize concrete things.
Things that will last long and that have a logic, somewhere. Logic that will be intimately coupled with
creativity and true, genuine emotions. Often,
the bass-players through time, develop a better
understanding of the overall scenario: they
somehow focus better and therefore they
become producers or excellent photographers
(huge sense of the synthesis) like Milt
Hinton, Sting or Rick Laird. Its not a case.

Bass players emotions and feelings will

translate in either a few appropriate
meaningful notes at the right time or in a lot of
musical notes melted in a beautiful solo. My
basslines will patch the rhythm with the
melody and my ultimate goal is to properly
address and carry the band, either in a duo/trio
or in a bigger context. I will not be scared and
will be proud to accept the challenge. I will
drive the humour of the moment at anytime
in the right place. I play the bass because I
know where to go.

I am a bass player because I understand

something about the meaning of the life, that
is, always help the others feel better. Relieve
some pain in any way. My reward is unique in
knowing myself (others may notice too) that
Ive done the right thing at the right moment
and therefore things work just fine. Leave the
applause and the newspapers to the guitarist or
the saxophonist for me it would just be
useless noise
I play the bass because you would never go
anywhere without me. But my goal is NOT to
stop or to drag you down! On the contrary: I will spend my soul to set the basis for you to break free in
the world of beautiful music!!!

I play the bass for the same reason I married my wife: I just cant live without her, and this relationship
always requires total dedication and equilibrium on a tight rope. But differently from her, the bass will
never a) ask for the credit card and b) pull out the CD from the player to put them anywhere around
WITHOUT the case (sacrilege!)

My bass provides soft and round notes that hold an awful lot in an understated but satisfactory way, these
notes give birth to vibes that are in direct contact with your soul. Nothing that can be compared with the
immediate and not always required violence of a sax, the sometimes excessive thunderstorm of a drum kit
or the often unnecessary evanescence of the guitar.

I did not choose the bass: it chose me!!! Only if you enter in intimacy and exactly tune into the same
wavelength of the instrument you will actually play music through it. And its not an easy task to be
accomplished, trust me. Every day will be a different challenge and a new fight to find the right sound:
for mysterious reasons, yesterdays bass-amp set-up does not work today. A daily and eternal challenge.

My bass does not forgive me any mistakes: it wants me always well concentrated while playing and this
attitude deeply changed my whole human being attitude. Its never a good instrument but rather a
righteous one! A bass player will always be in conditions to make a good set-up and to fix minor
problems: this is the index for a real reached intimacy with it.
I play the bass because it is a zen instrument: minimalist but unavoidable, like the snow and the sun, the
good or the bad, the health or the illness; strictly related to the books of Brian Weiss!!! In either case,
everybody will always be grateful to the bass-player; I would not play anything else. Yes: I will play the
bass for you.

Jim Guthrie : The reason I play bass is because of my brother who taught me modes, and scales and
guitar theory. He was taking me to a pawn shop to get my first guitar when I was about 16 and when we
walked in the shop he saw a Violin bass, and a Vox 50 watt bass amp. Because he knew I was going to
play it left handed and I looked a lot like McCartney, he thought it would be a hoot to talk me into starting
out with that bass. To cut a long story short I can now play bass, so in some ways the joke was on him
too.

diRASTAMAN : Reading through what everybody wrote quickly, it sort of

stopped me in my trax. Its like you find yourself thinking till all the
background noise faded, and its just you and your thoughts. So many of us
started off playing something else. Maybe because it looked glamorous, and
then somehow ended up playing bass. When you think of what you can
play, you will very seldom choose to play anything else. Its in your
blood..

Marius Goldhammer : I play bass because I just love the rumblin sounds and the feel that it gives me
when I groove along with a great band. Its like second nature to me and cant think of anything else to do
in my life!

Vincenzo Maurogiovanni : Well, why bass?Its a long story, but Ill try to explain it in a few words

I started playing drums at 16 with my Cousins in a rock band, then discovered I have more of a rhythmic
attitude, and when listening to a bass I thought: this will be my instrument!!
I was attracted by the possibilities of making harmony and melody and rhythm together, having a bass
backing to create an orchestral sound.
I attended a music school for two years, having basic education on technique, harmony, score reading etc,
then I continued to study by myself, creating a personal sound based on my four-finger technique.
Everyday I apply myself to improve my skills and add a new sound to my playing.
I think bass is an expression tool, and this means that by this instrument we can talk about our ideas, we
can explain our inner nature, studying tradition for having consciousness of what we play, but being
innovative, using the bass in the way we, personally, like to, for example, as a solo, duo, trio or big band
player and whatever else we want to use it for. Music is an abstract concept and who likes bass must like
at first love music in all of its aspects. I like to play and listen to classical music and jazz, from fusion to
movie soundtracks and playing all this summarizing on the bass or playing with other musicians.
A friend of mine told me years ago, remember, be a musician first and then a bass player.
I remember this advice everyday.

Steve Gee : I started on guitar when I was age

10 and have never stopped playing guitar. But
at age 15 I realized I was focusing more on
rhythm and picking out bass lines. I borrowed
a friends bass guitar and in an instant knew I
wanted to play bass.
I love the bass; in a sense, it's a sort of
'pseudo-covert' instrument in that it sits almost
hidden to the unknowing ear, between the
thumping crash of the drums and the
onslaught of lead guitars, synths, brass and
anything else that thinks it can shove the bass
into the background. But people sure notice it
when it's not there! And when it does take the
spotlight - look out. You don't just hear the
bass - you feel it! That, in part, is why I love and play the bass.

Damian Erskine : Initially, I started

playing bass (at age 6) because my
grandfather made me! I discovered
drums on my own later (at age 10) and
then fell in love with music and
musical discovery as a whole. I've
always played both, but in college
switched my focus to bass and have
truly just fallen in love with the ability
the instrument affords to interact both
rhythmically AND harmonically.
There was a time when I was only
playing music because it was what I
did best, so I figured it made sense to
pursue that as a career. Now,
however, it is simply interwoven into
my fabric and is very much a part of
who and what I am. If I won the lottery today and never had to take a gig I didn't necessarily care about
again, I would still put as much energy into my music as I do today (maybe with more vacations, tho! ;)
I feel like something is missing from my daily experience if I don't get to play at some point throughout
the day. It is what I do and who I am and I can't imagine my life without music.

Danny Lugo : OK, Why do I play Bass? Rhythm is an important part of music and I've found that
musically, the bass has been the best way for me to be both creative and able to keep the music in the
pocket. Like the song says, "You can't hold no groove if you ain't got no pocket." Keeping the pocket
along with the drummers and percussion is what we do. but it definitely doesn't mean we can't add a little
flavour along the way. So grab your weapon of choice and bring in the bottom.

Aram Bedrosian : I think in a strange way I have always been a bass player. When I trace back my life,
really, the first thing I remember is the
image of a Gene Simmons doll in the
grocery store. I must have been two
years old or so but I remember it
clearly. My older brother was way
into The Who when I was small so I
got exposed to incredible bass playing
very early on. When I was five years
old I got a copy of Thriller and the
grooves on that album killed me. I
dressed up like Nikki Sixx for
Halloween, years before I played bass.
I played saxophone in school for a
while but around thirteen I picked up
the bass guitar so my group of friends
could start a band and Ive never
looked back.
I still have the same incredible feeling I had the day I started playing and the same fascination I had when
I saw that Gene Simmons doll. Music is totally amazing and the sound of the bass gets me every time.
Im totally in love with it every day of my life and I feel so thankful to be around it.

oh, and the bass totally rocks

Florian Friedrich : "My musical "career" started when I was 10 years old. My parents sent me to take
classical piano lessons where I unfortunately had to sharpen pencils most of the. time as a kind of
detention for not having practiced again. After three years of minuets and Christmas songs, we moved
and the piano lessons stopped. I still liked music very much and at the age of 16 when all my friends were
starting to play drums or guitar or saxophone, the only instrument which was missing to have a band was
a bass. It was then, when I thought of my brother-in-law who had a bass guitar he didn't play anymore.
Then my older brother let me hear a live-record of Level 42 and he said: "Listen to this bass player... this
is cool stuff..." And WOW! He was right.. this WAS cool stuff! I've never thought that you could play
that kind of thing on a bass! I fell in love immediately!

But what I really love the most is just making music, playing in a band, and the bass just happens to be
my voice. After all it is just an instrument to express your musicality. But after a while I became so
dedicated to it and so "professional" in playing my instrument, I cared so much about the quality of my
sound and how to express my emotions and feelings that I will never be able to stop loving the bass. I
love the responsibility that I have as a bassplayer in music and it's great being supportive and kind of
leading at the same time. A nice groove is the best thing in the world!"

Dr. Donovan Stokes : I played piano since before I could walk. I would crawl up on the piano stool and
bang away. I started piano lessons at 3
years of age, and my first memory of this
life is looking at my hands as they played
th th
the piano. In middle school, (6 - 8 grade)
I played trombone, euphonium, trumpet,
guitar and a few other instruments along the
way. I continued on trombone until my
final year of High School (pre-college). In
th
my 8 year of school I was playing guitar
in a rock band, which I had formed with
two friends. We never could find an
adequate bass player. At one bass audition,
I picked up the would-be bass player's
instrument while he was off getting drinks
and food. Things clicked better than with
any of the people we auditioned. That night
I took my money, which I had been saving
for a guitar amp, and bought a cheap bass.
The next day I played my first gig on bass
at our school's talent show. I started
playing bass because we couldn't find a
decent bass player for our childhood rock
band.
I played electric bass exclusively, until I
was 14 and I began to play upright bass in
the school orchestra. I had not found the
beauty of the upright at that time, but
thought that playing it would make me a
better electric player. By my last year of
high school (16 years) I had given up the
trombone and was strictly an upright and
electric bass player. I considered myself a
doubler until 2005 when I realized that when I thought bass, even in an amplified context, I only
heard the sounds of the upright in my head. At that point I sold my 6 string electric bass. Although I can
still work on the electric if need be, I consider myself primarily an upright player.

Tiens van Zyl : In 1997, I became a huge fan of a local Rock band. The first thing that caught my eye
was the bass player. Not because he did flashy and wild moves or tried to show off, but because he looked
like he really enjoyed playing the bass. A year later an old friend of mine moved to the UK and needed a
modem for his family to get connected to the internet in order to stay in touch with him using e-mail and
IM. He then swapped me my modem for his 4 string bass.
The same day, I got tabs and started teaching myself on how to play. At first it was difficult to hear the
bass in songs but soon I could easily hear the bass grooves. I was hooked! For me the bass is an
individualists instrument. Mostly bass players from different bands get along very well with each other,
they are mostly not flashy or arrogant, just passionate. When you play a live show and the bass moves
through your feet and legs and it hits the crowd in the chest, when the drums and bass are in harmonious
sync and they carry the band with powered air waves, when you finish your set and everyone bothers the
vocalist and guitarists and I can calmly go to the bar and grab a beer, now thats why I love playing bass.

Victor Denson Angulo : Ever since I first started playing I was hooked. I couldn't
put the bass down. I couldn't stop listening, transcribing, reading music...copying
everything I heard. It was like an addiction. Music was my dealer and I needed a
fix everyday. I remember one day in high school; I thought to myself, I'm going
to do this for the rest of my life... I've stuck to it. It's all I do. I play, teach, record,
eat, sleep and breathe the bass. No day job in an office somewhere. I make bass
playing work for me and my family. It's hard work but very worth it in the long
run. I sometimes sit and imagine what I'll be like in ten, twenty, thirty years... I
think, I'll be old and fat...perhaps, but I'll still be playing bass. Without the bass
in my life, I would be like a storyteller without stories. My life is bass...

Trip Wamsley : The other guys here have made their responses with such eloquence and beauty that
moved me deeply for real. I believe the reason I, or anyone, plays, really goes beyond the spoken word.
A wordless language as Darren put it. (Well said mate even though you had to use words! :)) So I'll
itemize a few things starting with innocent idealism and going on from there:

Bass Guitars were bigger than the "other" stringed things. The amps were bigger and the sound really
carries through walls and jungles and water and air and into the lower chakras and into the fiber of my
very being. It made me resonate. I feel the bass chose me in some ways.

I realized it IS a
guitar. I
immediately had all
the guitar
techniques available
to me from day one.
Including some that
guitar players didn't
use at all. So, solos
made sense from
day one. As did
performing function
as well. It was more
versatile than the
lead guitar, whose
proponents usually
are caught in one of
a few limiting
camps. A lot of
folks think that the
bass is not a real instrument at all. It isn't. Yves Carbonne said that bass is a function not an instrument.
(A statement so blatantly obvious that it escaped me! Beautiful Yves!) This function can be performed
by Cello, Trombone, Bari Sax and Piano and whatnot. The Bass Guitar is a real instrument.

I played it to save my life. Otherwise, I would be dead and/or wasted someplace. It and music came into
my life as a friend. A real friend. Which brings me to a point that so many of us face, but never really
talk about. Music NEVER does anything to hurt. It's the music biz that will kill the spirit. It's
competition in the chops realms that will kill and hurt. It's eating our own that kills us. It's trading art for
commercialism that kills. Music and Art is a friend. True and blue!
 That's all I can think of saying. Wait! One last thing. To elevate our axe in the eyes of the world we
need to learn to be friends, lovers, fathers, mothers, husbands, helpers and builders. The aforementioned
things will only help us to strive to make music that is as deep as life. Love to all who read this.

Brent-Anthony Johnson : I play bass because I am

madly in love with the low-end of musical
structure, and I have been ever since I can
remember! There is simply nothing more beautiful
(to me) than a well-recorded acoustic contrabass, or
electric bass guitar. My personal quest for tone
has taken me on an incredible journey to ultimately
achieve the mysterious sound of a glass cannon
firing bowling balls through a tidal wave!

The fact that we, as bassists, are utterly in control

(harmonically, rhythmically, and structurally) of
every musical situation we participate in is merely a
bonus feature of the instruments role. Honestly,
there is, simply, nothing else Id rather devote
myself to than this life-long study of why I love
music from bottom-to-top.

Mark Williams : I started playing bass at age 18, I had been playing guitar in a very garage band sort of
way and a friend suggested I try out his bass. It was an old Precision fretless and it was the first time I'd
ever picked a bass up. There was something about the tone and frequencies that it produced that I just
immediately connected with. I didn't have much of an idea of how to play it at the time but felt I'd found
the instrument I should be playing. That was 30 years ago.
The reason I play bass today, like so many other bass players, is, I discovered its importance to music and
became totally intoxicated by it. It's the instrument that links melody and rhythm together and underpins
how a band sounds. It's the defining element! Locking in with a drummer and playing solid grooves, then
watching a crowd feel the bass and react to what you're playing is something I never get tired of. It's like
plugging into a shared emotional experience. For me that's a really satisfying and cool thing to do.

Gary Jibilian : My first love was the drums, at age five, which I played until I accidentally discovered
the bass at age 17. The bass was a cheap, P-Bass knock-off, leaning against an old Fender 12 watt
Bassmaster practice amp in my friends bedroom. I asked my friend, Ed, if I could check it out (it
belonged to his neighbour), and he said, "Sure. Go for it." I fell in love with it right away, playing what
little I could of "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden. After a few minutes, I said to myself, "I know I can play
this thing!" I bought the bass and amp from his friend for $50.00, then later sold the bass to a schoolmate
for $100.00 and kept the amp. :)

What really appealed to me is how the bass is just as physical an instrument to play as drums are. I've
always played finger-style, and have an aggressive touch, digging into the instrument, and feeling like it's
very much a part of my body. I play/write on bass, thinking like a drummer more than a bassist.

I enjoy the role the bass plays in a band, and meshes with the drummer (depends on the drummer, of
course) to become a living, breathing, pulse, which drives the music like a locomotive, and gets the crowd
shaking their booties!

Bass is such an expressive instrument, where each player can influence how the song feels by letting the
notes ring out, or by the fraction of a second of silence between the notes created by muffling. Pretty wild
how the fingers on each hand are equally responsible for what contribute to a bass players unique
"sound."

Since 2000, I've also been playing the 8 string NS/Stick tapping guitarbass hybrid, which to me, is the
perfect blend between a percussive instrument like the drums, the electric bass, as well as being able to
play guitar solos.
Bass in your face!

Jean Baptiste Collinet : "Why do I play bass guitar? Are you kidding me?

Right now, its to convey my emotions as

genuinely, truly, honestly as I can. To
reach out and feel what reaches back.

Certainly also to "question authority" by

my behaviour towards some established
musical "dogmas" and "prejudices". The
bass guitar is a weapon of choice for that
purpose. Having been nicknamed "the 8
million string bassist"(because I dare play
on more than four strings) surely drove me
totally nuts. Like if I wasn't already a
headcase!

Well, I became a bit touchy after that...The

bass guitar is just a tool, no matter the
number of strings. I shouldn't be judged
and blamed for experimenting. There's
also a way of playing that no one wants to
break...I mean that I'm not interested at all
by playing "in the pocket" and by using
such words to describe what isn't to be
dissected but felt. I despise the tyranny of
the metronome, too. Such a music-killer!!
That's just MY opinion.

"Why do I play bass" is a tough question.

It's like if I asked myself: "Why do I have
grey eyes?" What am I expected to answer
to it? I really dislike looking at the past, as I then need to go back to the times when I started, in order to
get a clue about this "Why", and I see no point in doing so. Maybe Im mistaken, but once a thing is done,
it's done, and a new set of questions arise. I am a "PRESENT-living" man.

There is something, though, that may be universal, and I won't be an exception to it. I was discussing (by
mail), with Jerzy Drozd, about the perennial conundrum of finding one's very own voice, in a world
where everything sounds like its already been said and done. I asked him: "Didn't we all start because we
felt...love?" He replied, with some awesome enthusiasm and BIG letters:"EXACTLY!!!!!" (With FIVE
exclamation points, yup.) What else could be said about this? I think that it pretty much sums up the
whole.

Frankly, I don't feel Ive enough maturity to answer such a question. My blurb is messy, outspoken,
straightforward, and absolutely not the best thing I have written so far about the bass guitar (so many
players/artists/call them what you want/ already wrote it better than I ever will. The only thing I can do is
write it my own way). It's just a step-exercise more towards realizing myself.

Bass guitar players are the most down-to-earth and non-competitive (but the most frustrated) musicians
ever! I studied academics thoroughly and still have much to learn. I played about twelve different
instruments, of various kinds. I kicked balls in death-metal bands as a drummer, I played Lute and Cello
in Baroque ensembles, and everything in between. I never found peace of mind and true satisfaction in it.
It bored me quickly.

Nothing compares to bass guitar players. I recall Mark Wright, Mr. Accugroove, writing to me "I'm
myself a bass player, so I'm all about other players." Who else than a bass guitar player would have
written THAT? I guess that this unique mindset of the bass community is part of why I play bass,
actually. The possibility of meeting inspired and inspiring people (i.e. via Bass Musician Mag) without
any effort(or very little, at least) is undoubtedly a huge PLUS.

As I 'm writing now, some aspects I wasn't even aware of unfold smoothly. It's exactly the same when I
play music. Sometimes, there are "revelations" (if I ever release an album, I guess this may be the title).

Please, everyone,, don't think I'm just a pretentious shit stirrer wanting to sound nice. I am a forever
beginner, in music as well as in life. My path to self-realization is travelled on, with a bass, that's all."

Jimmi Roger Pedersen : At age 10 with a little talent for

playing the recorder, my teacher in school asked me to join the
Copenhagen brass and woodwind band. My father and I were
looking for the clarinet teacher but happened to meet the
teacher for tuba. So there we go! and 5 years later my interest
for electric bass came up through one of the my older tuba
colleagues who used to play a few songs in the school band on
this instrument. That sound was pretty hip and I bought one.
Later on a friend asked me to buy a "real" bass for his new
swing orchestra (Glenn Miller..........). I remember buying an
upright bass 2 weeks before the band began, and 2 days before
I started to practise. That was really hard to play a new bass
directly from the factory. Well I didn't know any better, so I
just played on. My father was very fond of piano trios like
Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Ramsey Lewis and Three
Sounds, and my ear got to know the playing of Niels Henning
rsted Pedersen (NHP) very well. After high school I went
to the music conservatory and met NHP as my teacher. He
and other bass players like Charlie Haden and Eddie Gomez
have been a great inspiration to my playing.

Gavin Langevelt : When I first heard The Brothers Johnson and Stanley Clarke, I was completely blown
away by the percussive sound that was produced by a bass guitar.....Mark King (Level 42) and more
recently Victor Wooten, have taken the art of bass playing to a completely new level and I am still
completely mesmerised. I must honestly say that the bass is very healing .. almost therapeutic to a degree.

Jason Marsh : Music was always a part of

family life when I was a kid. Neither of my
parents were musicians but they were big music
fans, my mother was an Elvis Presley fan and
my father loved The Beatles, The Rolling
Stones, Hendrix, Cream, Black Sabbath, Deep
Purple, 50's rock and roll, the list goes on. As a
kid the LP or album covers were so attractive
and gatefold / double album covers were the
best! You'd get to see the players, the
instruments and I wanted to make those sounds,
the big sounds. By age 12, I found out those
"big sounds" were bass and I just had to find
out more about it, bass was my first instrument
of choice and to this day it's the only instrument
I play, I'm in love with bass and the players
who use it with great expression and beauty.

Joe Sanchez : I've been fascinated by music since I was very young. There was something about the bass
that just reached out to me even when I was too young to understand it. So when I decided to express
myself musically, naturally the bass choose me.
Kim Clarke : I am an only child. My Dad loved Jazz - his father played professionally (Vaudeville
trombone then bass) as did his
maternal uncle (Cotton Club house
bassist). Mom always exposed me to
arts- ballet school etc
I liked the live piano in the dance
studio.
My first friends in my teen years
were musicians and with backyard
bands all around, it was exciting if
inaccessible. Then one friend sold me
a no-name el bass for $15. I learned a
James Brown lick and my secret
hobby began. I played with records
throughout my first year of college
(as pre-med major) and eventually
did my first gigs then a tour before
graduating. After graduation, I started
working in clubs. I was told I had a
good ear. I worked a great deal
learning Jazz on the bandstand and
after having met Ron Carter- I
received a grant from the NEA
National Endowment for the Arts and
took 6 lessons with him and other greats at Jazzmobile Workshop. When I can, I attend Barry Harris Jazz
improv classes.
Im still climbing that (educational) mountain. I always come home to, or keep, a Jazz gig as the tunes
have so much great harmony to explore.

Jesse Mogale : I would have loved to play trumpet but I never had one and no one in the family had
played a trumpet before. There was always a guitar lying around in the house as a result I started learning
to play the guitar on my own. In actual fact, it was a fender electric guitar converted into a bass. I must
have been 15 at the time. A year or two later my brother, Moses, brought me an Ibanez bass guitar. At this
point I occasionally filled my brother Humphreys position as bass guitarist in our brother, Moss
Mogales Unit and I was learning a lot from him. Once I laid my hands on the bass I fell deeply in love
with it though some years later, I learned to play trumpet as a second instrument. After the tragic death of
Tholoane Mahlo the units former bass guitarist, I assumed a full time position as the groups bassist.
Everywhere I went I took my bass with me. Through my BSc studies at Wits University the bass was with
me and every opportunity I had to do a gig I would take it. I wished Id studied the bass formally, instead
of Chemistry. I had the opportunity to jam with the late Bheki Mseleku at my brothers house and he
suggested that I got myself a double bass - in his words he said you have it in you and you should be
able to play it effortlessly. I acquired a double bass started to learn how to play without any formal
training. I bought a double bass book, Jazz Compendium by Sigi Busch. I later joined the International
Society of Bassists (ISB) and I was then introduced to a wider community of bass players. I had the
opportunity to meet and learn from great bassists like Rufus Reid, Francois Rabbath, Ben Wolfe and Paul
Ellison. Meeting these great personalities watching bassists like Ron Carter, Cecil McBee, Richard Davis,
John Clayton, Christian McBride, John Patitucci has motivated me to learn more regarding the contrabass
and further increased my love for the bass.

Don Bryce : Back in the early eighties in East London, I used to strum a bit of guitar at braais, mostly
nylon string. A friend of mine bought a double bass for R50 from a church and I thought that would be a
great instrument to play. I moved to Windhoek unexpectadly -the boss came into the office and said
"Wie soek promosie Windhoek toe?" and I put up my hand. Friday he was there with my ticket and
Monday I was in Windhoek! Well, I didn't know anyone in Windhoek, so I started going to the folk club
at the Gross Herzog Hotel to meet like-minded people. Because the folk club was on Sunday nights till
late, most of the professional musicians in town were off duty and used to go there too. I befriended some
of them 'cos their lifestyles fascinated me. They worked late and partied hard and slept late, whereas I had
to work office hours. Nevertheless, I started going to gigs, watching from backstage and helping lug
equipment. I met a guy called Vossie van Rooyen, who was excellent on bass. He played in various
bands, and I decided I also wanted to
play bass. Most bass players were thin
and had long hair. I also looked like that,
but I still couldn't play bass. It just
mystified me. Then I moved to JHB,
where I met Rowan (Bunty) Walker. He
was great on bass and blues harp. I
learned blues harp but THE SKILL still
eluded me. I often went to Plumb Crazy
and listened to top flight jazz musicians.
That impressed me but confused me
even more. I moved to Durban, where
there were some magnificent bands and
bass players. One bassist could lie on his
back on the floor and play. That was at
Smugglers. I can't remember the name of
the band, but I thought lying on your
back was a cool stunt. That bass player
also used to hang glide. I learned to
hang glide and I was comfortable on my
back, but I still couldn't play bass. I
didn't even own a bass, but I decided that
I would one day own at least a double
bass.

I went back to JHB to meet my wife. I

saw this old Hofner fiddle bass at
Magnet music shop and fell in love with
it, but could not afford it. I hinted, and
my wife bought it for me. We wanted
kids, so I moved back to East London,
where I met my best ever friend in
music, Deon de Lange (now moved to
Oz). Before we started playing regular gigs we used to frequent all the night spots where there were live
bands (circuit musos were still in vogue) Brian and Lynn Peacefull were in town. they were very smooth
and sophisticated. Brian had a wonderful melodic bass style. And.......he could sing while playing bass.
There were other good bassists in town, one of whom was Les van der Veen. Superb. Oh yes, Out of the
Blue were in EL for a 3-month stint, and they, also a Deon, and Gavin, used to swap bass and 6-string,
doing a set each. The sound was radically different, depending who had the bass. When Deon was on
guitar and vocals, it was rock, rock, rock, When it was Gavin's turn, it was quieter stuff and lots of
reggae. That really inspired me, so when my Deon and I started playing as a two piece, we copied the
idea. That's when I quickly learned to play bass! I was still using the Hofner, but when we played in a
Battle of the Bands Contest, the sound man loudly and insultingly condemned it and told me to go and
hang it on the wall in my lounge and get something decent. A long-standing East London band, Midnight
Dynamoes, had a good bass player named Steve Ritchie. Steve played this really battered Fender
Precision with a brilliant sound. The split coil had been chucked out and two separate Schalers fitted. I
told him to sell it to me, which he did. I subsequently bought a second P-Bass, dead original, with a much
"gentler" sound. I've since had lots of use out of both of them, and my later acquisition, a Phil
acoustic/electric. The Hofner is now hanging on my wall (in a glass case).
Next, I met a 94 year old man, George Watson, who played clarinet and sax in the Municipal Orchestra. I
noticed he had a double bass standing behind his wardrobe, which he did not appear to use, so I told him
to sell it to me. At first he refused, saying he would still learn to play it! I didn't want to rush him and risk
being told to go hopping, so I left it for ten minutes and again told him to sell it to me. "Oh, I thought you
didn't want it any more" he said. "If you want it, you can have it for R500". "That's inflation I suppose", I
thought as I ran gasping to the bank and back. And that is "bass"ically my story!..................
Steve Doner : Like many others, I sort of stumbled into being a bass player but the main reason I stick
with it and continue to become a more serious player is that the sound of the instrument stirs my soul in a
way I never expected and cant quite put into words. I just never get tired of hearing the sound of a bass
guitar. Even playing scales is fun to
me.

I got started when my son bought his

first electric guitar at age 13. A week
later I went back to the store and
picked up a bass so we could have a
shared hobby. I thought the bass
would be easier for the old man to
learn than guitar.

Guitar has turned out to be great for

father-son bonding during the teen
years when it tends to become
increasingly difficult to connect.
Beyond that and the love of the sound,
there is also a nostalgia element to it.

I played trumpet for about 8 years in

school but was never really into it that
much. However it did teach me music fundamentals and appreciation which have been helpful in picking
up bass. In addition, high-end audio was a hobby in my teens and 20s. I spent thousands on equipment
and built some of my own gear. That has helped me to learn about and enjoy tinkering with amps,
speakers, pickups and the like.

Last but not least, as a religious man, music as an art form has given me a greater appreciation for and
connection to Gods creation.

In summary started by accident, fell in love with the sound and, now Ill never go anywhere without a
bass guitar and a headphone amp (thank you Ned Steinberger for giving the world a more portable axe).

Garth de Meillon : Everything in life vibrates even the smallest atoms vibrate at some frequency.
With a Bass Guitar you get to create and direct these unbelievable vibrations.

The Electric Bass Guitar is the youngest of all modern instruments. I mean the 6 string Contrabass was
only designed by Anthony Jackson at
the end of 80sIts possible to play
chords, melody, basslines and deliver
solos on an instrument that offers up
more tone and creative options than we
can ask for (I feel the 6 string Bass has a
closer relationship to a Piano than to a
Guitar).

Compared to most other instruments the

Bass Guitar has a relatively short history
and a great unwritten futureAlthough
its history is short it is rich and
compelling...take the tragic but
inspirational story of Jacoand the
genius of Mingus. Then there are all the leaders of our timethe Wootens, Millers and
Pattituccisall of them stoked to be continually learning and discovering on their
instrumentcontinually evolving and redefining their voice
Then theres being part of the Rhythm Section (with that Drummer Guy)we are the cats taking care of
the groovethe glue between the musos themselvesthe energy between the stage and the audience.
On a personal level, I like the challenge of the Bass GuitarThe Techniques (slapping, popping, tapping,
harmonics) are like nothing any other instrument requires from its playerthe frets are bigger, the strings
are thicker, the neck is wider, the body is heaviergetting blisters!!!

Then there is the Bassists Mentalityhe is the Dependable Underdogforever serving the music and
the musiciansI dont think we choose to play bassrather, I think we choose to be defined by Bass

Glenn Veale : The reasons why some people love to play the bass range far and wide
from person to person.
Firstly one must love the sound of the instrument, of course, but an important and often
forgotten requirement is that the musician enjoys the role of the Bass within the general
framework of music. If you're an egotistical, up-front type-A person, chances are the
Bass is not your instrument. Consequently, Bass players tend to be more introverted,
but philosophical creatures, prone to introspective mental meanderings during the
interminably long rambling solos of fellow band mates.

In short, besides loving the low growly tones of the instrument, I enjoy playing
repetitive figures accurately and with conviction; and this is what separates the career
bassist from the mere dabbler.

Stuart Krahn : I had dabbled in guitar starting at age 10 but didn't have a lot of motivation. I learned a
bit, could play some songs, but I just didn't put my heart into it. At
15, my parents gave me an incentive to do really well in French
class at school. "Get an A and we will buy you your cousin's bass."
As I am writing, I am realizing the convergence of events! 1) The
incentive. 2) For the first time in 6 years of French class, I actually
enjoyed it! 3) As a budding Rush fan, I was blown away by Geddy's
solo break on the newly released La Villa Strangiato. I got the A and
I got the bass, a short-scale Raven Fender knock off.

But...I found myself back at the guitar. Took lessons, tried to build
up chops - never very good. Then, our new worship pastor at my
church came to me one day and said, "Your wife says you play a
mean guitar." Bless her heart, she never got the difference. "Well, I
don't right now, but I could." So, I went out and bought one and
FROM THERE, never turned back!

I love the freedom that comes in the worship environment. I hardly

ever play the same song the same way, which wouldn't be true on a
melodic instrument. I appreciate the bass as a weapon, but enjoy
bringing that low-end musicality to life.

Cees van der Weele : As a teenager I was having drum lessons at the local music school. One day the
teacher brought his bass guitar in and I had to drum along with his bass lines. Intrigued by the instrument,
he invited me along to a concert by his band, as their bass player was one of a special kind. This bass
player was Theo de Jong. Once Id switched to the bass, my bass teacher told me about Jaco Pastorius and
made me listen to him. As my teenage interests were changing and therefore my efforts to study were far
below the required level to keep, up I stopped playing. 25 years later (about 2 years ago), I found the bass
again and I've never studied so hard to catch up on lost time and the results are there. My current teacher
(Harm van Sleen) was a student of Theo de Jong, who even did a Masterclass with Jaco Pastorius. Now I
know where his inspiration and beautiful bass lines were coming from! It's never too late to play the bass.
(again)

Mark Freel : I started in std 6 (grade 8) I think.... I was playing guitar at that stage and some guys heard
that I played and asked me to join as a bass player, well with my desire to be in a band and pull chicks I
said yes.... Then one falls in love with the instrument and its all over!! You spend the rest of your life
trying to be the best you can be and have a lot of fun doing so..

Joseph Milstein : Playing the bass guitar, and being in a band was a fantasy of mine since I can
remember. I spent endless hours as a boy, a teen, and into my 20s playing air-bass-guitar. I even won an
air-band contest in college as the fake bass-
guitarist. And upon seeing Paul Simonon of
the Clash and then Flea (my two great
influences for style and attitude), my bass
obsessions became permanent. But it was all
just talk and dreams until a few years ago.
My wife, sick of hearing me talk about how
"I wish", and I should have etc, found me a
bass teacher for before my 40th birthday. 3
years later, and its been all about the bass
since then.
Outside my wife, my kids and my real job,
playing and practicing my bass and playing
with my band, Information Overload, is all I
think about and what I concentrate on the most. I met 4 other 40-something year old guys with similar
stories and we're getting it done! We play small gigs and practice twice a week.
Being the bass player in a band keeps me young, healthy, vibrant, calm and quite honestly, more pleasant
to be around. Its the ultimate, natural sedative. I call it mental masturbation. No matter what bothers me
or what issues I have at home or on the job, if I pick up my axe, or connect to practice with my mates, I
drift into a new, happy zone. And I dont care what anyone thinks or says, the bass is the core, and the
soul of any band. Clearly, I wish I would have done this 20 years ago but I'm thrilled that I'm doing it at
42 yrs old. At least now I can afford more on equipment. I probably spend too much time on bass forums
and in bass stores than I should, but its become my true vice.

Phil Peters : I was 15 years old in 1971 and guys I was friends with in high school were starting a
band..2 guitar players a drummer and a singer who played
harp and attitudebut they had no bass player.We
played Johnny Winter, Allman Brothers, Rory Gallagher &
J Geils band type material.. We were called the Famous
Amos band. Playing bass suited me. I was never the loud
obvious guy, I was the quiet logical type who just wanted
to keep everything together. It made me feel good. I loved
Rick Danko of the Band and Berry Oakley of the Allman
Brothers. These guys were melodic but understated, great
communicators and the glue that held it all together. Other
than the music I love the look of the instruments. I had an
Ibanez Jazz bass copy as my first bass. Moved from that to
a Gibson EBO and from that to a Fender Jazz bass. I now own way too many basses and amps and try to
play at least once a week in Gospel, Blues and Rock bandsfor the same reasons I started playing. It
makes me feel good.

Simon Goulding : Why do I play the bass?.............thats a great question. Its something Ive asked
myself on numerous occasions. The bass is one of those special instruments that cover every part of the
music at once. The bass player is responsible for the feel, the groove, the harmony, the melody
(sometimes) and the overall musical wellness of the band. I remember as a 9 year old kid thinking I
want to be a part of that.

For me as a bass player, there is nothing better than the feeling of locking in with the drummer and
providing an interesting harmonic base on which all the other instruments can do their thing. It all started
for me as a young kid listening to the radio, LPs and watching bands on TV. I was always intrigued by
the person with the big
guitar that stood next to the
drummer. Whenever I saw or
heard this, Id get goose
bumps and wondered what
was this, why does it make
me feel like this? The two at
the back were always
together, working as a team.
Whenever the music was
taken up a level these two
musicians would seem to
make it happen. I became
obsessed with the bass and
pestered my parents to buy
me one. My dad eventually
got one for me for 30 from
a guy at his work. It was a
copy of a Gibson EB3. It was
superb. I didnt know that I
needed an amp too, but
eventually got one.
I started to take the bass everywhere. School, friends houses, familys houses carrying it in a bin liner to
protect the body and a shopping bag to protect the headstock. It was never out of my hands.

As a session musician recording and performing with many artists, the bass is always the instrument the
artist and producer look to, to provide excitement, groove, harmonic movement and variety into the track.
Ive always been open to all styles of music and the bass, in my opinion, is the best instrument to convey
all of them. The bass player is involved in ALL the music. That is why I play the bass.

Christian McBride : My initial inspiration was my dad who played electric bass with Mongo
Santamaria and on Philly International sessions and my great uncle, a jazz musician who played
acoustic bass. When I was about 6, I saw my dad play for the first time with Mongo and I immediately
told my mom I wanted to play bass. Two years later she got me my first electric. After a while, she saw I
was getting serious, so she sent me to a junior high school with a great music program and I began
classical training and private lessons on the acoustic bass. When my uncle found out I was playing
upright he was thrilled and turned me on to jazz so I owe my love of jazz to him.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine: February 1998)

Schalk Joubert : I just loved the sound of it!

Even as I kid I remember loving Bakithi
Khumalo's playing on Graceland and being
completely hypnotized by listening to the
flowing melodic lines of John Paul Jones'
sublime playing on Led Zeppelin's second
album. I could listen to the 12-bar improvised
section in "The Lemon Song" over and over,
completely ignoring the vocals or the guitar
and being totally transfixed on the power,
groove and energy of the rhythm section. We
had a Nylon-string guitar in the house and I
remember removing the top two strings and
clumsily started imitating my favourite bass
lines on it. It took some convincing skills
before my dad bought me my first bass guitar,
a second-hand Precision copy. His concern
was that I would always need to rely on other musicians if the bass were to be my main instrument. So
right there I started searching for music where the bass was the seminal ingredient in order to convince
him. Even though it is not important at all for me in music now, that early obsession lead to my great love
for an enormous variety of music and I realised that you don't need to just play jazz (which I did not learn
to love until many years later) in order to be inventive or be able to improvise on the instrument. So since
the beginning of my playing days I always tried in my own way to play the bass as creatively as possible.
I found that the bass does not tell you what to play, it is just an instrument and as long as it is musical,
there really are no limits as to the extent of where you can push the boundaries of it, the limits are only
your imagination. Thanks to the many master innovators over the years who pushed our consciousness on
the instrument, we have a bottomless well of inspiration to be a creative musician dealing with grooves,
melodies, harmony, beauty, power and fundamental ensemble playing on the one instrument that in my
books is the most amazing invention ever - the Bass Guitar!

Albert Hobson : I got started on bass

watching an episode of Sanford and
Son on television. Fred Sanford was
playing a wash bucket bass (bucket,
string, and broom handle). I was
about twelve at the time and I thought
if he can do it so can I.
So I put together one of my own. The
next year Larry Graham came out with
a song called The Jam. Once I heard
that I was hooked. Also during this
time Bootsy Collins had a song out
called Strechin Out. My dad got
tired of watching me play the wash
bucket and bought me a bass for
Christmas when I was thirteen.

Kenny Aaronson : From the age of five I was hearing rock and R&B on the radio, because my older
brother played drums. My dad built a monophonic hi-fi system with one huge speaker cabinet that put out
tremendous amounts of bass, so every day I would lie on the floor with my face in the speaker, intrigued
by rhythm and low end. I started playing drums at age 11, but around the same time, I became attracted to
bass after seeing a Fender Precision on the TV show Shindig. There was something powerful about the
long neck and the big headstock and tuning keys of an electric bass, so I talked my mum into buying one
for me. When I was 14, I was invited to join a neighborhood band: the first time I played with them I
broke all my strings because the guitarist was giving me tuning notes and I didnt know how to tune the
bass in relation to the guitar!
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine: May 1996)

Jason Green: In high school we noticed that the two guitar players seemed to be getting all the girls. So,
we started a band. Since I was the last guy to arrive at our first rehearsal, I became the bass player.

Tim Bogert : I actually started out plying clarinet in

the seventh grade. I switched to saxophone in the
ninth grade and then began playing in bands. When I
was a senior in high school, the band I was in had
two guitar players, two saxophonists and a drummer
the other sax player doubled on guitar. He was also
the lead guitarist. Back then, we were playing a lot of
Ventures things. We did one song they recorded ,
Pipeline, which called for three guitars and bass,
so I started playing bass to let the other guys do the
guitar parts. I just sort of shifted to it over the next
two or three years. I played a Danelectro bass for a
short while and then really got into it with a Fender
Jazz Bass with a Precision neck.
I started off playing with my thumb and it took me quite a while to learn to play with my other fingers.
Currently I use my index, middle and ring fingers and now Im learning again to finger pop with my
thumb. So its come full circle for me.
(Taken from Bass Heroes)

Nick Beggs : I can remember the first time I knew I wanted to become a professional bass player.
It was after seeing Aristotle and the Plipple Plopple play live at the Oxford New Theatre in June 1974
during the "Plop Plop and way tour."

Ever since that time the name Diesel Weatherhorn has become a beacon in my soul and an avatar for all
that is original and qualitative in my life.

I even named my first three children after him because of his amazing bass work on "There's a plop in my
eye."
My children maybe victimized and bullied at school but they can hold their heads high knowing that they
are named after the master.

I make sure I get the Horn every day, Diesel Weatherhorns the reason why.

Markus Setzer : five reasons:

first: I wanted to be a part of a band

second: I love the deep sound

third: I love it when my fingertips are burning ;-)

fourth: Its the instrument with the best sound and

possibilities. I can play bass-lines, chords, drums
and melodies...everything is possible!

fifth: I like to make the people move ;-)

Sammy Webber : I learned to play electric guitar in matric and also joined a band as one of the guitar
players. I was basically an all rounder from the beginning - filling in for the bassist, drummer and
keyboard player, what ever was required. Then after about two years, our permanent bass player decided
to leave the band and I was left with no choice but to take up the challenge and since then Ive never
looked back!

Bootsy Collins : What really started me off was listening to my brother Catfish (Phelps Collins), who
was playing a guitar all the time. He had a little band that I was always seeing around the house.. Hearing
them play really got me into it. As a matter of fact, when I was about nine, I used to play my brothers
guitar when he wasnt around.
I kept asking my mom about getting me a guitar of my own, so she finally got me one. It was a Silvertone
a $29.95 job. It was a greenish blue solid-body electric with a white pickup on it. That guitar was
really pretty nice and I turned it into a bass later. I just put four strings on it. Actually, my true ambition
was to play guitar in a group with my brother, but he played guitar and was much better than me. So I
said I might as well change this thing into a bass.
In school we used to have talent shows and I just messed around then. But the first band I really got into,
was my brothers. There were three of us in it myself, the drummer Frankie Waddy and Catfish. We
called ourselves the Pacemakers. That was around 1967. We were doing things by Lonnie Mack and
songs like Peter Gunn and of course we were into James Brown. We did the stuff that was happening.
When I was about 15 or 16 at King Studio (in Cincinatti) we started being a studio band and we did that
up until about 1969, when we joined up with James Brown and became the JBs.
Excerpt from Bass Heroes
Darius Willemse : My girlfriend, whos also a bassist, always says you
can spot a bassist a mile off, which is of course very true! What makes us
so different then? I think its basically the fact that, unlike the rest of the
band, we dont need to show off. In fact, like all bassists know, its when
youre NOT playing that everyone hears the difference. Were content just
to be a part of the music, without trying to overpower the rest of the band,
because we know that without us, theyd just be noise. Therein lies our
strength, knowing that youre part of something bigger, laying, along with
the drums of course, the foundation for great music.

Oh, and of course its just so big and heavy and pretty and!

A great bass line makes a song, and I want to be the one playing that line.

Brian Lee : It all started as an innocent sibling competition. "if she can do it, so can I?" A few lessons
from the primary school music teacher, some chords and a 3/4 classical guitar from my mom and the
dream was alive! I continued to teach myself all I could learn from books and friends and eventually
joined a church music team where I was inspired by many passionate musicians. In high school, I bought
my first bass guitar with money earned delivering newspapers. I had found my passion!
Friends started a high school band that continued for 8 years, fortunately high school wasn't that long.
Through the years I put together my own recording studio and found further joy creating digital art in the
studio.
The power that lies within music and the rush I get when on stage with my bass rig behind me and bass in
hand is what drives me and inspires me to play bass. I am currently playing bass for Mark Haze, a South
African rock band.

Michael Dimin : Music filled our house, from my fathers jazz records, my moms show tunes and my
older siblings 60s rock music. My father was a tremendous musician and my mother had an innate sense
of time that was second to none. She tried to teach me to dance, but to no avail. I have no recollection of
wanting to play bass or even why my parents signed me up for lessons. Unlike many here, I had no
friends that played guitar that needed a bassist. I actually flunked out of drum class at Howell Road
Elementary School (I kept forgetting to bring my sticks to class). I was about 12 when I started bass
lessons at the local music studio, with, of course, a guitar teacher, teaching bass. I did the Mel Bay and
the Carol Kaye thing (I still have my Carol Kaye books to this day), played classic covers with some
friends, wanting, always, to be a marine biologist.

That changed in 1976, with the release of Return to Forevers Romantic Warrior and the eponymous
Jaco Pastorius. A door had opened, there was light at the end of the hallway. I saw a time where bass
could be so much more than it was and even more than many define it today. It was difficult to look at
music as more than a hobby. I went off to college to major in Biology with, by then, a half-hearted goal of
being a marine biologist. I was involved in every musical opportunity, minored in music and eventually
transferred to the Berklee College of Music where I found MY voice.

None of this states Why I Play Bass. The bass is a tool to communicate the things that I need to where
words cannot suffice. The bass is a place for me to go when chaos and confusion surround me. The bass
is a voice so I may thank those who inspire and support me. The bass is my challenge to think better, act
better, communicate better and most importantly be better. I am a better person when I am playing my
bass.

Wesley Chetty : I bought a Kenny G Live DVD and watched with amazement as Vail Johnson rattled off
a wicked bass solo, the next day I popped into T.O.M.S and bought a 4-string IBANEZ Sound Gear and a
little IBANEZ practice amp, Ive been in love with the instrument ever since.

Dont under-estimate the influence of a bass solo, youll never know who in the audience youre gonna
inspire.
Randy Coven : My answer is very simple and theres nothing philosophical about it.
I started playing bass for two reasons #1 There were no bass players when I was in high school, just
drummers and guitar players. I was, of course, one of the drummers. #2. I wanted to stand up and play so
I satisfied both of my needs. I got gigs and I could move around the stage. Now, of course, many years
later, Im glad I was such a knucklehead back then because bass guitar is such a big part of who I am.

Nippy Cripwell : The Pop Group explosion in the early 60s made me want to play in a band. I played
violin as a boy, but hearing the Beatles / Byrds / Animals / Stones I just knew I wanted to be part of
that. Most groups in my home-town Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), had guitars / drums / singer, but generally no
Bass players. So that was my gap. Bought a red vinyl covered, Fender shaped Hofner, second hand and I
was off and running!
The iconic moment? The opening bars of the Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man when Chris Hillman
played that octave gliss from low D up to the high D - helloo!!
The Bass guitar cut through on those 60s records, gave the bottom end definition. Suddenly you
noticed it. That was the power, the thing that moved me. Thats what I wanted to play. In quick
succession I picked up on R&B, Detroit / Memphis Soul, Motown and the riff orientated Rock stuff
Cream / Hendrix / Deep Purple.
Like so many of us, The Jaco album was hugely influential. I had decided to study Double Bass when
I turned professional, so switching to fretless was natural. My Precision Fretless was my axe of choice for
many years. I could cut anything on that. Percy Jones (Brand X), Colin Hodgekinson (Back Door) and
Misters Chuck Rainey, James Jamerson, Anthony Jackson and Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) were my
Main Men.
On Double Bass on the Classical side it was Gary Karr and, more recently, Edgar Meyer who made
an impression. In my early days Scott Lafaro with Bill Evans left me dumbstruct. At the time I had no
idea what he was doing but it spoke volumes. All Miles Davis Bass players (Paul Chambers, Ron Carter,
Dave Holland, Michael Henderson, Marcus Miller) have been influentially wonderful. I could go on and
on.

Vail Johnson :
When I first heard
Paul McCartney
playing bass (on a
recording), the
sound literally
jumped out at me!
Seriously, the
bass line just
grabbed me by
the collar. It
seemed so much
louder than the
rest of the track
and had me
hooked right
there.
I started copying the bass lines on an old acoustic guitar that was sitting around the house. My Dad was
completely supportive of all the family's musical interests; he bought me a new bass and amp and I never
looked back!

PJ Phillips : As a 15 year old boy (1979), I was watching a BBC show called 'The Old Grey Whistle
Test'. Rickie Lee Jones was on. She was a new artist and was playing her single "Chuck E's In Love" and
I thought "PJ P's In Love" with that sound. A Fender bass played by the great Willie Weeks. I bought the
album, a bass guitar (very cheap thing) and started 'looking for the notes' on the bass. No training.... No
YouTube in those days. In fact nowhere to go to learn electric bass! Next was Deep Purple's 'Come Taste
The Band', then 'Made In Europe'... Glenn Hughes has always been a major influence as bass player and
singer.
Then I studied (self taught) from books and by ear, listening for
hours/days trying to get a bass line.
By then I was into Rush, Brand X and 70's Funk.

By complete coincidence, I was in a music shop in Shaftsbury

Avenue (Sounds Music). This blonde haired guy came in and was
AMAZING at slap bass. I asked him a few questions and he
explained very nicely...'Think
drums/percussion...thumb/mute/pull. The muting is vital for this
sound.... *amazing bass slap for two minutes* - It was a very
young and unknown Mark King! I saw him a year later with his
band Level 42. I was with my best friend Martin (also a bass
player). We heard something on the radio 'Love Games' Better
see this... The bass player sounds great. It was their first London
show! They came onstage - ....."THAT'S THE GUY FROM THE
SHOP!!!" Most of the set was Instrumental, then of course, he
sang lead vocal on 'Love Games' AND played at the same time -
Unbelievable! Martin and I were silent.... The walk back to the
tube was in silence I wanted to give up playing.... But couldn't....
Too late.

Gordon "Gordy" Johnson : I started playing the piano by ear when I could reach it. I figured things out
early on and found later that I had perfect pitch. I started playing bass when I was about 11 or 12 years
old, with my dad's encouragement, and I learned that it was fun to play the low notes. Dad played bass,
both in the symphony orchestra and around town on jobbing dates, and also a bit of jazz. Mom was a
piano teacher, so there was plenty of music for me and my brother, bassist Jimmy "Flim" Johnson to
absorb! I saw my first rock band in about 7th grade and there was this guy playing bass in the dance band
who was a very good bassist, and was a charismatic presence. He had really long hair (for that time!) and
great stage presence; James Worthington Kane. He went on to be in a Minneapolis band called "The
Litter" which became quite popular. Anyway, that was the "live rock" band side of my influence. There
was also pop radio, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, etc... Our parents also had some jazz
recordings which I began studying back in those days. The Oscar Peterson Trio with the great Ray
Brown. They also had a big collection of Nat Cole, Ahmad Jamal, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, George
Shearing, Herb Ellis, and so on. So I got to listen to quite a bit of that as I was growing up. The junior and
senior high school both had a jazz band that played a bit, and I was the electric bass player for those
bands. Strangely enough, I took up the flute in 3rd grade and got into the Eastman School of Music as a
flute major! However once there I began an involvement as electric bassist with the Eastman Jazz
Ensemble and Studio Orchestra, and was involved with other non-school jazz bands at that time as well.
The keyboard trio, "Petrus" was chosen in a nationwide contest to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival at
Avery Fischer Hall in New York in '73. That group included fellow ESM students, Phil Markowitz on
piano and Ted Moore on drums. After graduating from ESM, I was called to tour with Maynard
Ferguson, which I was secretly hoping for. I really wanted to be in that band, so it came true! There I got
to see the world and play with some fine musicians. Peter Erskine played drums for 2 of my 3 years in
that band. Bobby Militello, Mark Colby & Mike Migliore were in the sax section. Later on, I toured with
Roy Buchanan, Doc Severinsen, the Paul Winter Consort and Chuck Mangione. When I finally quit
touring in '89 and decided to settle back in my home town of Minneapolis, that's when I actually became
more deeply involved in playing jazz on the bass violin. I'm self-taught, though I did get a few pointers
from my dad early on. I never studied classically and never got the arco thing happening too well. I
consider myself a pizzicato specialist! I think of my main influences on bass violin as Ray Brown, Ron
Carter, Sam Jones, Paul Chambers, Scott LaFaro & Eddie Gomez. On electric, I think my likely
influences were James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Chuck Rainey, Will Lee and of course in about 1977, Jaco
Pastorius. I have produced 5 of my own piano trio CDs on my independent "Tonalities" label, featuring
numerous pianists & drummers. Why I play bass, however, is because it's really fun... No mystery there!

Ike Onwuagbu : Well I consider myself a musician then a bassist. I started in music when I was 4 or 5 -
my parents bought me a toy xylophone. The tones from the toy, intrigued me. Like kids and toys, the
xylophone fell apart but regardless, the seed was planted. Later on, at the age of 10 I joined the choir,
encouraged by my Mum and thats where I got started in music properly. As a kid, I started in the soprano
section, fiddling around on the piano/organ/keyboards, then moved to the tenor section about 3 years later
but I noticed something, being in the choir, - any time I heard a song, the bass part came to me naturally.
Then at the age of 16 (after 6 years of being in the choir), I
picked up the bass. The bass I started on belonged to the Choir,
so any time I was away from the choir - at home, for instance, I
had a piece of plywood approximately the length and breath of
a 20 or 22 fret bass guitar on which I marked all the dots and
the 4 strings - I used it to practice. In 1 month of starting the
bass, I was playing in the choir-band. Obviously at the time I
naturally moved to the bass part of the choir. The rest is pretty
much down hill. The choir in which I started, had 3
components, the choir, the choir orchestra and the choir band.
Instruments like sax, trumpets, trombone's, tuba's, violin's,
viola's, drum kit, keyboards, guitar's etc, were very much
present in the choir all to suit each component of it. Like I said
in the beginning I'm a musician first, then a bassist. After the
bass, I learnt to play the keys well enough to play in the choir
band, learnt to play the sax, the tuba and trombone - which I
played in the choir orchestra, I also dabbled a bit on violin and
voila. At one time I could play 8 instruments, the bass, guitar,
drums, keyboards, sax, tuba, trombone and violin and 50% of
theses instruments I could play in any component of the choir.
As the years went by, I stuck to the bass. Now I just dabble in
drums, keys, guitar I love music so much because of the limitless universal colours, emotions one can
paint with 12 tones and the bass clef/part provides the foundation, the foreground for the countless ideas,
paintings to come through. That's why I play bass guitar, being able to provide foundation, play melodies,
chords and solo's etc

Dan Rubel : Like so many others, I started on a different instrument. I started playing tuba in middle
school, seventh grade. While in high school, I continued to play tuba, but during my sophomore year, the
bassist in the jazz band at the time was graduating, so I told the band director that Id like to start playing
bass in the jazz band my junior year. He agreed, so I went right out and got my first bass, an Aria Pro II
from Florida Discount Music in Melbourne, FL, and I purchased a little Peavy Basic 40 amp as well. I
also bought a book entitled, Heavy Metal Bass Lines, which included transcriptions of one of my
favorite bands at the time, Iron Maiden. One song in particular caught my fancy entitled, Phantom of the
Opera, because it had a brief paragraph before the transcription which stated, If you can play this, what
do you need me for? I just couldnt pass up the challenge, so that summer before my junior year, I
concentrated on learning that song, and by the third month, I had mastered it. I was hooked on playing
bass ever since. My junior year, I really started researching jazz bassists, and like pretty much every
aspiring jazz bass player, happened upon Jaco Pastorius, and like every jazz player before or since, was
just blown away and inspired by Jacos virtuosic style.

After I graduated high school, I was side-tracked for a few years, got into computers, etc., but I caught the
bug again, and I went back to Brevard Community College to continue my studies. While at BCC, the
BCC jazz band was invited to participate in the University of North Floridas school day program, where
the UNF faculty critiques schools and gives them pointers on how to improve, etc. While there, I fell in
love with the campus and the jazz program in particular. I dare say theres no school in the country with
a better jazz program than UNF, with the incomparable Bunky Green as its director. I was truly honored
and blessed to be a part of such a fine program. I graduated from UNF in 1997 with a Bachelors degree
in jazz performance, and even though, sadly, I dont play much jazz these days, I look back at my days at
UNF as some of the most inspiring and joyful days of my life.

Today, I continue to play, mostly corporate/wedding type music and rock, but any time Im playing bass,
no matter what the style or venue, its a truly blessed feeling to just hold the bass in my hands and play.
Its such a true joy playing music, and I wouldnt trade it for anything.
Dan Hestand : I have always been around music. I started playing piano before I was in school but to the
frustration of many piano teachers, played by ear. I have always been able to read music, but it never
mattered. When I was about 10 years old, I started
playing trumpet, spending an entire summer
teaching myself (mostly incorrectly) to play by
playing along with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana
Brass. From there I moved to the Baritone Horn and
then to the Euphonium and Tuba. It was an easy
progression since I could read music like a pianist
and that was an advantage over others. At age 13, I
started playing brass with the Houston Youth
Symphony. Since I sat near the back and next to the
Contrabass player, we would sometimes switch
around. At the same time I developed an interest in
the guitar but did not pursue that fully until age 16
when I bought my first guitar (a cheapo no-name
guitar). I had an older friend who was heavily
invested in Marshall amplifiers, Fender guitars, and
a Fender bass. We started playing together
occasionally and I ended up playing the bass.
During high school I played in an occasional band
where our primary focus was on how much volume
we could achieve without too much worry about the
quality. I had realized that music was something I
enjoyed but would not follow as a career so I put aside the bass, traded my Yamaha steel string acoustic
for a Yamaha classical guitar and focused on a career that started in physics, moved to meteorology, and
has finally ended up in software engineering. During a consulting engagement with Bose Corporation, an
annual Bose event brought me together with 3 other colleagues to form a band called HeadUnit. I
purchased a Guild fretless, a Behringer amp, and started practicing again. I recalled how much I truly
enjoyed making music. HeadUnit focused on Stevie Ray Vaughn and similar blues artists. We played the
Bose event to a packed house and actually got people off their seats and rocking. I had so much fun that I
went out and bought a Fender J-Bass and a Line 6 amp to provide more flexibility. I don't play in a band
right now but still practice and have started working with Logic Studio and my midi controller and
instrument input devices. I hope to keep playing and perhaps find a band to play with.

Hartmut Hillmann : I started in 1976, at age 15 on my elder brothers Hofner Guitar. He bought this
Strat clone because, he wanted to learn to play,
but as he wasnt too good at school, he had to
work and make money. I went to school and
thus I had plenty of time to play around with his
instrument. We lived in the countryside, no
music school, no books, no teacher. Records
were very hard to get. I had a Canned Heat
album, it had been the only one for years.

One day my father bought a car magazine with

a home HIFI-special supplement. It comprised
an article about testing your stereo for low-
frequency capability. They recommended
Stanley Clarkes self titled album. I went to the
newly opened record store and ordered it. After
four weeks I held it in my hands, setting it
carefully to the turntable expecting the stylus to
jump out of the groove, as the HIFI article
predicted for low quality systems. This didnt
happen, but WTF was coming out of those speakers???
That was the day I changed my mind from guitarist to bassist. Since I had not the faintest idea, how a bass
was tuned, I turned the Hofner guitars strings as low as possible and played along through one channel of
the stereos phono input, the other channel was for Stanley. My bass guitar sounded horribly distorted. I
had to save all my money for a bass guitar and a bass amp for two years. Then I drove with a friends
father to the next bigger city with a music store, where I got a Japanese Marvin Jazz bass clone and a
Mesa Zoom Mesa Boogie-style 100 watts transistor bass amp.

I was really lucky with the bass, because I bought it only for its black nylon strings with red wrapped
ends, how cool that was!!! In 1979 I discovered Jaco Pastorius, who turned my mind again. Then Marcus
Millers fat thumb, Anthony Jacksons six string superiority and Gary Willis fretless art, which also
turned my mind completely, everyone in his own style. Thats what happened for the last 33 years and
here I am still learning how to transform my personality into this wonderful instrument day after day. Im
grateful!

Stefan Redtenbacher : Writing meaningfully about the question 'why I play bass' has circulated around
my brain for quite some time now and although it would have been nice to come up with a singular strong
reason, there isn't one. Instead there are cause and effect stories, chance, non linear stories and at the heart
of it, a lot of emotions
around this quest.
To pre-empt where I stand
musically today: I love
playing jazz funk and my
band, the Redtenbacher's
Funkestra, plays this music
the way I hear it and I have
all the gratitude in the world
for the guys in the band who
for years, many records and
gigs later, have been with
me and tolerate my, at
times, no doubt stern
leadership:)
However, going back to the
very beginning of my
exploration I have to pay
tribute to, maybe somewhat
surprisingly, Iron Maiden
and, unbeknown to me at
the time, Steve Harris. I was
not really able to discern
between the instruments at
the time and certainly did not understand that the instrument that I was naturally attracted to was the bass.
I only felt that I loved the bottom end in the music, the thing that made my belly rumble and made me feel
good.
Around that time, a friend with whom I played a lot of sport, was playing in a metal band and voila, my
first encounter with the 'oversized guitar'. He played the classic Rickenbaker bass and I started to sit in to
listen to his band's rehearsals. Kindly, he also showed me classic riffs like 'Smoke on the Water' and
'Child In Time' by Deep Purple. I was hooked!
Inevitably I eventually ran to my parents with the request for a bass guitar for Christmas. In their opinion
they thought it would be better to play guitar first and presented me with a second hand acoustic guitar
one happy Christmas. In addition, to acknowledge my initial wish they also presented me with a play-a-
long bass instruction book. That Christmas evening was spent playing along to a little black plastic disc
which you had to put on top of a vinyl single and I was labouring through blues bass lines and cream's
'Sunshine of Your Love'.
I did not abandon the top two strings of the guitar altogether, although I spent the majority of my time on
the bottom strings. I'm glad my parents gave me a guitar first as I also learned a few chords and provided
backing to many get togethers where people always fancied a sing along. I still play (rhythm) guitar today
and love that too. My singing? That is another matter...
All this was enough fun to justify getting myself my first bass and also to escape the, in my opinion,
boring things that my age group were up to and possibly things that also I could not get into, even if I
wanted:)
One rainy day I jumped on my trusty bicycle and cycled to an industrial estate. In there I went to every
single office to ask for a summer temp job to be able to buy my first bass guitar. After many bemused
looking receptionists, who could say 'no' with considerable charm, I finally ended up, purely by chance,
with a company that hired the director of my business school as a consultant...however, I only found that
out once someone else said yes to my plea. That summer I spent in the dusty roof top of their archive, re-
locating files from the 1950s into new box files, wearing a blue overall and being made fun of by my
colleague temps. All this did not matter as my first bass was in sight and my resilience was strengthened.
14th of August 1984, and nothing was between me and my beloved red Ibanez Blazer that I had been
googling up and down in the showcase window of the late Mr. Armsdorfer's music shop (he also taught
accordion in a white coat??) in the town centre of Salzburg, Austria.
Tunes that I recall playing with my new treasure were 'Chameleon' by the Headhunters, 'Jean Pierre' by
Miles Davis, 'Do you feel the way I do' by Peter Frampton and 'Child In Time' by Deep Purple, although I
must say that rock tunes quickly disappeared from my playlist in favour of more jazzy and funky
explorations...
My beloved bass was a type of Fender P-bass copy with one split PU, a white scratch plate and a thick D-
shape neck. All this changed very swiftly when I saw Jaco Pastorius live in the old Salzburg Kolpinghaus
in the spring of 1986 - this was certainly a mile stone in my musical education... Hearing Jaco play the
Weather Report opener 'Black Market' through an Acoustic amp plus octaver... in the first row, a few arm
lengths away from his amp certainly cemented my want to become and stay a professional bass player.
Right after seeing Jaco it was clear that I needed to 'pimp' my bass by installing the midrange and 'honkey'
jazz bass PU. How my carpenter friend and I managed to install active EMG PUs I don't know, less so
why we thought the night before my first major outdoor festival gig with my first band was the right time
to do it, but sometime in the early hours of the morning we had the 'Jaco' sound at my disposal.
Another important factor in my early musical bass education was my contact with another enthusiast
bassist by the name of Toni Feldman who ran a really cool cafe/bar with a huge vinyl collection which he
spun with glee: Earth, Wind and Fire, Weather Report, Mike Stern, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, Level
42...what a treat in the otherwise classical music dominated historic town of Mr. Mozart and Karajan!
Needless to say, all these artist's music is decidedly bass heavy and this just seemed to strengthen my
calling to become a 'serious' bass player. 27 years onwards and I still love to play my bass. My original
impulses of why I started to play bass are still valid, namely that it just feels good and to control the low
frequencies of any good music. After many phases and permutations, new insights have made themselves
available to me and hopefully this will continue to be that way in the future.
Nevertheless here are my current thoughts around 'Why I play bass' (in case you thought I lost track of
my original journalistic quest:) Sting said something like the following in an interview in a bass
magazine: "The bassist is the quiet captain of the ship. In an orchestra, for example, 40 violinists might
play a C major triad, however it is not unless I play a C. This is real power and strength."
Over time I've also come to understand and relish the 'quiet captain' role and I have become more aware
of the huge responsibilities that come with playing the bass being the only instrument to tie together
rhythm, harmony and melody is no small feat and certainly does not generally come with public
accolades. Bassists are often made fun of as 'failed guitarists' and the wooden faceless person at the back
of the stage by the layman. This does not bother me in the slightest. I believe it needs a person of great
character and strength to hold this all important position and a person that does not need the limelight and
the 'look at me and admire me, and tell me how great I am' ego massage. I almost feel there is a kind of
secret code amongst bassists that might quietly sneer towards the more attention seeking musician
fraternity but at the same time understanding that to create a complete musical picture you need a fore,
middle and background. This is also one of the reasons why I think bassists make great producers as they
concern themselves with all elements in the music - Paul McCartney, Marcus Miller, Larry Klein, Sting...
The list is endless. Bassists generally know who they are and where their strengths lie. Giving it up for the
greater good of great music, gluing together the sometimes disparate musical elements and its musicians,
finding a groove, staying in it and being in the zone with others have all near religious importance for me
and that is why I play the bass.
Ashley Kelly : I was at Art School in Johannesburg in the early sixties and a
friend of mine, who had once played with the Mickey Most band, was
involved in an outfit that had no bass player. One thing led to another and I
started playing bass. It didnt take long for me to realise that this was a far
bigger task than I had visualised and that I needed a teacher. I found a
marvellous guitar teacher by the name of Gilbert Stroud, who really became
a mentor to me, and soon talked me into learning guitar as well. This was
the best thing I could have ever done as it immediately broadened my whole
perspective as to what a bass player needed to know and do in a band. As I
took in all this knowledge Gilbert started encouraging me to listen to jazzy
type stuff, another great thing he did for me! I started playing with his dance
band alternating on guitar and bass and had soon developed a huge appetite
for the standards. Dont think I was not listening and playing all the rock
stuff as well, I was, but deep down I preferred standards over pop music.

Basil Fearrington : I started out in elementary school playing brass instruments. The first one was
trumpet and then French Horn. I could read, was in the orchestra and all but the idea of soloing was a
bizarre concept that I couldnt even begin to do on trumpet.

My two older brothers both played instruments. One is a drummer and the other played every instrument
in an orchestra, bass included. When I was 15 years old or so, I asked him to draw a diagram of the notes
on a fretboard. I could already read. I just needed to be able to figure out the notes. The very first tunes I
learned were, Time Is Tight by Booker T & the MGs and Slys, Everybody Is a Star.

My drummer brother worked in the Billy

Paul band for a good while and Billy always
had stellar musicians in those days, jazz
musicians. The first bass player in that band
that I met was Tyrone Brown. Tyrone is
primarily an upright player but was very
helpful. He directed me to the Simandl
books for reading. Tyrone was later replaced
by Alphonso Johnson when he moved on. It
was Alphonsos fretless bass that was the
very first fretless I ever played. They let me
sit in on a band set. We played Quincy
Jones version of, Whats Going On with
the walking bass and another tune by Grant
Green called, Dracula. I was as scared as
)(*&. Alphonso was very helpful and
influential. Alphonso would eventually leave
to join Woody Hermans band. I got the
biggest kick years later when I was playing
with Michal Urbaniak and we opened for
Weather Report with Alphonso playing. His
replacement in the Billy Paul band changed
my life!

Anthony Jackson replaced Alphonso in that

band. This was way back in 1973 or so and
no one had ever seen a bass guitarist like
Anthony. His playing today is nowhere close
to the kind of ridiculous, circus-like things that he was doing when he was very young. No one in the
world compared to him. A lot of guys do now with double-thumbing and things like that what he did with
3 fingers on the right hand without any slapping or use of the thumb. He was playing impossible stuff but
at the same time, could play on the most laid back R&B piece, like Me & Mrs. Jones.
Anthony and I became very good friends. I inhaled every note of every session he did. I learned the pick
and flanger technique (used like crazy on Urszula, the album by Michal Urbaniaks ex-wife), and it was
Anthony who turned me on to James Jamerson, really life-changing stuff. For the great majority of my
early years, the goal was to play like Anthony and even though I am beyond that today, you will hear the
influence when my CD is released. The bass shown in my picture was given to me by Anthony as a token
of his respect for me and our friendship. It is the 6th Fodera contrabass that he had made for him.

I play bass because that is the best way, as far as an instrument is concerned, that I can express myself
musically. However, having played now for what seems like a billion years, it is important for all bass
players, in fact, for all musicians, to understand that the music comes before the bass. The greatest bass
player or musician in the world cannot save a composition or song that sucks and quite often, the goal of
the solo bass player is to communicate more ego than music. So, today, I focus as much on composition,
arranging, and production as I have on bass and I hope to show it all on my release, to be titled, Music
Obsession.

Chuck Rainey : I started out at a very early age on piano thats preschool age. The family was very
musical: my sister and my mother sang and my father played piano. My mother also played a piano but
she was really a
flutist. When I got
into school, I took
piano lessons for a
couple of years and
then I took violin
lessons for about
three years. In the
sixth grade I started
playing trumpet and
thats where it really
started. I played
trumpet all through
grade school, high
school and college.
Except when I got
into college, I
majored in brasses, so
baritone horn became
my main instrument.
I was trained
exceptionally well on
the horn; I can attribute a lot of knowledge that really helped me get into the business when I started
playing bass, to my schooling on the brasses. But they didnt teach me how to play, you know; they
taught me how to perform and function in a symphonic situation. Like reading charts, orchestration,
breathing and stuff like that. When I was in school, I realised that I was an excellent musician, but I
couldnt play, if you know what I mean. I went to a jam session when I came home one summer and
took my horn out and attempted to blow but I couldnt without any music in front of me. They were
playing the blues in F and I was 20 and there were guys 17, 18 and 19 they were gettin it, they were
playing! And I wanted to be good at whatever I did, in any environment. I had always fooled around a
little with guitar and with some friends, we started rehearsing some things in the house and we got a gig. I
played the guitar for about six months.
At first I played bass on my guitar. I tuned the low E string down as far as it would go without clanking. I
used a thumbpick and then switched to a fingerpick, but I had to take the pick off, to play jazz. So one day
I saw some group that had an electric bass I had never seen one before and I always thought that
sound was a 6-string bass guitar. And here was this great big long thing and I liked it, so I got one. I loved
it as soon as I got my hands on it. I was almost reborn. Where I came from, in Ohio, it was all upright and
organ basses, so when I got the instrument, I was the only guy in town that had it. Everyone seemed to
like what I played; popularity just started spreading.
Excerpt from Bass Heroes
John B. Williams : I was born in the Bronx, New York, and lived on Sugar Hill in Harlem as the only
son of a middle-class family surrounded by beautiful, talented women and beautiful music. Music was a
staple in our house, while also drifting in through the back windows of our apartment every afternoon:
Sonny Rollins practicing, practicing, practicing. He taught me that to practice is a lifestyle as important
as breathing - if you were serious about the music.
It all began with my sisters,
Jackie and Joyce, who
inspired me to play drums
and piano. My Mother
favoured the quieter piano,
although, eventually she
relented and together with
my elder sister Joyce,
bought me my first
Slingerland drum set at age
twelve. I also learned to
play Latin percussion
(Congas, Bongos, and
Timbales) to do my living
in racially mixed 'Sugar
Hill," As a teen I played
drums at community events
and then the piano with a
neighborhood jazz group called "The Jazz Disciples." We won the Amateur Night contest at the famed
Apollo Theatre three weeks in a row.
Another sister, June, convinced our mother that I should study ballet (she majored in Ballet at the High
School Of Performing Arts in New York) to keep me off the streets. So much for my tough image!
However, ballet exposed me to modem dance and the music of Stravinski, Copeland, Bernstein as well as
Broadway musical theatre.
Yet another sister, Jean, played bass in her Seward Park High School orchestra, and she introduced me to
the instrument that would stay with me for the next fifty years.
When I joined the Marine Corps in 1960, I returned to the drums which afforded me the opportunity to
make extra money playing with local bands on the weekends. Soon there were too many drummers and
not enough bass players and I switched back to the instrument that I loved.
A $100.00 bass was spotted in the window of a pawn shop in Jacksonville North Carolina was my first
investment in an enriching history of U.S. and foreign concert tours, television and films.
My friend, Alex Lane gave me my first bass lessons while I was stationed at Camp LeJeunne U.S.Marine
Base in North Carolina. Whenever we didn't have to pull guard duty on the weekend, a few of my New
York buddies would pile in a car and drive up to New York City for the weekend and drive back to the
base for Monday morning 9AM roll call. During this time I listened and tried to imitate the great bass
players that I heard on recordings, on the radio, and in clubs: Paul Chambers, Jimmy Merrit, Wilbure
Ware, Charles Mingus, Ron Carter, Scott La Farro, Bob Cranshaw, George Duvivier, Richard Davis and
Milt Hlnton. By 1962 my music was also influenced by Latin, Caribbean and Rhythm-&-Blues art forms.
In 1964, After my military discharge,1 began studying classical bass with Ron Carter and continued for
three years. Thanks to his strict, no-nonsense training, I auditioned for, and got the chance to play with
the legendary ."Horace Silver Quintet," playing alongside Bennie Maupin, Charles Tolliver and later
Randy Brecker and Billy Cobham. That band stayed together for about two years. Horace taught me so
much, especially about playing in tune, getting a groove, and not to Waste notes.
After my stint with Horace, I went on to play with Hugh Masakela, Dizzy Gellespie, Leon Thomas,
Kenny Burrell, Jon Hendricks, Horace Parlam, Jimmy Smith, Grady Tate, Sir Roland Hanna, and
recorded with Roy Ayres, Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land, Johnny Hammond Smith, Count Basie
and Louis Armstrong, and Benny Carter.
In 1969, adding classical and electric sounds to my bass rhythm, I was recommended to Doc Severinson,
the musical director of "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson. To be a part of that great studio
band. I grooved with Doc and that great band for seven years, four years in New York and three years in
Los Angeles.
In 1972, shortly after relocating with some of Doc's key players to the West Coast, Billy Cobham (who
had been my soulmate over the years) called and asked me to fly back to New York and play on his
landmark recording, "Crosswinds." Doc granted me a two week leave and I was joined by George Duke
and Garnett Brown, both of whom were living in Los Angeles. In New York we joined up with Randy
Brecker, Michael Brecker, Lee Pastora, John Abecrombie, and Billy. That album was a milestone for all
of us. Shortly after its release, Billy wanted to take the band on tour, but I chose to stay in L.A. with "The
Tonight Show". While at the same time I was attending the International College where I majored in
Music History.

Jonathan Moody : Playing bass is a family tradition (sort of). I picked up cello in fourth grade. When
sixth grade came, my mom and I pushed the orchestra director to give me a chance on string bass (since it
was then an option). When I graduated from high school, I received the orchestra's top award. The
orchestra director said at the concert that it might never have happened, because I was her best cellist in
sixth grade but my mom insisted I be allowed the chance.

I later found out that while my mom was pregnant with me, she was playing in the community orchestra
in townon string bass. We know where the string bass sits on the body, and we joke that it had a
profound effect on my musical upbringing. I still use my mother's French Bow that she used in the
orchestra.

Picking up electric bass wasn't as

interesting. For a while, I was completely
in that mindset that the string bass was
THE instrument, and the electric was just
a cop out for people that hack it on
upright. I refer to that as my cocky, jazz
days. I only used it in high school for jazz
band at the behest the jazz teacher.

he summer of 1995 was to be the summer

I opened my ears. During a break between
rehearsals (I was in an international youth
orchestra), I was looking for a CD to listen
to, but nothing was piquing my interest. A
fellow bass player gave me Michael
Manring's album, Thonk, and told me to
listen to track six (My Three Moons). I
remember being awe-struck, inspired and
wanting to play that kind of music. He
smiled and said "He's playing three
basses. At once."

When I got home from that tour, I bought

a five string Ibanez and started writing
music for electric bass. I ended up with a
ten movement solo piece which, while not
up to par with Manring's offerings, was
scratching the surface of what I could do
and achieve. That was the pivotal moment
when I stopped looking at the electric bass as an extension of the upright, and its own instrument.

That brings me to why I play bass. It is an amazing instrument. Unlike many others out there, the bass is
not bound by musical styles and genres. Sure, there are certain things each genre requires, but knowing
that allows you an immense amount of flexibility in playing the songs and helping to elevate them to a
greater place.

Steve Swallow: In 1953, I was in the 7th grade. I played trumpet and I was taking my first steps into jazz.
A few of us stayed late after marching band rehearsals to play Jumping with Symphony Sid and (Stan
Kentons) Intermission Riff. I had bought a book by Ziggy Elman called Fifty Hot Licks for Trumpet
and I memorized it. I developed a sort of serial approach to improvising. I would cycle the 50 licks in
varied sequences until my lips gave out. I seemed to be getting the hang of soloing
None of us played bass and we knew the music needed a bassist so we agreed each of us would
play a tune on the schools Kay plywood bass and then wed rotate. When my turn came around, I picked
up the bass, started to walk and never looked back. I refused to give it up to the next player in line
which was just fine with him and I played until the end of the session. I rode my bike home with blisters
on my fingers and a wide grin on my face.
By the fall of 1959, I was a sophomore in college at Yale. I was majoring in Latin literature and looking
forward to a teaching career, but with some misgivings. I had been playing the bass a great deal since that
day in the band room and I had been increasingly drawn to it always at the expense of whatever else I
was supposed to be doing. In my teens I had formed a strong friendship with Ian Underwood, who
subsequently joined The Mothers Of Invention and became a prominent L.A. session player and we spent
a lot of time researching bebop and helping each other to learn how to play. In college, I was making
good money playing Dixieland, which was the Ivy League party music of choice but I was spending
perilously escalating time at night in the clubs that lined Dixwell Avenue, which ran through Newhavens
African-American community. The veteran players there were incredibly kind to me and they taught me
more than any of my professors. It was only a matter of time.
Pianist, Paul Bley needed a cheap bass player for a concert at Bard college and through the
recommendation of a friend of Ians, I got the call. I met Paul and his wife Carla, on the afternoon of the
gig. Paul was vague in response to my questions about his repertoire and when we walked onstage that
night, I had no idea what was about to happen. So we began out of thin air and every note we played
seemed just right. I had the rare and ecstatic experience of watching my hands act of their own volition.
Shortly afterward I quit school, moved to New York City, presented myself at Paul and Carlas doorstep
and became their bass player.
(Taken from Bass Player Magazine March 1997)

Dave Pomeroy : Over the past 45 years, I have learned that playing the bass is a lot like life. Life is also a
lot like playing the bass. For many of us, playing the bass IS life, and I am very grateful for the
opportunity to express myself on an
instrument that gives me the freedom
and versatility to define who I am at any
given time in my journey through life
and music.

The bass is the ultimate problem-

solving machine. It is the crossroads
between harmony, melody and rhythm.
It can support or lead, and is the conduit
through which bass players bring other
musicians together, often without others
realizing what made that happen. That is
our role, and one that we take seriously
every time we strike a string. Its our
job to make people feel good, whether
they are dancers, fellow musicians, or a
listening audience.

The bass can be electric or acoustic, and anywhere in between. It is a humble instrument that is also
capable of making grand statements, and its flexibility makes it a true reflection of the bass players soul,
mind and heart. It can be aggressive, mellow, thoughtful, fearless, and much more. The power rests in the
player to tell his story.
The electric bass has had a relatively short history compared to the guitar, piano and other instruments,
yet has had a stunning evolution over the past 60 years, going from a barely audible thump in the back of
the big bands of the early 20th century to a dominant force in contemporary music. At the same time, its
big brother, the acoustic bass, has had its own development as well, and innovative players have
continued to develop and perform repertoire that pushes the boundaries of the traditional function of the
string bass in modern acoustic music, including classical, jazz, and folk.

As audio technology has improved, the bass has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the advances in
extended low frequency response and increased power. New styles of music like funk, hip hop, techno
and more have been built around the bass and its sonic and rhythmic qualities. The future of the bass is
limitless, and it is in good hands.

So why do I play the bass? I cant imagine my life without it. Its never let me down. Its my true voice,
and is my friend, confidant, mentor, and lifelong inspiration. The bass is as infinite as music itself. No
matter what else I do in life, I will always be a bass player. Thats as deep as it gets.

Zeljko Zelle Glamocanin : I became a bass player accidently.classic storyI was a rhythm guitar
player in a band and one day when our bass player left us, two weeks before booked gigs, everyone in the
band looked at me, saying just for these gigs and we will look for a bass player afterwards.These two
weeks never ended ;o).At the beginning it was love, passion, energy, groove, connection between
rhythm and harmony etc..now its just part of my life, the best way to communicate to other people.
Like people need oxygen or food to live-survive, cars need petrol to run.Can you imagine life without a
heart.thats how I cant imagine my life without a bass.

Dillon Govender : Why do I play bass? I guess, for the same hundred and one reasons that every other
bass player does. One, because its the first thing I think about when walking through the door. Two,
because when things just dont seem to go your way, or life is just too hard to swallow, you always head
for the bass. It just seems to tell you what you want to hear. Three, its the same thing you do when the
world is great and you couldnt be happier, its always close at hand. (Everyone has their own four to a
hundred). One hundred and one is just that thing inside, that lets you know there is nothing else in the
world that you would rather be doing.

Willem Samuel : Well, the story of how one begins to play bass is kind of like a love story.
My first ventures into music making was when I was 13.
We had an acoustic guitar at home and my brother
(excellent blues guitarist) taught me a few chords. Back
then I wanted to play the drums - but my brother said I
should rather play bass because bands are always looking
for bassists. So I just stuck with acoustic guitar for the
mean time. I still stick to acoustics in fact its been
very influential on how I play bass - like a guitar.
In std. 5 me and two friends would go after school and
jam at my house - each with his own acoustic - we would
write these two chord songs and record them on a tape
player - we used to think they were brilliant! So we also
started to go and check out guitars at music shops - and
that's when the bass caught my eye. It was an acoustic
bass and I just couldn't help but marvel at its raw
simplicity. Yet it was a bigger, meaner instrument, the
strings being so thick and when I played on it, it was so
low I could scarcely hear it. It was a very strange
instrument to me - that's maybe why I loved it.
By then we were convincing another guy at school to get
a drum kit. It would still be a year before I got my first
electric bass guitar. In the mean time we just jammed
with three electrics (I used my brother's) and drums,
covering Nirvana, Ash and Springbok Nudegirls songs!
But the next year I went to a different school - and I found out through the grapevine that the drummer
and I were left / kicked out of the "new" band. (they found a better drummer and a guy with a bass guitar).
I was very p#**$d off. But instead of leaving my musical ambitions behind I went ahead and got a
second hand bass guitar a week later. My first year of playing bass was just by myself in my room with a
little amp. Yeah, and it still felt great even without a band. At my new school there were some musicians
and a few times I would bring my amp and guitar and we would jam a bit and it was great. I was the kid
with the coolest toy. Electrics just didn't impress people anymore. So I went on and got better, had a few
lessons at jazz workshop. It was easy for me because I knew the guitar and before long, my brother and I
would jam the blues. The next year one of my old band mates heard me play bass and he couldn't believe
it. He told me he had no respect for bass as an instrument because the other guy has been playing it like a
Dorris. A week later we started jamming as a three piece and then onwards I had the greatest high school
career of band playing ever!
To finish off; I've heard it said and I do agree: "It's easy to play a bass - but to play it well is hard". For
me, when I look at a guitar I can never see myself mastering it, or even wanting to. But when I look at a
bass, I feel challenged by it - it's something I long to conquer its an intimate relationship and it reveals
new things to me every time I play her. As time goes on I just realize how big an effect bass has in music
and what an effect you can have as a bass player in a band. I feel sorry for these bands where the bass
player just copies the guitar notes (especially in Metal or Hardcore). I have always tried to make sure that
my guitar delivers the presence it is deserving and capable of - accentuating the vocals, supporting great
leads, rolling with the drums. I play bass because I love it - and it loves me - very important for any
relationship you would wish to continue in for the rest of your life.

Ivan Poskal : I wanted to play a stringed instrument since I became a rocker when I was 15 years old and
started to watch MTV videos of heavy metal and nu-metal, but I didnt want to be in the first row of the
stage, I supposed I was kind of scared of people looking at me in the first place at the shows, I liked to be
in the back, so I picked the bass and started trying some Metallica songs with some friends and then: I fell
in love with the bass!!! And I can explain it, like this:

I play bass for its gorgeous feeling.

I play bass for the deepest sounds that you can hear!!! You cant hear lower sounds!
I play bass for the purity of the waves! (of course without reverb, delay and distortion!).
I play bass for all the adrenaline you can throw to the stage playing head-banging songs.
I play bass as no other instrument can sound so beautiful with full bass and full treble at the same time!
So low + so high = such perfect tone!

And now, I keep playing bass and never want to leave it as the rock without bass is just noise! so we have
the honor to make the rock be music, and thats it!

Graham Mckay : Well the reason I got the job in

The One Night Stands is because I play and love
Rickenbacker Guitars. Lu, our front man plays a
70s 12str 330 and is also a Rickenbacker nut! Their
bass player left and Lu gave me a call and said
bring your 4001 bass and lets have some fun. I
love the old gear, I have a 60s Hofner Beatle Bass,
Fender 70s Jazz Bass and my favourite, 70s
Rickenbacker 4001. My moto is as follows: If you
want to play 5 strings play a banjo! If you want to
play 6 strings play a guitar! If you want to play
bass play 4 strings! (only because anything more
than four strings confuses the crap out of me! Ha
Ha.) Cheers

Eldred Schilder : I come from a family of excellent jazz pianists, I instead started playing guitar at age
10. My dad always had his trio rehearsing at home so the instruments where always there, I had the
opportunity to play on them all. after picking up the bass I was hooked. The bass for me is everything, the
root the groove and a very expressive instrument, also composing on the bass gives you an insight and a
very different perspective on composition. BASS RULES.

Ado Roza : I grew up in a family listening to the accordion of my cousin Clair Teresinha and the
exceptional tenor voice of my uncle Aparcio who used to sing acapella Brazilian classic songs by
Francisco Alves, Vicente Celestino, Orlando Silva, Nelson Gonalves and other great singers from the
Golden Age Of Brazilian Radio. Beside
this at home, we used to listen to every
kind of music that was being played by the
radio stations. I instinctively decided that
radio would be my teacher and so I started
to learn my first bass lines, ear training,
sometimes trying to duplicate the bass on
any song that would be playing on the
radio. My first instrument was an
improvised bass guitar that I built -
stretching strings and installing a bass
pickup on a piece of wood, just like a
fretless stick bass. It all started when I first
listened to John Paul Jones, Stanley Clarke
and Jaco Pastorius recordings. I couldn't
believe that anybody could do that on a
bass guitar!!! In this way, I began my
interest at the same time for learning / developing my playing and dedicating myself to the art of fixing,
building & designing stringed instruments, particularly the bass. Today I dedicate my time to developing
my own ideas in regard to tecniques, design and construction of stringed and percussion instruments,
playing on stage and studio hopping to insert my own voice in the vast field of instrumental Brazilian
music.

Al Cardillo : Theres plenty of artistry involved in playing the bass, but its a quiet artistry, stolid and
unobtrusive. Its an artistry devoted to making everyone else in the band shine rather than making oneself
the centre of attention.. And thus it is an instrument that tends to attract stolid, unobtrusive people. A
great bass player is far likelier to live a life of relative anonymity than, say, a great pianist, and the few
bass players who are famous-Paul McCartney, Sting, even the late Chales Mingus are famous for
reasons that have little to do with their ability to play the bass. Bass players take quiet satisfaction. Bass
players prefer the shadows to the limelight.

Ronnie W. Dalesio : Bass for me is the bridge between the rhythm section and melody and harmony. I
love that I can interact and be a part of both musical landscapes. This is what feeds my soul and more
than anything else, its FUN!
I wish I could say that my encouragement and influences for music came from my parents like many of
you have shared. But that really wasnt quite the story for me. As a little child, my mother enrolled my
sisters and I in dance lessons. Then in grade school, I took clarinet lessons into middle school. At age 12,
my father gave me an acoustic guitar and I think he wanted me to learn it but most of the time when I
wanted to play and practice (which was all the time) he wanted me to help with other things. Maybe
because at 13, I wanted to be in a band with my friends, which I did even though I knew he may not be
too pleased. The band actually had a guitar player and really needed a bass player. I was happy to oblige
and that was the moment that changed my life forever.
Entering my high school years, my parents transferred me into a fairly prestigious technical school for a
degree in HVAC. I excelled in my classes and a lot of that had to do with the instructors there. You see,
I was already involved in a local band and playing clubs. Once my instructors got wind of that, they
made me a deal....get As in your classes and we wont interfere with your moonlighting. I really didnt
want to pursue an HVAC career, and stay in the small town I grew up in like everyone else. I wanted to
play music professionally or otherwise. I wanted to live the big dream like all of us do who play music
because its inside of us. In my senior year of high school I auditioned for Berklee College of Music, and
wouldnt you know it, I got in. Sadly, I would never enroll there due to unfortunate circumstances.
Regardless of the road blocks that faced me, I continued to play. I picked up the best bass I could afford
at the time, an M.V. Pedulla Interceptor. I got into a hot cover band in the early 80s. We played the
Paradise Theatre, opened for Leslie West and ran up
and down the East Coast performing close to 1,500
live shows. In the late 80s, we came out to the West
Coast to cut a record. In 1990 I made the West Coast
my new home. Since then I have had the blessing to
be in some fantastic projects and meet some amazing
people, many of whom I call family. It was here in
Seattle that my bass playing took on a whole new
identity, my own creative style. I realized that bass
playing was not only a natural talent and calling, it
was the passion that kept me alive, like the air we
breathe, water is to fish, laughter for comedians;
without it there is no life.
I can only describe my passion for bass like this: I
dont just love to learn my part or learn new genres, I
must. I enjoy challenging myself and the wow
factor when I pull a new riff from somewhere inside
of me and surprise myself. My main go to bass now is
a six string Tobias Killer-B. Its been my
entertainer since 1996 mostly for original
collaborations. For more classic rock and blues its
my Fender P-Bass, and when I want that four-string
that sings like a nightingale its still my Pedulla.
Over the years bass has been, and still is, so rewarding for me because I can experience both sides of the
musical river, while being an intricate part of a musical landscape. And one thing is crystal clear to me,
playing bass is my destiny and whether for fame, fortune, or not, I will always be a bass player because it
completes me. Now Im off to my next musical journey, whatever presents itself around the bend ahead.

Jodi Stevens : I started on violin at age 8 and was absolutely the worst player in the district for 5 years
straight. The director held auditions every year and I always ended up in the last seat, sitting behind kids
who had started even years after me.
I tried saxophone at age 13 and after about a month of lessons decided I wanted to teach myself. I still
play and teach saxophone and enjoy it very much.
I fell in love with the Bass guitar at age 15. My friends were starting a band at school and needed a bass
player. My parents bought me my first bass and amp for Christmas and I remember learning and being
able to play a bass line the very first day.
My mother raised me on Motown and my dad loved Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen. As a teenager I was
listening to a lot of metal and hard rock music. It wasnt until attending Berklee that I started branching
out into other styles. I now enjoy playing and learning as many different genres as I can. I currently play
with a Jazz group, a Soul/R&B unit and an original progressive/Stoner rock band. I continue writing solo
bass pieces as well.
Nothing else can take me out of my own head like my bass. We all take in so much around us every
second of every day. Playing and composing on my bass allows me to channel so much of what I feel,
think and experience. My bass is like a best friend, it knows all my secrets. I can get so lost in writing and
playing, an hour could pass and it feels like a minute. After certain writing sessions I feel such a catharsis.
What an incredible gift it is to be able to experience so fully the moment.

Earl Craft : Like a lot of people, I started on guitar in my church. This was in the mid 70's during the
JESUS Movement and all the hippies in that movement played guitar...everyone! So when some friends
of mine wanted to start a band, guess who was selected to play bass? They gave me an old Fender Bronco
bass, showed me how to play "Black Cloud" by Trapeze (Glenn Hughes band) and away I went! I played
guitar & bass back and forth for a few years but when I finally called myself a 'Bassist' was once while
playing in a band at the church I was going to, we were doing a song that had a measure (rest) of silence
so I added a power slide to just add a fill. The whole band stopped playing and turned and looked at me!
"You did that" and started laughing and clapping!!! I had arrived! Now, bass is a part of my body...an
extension of who I am! What I feel is what I play. One band I was in was just drums, guitar, bass, and
vocals...the guitarist sang but couldn't play lead to save his life so I started playing more of a lead bass
style to fill the gaps...and I loved it! Now I play bass just because it is such a part of who I am...an
expression of deep emotion & worship!! I love it!

Eddie Kohen : I started as a young rock guitar player and thought that was it. In my later teen years I
found myself starting to be drawn to jazz and in particular the bass players. Ron Carter really got to me.
As I listened more and heard Stanley Clarke and Eddie Gomez and many others, the better quality of jazz
recordings really allowed the beautiful sound of the upright to come through, I thought this is for me and
started to play upright and study jazz. When I attended Berklee as a dual major the decision was made,
every gig I got was on electric bass. Here we are 35 years later and bass is what I do!

Austin Underhill : Deciding to play the bass was actually an accident! My friend wanted to start a band
with me when I was in middle school. He told me I should be the bassist since he already played guitar.
At the time, I played saxophone and didnt
really know anything about stringed
instruments, but I agreed to get a bass.
For some reason, I thought his electric guitar
was a bass and was very surprised when I went
to a store to purchase one. I got home and
immediately called him asking what I had just
bought and why it wasnt like his. After he
explained to me the difference between a bass
and an electric guitar I was very disappointed
and upset.
However, a good year after playing the
instrument I fell in love with it and found a
great ability in picking up and learning music
quicker than I could on my saxophone. Since
then I have been very thankful for the
misunderstanding as I can't imagine playing
something other than bass! Playing the instrument has been a way to express myself musically that I
somehow cannot convey on any other instrument I've played. It is my musical voice that no other
instrument can replace.

John Dahlman : I play bass because I dont have a choice. I heard Ray Brown when I was 4 and told my
dad I wanted to make that sound. There was no option, I had to make that sound. He indulged me and
much to his chagrin, I never stopped. I wore out School Days & Jacos rst albums. Replaced them, and
wore them out again. Got anything Mingus, Ray Brown, Steve Swallow, Paul Chambers, Anthony
Jackson, etc and wore those out too (I still do that). That opened me up to what could be. That there are
no rules. There is an unbelievable freedom when playing bass. You can do whatever you want, but it
better be damn good. As a person who was chosen by the bass, I have the joy and deep responsibility to
make the groove happen with those Im with. In my case the groove may not be all that obvious, but its
there. At least in my head. The fun is communicating the groove to those Im privileged to work with and
those Im honored to play for. I still have to make that sound. There is nothing like playing bass, nothing,
to make me feel that I have found a place worth occupying on this planet. Except when I get to hear my
son play bass. Then I know what I was chosen for.

James Eller : I'd heard the Beatles and other early '60's notables like Sandy Shaw and Billy J Kramer as a
little kid, but wasn't really interested. It wasn't until I saw the Stones' performance of Jumpin' Jack Flash
on black and white television in '68 that I was truly captured. I remember it now like my DNA changing
instantly and forever. We had Sgt Pepper and The Kinks Sunny Afternoon, and it's B side I'm Not Like
Everybody Else on hefty rotation in our house. We were a little young though for The Stones and Beatles
et al to be really ours and it wasn't until Led Zeppelin and Free and slightly later, Deep Purple, came
along that we were truly in it.

I still hadn't isolated the bass as an individual entity - it was all just a huge, propulsive noise that sucked
me in and surrounded me. The first time I actually noticed bass playing was Ronnie Lane's on the Faces
album A Nod's As Good As A Wink. Once I'd made the distinction, it didn't take long to work my way
backwards through all the records we had in the house, from
Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and the Modern Jazz Quartet,
Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles through to our current
heroes. Pretty soon I only half heard all the other components in
a recording. John Paul Jones and Andy Fraser quickly became
my complete heroes. Through the next few years I chased this
way and that devouring prog, jazz rock, disco, funk, soul, rock,
new wave - anything where the bass had a pulse. Although I
have no memory of it, apparently I rushed downstairs at some
point when I was 14 or so and said "That's what I want to do",
pointing at Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on the Oscar
Peterson tv show. Different noise, similar role.

I love that role. We are the lock AND the key to any band. If the
bass is working the band is working. I think of my own
performance as subsidiary to that of the band as a whole. For
example, I'm much more interested in the overall sound of a
recording - if it needs three notes on a Minimoog then that's
what I'm going to play. The greatest compliment I ever had was
that I produce records from the bottom up. Live, if the band hasn't played to it's potential for any reason, I
feel an overwhelming responsibility and I work hard with everybody until the next time to rectify that. I
place huge emphasis on my role as part of the rhythm section and spend most of my time listening to hi-
hat and kick - I'm part of that machine. I live in the engine room and I'm more than happy for others to
stand on the bridge in their gleaming whites, taking the salute, haha!

Inspirational bass players have been John Paul Jones, Andy Fraser, Alan Spenner, Bernard Edwards,
James Jamerson, Pino Palladino, Ron Blair, Robbie Shakespeare, Jaco Pastorius, Bruce Thomas, Norman
Watt Roy and the guys from Average White Band, Alan Gorrie and Hamish Stuart. And of course there
are countless, unsung others who have made a great bass line or underpinned a performance that needed a
strong foundation.

Morn Brainers : I remember growing up in church, checking out the musicians and daydreaming how I
would one day play as well. Not long after, I had the opportunity to play the drums in evening service at
my local church in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town because
the drummer wasnt available that day. I was a young
boy playing drums in church for the next few years but
the bass always grabbed my attention. I was about 12
years old when I started picking up the bass after trying
out drums. I took guitar lessons from a great musician
by the name of Freddy Arendse . After my first lesson I
knew that I was a bassplayer. I would go home after
practice and just play the top four strings on my acoustic
guitar. When I was in matric in 1999 I started using
drugs like crystal meth, more known as Tik and also
ecstasy. So that meant no more practicing bass and
under the bed went the 6 string Warwick bass my dad
bought me. I was an addict for 4 years until I got a call
from the same guy who tried teaching me guitar telling
me about a music school in Pretoria and that I should
consider auditioning for a bursary. Not having played
for 4 years I got on the bus and came to Pretoria to
audition for a bursary at Ochrim school of Music. I
started studying the following day and been playing pro
ever since. So music and playing bass for me was a means of escape from the life I lived in the Cape
Flats. An escape from my addictions and uninspired lifestyle. Given this second chance I feel that I
should use this God given gift and my story to touch lives and inspire people. I am now a professional
bassplayer with a wife and two kids. They are my vitamins. They push me to do more and work harder
and to become greater... This is why I play bass.

Daniel Madu: I love the bass guitar. I love the sound it makes. I fell in love with this instrument when I
was 13 years old. I was always attracted to the instrument during concerts, not the singing or dancing,
drums but the bass. I started learning by observation because there was no one to teach me at that time.
Without the bass, the music is not complete. You always get that feeling that something is missing. When
the bass comes in, now thats music. I love my bass guitar so much that at one time I used to sleep with it
by my side. The bass helps me express myself naturally through music. The groove, rhythm, emotion,
tone of this instrument connects me to my listeners. I always get their attention and compliments.

Casey Andersen : I started playing Upright Bass in the Fourth Grade as a requirement of my school. I
chose it because no one else wanted to
play it, and I wanted to be different. I
soon realized why no one wanted to deal
with the hassle of carrying such a large,
cumbersome instrument that, at the time,
was taller than me. Through steady
practice and play I gained a real love for
the rich tone of the instrument and
figured that I could put up with its girth.
Later on I bought an Electric bass, but it
didnt interest me that much. Soon after,
a teacher told me that I didn't practice
enough so I should stop playing. Being a
young Middle School Student, I took his
words to heart and only played for
required school functions. One day I was
asked to perform for a fellow student's
Eight Grade Graduation Recital. I was,
however, asked to play Electric.
Practicing on the instrument was
wonderful. It was the same joy I felt with the Upright just without all the nasty associations of doubt and
guilt. It was then that I realized all I had to do to get better was to keep playing, so I set out to be the best
that I could be. I am now studying Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and I've
managed to overcome the "nasty associations" that came along with the Upright Bass. I play with many
different groups and love to practice, try to write and wrestle with this wonderful puzzle of Music. I hope
to graduate soon and continue down my path with Music always at my side.

Bruno Migliari : Being interested in music from a very early age, I began converting my weekly
allowance money on records when I was around 10. I was always fascinated by music and various
musical instruments as well. I would fool around with any instrument that I could lay my hands on at the
time, which included my aunts acoustic guitar and a friends piano. I was particularly attracted to the low
end of the spectrum though, and specifically remember identifying the sound of the bass very early in my
life and feeling very moved by the subdued way in which it seemed to control the songs I listened to. It
felt like the song was a ship and whoever was playing those low notes seemed to be at the helm of that
ship, almost guiding any given song to its musical conclusion. By the time I was fourteen years old, I
started my proper musical studies, taking private lessons with a local teacher and enrolling in a well-
known music school a few months after. I decided that I wanted to play music professionally as soon as I
was old enough and try and make a career of it as a bassist...that was my ultimate goal. Within six months
I found myself performing in school competitions and school festivals. Within just a few years I was
already playing in three different bands at the same time, one of which actually gained recognition after
winning a continuous series of music competitions. Around that time, I began wood shedding hard. I
would relentlessly carry out daily practice sessions from the moment I got home from school. The years
of hard work eventually paid off for it, and I indeed became a professional musician by playing my first
string of paying gigs when I was seventeen years old, still on my last year at school. I soon embarked on a
very busy gigging schedule which included jazz trio gigs, accompanying various singers simultaneously
and playing in an orchestra. I undertook this workload while also attending Music College, pursuing a
classical music curriculum on double bass. I worked very hard from a young age to be equally
comfortable with both the electric and the
acoustic basses. Music provides us all with a vast
array of feelings when we listen to it, and it gets
even more intense when we are playing it.
Nothing feels as good and fulfilling to me as
holding the bass and stirring the music with it as
I sail away on those adventurous oceans of
musical expression. Ever since graduating in
1994 at Uni Rio Music College, I have
maintained a well balanced diet of Pop, native
Brazilian, and Jazz music. Since 2001 I have
been playing bass for Brazilian singer/songwriter
Frejat, and have also acted as music director for
him on the TV series Claro Que Rock (aired
on the Brazilian cable TV channel Multishow).
I continue to involve myself in jazz-related
projects, leading my own Bruno Migliari Trio.
I also lead the compositional project 8VB, and
co-lead the small orchestra 11 Cabeas (alongside saxophonist and arranger Henrique Band). I have
also either recorded or toured with well=known artists such as Milton Nascimento, Marcos Valle, Maria
Gad, Ana Carolina, Banda Black Rio, Lokua Kanza, Avi Wisnia, Lulu Santos, Baro Vermelho, Lobo,
Leoni, Paulinho Moska, Quito Pedrosa Quarteto, Marco Lobo Quinteto, among others.

Aurlien Dervaric : Actually, I started by trying to play guitar, but I soon realised that what I was more
comfortable with playing, and what I used (in my head) to play, while following a song by ear, was the
bass line! The role of the bass in a band matches up with My personality more than any other instrument :
maybe not the one you notice first, but the one that needs to be constant and discreet in the meantime - the
instrument that you notice when it stops playing. I like this kind of "subtle" role. I had the opportunity to
begin on bass, by personal choice, in a novice band, but it has been the most valuable experience Ive
ever had! I had to learn quickly, and I loved it. A few years after this, I played in another, Death Metal,
band, The technical challenge is still there for me, and that's what makes me interested in the whole thing
of playing in a band. I mean, what's the point of doing something that you know you're good at? I would
rather like to try to do something hard, I enjoy the results even more once I manage to achieve my goals.

Gene Torres : I Picked up the bass at 15 years old and havent put it down since. I Started out playing
R&B (Motown, Stax, Atlantic, etc.)
then moved on to funk (James
Brown, Sly and the Family Stone,
Earth, Wind and Fire, etc). The first
group that I played with was called
Paranoid. Paranoid was awarded
the third best band in Brooklyn. At
that time, most of the bands had
horns and we were no exception.
Paranoid stayed together for about
six years, which I was a part of for
five. After leaving, I started
freelancing and getting exposed to
many styles of music. The majority
of musicians I was playing with
was much older so they were like a
mentor to me. The first order was to
learn Jazz, which at the time was
like speaking another language. After many bumps and bruises along the way, Jazz started to make sense.
Still though, formal training needed to be had, so at that time Jazz Mobile was one option, another was
Lynn Olivers. Still, private lessons were another thing that had to be done so studying with Bob Willams,
Ritchie Hart, Ken Hatfield, Charlie Banacos (correspondence course) and Paul Caputo Im still studying
with Paul up to this day. My first major recording was playing on the James Mason, Rhythm of Life,
album (1977). To this day its in the top 100 in England and its a collectors item. It started a whole music
revolution (Acid Jazz) in England with Sade, and a bunch of other English groups. Today, at any given
day, I can be playing from Hip-Hop to Bebop, with a little rock thrown in. Nowadays, Im not only
playing bass, but writing, producing, music editing , sheet music (Finale), teaching privately and in a
school. Some of the people I have had the pleasure of playing and or recording with runs the gamut of
music styles, for example Ben E. King, Al Hibbler, Rahn Burton, Public Enemy, Yousef Lateef, Chico
OFarrels Afro-Cuban Big band at Birdland. Ernie Marcelin of Taboo Combo, La Bamba and the
Hubcaps, Southside Johnny, Ted Curson Blue Note, Late Nite Jam Session, The Weather Girls, The
Chiffons at The Apollo Theatre, Chambers Brothers, Jonathan Butler, Hannes DeKassian Trio, Moon
Pool, Tony Cedras (Keyboardist with Paul Simon), Jennifer Holiday, Noo Voodoo, Mark Pender (of the
Conan OBrian show, opening up for the BT Express). The Big Apple Circus, David Dorfman Dance
Company, Fred Ho (Vampire Opera) Petey Pablo of Jive Records, Gucci Man (Me & You single), Danny
Mixon, Ty Stephens, Pee Wee Ellis , Co-winner of the 2010 McDonalds Gospel Fest Childrens Choir
Contest.

A.J. Hager : I picked up the bass guitar at age 15, but after I had already been playing guitar for almost a
year - and it was all Paul McCartneys fault! I wish I could just shake his hand and thank him for setting
me on course toward the musical career I have
today! He and the Beatles have also been a huge
influence and inspiration to me for song writing as
well. At age 9, I started buying a bunch of Beatles
45rpm records, and on the B side of Paperback
Writer was a song called Rain. I didnt realize
fully at age 9 why I was absolutely floored by this
song until I got older. All I knew was that the way
the bass and drums sounded individually, and also
the way they blended together was sending me
over-the-top and giving me chills!! It was a sonic,
melodic, and structural force that was blowing me
away! And I just couldnt get enough of this song,
and I kept playing it over and over again as I sat in
front of our very old, but loud Magnavox console
record player! I think I can safely say that the song
Rain played a big role in why I play bass. The
other reason why, is that some friends of mine
were putting together a band when I was 15, and
they already had two guitarists, a singer, and a
drummer. And since they knew how big a
McCartney fanatic I was, they asked if I would
want to play bass. I think most 15 year old
guitarists might have balked at that idea, but I was so excited at that opportunity! However, the singer
said to me, So, you need to ask your father to buy you a bass. To which I said, Yeah! Fat chance
THAT will happen!. Well, after having my grandma yell at him a few times about how he never buys me
anything, I picked out a $52, short-scale bass made by Montaya, with one pickup, and a neck like
rubber! But I proudly walked out of that record/music store with that puppy! And I felt like a King as I
crossed the street, carrying that bass with no case(couldnt afford that! ), when a guy yelled out his car
window in his best NJ accent, HEY! PLAY US SOMETHIN! Yes!...I have arrived!! And when I got
back to the house, I thought, Now I have to figure out how to play this thing!! Over the years Ive been
influenced by other bass players as well, like John Entwistle, Stanley Clarke, Jaco, Jack Bruce, Fernando
Saunders, and many others, but it was Sir Paul who started it all for me, and who still continues to
influence my playing and writing. And if I go more than a day or two without a bass in my hands, I
actually go through withdrawals! I need it! I just love the feel of those strings under my fingers. Its such
a powerful, beautiful, and sexy instrument.
Jayen Varma : I never knew I had some talent in music till I started learning drums at the age of 20. I
was a drummer in the 1980s. In those days I also used to
play the six string guitar a little bit. In 1986 two of my
friends who had a band asked me to play bass in their band.
Since it was difficult for me to buy a drum kit, I took the
bass, loved the sound and started my journey. I never had a
bass instructor. So I had to follow whatever style was
convenient for me. Since I underwent training in the South
Indian classical percussion instrument Mridangam in the
80s. I found that kind of finger technique convenient for
me to play slap bass. Later the style was named as Indian
Slap Bass. I was working in a government department in
the south of India and I had to spend three hours in a train
everyday. In the train I started doing finger exercises on my
mobile phone to get finger speed. After a few months I
started feeling the result of my repetitive works. My bass
playing was validated for the fastest by record books Like
Record Holders Republic/Registry of Official World
Records and Record Setter Book of World Records in 2008
and 2011. However this is just a technique to get fast notes,
so I do not relate this to music.
Also there are many Fast Bassists in the world who are
Fastest in their own styles and techniques. I am one among
them: One of the Fastest Bass Guitar Players. I have my
band named KHAYAL GROOVE led by the Indian classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar. I also have a
music collaboration with the French Drummer Jean Davoisne

Nixon Rosembert : Prior to becoming a bass player, I played a few other instruments. As a child, I was
always interested in music but it was at the age of seven that I began playing the recorder in a school
orchestra. At the age of eleven my mother bought a guitar for me. It was a reward for passing my eleven-
plus exam. The guitar was a very small acoustic. I no longer play it but I still have it. I used to listen to
the radio to try and learn every song I heard. It was also
with me whilst I watched the television, so I could play
along with the music on the advertisements. I was self-
taught on the guitar and also the harmonica. This was
followed by some cornet and trumpet lessons that led to
performances in various orchestras. At the age of thirteen I
joined a school band. Apart from the drummer, I was the
only member that did not have an electric guitar. There
were two guitarists, a drummer, and me with my inaudible
acoustic. There happened to be an old bass and amplifier in
the garage where we were going to rehearse. One of the
band members turned to me and said You dont have a
guitar, theres a bass over there, youre the bass player! I
picked it up, played it and loved it. That was my first band
and it was the first time I had ever played a bass guitar. In
1992 I was touring around the UK and Europe with a band.
Quite a few of the songs required notes lower than the
lowest 'E' so I decided to go to the bass store to get a
Hipshot D-tuner. There were none in stock but the
salesman persuaded me to try a six-string bass. I ended up buying the bass and gigging with it on the
same day. That was quite a challenge but I instantly took to it. Since then the six-string bass has been my
main instrument. The reason I play bass is that I love the varied tones and frequencies that it can produce.
I enjoy creating new bass lines and learning great bass lines created by other players. I like the way the
bass brings together the harmonic and rhythmic elements of music. For me, it is an integral part of the
foundation that holds everything together. I also enjoy helping other players to learn and develop their
bass-playing skills. When I leave this world the only thing I would like to take with me is my BASS.
Derrick Davis : Being born the son of a Parliament Funkadelic, groove was in my soul before birth. I
was picking out bass lines in my mommys belly before I knew what bass was. Actually what got me
interested in playing the bass guitar was the colour of one. Years ago, I saw a Fire Engine Red Fender
Jazz Bass. And I have been hooked ever since. I learned to pick out the bass in songs by myself with no
help. So thus, I was self taught. Did I mention that I started playing bass at the tender age of 10 years old?
The Bass feels like its an extension of my body. The sound of the bass takes me somewhere else when I
feel it.. I am in a Zone! And its just me..becoming one with the bottom. Currently I am the bassist for
The Original P (featuring original founding members of Parliament/Funkadelic). I have also played for
Faith Evans, Bernie Worrell and the WOO Warriors and I also currently play for Dionne Farris on
occasion. I prefer for Funk and R&B, the 5 string because of the low b and the 6 string bass for gospel,
you can get pretty melodic with it.

Jeff Dodd : First, I would like to state that the reason I play music is, it allows me to capture an audio
portrait of a moment in time. My music and
arrangements or contributions to others peoples
music are largely based on the emotions going on
in my life (good or bad) when I write or perform
them. I believe this to be true for all musicians
playing and performing music. I think, had any
music artist been given parts to write, days,
months or even years later than the day they wrote
it, that the palette of phrasings and chordal colors
would not be the same. I specifically play the Bass
guitar because it allows me to be part of the
rhythm section and part of the melodic content.
Additionally, when I play in altered tunings and
different gauge string use, the bass allows me to
write in ways I cannot conceive on any other
instrument. And, Fretless bass playing in
particular, allows for all of those cool in between
notes you can't capture as well on a fretted
instrument, which is ideal for adding tension or
vocal like phrasings/melodies to complement
whatever is going on in any style of music.
Another example of why I am passionate about
the Bass guitar is: As I got deeper into writing my
own music I found that chords in the lower
register were getting lost, or muddy. This lead me
to utilizing piccolo and tenor strings. I turned to my custom built acoustic Taylor AB-2 and strung it with
piccolo strings and began trying to make four string chordings sound clearer. Since then, I continue to
explore new ideas and techniques, most recently focussing on my fretless bass playing using a mix of
bass, tenor and piccolo stings. My Bassline basses offer tones I haven't been able to capture on other
basses before. Interestingly, this has lead to new approaches from traditional bass playing techniques and
has me seeking out more scenic routes on the road less traveled. It is these cool new unexpected sounds
and techniques that I stumble upon that inspires and guides flow to the emotional ebbs and flows of life,
and keeps me playing Bass.

Mike Dyer : I play bass because I believe in everything the bass represents. A solid foundation that
others can build upon. The bass is always unwavering, and others look to the bass for reference to what
they should be playing on the song. I believe in this concept outside of music as well, being true to
beliefs, and living your life as an example for others to follow.
I play bass because of the connection with others that music provides. Ever since I had my first
experience playing music with others, I've had a desire to pick up my instrument every day. That desire
gets stronger every day. Practice becomes meditation for people who have made it a priority in their daily
routine. I know my future is going to be a happy one because music will be the top priority. The benefits
of playing bass are vast, endless and different for everyone, but for me it translates directly to my
relationships with other musicians and non-musicians alike, provides direction and purpose to my life and
gives me an overall sense of well-being.

Sharlafunk : Thats what I hear, feel and will sing first! The Bass Line,.if its not
moving or grooving or hitting that spot in your soul, then its just a bunch of notes
wasting time, .instead of keeping time! I have always gravitated to the bass even
though I play keys, I learn the bass line first then the melody. The chords, to me, are
just the sweet filling in the middle. One thing I love to do, is arrange the sets and in
that process (because I would be like that's not the bass line) I was told I should
learn to play bass. soooo I went looking for one, found it in a pawn shop in NYC
now I know youre not suppose to want a bass, based on its looks, but it looked
good, held it in my hands it felt good - love at first pluck.. took a bass friend to
check it out and he said if I didn't get it he would beat me with it so I am the proud
owner of a 4 string Spector Bass. I introduce to you, Blade!

David Dyson : Growing up between ages 6-12, After steady listening to Graham Central Station, Sly
Stone, and Bootsy recordings, I was consistently drawn to the bass. Always digging the songs where the
bass took liberties and was prominent. Then the Brothers Johnson's "Look Out for #1" album came out.
When I heard Louis Johnson's bass tracks on that album, I was hooked! I would stare at the bass on the
cover for hours, studying it. Then I begged my parents to buy me a bass for Christmas and they did. From
that point on, I checked out anyone who picked up a bass and I consider them all influences. The rest is
history.

David "Doc" Tourville : My story started when I was 3 years

old and a cousin gave me an old F-hole acoustic guitar to play
with. Our home had one of the first TV's in the
neighbourhood and Mom would tune in a local variety show
each afternoon. When the music group came on with an
upright bass, I would play along on my pretend upright. I got
the moves down, but it wasn't until years later that I returned
to bass. During grade school years, it was drums in the
orchestra and marching band. Somehow I was always
connected to the beat, the bottom, the foundations of the
music.
At age 13, a friend had a party with a live band, who let me sit
in on bass. It was the first time actually playing something,
and I really had no idea what was going on, but something
must has been right because the band called me a week later
and asked me to join as bass player. That was the real
beginning of my musical expression on bass.
As to why the bass, it is difficult to say, as it was not a thought
process so much as a feeling that this was the instrument that
formed a connecting link between the timing and beat, and the
rhythm and melody. In my mind, a very important piece of
song structure which I really wanted to pursue and succeed at.

Brad Davies : There are many reasons I play bass. Like martin, I prefer the bass over all the other
instruments. Its a sexy instrument to play and for some reason the girls go mad over us bass players!!
(not that Im in it only for the girls) . Its not easy for me to put the bass down because it is so addictive.
I love making up new licks and just messing around. Bass makes the music. If you dont believe me just
ask a drummer!!!!

Thabang King Moshoeshoe : The main thing about deciding on an instrument to play is finding
passion. I loved drums as a kid but my sense of harmony was well developed to the surprise of many
elderly musical people and I even made a 5l oil tin guitar for myself. I enjoy percussive sounds as much
as I enjoy harmony and playing bass gives me double fulfilment. I also enjoy the musical link between
harmony and rhythm sections caused by the bass player. I love making the sound of the roaring wood.
Alex Bershadsky : I never thought about
it like that. But bass is considered an
underdog instrument. Most of the time in
the background, The instrument that
somebody picks when he's not so
successful on guitar. The instrument that
everybody's talking while he solos... And
the one that always should play the
supportive role.
Since I remember myself I was always
supporting underdog figures in sport,
movies and life. I always thought about
myself as the one that comes from behind
and surprises everybody.
So you can say that choosing the bass
was very natural for me, though I never thought about it like that.

Jackson Mann : I play the bass because of a lot of different things. I love the different sounds the bass
can make. It can be big and boomy and make the whole room shake. It can be short and smooth and make
everyone in the room listen close. I also love the connection the bass player has with the drummer. I love
the feeling I get when Ive played with a certain drummer enough to know just how to listen and connect
with his/her groove. All I have to do is look at him/her, smile and shake my head and he/she knows
exactly what to do. Thats a connection only a bass player and a drummer can have.

Lane Baldwin : I play bass for two reasons. The first is that I have to. If I
dont, I cant function in the real world. Its that important to me. The
second... well, it all comes down to the first time I held a bass in my hands
and thumped out a few notes. I had a true epiphany. It hit me all at once that
the bass was the foundation for everything else the rhythm, the chord
structure, the melody and harmony. Everything rested on the bass line, and
changing the line would entirely change the song. It was like God showed
me with just a few notes how powerful, and how important, the bass was.
And I knew I wanted to be the person who helped make everyone else on
stage sound better. I wanted to be the person who brought everyone else
together to make a band. Now, more than forty years later, its still one of the
most important lessons I ever learned.

Jerry Scott : I was in a band singing when I was about 16. and our bass player quit because his grades
were bad in school, so my Dad bought me my first bass and it was off to the races!!! Throughout my
career I have played with, Bad Company, Brian Howe. Stephen Pearcy, Molly Hatchet, XYZ, and
members of White Zombie in a band called Healer, so my love for bass goes way back to when I was a
teenager, and thats why I play bass.

Kenny Weydener : I started playing bass because I wanted to play the

most challenging modern instrument that I could think of and electric
bass was the obvious choice. I started on drums and guitar. I felt
rhythmically satisfied with drums and melodically satisfied with guitar,
but neither really felt like 'home' to me. With both instruments, there
seemed to be something missing. The beautiful thing about bass is, you
are part of the rhythm section and largely responsible for the 'groove', but
at the same time you are playing off the melody and chords and vocals,
so the note choices are just as important as how you phrase those notes.
I find the bass to often be the 'secret weapon' of some of the best songs
ever written, because of the uniqueness of how much the bassline affects
everything. From the reason that people tap their feet to the beat, to how
they sing the melody, the bassline is probably the single most important
thing happening in any arrangement, next to the vocal. Compared to
most instruments, the bass is easily the most 'consequential' and I actually enjoy having that much
responsibility on my shoulders. A lesser man would crumble under that kind of pressure. lol

David Neubert : When I was 10 years old, my best friend played the cello, so
naturally I had to play one too. Our clever public school music teacher told me
she had checked out all the cellos but there was a nice, large bass gathering dust
that was ready to go if I wanted to play in the orchestra. So here I am, 42 years
later still playing and teaching the bass what a ride. It was playing a low Bb
with the bow that hooked me; just feeling those low notes resonate. Seeing Gary
Karr when he first began his solo career play at our local junior high in 1965
sealed my fate. Now I get the same rush watching Franois Rabbath, Edgar
Meyer, Rufus Reid, Brian Bromberg and the list goes on.

Andy Till : Why I play bass? I started to learn bass at high school in Macclesfield, Cheshire as a second
instrument to playing the drums. I played drums for different bands for nine years.
At first I didn't get along with the bass and put all my time into playing drums and then to making
drumming my profession / day job when I left school. Eventually I decided to take more bass lessons and
what happened was, the bass chose me. I fully got into the sound and feel and the way the bass looked. At
this point the bass fully took over, I sold my drum kit and got my first bass from Manchester - a Fender
copy for 80! At school, I played a Fender mustang bass. From this point, I knew that playing the bass
was a lifestyle thing, something I knew that I was going to do as my living / career and every day thing.
Since my school days, I upgraded from my Fender copy to a USA Fender Jazz / Fender Jaguar - Ampeg -
and make a living as a working professional bassist.
I love that the bass has taken me to many places. Ive met different people and played music to people
who love and enjoy music and not forgetting all the great musicians I have worked with so far. The bass,
to me, is a passion in playing and the role it plays within a band, the sound and most importantly, the feel
and groove when played with a drummer is one of the best things in life!

Greg Brown : I started off on guitar and quickly grasped the logic underlying the notes on the fretboard
and elements of basic chord theory. So much so in fact that at the age of 14 I wrote a book (which was
never published) on 1,500 different chord shapes
and various chord progressions. When I was 15 I
formed a band and we ended up with two rhythm
guitarists. I borrowed a bass from a friend and
because I knew which notes belonged to each of
those 1,500 chords, the transition to bass was very
easy. Then came the big bass experience. I
plugged into this big bass amp and started playing
bass grooves on the huge growly bass strings.
Immediately I felt a connection with the pulse and
heartbeat of the universe. It was an incredible
experience! I had found my niche in the musical
universe. Fifteen years later I studied the elements
of slap/pop technique and this enabled me to
become even more connected in a uniquely
percussive and rhythmic way. Finally when I
dabbled with the fretless bass I realised that I could
meander through this low-frequency world in a
very mysterious and elusive manner. So the reason
why I play bass is that it makes me feel connected to the pulse of the universe in a very special and
mysterious way. And it also makes me feel that I am connected to all the bass players of the universe.
What a privilege!

Matt Bissonette : My mom and dad surprised me one day by telling me to get the groceries out of the
trunk. I opened up the trunk and there was a guitar case, I thought they got me a guitar. My brother Gregg
and I went into the basement and started jamming right away. I realized it wasn't a guitar but a bass, what
is a bass? I asked my brother. He played Smoke on the Water on the record player and told me, "it's not
the first instrument played, it's that bottom thing that holds it all together." So, I thought that was cool and
we played that song for about four hours. Later that week my dad
asked me to play in his wedding band with him on drums and an
accordion player. I asked him, "What do I do?" He said, "Just look
like you know what you're doing, play something that sounds
good and get me a beer whenever I point at you." So that was the
lift off, immediately being thrown into the fire. I play bass
because I love it. In college it was a burning passion, it still is, but
it has more importantly led me into hearing music as a whole for
what what all the instruments do. I thank God for letting me play
bass because it has taught me humility. Us bass players are always
in support of the other members of the band, like sports we are all
teamates. Other instruments are meant to stand out and shine more
than others. The bass is an instrument of humility and support, I
like that, it's real life and I believe a real lesson in the more
important matters of life. Of course there is always a place to
shine, shred, or whatever the word is today and for that you must
be prepared to play well and show what you have. I am thankful
for the bass also because it has supplied a great living for my
family. I'm not an "artist" who's gonna die for the "Art of the bass", it has generated a great living from
one gig to the next, for that I know I am deeply blessed, mostly because I couldn't really do anything else,
I know, I've tried.

Lynn Seaton : I began on the classical guitar at 7 but was drawn to the bass at age nine. I was fascinated
by the low end and still am. Paul McCartney's wonderfully inventive and solid basslines were a big
attraction. In my elementary school, they had a day where you could go to the band room and sign up for
an instrument that you wished to play. I wanted to play the double bass, but at that time, I was small for
my age. The teacher thought I should start on the cello, but I insisted on wanting to play the bass. The
school system found a 1/2 size bass on a stand for me and my father build two little foot stools for me to
stand on. I still have such a passion for playing the bass. My wife says that sometimes I move my fingers
and practice in my sleep! I am thankful to be given the gift of music and the opportunity to make a living
as an artist.

Gregori Hofmann : I started playing bass simply because there was no one to be Jason in what was
basically a Metallica tribute band. I started out pretending to sing when my friends wanted to play
Silverchair songs together. After my best friend
bought some drums to jam with his brother who
played guitar, we decided that with two guitarists and
a drummer that I would have to play bass by default. I
started out playing Rage Against The Machine,
Metallica, Cypress Hill and all the Metal/Rock
classics at the time. I was always into songwriter type
music i.e. Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne but I
worshipped Metallica and I had to play with a pick
and be Jason. I spent the next 4 years from when I was
14 to 18 doing gigs playing in a Death Metal Band.
When I finished school in South Africa at 18 I decided
to start a new band and go to London, which is where
I live now. After playing in the same band for 3 years
and trying to 'go for it' I got over working on building
sites and playing pub gigs and almost went home to
become a beach bum again. Instead of doing that, I
decided that even if the band was over, I couldn't stop
playing music and so I started studying Bass at The
University of West London. Going from playing
Metal and Rock my whole life, I learnt more on a one
year diploma course than I had ever before. I decided to carry on studying and have just finished a Bmus
Degree. Over the past 4 years of studying, I gave up playing Metal/Rock as I wanted to move away from
that world and that mentality and immerse myself in everything else. I played in every band and with
everyone I could. Sometimes gigging 7 nights a week with 6 different bands. With everyone I met, I
learnt new ideas and approaches to music. Everyone was telling me different bands and artists to check
out and my iTunes library got out of control. During the past few years I have learnt so much about music
and tried to follow the tradition of the electric bass from Jamerson to Jaco and all the guys who played
with James Brown. Everyone who you got to check out! As my ears and my eyes opened, I got into
Double Bass and fell in love with the instrument and with the music - where I hear it the most, which is
Jazz. At the moment, Im still checking out Ray Brown and I'll probably do that until I die. The reason I
have been so in depth when it comes to what I have been doing since I started playing bass is because all
of these things have made me understand 'WHY I PLAY BASS' which I feel comes from who I am as a
person, or I would have given up a million times. I don't like being the centre of attention, I love to
support a vocalist or soloist and I'll do that all day and night. I love the instrument and the sounds it
makes. A low voice, the link between rhythm and harmony. And the instrument is young. James
Jamerson was and still is the man and guys like Pino are carrying on that tradition of supporting the music
but also having a strong voice on their instrument. I love that there are guys doing all the crazy stuff too
and creating any sound you can imagine. I love Matt Garrison and Damian Erskine and Im fully into
learning the tech side of things and getting intergalactic with my own tunes. SO I suppose I love checking
out the tradition and I want to push myself creatively just like Matt is doing! When it comes to melody
I'm always checking out the great improvisers like Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Miles, Coltrane etc
and the fact that our instrument can support those ideas is amazing too. The possibilities are endless and
thats why I can't really stop playing!

Michael Stram : The groove. Layin it down. The feeling of your body vibrating with every note. When
the groove makes you more fucked up than alcohol or drugs. When the audience dances, vibrates, and
moves with the music. When you create
that ONE, that hipnotic movement. And
every damn person in the club is with
you. Even the cockroaches and rats.
Bass is the shit. I know drummers who
play bass. Keyboard players who play
bass. Guitar players who play, well,
wish they could, play bass. Everybody
and your momma wants to play bass!
Why? Bass is the shit. Pardon my
language, but its true. Other cats might
say that the drummer creates and directs
the groove. But its drummers who tell
me, " I listen to you mother**cker!" "
You direct the band. Not me!".
Its pure communication. The bottom.
Down there. Where you feel it. There is responsibility there. There is discipline there. There is love there.
A good mentor, friend, colleague once told me, "I'm not comparing you to these other cats. I'm comparing
you to Nathan East! Nathan doesnt play rock, or blues, or jazz. Nathan plays bass!"
Thats why I play bass.

Jorge Carmona : Why do I play bass? At school, we decided to create a band, we didnt know anything
about music, I elected to play bass because I was somehow attracted to it - or maybe it chose me!!! To
this day even after many years I'm still a bassist and will carry on being one forever.
Why do I play bass? A question that I always ask, The answer is simple, because it fills my soul, my life
and theres no other instrument that makes me feel better.

Edwin Van Huik : My mother was a classical piano player, my father, a jazz freak (Earl Bostic. Earl
Garner etc).My older sisters were into James Brown, soul, disco and funk. Also I grew up with West Side
Story and all kinds of crazy music. As long as my feet were moving, I bought the record. The first single I
bought was Get up, stand up from Bob Marley and the Wailers because it felt great for my body and
brain - I didnt understand that kind of music, but it touched me, hahahaha. I was only busy with
gymnastics and motocross, until ....... my best friend bought a bass guitar, so I did too !! At that that time,
I didnt even know what a bass guitar was....In 1982 my father (my best friend ever) passed away, so the
bass was some kinda replacement for my fathers death, because he always supported/stimulated me to
become a musician. The bass was, for me, like heroine for a junkie. I learned to play it on the street and
after years, I founded the Bass Connection, a specialized bass-shop who trades/designs/buys/sells basses
world-wide. Right now, busy with my first album, although I already released a few songs. Playing in the
studios and live with all kinds of acts. What if my best friend bought a tennis racket instead of a bass?

Ariane C. Cap : I play the bass because I love the way a groove feels, being the heartbeat of the band,
supporting the singer or soloist, making the audience dance or bop their heads.
I discovered the bass because the band I was in as a keyboardist and guitarist - Sitting Bull, a blues rock
band in Austria - lost their bassist. We couldnt find a replacement and with gigs on the books and time
running out, the
drummer suggested I
go get a bass since I
played guitar anyways -
it would be easy. And
it did come easy. The
guitarist showed me
what to play and I
played my first gig as a
bassist within weeks
and never looked back.
I became serious about
it quickly and attended
Jazz schools in Austria
which landed me a
scholarship to the
University of Miami
and the possibility to
study Jazz in the US.
I had started playing music (piano) at the age of five and as a classical player it was always about the dots
on the sheet. I loved the improvisational nature of Blues, Rock, Jazz, Latin and other styles. And I
especially loved the feel of the groove and being the foundation of the band.
These days I play piano, electric and upright basses, fretless and mini basses. I tinker with the flute and I
sing, I do solo bass shows with a looper and have fun all sorts of ways. I compose in a variety of styles,
also commercially. Understanding the bass helps me with all these activities. I love the bass because its
contrapuntal function in many musical styles opened up my understanding of music.
I feel, these days, for me, its no longer so much about which instrument to express myself with, but,
laying down a good groove with one of my axes is still one of my all time favorite things to do! Also, the
more I play other instruments in a band, the more I appreciate bass players!!!

Alofa Toetu : I've been Playing BASS since I was a Kid and did the whole thing , gigs , out door concerts
session studio's , Rock Bands , Heavy Metal Bands , Gospels Choirs and in the end , ended up with a Jazz
Fusion Band....Got Married and had children and waited for them to grow up. So Bass Playing took a
Back Seat for about 15 Years while I concentrated on the Family.. Only in the last 3 years, I had to re-
teach myself Playing the Bass again But in those 3 years, I got to meet & also attend Victor Wootens
Master Class and Richard Bonas Master Class and I also got to Attend Marcus Miller's Master class as
well and was very fortunate to receive a signed Signature MM Jazz Bass from Marcus himself.. I Record
Jazz Fusion at Home and Session for a couple Blues Bands
In a Nut Shell....I LOVE BASS

Richard L. Wallenburg : I live in the Netherlands. I grew up in a family where music was everywhere.
We played and sang a lot in the living room. As a kid I started playing the Flute and later on, Alt Sax.
When I was around 25 years old, I started playing the bass and never stopped playing it. These days, I
work as a freelance bass player in different kinds of music styles. The gear Im using is a |Fender Jazz
bass, Gretch Broadkaster, an old German Double Bass and last but not least a Kala U bass (Ukulele Bass),
the amps Im using are Ampeg Svt, Aer.

Steve Adelson : I may be a bit different than most players in this collection. I started playing guitar in
1969. Rock of the time and fingerpicking ala John Fahey, Leo Kottke and the older blues guys were my
focus. Later started studying jazz guitar, eventually started two-handed tapping which then led me my
current status as Chapman Stick player. Since 1983, I've tried to digest the creative possibilies of this
extraordinary musical instrument. My exploratory urges are totally drawn to the inspirational concepts
behind Emmett Chapman's revolutionary invention and techniques. I can now play bass lines, chords,
melodies, improvs and rhythms simultaneously. What a great pallette to work from. I'm also inspired
because The Stick is fairly current, having little history. Hence the history is unfolding in real time and
being part of that is very rewarding on an artistic level. With my Chapman Stick I play the bass roll in my
musical performances but with guitar, piano and orchestral capabilities as well. As a creative musician,
this is very gratifying

Rico de Jeer : I knew that I wanted to play the bass from the time that one of my brothers played me the
LP "Armed Forces" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions with
Bruce Thomas on bass. This desire grew when I saw a
classmate perform with his band. After another classmate and
ever since best friend (poet/writer Ronald Ohlsen) asked me
for a 'guitar club' the actual playing of this instrument became
reality. In my final year of high school I bought my first bass:
a green metalic Maya bass.

In 1986 I enrolled at the University of Groningen to study

Psychology and after that first year I switched to study
Economics. In 1988 I bought the 1976 Fender Jazz Bass I still
play now and in the summer of that same year I went to
Budapest by bus to buy my first double bass. In 1991 I quit my
studies at the University to prepare for my admission to the
Hilversums Conservatory.

My musical preference by then had shifted from pop to blues

to jazz. The Fender bass was left in a corner of my room for a
number of years. Tim Nobel, student at the Hilversums
Conservatory, gave me my first double bass lessons and with
him, I was preparing for my own admission. In 1992, I was
admitted to the Hilversums Conservatory.
In 1993 I moved from Groningen to Amsterdam to be closer to
school. During my training I studied with (amongst others)
Koos Serierse, Rob Langerijs, Ruud Ouwehand, Edward
Mebius and Ernst Glerum to finally graduate in 1998 with
Arnold Dooyeweerd.

After my studies I worked with several bands and played several double basses. I still play my old time
favourite '76 Fender Jazz Bass. Currently I play a French double bass, which was built around 1850.

Craig Martini : It started with my two brothers interest in playing electric guitar and drums. It was the
summer between 3rd and 4th grade, at the time so I looked up to them quite a bit. I asked my Mom what I
could play and she introduced the idea of playing bass to me. Her Mother (My Grandmother) played the
upright bass. So my brothers and I found instruments in the Sears catalogue and looked at them for
months. At one point I cut out the picture of the bass (Harmony short scale) and carried it around with
me.
Eventually my parents gave in and ordered the stuff for us. I dont think Ive ever been more excited
about anything in my life to this day! Then an episode of a show called Rock School on a public access
station, changed my life. Larry Graham was on it, his playing was absolutely mind blowing to me! His
words about, when and where to keep it simple, have been words I have lived by ever since.
 The reason I keep playing bass is, I love the responsibility of the role the bass plays in music, it really is
quite important. It is the ultimate team instrument. As the bass player you are always in the middle of the
music, you get to glue the drums to the melody, occasionally getting to take the lead role as well. I
wouldnt change it for anything!

Wes Watson : I started out playing the flute as my main instrument and as the only guy flute player I
was mocked incessantly. I suppose I took up the absolute other end of the musical spectrum in response!
I continued with bass when I started listening, really listening to music. Bass drives rock. Im not sure
who said it first but folks may sing with the singer, may watch the guitar player, may dance to the beat
of the drummer but they shake their behind to the bass player! I love being able to provide that within
the context of melody and harmony to be the engine room of the song.
I absolutely love the sounds I can create with bass. And listening to other artists those who play solo
bass just blows me away. Im proud and honored to play the same instrument as they do.

Were also different those of us that play bass. We understand each other we have a camaraderie that
other instrument players dont. We connect on a deeper level.

And we can shake the walls with just . . . one . . . note.

Alfred Smith : I started playing bass at the request of a Pastor at the first church I joined when I moved
to Pennsylvania. They had no success in finding
anyone who could do it, so he asked if I would be
willing.

I was.

Since then Ive been on four other worship teams

in the last twenty years, and was part of an
outreach trio until recently.

I continue to play bass for my current church, and

theyve enlisted me to help them during outreach
events with other churches if a bass player is
needed.

If He chooses to bless it beyond that, its okay. If

He doesnt, thats okay too.

Using my gift, and giving it back to God for

bringing me this far, and up and out of the perils of life, is the ultimate that I can do with it.

Thats why I play bass.

Mike Dorea : My next door neighbour made his first guitar and then made a bass as well. I tried the bass
and discovered that I love the bass guitar. I can play a bit of guitar and keys as well, but Ill always love
the bass.

Clment Schepens : The first memory I have with this wonderful instrument called "bass" was around
1993. My big brother played the bass in a band with his friends from high school. He was a huge fan of
Iron Maiden, and had a lot of their posters in his room. That were terrorising me. But from time to time,
when he wasn't there I was overcame my fear and went exploring his den to see and touch his bass. The
vibration was hypnotising me but I was just a kid and never asked him to teach me how to play, I don't
even think I understood how someone could use it to make music.
Later, when he left the house, studying in another town I took his bass and started to play along to the few
tapes and CDs I had, without the amp, without knowing anything, but trying to do exactly what I could
hear.
And that's how the love began.
I believe that the greatest thing about the bass IS bass. It can make your booty move, it gives all the depth
to a chord, it gives power to a rock lick. And since Pastorius, it's also a great melodic instrument.
The air vibrating is music, your body vibrating is bass.

Logan Byrne : I love playing bass because thats who I am. Its my sweetest form of expression. I play
bass because its the grooviest instrument. Seriously, I dont think I find any other instrument as
appealing. Its got a sexy sound; it has a huge range, from the deepest, darkest low frequencies, to the
sweet mid range and obviously the upper register. It takes on the roll of the bass cleft and the treble cleft
with equal confidence and ease.
A well-played bass or written line is the glue of a composition. That glue is basically the stuff in between
the harmonic structure and that is what holds the rhythm and the harmonic structure together. Not only is
that exciting, but it highlights how subtly the roll of the bass anchors and guides whats happening in the
music. It is supportive and holds space for all other instruments, ideas and possibilities to form or be
created, mostly above it, and in mentioning that, the absence of the bass is felt immediately. You can feel
straight away that its not in the music.
Guitar was my first port of call, and later I switched to bass and found my groove there. Bass is not up
front all the time and playing bass has always led me to my passion and involved me with the music
intimately. Interaction with musicians from all walks of life and playing songs from all over the planet,
thats what really excited me and kept me involved in playing bass.
Playing bass has taught me that music is all about people and your approach to them, or interaction with
them, whether it be the band members with whom you play or are playing with presently, or the audience
or listeners.
Music is a feeling and an interaction between that; and bass playing is also just that. Like any other
instrument, it captures a feeling. Playing bass also taught me many things, but most of all it has been the
sensitivity to the people with whom you are playing the music and that are involved with the experience
of playing.
Double bass playing is by far the most physical of all bass involvements and experiences, and also the
most rewarding. So thats why I play bass.

Tony Reeves : I was 15, and at Colfes Grammar School in

Lewisham, London. There was a classical school orchestra, and
for some reason I can't remember, I wanted to take up the
trombone. But there were only 3 trombones in the orchestra, and
all three had players. However, the double bass player was leaving
school, and so I thought it would be a good idea to learn that for a
while until a trombone became vacant, since the music was
written in the same clef and I would give myself a head-start on
reading trombone music.
As they say, I never looked back! (and I still have no idea why I
wanted to play trombone!). I used to take the school bass home on
the weekend on the train, with a mate holding one end and me the
other as we walked to and from the station. When I was 16, I also
-very dangerously - used to take it on gigs to The Old Tigers Head
in Lee Green. It had a canvas cover with a wide canvas strap
diagonally across the back, so you could sling it over your
shoulder. My mate Dave Greenslade used to sling it across his
shoulder and then get on the rear pillion passenger seat of my
motorbike, and we used to drive like that to the gig. Probably get
arrested if you did that now.

Dave Avenius : I started playing bass as a teenager for the same reason many do my friends had a band
but they didnt have a bass player. I had played various instruments growing up: Piano, Trumpet,
Tubabut none of them spoke to me the way the Bass Guitar did. Over the years I came to realize that
the instruments role in music fits my personality very well. I try to be supportive and compliment whats
going on around me whether in a musical setting, my personal life, or in my role as CEO of Aguilar
Amplification. Its about connecting the dots and being the glue that holds things together. I also really
appreciate the community that weve all developed over the years. I think the same personalities that
draw us to be bass players also allow us to check our egos at the door and appreciate what each other is
doing. Thats what life is about for me how can we all continue to grow?

Andy Long : As a teenager I thought I wanted to be a guitarist. I loved hard rock and metal and all the
cool guys were guitarists. My dad bought me a
cheap guitar and the Bert Weedon book and I was
away. As I listened to records and picked up bits
and pieces I found myself unconsciously picking up
and playing the bass lines to songs rather than the
guitar parts. I didnt really understand what the bass
was at the time, but a couple of years later when I
finally got to be in a band, they already had a lead
guitarist and they needed a bass player so I got
some cheap gear and defaulted into the job. I soon
found that bass was my instrument and there began
a thirty-year (so far) love affair with the low end. As
time goes on, it becomes less of a hobby and more
of an obsession. Ive played in lots of bands in
many different genres, hard rock and metal,
alternative, blues, jazz, church worship and more. I
guess about a dozen or so years ago I met Steve
Lawson and was inspired by his approach to the
bass as a solo instrument. From there I delved
further into soloists and bassists from different
genres and have tried to soak some of that stuff up.
The bass player community is a fantastic world; its
inspiring the way in which the top players are
willing to share their knowledge and experience
with everyday amateurs or semi-pro players and
there is a co-operative spirit of friendship amongst players that transcends geographical and cultural
boundaries and cultural boundaries.

Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley : I dont think that you choose your instrument. I think that your instrument
chooses you.
At age 17 I decided that it would be a good idea to start playing the Electric Bass Guitar. I remember
seeing Rick James on the Midnight Special and being captured by the bass line. I also remember a high
school friend who played guitar. He had a
bass in the corner with only the E and A
strings on it (the 2 I mostly still use!). I
remember picking out lines on it by ear,
including Rick James You and I and Jah
Wobbles part on Public Image, Ltd. The
bass was choosing me.
There had been some very brief musical
flirtations with a couple of instruments as a
younger kid: guitar, viola, piano, but nothing
stuck. There was no musical program at my
very snooty and prestigious preparatory school
(go figure! And I wondered why I didn't fit in
there.). So the bass was a very self-motivated
endeavour. I washed dishes at a dude ranch in
Colorado one summer and saved up the $400
to buy my first used 1978 Fender Precision
Bass. Excellent purchase; I still have it and use
it on recording sessions to this day.
My very first gig, after only six months of playing, was my high school talent show doing Police, Stones,
Rush, Tommy Tutone, and Pat Benatar covers. Somehow I ended up having to organize the show by
default and turned a profit on the gate that night from the exorbitant $1 admission price. I made money
while simultaneously being applauded by a school full of people who hated me. This was something I
could get used to.
The rest is history.

Ali Hairunie : Born to a musical family, I was 10 years old when my dad induced me to play the acoustic
bass. Though huge for my age then, I recall truly enjoying my first few notes on the bass as it was a
learning and play along session right from the start (with my dad on the violin, piano or saxophone and
my elder brother on the guitar and piano) Without regret, my natural love for the bass evolved to the
electric bass later and has remained my principle instrument until now. Why I chose to stay on the bass
was every reason that most bass players would enjoy, that is being in a supporting position in the lower
range yet with an important and defining role that shapes the various music genres and styles.
With the evolving function of bass being more upfront and more bass players in a leading role, the
challenge and musical satisfaction remains to this day, my prime inspiration of being more involved with
the bass, hence the continuous effort of improving and enjoying the bass. From a single note to chordal
applications, supportive to melodic and improvisational functions, the bass truly remains my love and
reason for enjoying music.

Brittany Frompovich : I came to the electric bass after many years of performing on the guitar and after
getting my music degree on double bass. The electric bass reconciled my backgrounds on the guitar and
the double bass into one instrument.

I studied guitar in high school in private lessons. Like most young guitarists, I performed originals and
rock music with a group of friends in a band. When I went to college, I initially majored in audio
engineering. However, I was still required to study an instrument. Since the school did not have a guitar
program, my instructor suggested I try the double bass. After a few lessons, I was hooked. The presence
and depth of the sound was instantly addictive. I added a double bass major to my course of study.

After a few years, I became

interested in electric bass as
well. I loved how the electric
bass had familiar aspects of the
guitar and the double bass with
the addictive low growl I loved.
I borrowed an electric bass from
another student. That allowed
me to start playing electric bass
in a classic rock band and
incorporating it into my original
music. Shortly thereafter, I
purchased a bass and de-fretted
it myself.

The "personality" of the bass also aligned with many of my core values; being a strong foundation in a
group, plus the sense of belonging to a larger community. Bass is evolving, with innovative players,
builders and engineers contributing to both the tradition AND the emerging landscape of new possibilities
for the instrument. That sense of exploration really appeals to me; seeing what I'm capable of, what the
instrument can do, and seeing what others contribute to the craft. The bass is versatile; one night I could
be playing with a rock band, another night I could be doing theatre work, the next night Im performing
big band music, and the next night I could be playing a solo bass show. I love that versatility.

Why do I play bass? It is fundamentally who I am.

Eric Rupert : When asked to explain why I play or what inspired me seemed to make me look back. The
initial thought was back watching Will Lee(Late Night with David Letterman) jumping up in down in
tempo with some great tune The Worlds Most Dangerous Band was jamming to that night. Then I
remembered a performance of Ella Fitzgerald with Ray Brown on a rerun of Johnny Carson, duet version
of My Funny Valentine. The sound of the deep acoustic bass really made me feel something inside.
How I gage this is whenever I play My Funny Valentine today I still use that line at the start. Years
later not only did I study with Ray Brown; I was able to count him as a friend. I take so much from my
surroundings whether it be bass, piano, orchestras, horn players or vocals, so the list of who inspired me
is probably shorter than what has....

Geddy Lee : I always took music in school; I tried various instruments drums, trumpet and clarinet all
for really short periods of time, though. Learning an instrument in school didnt really turn me on, so I
took piano on my own when I was very young
rudimentary stuff. It wasnt until I was out of
grammar school and listening to rock music that
I became interested enough to seriously learn to
play.
Cream were actually the first band that really got
me interested. From then on, I listened to people
like The Who and Jeff Beck. I was mainly
interested in early British progressive rock.
I began with guitar, although I didnt play it very
long. I was about 14 then and I got my first
acoustic guitar, a beautiful acoustic that had
palm trees painted on it. Other than that, I have
no idea what kind it was. I got a bass about six
months after that, a Conora, which was just a big
solidbody with two pickups. It had a real big
neck sort of like a Kent. I had a little amp too
but I cant even remember what kind it was. We
used to borrow and rent amps Ace amps,
Silvertone amps whenever we needed them.
The first real amp that I got was a Traynor with
two 15s; I was almost 16 then. It was just before
I joined Rush actually.
I knew Alex from school. We were pretty good
friends and we always wanted to play together
but we never had the opportunity. He used to call
me all the time to borrow my amp, though,
because in those days, an amp was hard to come
by. He would say How are you doing? and Id
say Oh, not bad. Then hed say Oh, by the
way, can I borrow your amp this weekend? Weve got a gig. I used to loan him my amp all the time.
Well I received a call from him about two weeks after he started Rush with our original drummer, John
Rutsey. They had an excellent bass player, but he decided to quit the band at the last minute before a gig
at a local coffeehouse. That was big stuff back then. So I got this panic call from Alex: Do you want to
come out and fill in for the gig? I said, Sure! You know, in those days it was typical for a band to
rehearse for four hours, get all the songs together and just go out and do it. I did that one gig and they
asked me to stay in the band.
Excerpt from Bass Heroes

Cheech Carriero : The dictionary definition for the word Passion is "an intense emotion, compelling
feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something." This is an understatement when it comes to my love of the
Bass. I have found it such a difficult task to explain to non-bass players the strong feeling of bass
obsession. I have been playing bass for almost 30 years. What sparked my love for bass was a combo of
rap and rock. I heard Rapper's Delight on the radio and was mesmerized by the bass line as a kid. Soon
after I saw a man on TV running around on stage, placing his foot on his monitor and heard this sound
coming from his bass. The loudest, rawest, fantastic sound ever. This man was Steve Harris from Iron
Maiden. Over the years, I have modeled my own bass style. Daily I am a performer, creator, teacher and
student. Being on stage and creating music with my bands is an infatuation. Being able to show the world
what I have dedicated my life to is a major accomplishment. Not only do I perform but as a teacher of
bass I have taught many students over the years the art of bass. To see a teenager pick up a bass and years
later see the love of bass still in their heart is amazing. You are never too old to learn. I have had the same
bass teacher, my guru, for 25 years.
My favourite song lyric is from Led Zeppelins Houses of the Holy Let the music be your master. Will
you head the Master's call" and I say YES I WILL!

Jennifer Sharp : Because Im lucky! I started playing at school, because I wanted to give up the violin.
When my teacher asked why, I told her that I couldnt bear
the squeaky high notes, so she suggested that I try the bass. I
loved it and even though I got into rock music as a teenager, I
kept playing. However at university I couldnt afford one, so
didnt play for ages. Then one day I was at home with my
small children, idly listening to Radio 3 when I became aware
of a magnificent, energetic and exciting bass line. It was
Beethovens second symphony and I knew I had to join in.
Out of the blue one day, my husband bought me a bass and I
had to start from scratch again, but it was great fun and soon I
was playing in all sorts of bands. I have played with a huge
variety of amateur orchestras and groups around Edinburgh
and the Borders area. The great thing about playing bass is
that it is very grounding. Sometimes it feels as though the
basses are providing an anchor to keep the music and other
musicians on track. I dont actually mind when people say,
You dont notice the bass until it is not there! Then there
are those magic, spine tingling moments when the bass and
body vibrate in unison and the wave seems to creep over the
whole orchestra. Thats what inspired me to help start the
Scottish Bass Trust, which aims to encourage all things bass. I will continue to play the bass as long as I
am lucky enough to do so!

Riaan Hefer : Wellmy reason for playing bassfirstly, the Bass is such an exceptional instrument in
its contribution to the feel of any song in whatever style! Growing up playing rhythm guitar, I realized
after some 10 years, that theres something betterplaying the bass! But my obvious reason would
probably be the satisfying and fulfilling emotion that is expressed, through playing what you feelthat
sensation of expressing yourself by using your instrument! And experiencing what lies beyond that line is
what motivates me even more!

Alvin Cordy : My journey with the bass guitar began as a young 5 year old watching my uncle Alvin Lee
(The Lee Boys) in our church. I
come from a family with a
musical background, so this is all
I know. I play with a 7 string
VCS by Mark Vinciguerra, this
has become my signature bass.
Im asked all the time why 7
strings? For the style of music I
play it feels comfortable to me.
When my uncle was in school he
would listen to Bela Fleck and
the Flectones, I remember how
impressed he was with Victor
Wooten. He would also listen to
other Bass players like Stanley
Clarke, Wayman Tillsdale and
Marcus Miller. This really
opened my eyes to the world of
the Bass Guitarist. Traveling with the Lee Boys has allowed me to play with guys like Victor Wooten,
Oteil Burbridge, Steve Bailey and many others. Recently, I moved to Atlanta, GA to expand my musical
career and hope to inspire other young bass players. Every Tuesday night at the Peachtree Tavern, I host a
jam in Atlanta. The Bass is my life and I hope to touch the world with my music. Just like you.

BISCUIT : Why exactly was the Bass guitar my chosen instrument to play ?.... well that is a question that
I had never really thought about too deeply until now, and one that I found was a little more complicated
to answer than I would have thought, but here goes.
I have always been very passionate about music, even from a very young age, and growing up through the
60s 70s and 80s , I, like millions of others, feel privileged to have been exposed to the wonderful
music of some of the greatest musicians and bands that the world has ever produced, in my opinion.
As a child, I had a cousin who played
lead guitar in a Rock band and who
influenced me heavily by way of his
own playing and also the records that
he owned at the time, such as Bad
Company, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd,
the Rolling Stones, Boston and Jimi
Hendrix to name just a few...which
were followed by the likes of Genesis,
Queen, Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy
etc, so I was pretty much a lover of the
power of Rock right from the
beginning.
Also at this time there were artists
around such as David Bowie, Mark
Bolan, Slade and the Sweet among
many others, which were all still kind
of in that Rock area, so I was always
going to be a little Rock Heavy I
suppose.
Although having said this...In those
early days, I also found myself also
being moved by the sounds of the
Blues, Soul, Mowtown, Reggae, Ska,
Pop, and Classical music too and
indeed everything and anything that I
could lay my ears on. I realised that music was a very powerful and emotional force which could evoke
feelings from great Joy right through to great sadness, which of course we all feel during our lives at
some point, so being a quite emotional Kid who could really feel a Vibe all of this really affected me in
a massive way, and was to influence my life much later on, more I could never even imagine.
During those early years, I just soaked all this music up, but never really had any thoughts or
aspirations of taking up playing an actual instrument of any kind, although I did jump around a lot with a
tennis racket used as a guitar as most kids did back then... But little did I realise that I was to one day
play for REAL.
It was to be many more years of actually listening to hundreds or possibly thousands of bands and
Soaking up all of their music before I actually decided one day, that I would start actually playing an
instrument myself.
This was to be a day during the summer of 1990.... I was 28 years old, and had just moved house after
starting a new job, and wanted to fill my spare time with some kind of hobby during the evenings. As a
lover of Rock, I decided I would buy a cheap 6 string Lead guitar, which I believe was a Gibson copy,
which I would sit down and attempt to play to various records during my after work sessions.
Try as I did, I just could never get my head around the lead or Rhythm guitar parts, but instead I
instinctively found myself using the Low E and A strings and found it relatively easy to pick out the Bass
lines of almost anything I attempted to play..... It was almost like the guitar was Playing me
This came as quite a shock to me, as I never realised just how many of those bass lines I had absorbed in
my head without even thinking about them consciously... and even more Scary was the fact that I
actually knew pretty much where to put my fingers.
 It was this revelation that sent me off to the local music store to purchase my very first Bass guitar.... a
Jackson Charvel 4 string in a creamy white colour.
From that moment on, I would come home after a full days work, and would play that bass to tunes from
every genre of music for 6 hours a night over the next 3 years.... I was addicted to Bass, ha-ha.
Once I felt that I had acquired enough confidence and ability to hold a band together after that 3 years, I
just had to get that feeling of playing live with other musicians and so ventured out of the spare room and
into the crazy world of Bands and gigs etc ...Argghhh ha-ha.
I have been involved in so many bands during the last 22 years that I could not possibly name them all
here, and that goes for the many brands of Bass guitars that I have used too...lets just say I have pretty
much tried every manufacturer of 4, 5 and 6 string basses that you could imagine, which have of course
has been a cross between great, good, bad and Indifferent.
I have to say that I feel that I have been very fortunate in the fact that 99% of those bands I have played
with have been playing and writing original material, so I have pretty much had a free reign on what and
how I could play, which has been a real blessing for me and which ultimately led me to becoming a Solo
artist, Tutor and session player and which has resulted in my recording for various other projects since I
went Solo 7 years ago after being so heavily influenced during those recent years by the likes of Jaco
Pastorius, Billy Sheehan, Marcus Miller and TM Stevens
I have also become an endorsing artist for some major bass gear manufacturers over the last 7 years too,
which has also come about due predominantly, to those Solo efforts, which is something I could never
have either dreamed of or hoped for...... So dreams really can come true, even if you didnt realise you
had them, eh, haha.
So why do I play Bass?
Its a Love and an addiction all rolled into one...I just love the Look and the feel of Bass guitars and the
Sound of those Lower frequencies and how they are the Heartbeat and direction of music, and the way
they hold everything together, and I am convinced it really was always just Meant to be for me..., my
destiny... I think that those Basses actually Play me most of the time !
Respect always.... BISCUIT

Mark White : I basically started playing bass to meet girls. My friend Reggie Capers was playing drums
and in those days, you could actually recognize a song just from
the drum beat. He had some girls over and they seemed excited
about his drum playing. By chance that same week, my friends
two little brothers found a busted guitar in the pool, so I took it
from them (I was much bigger than them). That guitar only had
two strings on it, but I played it in the bathroom where I could
hear it. I totally remember closing my eyes and thinking I was
some famous something in front of thousands of people.
That guitar is actually the reason I'm left handed. Since I had
nobody to show me what to do, I just sort of made it up. I
played until my thumb got sore from picking and I would flip it
over and use my other thumb, and I kept flipping it back and
forth until I somehow got stuck left handed.
Finally my mom busted out the Sears catalogue for Christmas
and there was a guitar and a bass (which I had no idea there was
a difference), so I got the guitar because it had more strings, but
I'm playing with my friend and I'm only playing the E and A
strings. He said I needed to get a bass. So later on, my mom
gave me a hundred bucks, I went to Sam Ash on 48th street and
said, "what do you have for 100 bucks?" and the dude said,
"that". I said, "I'll take it." That whole thing took less than two
minutes. My friend Tony took that bass and put the E string on
top, because I was still playing upside down. He did a great
thing for me by doing that, because I would never have thought
of it.
I didn't even know you had to tune it, I was playing for weeks
and didn't know until I played something for Tony over the
phone and he asked me if the bass was in tune, and I said "tune? What's that?" Now I had to call him up
everyday to tune the bass over the phone until I got a tuning fork. After a while I would just tune the E
string to Slave's song " Slide."
Well I never met any girls, I spent so much time playing that bass it's a wonder I didn't gain 200 pounds
and become allergic to sunlight. I was basically practicing from sunrise to sunset. Somebody showed me
the "C" major scale and I used to play that thing until my mom was like, "don't you know anything
else??" I would just move it to C# and ask her, "is that better?"
Nowadays, I'm glad I picked the bass. I still play it like crazy, I don't really think of it as practice, I just
can't put that thing down for any length of time. It's like crack for me. But a nice kind of crack that
actually takes you all over the world and pays for your chicken Mcnuggets.

Skip Hartman : I am soon to be 56 years old. I grew up on a family farm with 3 siblings. Thanks to my
mother, we all participated in school music programs and learned to play instruments at an early age. I
played the trombone from age 9 to 18 in our school music programs and participated in choir and other
music groups, as well.
I was also greatly interested in mechanical
relationships. Due to the intensity of my
studies to become a licensed aircraft
mechanic and a mechanical engineer I put
music on the back burner during my
university education. I got married before
graduation so family and career followed
close on the heels of school and my
participation in music was limited to
inconsistent participation in church choirs
and the enjoyment of listening to music
produced by others.
This was the case until 2005 when, after
watching my wife lead the praise team in
our church for more than a year, the Lord
impressed upon me the need for a bass
player in our church worship program. My
wife encouraged me and I borrowed a bass
from a friend and began to teach myself to
play. I did work hard and discovered that I
was capable of learning and after a few
months purchased a bass.
I was travelling a lot for work so I
purchased an Aria Sinsonido "travel" bass
that I could disassemble and take with me
and practice in hotel rooms without having
to have an amp. I became a part of our
praise team and greatly enjoyed the
opportunity of playing with the group as a service to the church. A retired member of our praise team
asked me to accompany him a few years ago in some "gigs" outside our church and this activity has
picked up considerably.
I still travel a lot. I have picked up several more basses and I have really enjoyed learning the history of
the bass guitar and becoming familiar with those who have really lead the way in developing its roll in
modern music. My latest acquisition is a Rogue 8 string using 4 pairs of strings paired in Octaves. I have
enjoyed learning about the subtle differences in various basses that reveal slightly different tonal qualities
unique to specific basses. I have discovered the bass is an instrument that really fits my personality and
while many people can play the bass I know that many do not find the pleasure in it that I do. I do not
want to use all the clich terms that go along with descriptions bass players often give of why they enjoy
playing, but they do mostly apply to me!
I feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to play now with such regularity, with other team
members who are gifted and dedicated, and that something I find so pleasurable can be used in service to
my Lord in a worship setting! I find music in almost any form to reinforce my Christian beliefs in a Lord
that is a Lord of creativity and design and that the music is produced by a group is more than the sum of
its parts. It has a touch of divinity! Just as I see the Lord's intricate design in how man has developed his
knowledge of science and technology in my engineering work.

Mergan Naidoo : Why do I play Bass? Well I guess at the outset I didnt have a choice.. I led a
worship team for many years at my local church, South of Johannesburg. Our current bassist at the time,
who was well versed in the instrument and played with such passion, took a job some 1400 kilometres
away. The drive to our twice a week practise sessions was becoming somewhat of a problem. So, I did
what any great leader would - I fired him.
Regrettably and unfortunately we had to say goodbye to our bassman who went off to work in East
London and took his Yamaha TRB with. I was forced to pick up the instrument that I would soon fall in
love with. I have been grooving ever since. I did not have a choice when picking up the bass I did,
however, have a choice to eventually put it down
I CHOSE NOT TO!
Relinquishing my duties as a Worship leader, I
joined AVIKAR, a Bollywood Fusion Outfit,
with the intention of developing my bass playing
skill to a whole different level. I soon traded my
unused, Fender 50th Anniversary, 2-toned
Sunburst Deluxe Stratocaster collectors piece for
a 2006 Limited Edition Warwick Thumb Bolt-on
Dirty Blonde. It initially felt a bit different from
the Washburn 5 String that I was accustomed to
in church but soon found so much pleasure
having just 4 strings to control the mood and feel
of what we played. Our style of music varied
from contemporary bollywood music through to
dance and pop. Included some Jazz Fusion, which
initially posed a serious challenge to this church
muso. Marcus Millers Friends and Strangers bass
solo from the Dave Grusin Mountain Dance
album was the first bass solo that I had to learn
and perfect. Thank goodness all the musos around
were better than I was. To date it is still one of my
favourite pieces.
Ok, back to answering the key question WhY
dO I PLaY BasS? Or Why do I love playing
Bass?
Music is a creation from our Father in Heaven
who enjoyed it with such a deep passion that He
gave charge over it to His most superior angel.
Music of all genres has power because God created it with such power. Do you notice how certain music
when played loud enough moves you to the depth of your soul? There is power in Music, and its not all
good by the way That superior angel I mentioned before. Grew a tail, got himself a pair of horns, got
a bit arrogant, and was fired from the Heavenlies.. He is still a chief musician though and uses the power
in music in ways.. Well, lets just say he fell from grace and is not such a nice guy anymore. Hey
who am I to judge?
There is power is music because God breathed power into it, like He did when He breathed life into man.
Sounds like I am preaching hey? Ok sermon over. Let me just answer the damn question already.
I feel that I have been blessed with this love of music and more blessed that I am able to express this
love. My heart is that of a Worshipper it will always be. Im grateful to be alive and will honour my
Father in Heaven wherever and whatever I play in the love that we both share in Music.

Jon Liebman : My story is similar to that of many bass players. I began playing the bass out of
necessity. Specifically, it was because there were already more than enough guitar players, so I faced a
choice: either learn to play the bass or find myself out of the band!
When it came time for college, I began taking the basic music theory and history classes, without really
knowing where I was headed. When it came time to declare an instrument toward the end of my freshman
year, I needed to make a commitment. In those days, there was no such thing as a rock major or even a
jazz major, so I had to choose
a traditional instrument. I
deliberated between classical
guitar (which I love, to this day)
and classical bass.

Something about the bass just

resonated with me. Having
played electric bass for four
years by then, broadening my
scope to include the upright,
seemed obvious. I also saw a lot
more opportunities for bass
players than guitar players, not
the least of which was the fact
that there were already so many
great guitar players in the world
(see above!). Moreover, if a
bass player doubles on upright
and electric, the instrument can
be applied to just about any musical situation, whether it be orchestral, theatre, weddings, rock shows and
so on.

Theres also a certain camaraderie among bass players, unlike that of any other instrument family.
Whats more, the possibility for new techniques seems virtually limitless, as evidenced by Jaco Pastorius,
Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Steve Bailey, Michael Manring, Niels Pedersen, Victor Wooten, Billy
Sheehan and so many others. Its great to be a member of that family!

Double-Z : Just at the end of my high school years, I knew I

wanted to do something really different than other girls. Id
been a musician my entire life-since the age of 3, I played
piano. I played concert piano until I decided I wanted to play
the stuff I heard on the radio more.
The only girls that played instruments that most women didnt
play were in Sly and the Family Stone! I wanted to play
something even more different! BASS!!! Yeah, thats it!

Why do I play bass??? Many reasons. My first was just stated

above. I also believe that it lets the masculine side of me *run
amuck* with Big Balls!(lol) Im a *In Yo Face* bassplaya!
Then a real important reason for me, is that Ive been told by
many males and females how Ive inspired them to *dare to be
different*, to play an instrument they didnt think they could
play and to just DO the damn thing! I put them on the path.
Thats a great feeling!

I play bass, cuz thats what I was put here to do!

George Moye : Growing up in a family band, I started playing bass at a young age. We had only guitar
players and I happened to have a regular guitar but it had only 4 strings, so I assumed the role as Bass
Player. The summer I was 16, I remember my Mom asking me what I wanted to do with the money I had
been saving and I told her I wanted to buy a real bass guitar. She took me to the music store and helped
me buy the instrument I am still in love with today. I truly enjoy being in the supporting role of the
rhythm section and have discovered my voice on the bass. I know when the bass notes are
played correctly, the groove will invade your soul without permission.

Amy Shook : I had been playing violin for about 5 years and loving it. When I was in 8th grade, I was
singing in the jazz choir, and we attended the Lionel
Hampton Jazz Festival. I remember going to one of the
evening concerts at the festival and hearing the likes of
Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz. But then
the Ray Brown Trio took the stage with Gene Harris on
piano and Jeff Hamilton on drums, and even though I had no
idea what I was hearing, it was so powerful, so magical, I
knew that's what I wanted to do. There was something that
profoundly resonated with me upon hearing the deep,
swinging groove that Ray was laying down, locking in with
Jeff and Gene, playing the blues...it made me want to dance
and cry all at the same time. The next year, instead of
singing in the jazz choir, I taught myself to play the upright
bass so I could be in the jazz combo accompanying the
choir. I eventually went to university on a violin scholarship,
but playing jazz bass was my passion, and now I'm blessed
to get to groove and swing everyday, laying down the
foundation, the heartbeat, playing America's Music, Jazz.
To me, there is nothing better than grooving on those low
notes.

Martin Simpson : By definition, I am a bass guitarist but that doesnt actually make me a bass player. I
couldnt truthfully call myself a bass player to find one of those, you need to look in the direction of
people like Ron Carter, Jorge Pescara,
Jason Marsh, Christian McBride, Kristin
Korb, Joseph Patrick Moore etc etc. Im
essentially a guitarist that feels more
comfortable on four thick strings than six
thin strings. So then, just why do I play
bass? Thats easy because, not only do I
prefer playing bass guitar above any other
instrument Ive ever tried, but it also
affords me the opportunity to connect
with all these guys and girls on a level
that only we truly understand. We are all
from different walks of life with widely
varying intellects, we play instruments
with anywhere between two and twenty
strings, we play Wooden, Cardboard,
Carbon Fibre and Plastic instruments. We
use bows, fingers, thumbs, plectrums,
finger picks, thumb picks and drumsticks
to set the strings in motion. The bow users
have a choice of German or French bows
which are both held differently. The
plectrum users draw from a selection
ranging from stone, metal, carbon, plastic
and felt depending on the type of tone
theyre after and on the subject of tone, us
bassists draw from a selection of strings
ranging from natural cat-gut, stainless
steel, nickel, bronze and nylon. The metal strings themselves come in zingy sounding round-wounds, half
round (essentially round-wound strings that have been milled flat so that fretless players can tap into the
zingy sound without destroying their fingerboards) and flat-wound variations - and the various ways the
strings are made, is a science all of its own!!! Some session bassists will change their round-wound
strings as often as one new set everyday just to retain that brightness of tone thats so important to them
when theyre employing the slap technique. Compare that with our dub reggae brothers and sisters who
would rather REPAIR a twenty-year old flat-wound string to retain that deep dull sound thats so
important to their art!!! We play instruments that are older than our Great Great Grandfathers, we play
modern day instruments that we have specially built for us and we even play instruments that weve made
for ourselves, were two separate genders, were left handed and right handed, were Muslims, Buddists,
Hindus, Jews, Christians, Satanists & Atheists but sinners, every one of us! Were Professionals, ex-
Professionals, Semi-Pros, Amateurs and Hobbyists.. Were masters of legato and staccato techniques. We
range from people that can say everything they need to with one or two well-placed notes to people that
feel that they need a thousand notes to express the same thing. Likewise, youll see the same thing in this
missive, where some people can express themselves with as little as three words and others need a page or
more to say the same thing. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with each approach it just shows how
different we all are. We range from the introspective guy that stands, unobtrusively, hunched over his
bass, in the corner of the stage to a certain individual from the Isle of Wight in the British Isles who
actually chews gum while hes singing the lead vocal and slapping complex bass lines. We range from
musical morons to musical geniuses and also range from root peddlers through one four five (12 bar)
specialists to soloists supreme. We also range from creative geniuses (not necessarily great or even
competent musicians) to people (in some cases, absolutely awesome musicians) that are happy to spend
their entire careers covering other peoples material. We range from people that have been playing bass
since they were just a few years old to people that have taken up the instrument in their forties! Were
different colours, playing differing styles of music and essentially no two bassists are exactly identical in
the way they play their instruments, but the bass unites us and I for one, am extremely happy to be part of
this special community of low frequency Space Cadets!!!!!

Thank You
Thanks to everyone that contributed in some way towards this book and that includes, not only the 503
bassists (including the eight students that study / studied with Peter Tambroni) that contributed (either
directly or indirectly through another publication or from beyond the grave R.I.P. Monk Montgomery &
Andre van Zyl) stories, photos, messages, autographs and music to this project, but also the photographers
(both living and deceased R.I.P. Fred Hayward) whos works are included here, the various managers
that sent along material and the Suspect Seventeen whos stories are told at the back of the book. Thank
you to all those people that gave me help in a number of different ways towards making this book such a
success. Thanks also to all those people World-wide, that prayed for my health to return when things were
looking very bad for me in 2010 and mostly, go thanks to my beautiful late wife, Lillian, for nursing me
back to health before succumbing to pneumonia just a year later..
John Goldsby once said to me You must be very proud of this book. Im very happy that God (I finally
realised) charged me with putting this book together, but Im proud of all of YOU guys and girls that
made this mammoth task possible with your dedicated and enthusiastic participation without you, there
wouldnt have been a book an absolutely brilliant team effort!
 One Liners Re-Visited
Adam Engela: Because its cooler than guitar.

Alfred Kallfass: I never learned anything else, so I have to.

Barry Sherman : I play bass because nothing can make a song rock like a steady eighth-note groove.

Chris Garner: It just feels great.

Clive Jackson: I enjoy playing bass as it allows me to express myself as a musician.

Colin Deacon: - Cos I love it when my Nuts rattle on stage

Dave Segall: I play bass for the chics, man!! Bass is just so mysterious, and Im a mysterious guy!

Dino Fiorenza: I play the bass. Its my very reason to live.

Emil Nysschens: Basses were on sale, the day I went to the music store.

Graeme Currie: Because I can!!!!!

Ilze Fourie: I guess I started playing bass in 2001 by just being at the right place at the right time...

Jeroen Paul Thesseling: "Playing fretless bass gives me a tremendous amount of musical freedom"

Martin Engelien: Why do I play Bass? Is there another reason to live?

Paul DeLano: It is the first instrument I was able to pick out in a song and still the first instrument I hear
when I listen to a song.

Richard Jay Terrien: "Because Bassists RULE!!!"

Rika Hebrst: Nothing beats the low, Earth-Moving sound of a BASS!

Roy Melville: Because I love it.

Stefan Henrico: Why do I play bass? Well, how long is a piece of string? I cant tell you why I play bass,
I just do.

William Slimmerts: There was no one else at Church to do the job!!!

.
 Photographic Acknowledgements

Bassist Photographer
Randy Kertz Kim Honan

Adam Nitti Dieter Spears

Quintin Berry Not Known

Andy Gonzalez Not Known

Steve Bailey Leeann Bailey

Bryan Beller Michael Mesker

William Teags Paul Moore

Victor Bailey Not Known

Pino Palladino Not Known

Graham Jacobs Caitlin Jacobs

Kevin Brandon Not Known

Matthew Bairstow Suzanne Archer

Billy Sheehan Not Known but Billy owns the photograph

Sting Not Known

David Hughes Robin Ganter

Stanley Clarke Not Known

Mark Egan Jesus A. Martinez Laucirica

Rufus Reid Not Known

Glenn Letsch Larry Garcia

Victor Wooten Not Known

Jean-Bertrand Carbou Not Known

Concord Nkabinde Suzy Bernstein

Michael Manring Philippe Lissart

Jeff Berlin Not Known

Shaun Moseley Ryan Skully Demoser

Ross Pickford Leon van Heerden

Bassist Photographer
Brian Ogawa Tracy Ogawa

Francois Marais Dirk De Wet

Llewellyn Buzz Bethwaite Monique Forbes

John Goldsby Ines Kaiser

Eelke van der Hak Not Known

Al Turner Not Known

Chuck Bianchi Michelle Preston

Yves Carbonne Philippe Lissart

Clement (Mr Crazy fingerz) Georges Not Known

Tammy Wilson Shireen Arbuthnot

Victor Masondo Mziwoxolo Mtola

Joseph Patrick Moore Gina Cellino

Alexander Kalinovski Not Known

Chris Badynee Alan Eden

Jade Abbott Richard Hering

Franc OShea Not Known

Wayne Fox Cindy Fox

Joe Penn Melissa Heath

Nik Felbab Not Known

Darren Michaels Cindy Sheffield Michaels

Christoph Victor Kaiser Not Known

Cobus Keyser Leon Oosthuizen

Edo Castro Sharon Green

Yo Yo Buys Darlington R'n'B Club

Rob Gourlay Grant Stinnett

Richard Sims Gene Higgins

Mark Meadows n-foto@web.de

Gonzo C. C. Campos
Bassist Photographer
Daniel Gray Zara Mary Gray

Pete Ball Chris Moore

Kevin Charles McGinnis Jean Clogenhouse

Jan-Olof Strandberg Ulf Zackrisson

Scott Kungha Drengsen Not Known

Hilton Vermaas Not Known

Ben Allison Greg Aiello

Jitka Brzek Not Known

Bert Askes Lundie Askes

Dave Askes Michael Brown

Miles Askes Dave Askes

Simone Vignola copyright : European Bass Day

Rudy Sarzo Not Known

Julian Mayer Dave Evans

Lars Lehmann Christin Maschmann

Barry Irwin Not Known

Kai Horthemke Gary van Zyl

Roald Nel Not Known

Reggie Washington Eddy Westveer

Marius Liebenberg Graeme Currie

Scott Hubble Not Known

Jacques Steyn Adriaan de Beer

Bill Parish Not Known

Donn Dowlman Peter Sansom

Paul Martin Not Known

Abel Stoltz Jonathan Damaghaulas

Glenn Topping Gen Frank

Andra (Fuzz) Reitz Jarrad Nelson

Bassist Photographer
Johann Kruger George Hakim

Chris Harris Not Known

Ed Friedland Dawn Miller

Lex Futshane Not Known

Marten Andersson Theresa Cameron

Ernie Leblanc Not Known but Ernie owns the photograph

Lorenzo Feliciati Simone Cecchetti

Celste Reyneke Karl Storbeck

Todd Johnson Luke Neuman

Alex Davison Not Known

Theo Klassen Not Known

Pierre Schnehage Miemie Wolmarans

Gareth Sherwood Muriel Sherwood

Nikolai Neronski Vlad Kiryshenco

Greg Cavanaugh Not Known

A.L. "Artie" Terry Gary Irving

Peter Tambroni Peter Tambroni

Valery Bashkov Vlad Kiryshenco

Reggie Worthy Not Known

Bruce Gertz Nicole Goodhue

Mark Neuenschwander Not Known

Vuyani Wakaba Jody Warner

Justin Maree Not Known

Al Garcia Al Garcia

Herbert Smith Ken Berger

Brian Lawrence Gideon Murray

Al Caldwell Dave Probst

Kerry Blewett Not Known

Bassist Photographer
Albey Balgochian Jane Grenier B

Brogan Thompson Glenn

Frederick Charlton Diane Devereaux

Roy C. Vogt Terrell Thornhill

Pat Cullen Hayden Garwood

Arlyn Culwick Not Known

Norm Stockton Neil Zlozower

Craig Bissel Sean Brand

Johann Eicher Not Known

Robbie Sanna Vincenzo Sanna

Max Theron Candace van der Leek

Leon Bosch Guy Mayer

David Geschke Not Known

Prof. Marc Duby Not Known

Colin Brown Adrienne Brown

Michael Auer Jono Jebus

Julian Fairall Isaac De Abreu

Richard Bodkin Johnny Lai Sang

Llewellyn John Not Known

William Maxwell Not Known

Jake Kot Sidney Smith

Prakash John David Charlesworth

Stewart McKinsey Kathryn Saffro

Evan Marien Simon C.F. Yu

Shaun Scott Nadine Scott

Grant Stinnett Sarah Stinnett

Jamie Canivet Not Known

Corn Dannhauser Gerhard Bouwer

Bassist Photographer
Siyabonga Ngubane Mxolisi Coki

James Sunney Not Known

Anthony Scelba Susan DeFurianni

Vaughan Ross Nadia Ross

Ronald John Pillay Dylan Harbour

Andrew Warneke Claire Warneke

John Archer Adelle Saggerson

Maxim Starcke Lisa Bauer

Jeremy Howard Rudi Botha

Trish Bailey Jimi Glenister

Lorne Peakman Joanne Peakman

Ponkey Reilly Alette Reilly

Dave Meros Joe del Tufo

Vic Bergh Jaco Steyn

Peter Murray Dave Dickson

Jauqo 111-X Mike Kemet Pryor

Lucas Senyatso Not Known

Dereck Walstra Katya Filmalter

Taylor Marian Mlynarczyk

Corrado Canonici Not Known

Lenny Padayachee Samantha Padayachee

Jim Stinnett Jamie Stinnett

Jimi Glenister Trish Bailey

Daniel Rezant Joshua Anthony

Rob OBrien Not Known

Tom Kennedy Dave Weckl

Judy Foxcroft Not Known

Benoit Grigaut Not Known

Bassist Photographer
Antonella Mazza Not Known

Hadrien Feraud Kerstin Baramsky

Alex Searle Steve Winter

Martin Motnik Csaba Molek

Kirwan Brown Drew Gates

Alan Goldstein Don Jalbert

Shaun Johannes Not Known

Doug Johns Natalie Ceja

Steve Walters Morten Thobro

Rami Lakkis Nadine Al Koudsi

Hilliard Green Howard Baden

Adam Taylor Leigh Benson

Raul Amador M. Cantral

Chris Adams Naomi Adams

Mel Brown Kelli Capelli

Mary-Anne Ray Julian Mayer

Virgilio Venditti Chiara Venditti

diRASTAMAN Monja Ras

Steve Gee Phil Mulvaney

Damian Erskine Cortney Erskine

Aram Bedrosian Jamie L. Cram

Dr. Donovan Stokes Cora Rhodes

Victor Denson Angulo David Halliday

Trip Wamsley Bobby Monds

Brent Anthony Johnson Sasha Johnson

Jean Baptiste Collinet Marine Beltran

Jimmi Roger Pedersen Vagn Guldbrandsen

Jason Marsh Chris Walkden

Bassist Photographer
Kim Clarke Dave Gibson

Don Bryce Mike Reeves

Steve Doner Jane Doner

Garth de Meillon Michael Brown

Glenn Veale Belinda Lings

Stuart Krahn Maurade Baynton

Joseph Milstein Elena Gammardella

Phil Peters Elizabeth Buenacasa

Simon Goulding Pete Lucas

Schalk Joubert Gerrit Joubert

Albert Hobson A.E. Harris

Tim Bogert Not Known

Markus Setzer Klemens Mllenbeck

Vail Johnson John Raymond

Darius Willemse Thina Joubert

P.J. Phillips Becky Curran

Ike Onwuagbu Not Known

Dan Hestand Dan Hestand

Hartmut Hillmann Denis Bopp

Stefan Redtenbacher Tom Barnes

Ashley Kelly Steve Walker

Basil Fearington Wendy Holmes

Chuck Rainey Not Known

John B. Williams Veronica Puleo

Jonathan Moody Anthony Steinberg

Dave Pomeroy Philip Pomeroy

Willem Samuel George Hugo

Graham McKay Sarah du Pina

Bassist Photographer
Ado Roza Sonia Santos

Ronnie W. Dalesio Patricia Dalesio

Austin Underhill Austin Underhill

James Eller Katryn Fougery

Morn Brainers Not Known

Casey Andersen Zac Suskevich

Bruno Migliari Ana Paula Oliveira Migliari

Gene Torres Not Known

A.J. Hager Anna N. Dhody

Jayen Varma Twin Eyes, Coghin

Nixon Rosembert John McCarthy

Jeff Dodd Erik Dodd

Sharlafunk Lil sis Millie

David "Doc" Tourville Not Known

Alex Bershadsky Liran Bershadsky

Lane Baldwin Josh Daubin

Kenny Weydener Cathy Weydener

David Neubert Not Known

Greg Brown Tootsie Brown

Matt Bissonette Not Known

Gregori Hofmann Ian Harding

Michael Stram Laureen Smith

Ariane C. Cap TNT Pictures.com

Rico de Jeer Gea Schenk

Alfred Smith Valerie Barber

Tony Reeves Not Known

Andy Long Not Known

Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley Ivan Bodley

Bassist Photographer
Brittany Frompovich Brandon Hill

Geddy Lee Not Known

Jennifer Sharp Mike Sharp

Alvin Cordy Not Known

BISCUIT Not Known

Mark White Aaron Comess

Skip Hartman Joe Hartman

Mergan Naidoo AVIKAR

Jon Liebman Randy Zdrojewski

Double-Z Not Known

Amy Shook Pat Shook

Martin Simpson Michael Brown

One Liners Section
Bassist Photographer
Stefan Henrico Lynn Landman

Martin Engelien Not Known but Martin owns the photograph

Dino Fiorenza Riccardo Barbagallo

Graeme Currie Brian Farrell

Chris Garner Kris Gruber

Roy Melville Leon Wolmarans

Emil Nysschens Shandene van der Walt

Dave Segall Not Known

Ilze Fourie Not Known

Clive Jackson Sean Jackson

Jeroen Paul Thesseling Matthijs Hakfoort (Moodphoto.eu)

Jay Terrien Elizabeth Terrien

Colin Deacon Karen Healy

William Slimmerts Martin Simpson

Paul DeLano Diana Smith

Adam Engela Caron Roodt

Barry Sherman Hazel Sherman

Rika Hebrst Madelein Potgeiter

Alfred Kallfass Not Known

Alphabetical Index Section
Bassist Photographer
Adrian Lay Fred Hayward

Alliston Europa Dirk Gous

Cees van der Weele Anne van der Weele

Delton Daniels Delton Daniels

Djordje Stijepovic Anthony Toth-Fejel

Jaime David Vazquez Elizabeth Troche Andujar

Jorge Pescara Eduardo Oliveira

Jose A. Valentin Caro Yaritza Ortiz

Nick Cook Rowan Kelly

Steve Adelson Not Known

Trevor Muller Michael Brown

Wilbert van Niekerk Alwyn van Ziyl

.
 Why I Play Bass Comments (1)

Todd Grosberg : The story, Why I Play Bass was awesome to read. You know, reading different stories
about bass players or even different musicians its good to read - how they started out and where theyre
experiences took them. Those are the kind of musicians that inspire other musicians to be good players
and make great experiences. I know Ive been inspired as a musician and I hope to pass it along as well.

Trish Bailey : What strikes me is the absolute common thread running through most of the Bass stories
from top Pro bassists to weekend warriors - from their early experiences of how they started, their similar
personality types to their love of the deep resonant frequencies and of their instruments, and so often
apparent is Soul connection with all that is Bass which manifests in the pervading warmth, humbleness
and sense of humour throughout all comments. How wonderful to be a part of the great family of BASS!

Vuyani Wakaba : From the time I began playing the bass, and during every stage of my development as
a bass player, I have always had bass players that Ive looked up to. The work of these bass players was
also a benchmark that I used (and still use) to compare my own playing. Even though I've since come to
know and formed friendships with many of my bass heroes, I still am amazed by their originality,
musicality, and dedication.
The "Why I Play Bass" comments from many of the bass players I admire serve to prove that we are
much more similar than we are different. As I read through the comments, I find that even though we may
not share the same cultures, nationalities, or faiths, we are equally touched by music. It is that connection
to music that breaks barriers (language, cultural, national, racial, etc.) and forms the amazing bond found
among bass players in particular.

Barry Irwin : Its quite a mouth full trying to grasp the reasons why people choose to play the bass.
How different each and every bass player is! Some have been fortunate to have great teachers who helped
and inspired them from the very beginning, while others seem to have come to the instrument in an
unassuming manner. Others as if out taking a stroll contemplating the musical universe, and unknowingly
lured into its sphere. Passion seems to be what ignites us all. Whatever being a bassist is to each
individual, there seems to be a profound love for the roll as a bass player, and the instrument, also a
willingness to learn and grow in both spiritual and intellectual ways. Being such a complete instrument,
yet incomplete in our understanding of it, leaves us with so much to think and do. Maybe the reason why
once a bass player, always a bass player
Trying to master harmony, rhythm, feel and time. To capture the atmosphere of the moment, is a life long
journey on the bass that brings much joy and much pain, but much growth to us all. It certainly is the
heart and soul of all music and the heart and soul of all who play it. Without it, this world would be a very
different place to live in. Its a blessing and something to always cherish and respect.
Play the Bass! BBI.

Judy Foxcroft (GrannyBass) : When reading all the stories, I agree that there is a deep passion for this
instrument that only bassists can share. The variation of bass guitars and what sounds they produce, can
blow your mind and leave the musician such an opportunity to explore and reach depths and heights one
cannot imagine. One will never understand this until you belong to this exotic family and feel the bass
notes vibrating through your heart and soul. I love my bass family.

Joseph Patrick Moore : "Why I Play Bass" is probably the most fascinating expanding article available.
It truly shows the power of the internet to cross cultures and boundaries, all in the name of music and
bass. Kudos to Martin Simpson for his initial vision and for his flame that will not go dim on keeping this
beautiful article alive.
This is the modern day bass reference for anyone interested in playing bass or for those fascinated by the
players that do."

Andrew Warneke : When I read 'Why I Play Bass' I was so excited to see contributions from some of
the great names in bassplaying alongside those who are perhaps unknown, or 'soon-to-be' greats. It really
gave me a sense of the well-known idea that bassplayers are a bunch of guys who see themselves as a
community, and not as individuals in competition. I'm so glad to have this inspiring resource to refresh
my memory of why I do what I do.
 Why I Play Bass Comments (2)

Richard Sims : I found it interesting that the majority of bassists had a common reason for picking up the
instrument. From a purely subjective standpoint, it made me feel a little outside of the brother and
sisterhood, seeing as I've never really experienced those feelings that so many bassists seem to share.
However, this article was not only entertaining because of the obvious love for the instrument which all
these folks profess and which emanates from their words - but it also was further reinforcement that there
is room for all our contributions, whether peddlers of root notes - thumb thumpers - hyper tappers -
groove merchants - jazz walkers or solo explorers. It put a big smile on my face! Thanks Martin...

Gareth Sherwood : Schew, that was quite a read, but I really enjoyed it, Adrian Lay had me spewing tea
out my nose. It seems most bassists seem to have a similar personality type, kinda "Tail end Charlie" type
thing (last armed in a formation/convoy) look around, tidy up, and support, 'cause we got the big gun ...
and know it :) In most cases bass is not the first nor only instrument played, it comes as more of a
discovery which starts the whole journey. It's really great to read about other bassists, some excellent
insights here, I love the feeling of brotherhood (nice to see some sisters here too) that span across genre,
ability, age etc. Excellent job Martin, thanks for putting this together and sharing it.

Jason Marsh : Martin has created a wonderful article, his passion for bass is astonishing! I feel
privileged to share the same pages with some of the greats that came before us.
The highlight of the article for me was reading the comments from the young students, new bass
art...Brilliant!

Mark Egan : "Martin Simpson has created this fascinating collection of various bassist's views on their
attractions to playing bass.
It's great to read about the various paths that led these individuals to discover their musical outlets.
From "I play bass for the chics"... to "Its my very reason to live." and everything in between, kept me
reading on and on.
I love the inquisitive human thread that weaves through all of the stories.
I'd be interested to see a similar collection for every instrument. Great job Martin!"

Jim Stinnett : I really love this collection. Reading it makes me feel at home. For years I have known
that bass players are a special breed and reading all these thoughts makes me proud to be a part of the
brotherhood. Martin, thanks for all your diligence and continued support of our community. I really
couldn't stop reading the reasons why we play bass. Maybe our blood is actually thicker (more
fundamental) or something. :)

Damian Erskine : Martin has done an amazing job of compiling the passions, thoughts and motivations
of bassists the world over. From the most heartfelt to the most inane, it's all in there and is a totally
captivating read! Very cool

Michael Manring : To the rest of the world we bass players probably seem a little bit crazy. We pay all
the dues of being a musician with almost no hope for the rewards, either monetary or social. This book
sheds some light on this mystery. However we initially got a bass in our hands, some of us just get the
bug and become fascinated with the feel and the sense of playing this often-underestimated instrument.

Bryan Beller : I'm quite certain that never before in history has the question "Why Do You Play Bass?"
been so thoroughly answered. There's a certain magic in reading so many different reactions to one
simple question: A collective wisdom takes hold, and sinks in deeply.

Marten Andersson : Finally a bass book by the people - for the people! I don't think there is a person out
there that knows as much about the bass as Martin Simpson (Other than myself of course). Martin has
done a great job putting this together. If you have interest in the bass guitar this is the reading for you. It
will not disappoint. Some hard labour was put into this. I take my hat (or strings) off to you.

Richard Bodkin : Through all the years of playing this magical instrument one truism has prevailed: "I
don't play the bass, the bass plays me"
 Why I Play Bass Comments (3)

Leon Bosch : This mammoth undertaking by Martin Simpson, Why I Play the Bass provides a
remarkable insight into why each and every one of us has chosen this most regal of instruments. It has in
my own case re-invigorated my passion, enthusiasm and devotion to the double bass.

Chris Badynee : Martin Simpson's collection titled "Why I Play Bass" reveals the individual character
hidden within my Bass heroes. I now have an opportunity to search those bassists that have been
performing for years, but not in Detroit. So now I'm exposed to fresh ideas, uncommon methods, and a
large group of diverse thought patterns with explanations of how those thoughts came into being. Because
of Martin Simpsons book, I'm discovering more music and more musicians. "Why I Play Bass" is more
than just short stories, it's an affirmation of love shared by a community of artists. It's a simple statement
of joy expressing the virtues of patience, discovery, acceptance, understanding, and most importantly the
communion of the groove.

Dave Meros : Reading through this wonderful collection of stories from bassists young and old, from
every part of the world and having every background imaginable I realize that we are all just variations of
the same person. There is a certain genetic sequence that spells out "bass player", and no matter what our
bodies and faces may look like and no matter what other physical or mental attributes we possess, there is
a very strong common thread that joins all of us.

What was surprising to me was that a large majority of bass players had a similar musical beginning to
mine, and that is to sort of stumble into playing bass accidentally. And also like me, when that first bass
was picked up, that feeling of "OK, this is home" instantly happened and we never even thought of
switching instruments again.

I liken this experience to dating and finally being lucky enough to find your soul mate. You may not be
able to quantify exactly why you need to be with that person for the rest of your life, you just do.

I think that is why many of these stories are more of what Martin perfectly described as "How I Got
Started" rather than specific reasons explaining "Why We Play Bass". We really can't tell you exactly
why because we really don't know, or at least don't know how to put it in words. But with that first bass
experience came a musical awakening that was so powerful that we can all remember it like it was just
yesterday.

Kirwan Brown : "Why I Play Bass" is a wonderful look at the things that tie all of us bass players
together, amateur or pro, male or female, young or old. Players of any style, from any background, are
sure to enjoy reading.

Dereck Walstra : Why I play bass is an informative valuable book that exposes bass players from all
over. Explaining their comfort with their instruments and their history.

Why I play bass tells you that we have amongst us, some of the worlds top bass players from the past
to the present that are not forgotten. Who have incredible talent and encourage existing and future bass
players to live a dream come true.

Alan Goldstein : Id like to thank Martin for putting this work together and at the same time, pay my
respects to Peter Steele, Cliff Burton, Jaco Pastorius, Mark Sandman, John Entwhistle, Roger Patterson,
Rick James, Phil lynott and others.

Mary-Anne Ray : This is a remarkable collection of reasons, excuses, hilarity and insights which all boil
down to this:

1. Martin Simpson has an admirable dedication to bass, bassists and bassism - thank you for including us
in this Martin;
2. We all play bass because we CAN...
 Why I Play Bass Comments (4)

Graham Jacobs : What an insightful read this is something I will be dipping into time and again. This
book captures what Ive known intuitively all along, although never properly articulated until now, and
that is what a special breed bass players are. There are quite a few common threads that struck me when I
read this book.

Firstly the gratifying lack of egos. Very few bass players set out to become prima donnas, and yet many
have extraordinary capabilities. As Trish Bailey puts it, .the way a mother holds the family together,
so does the bass bind the band. Pity therefore that there are not more female bass players around. More
often than not, bass players do indeed regard themselves as performing a nurturing role, as implied in
many of the books contributions. To rephrase Jacques Steyn and Victor Wooten slightly, bass players are
there to make the other guys sound good. As a result, a bass players role all too often goes unappreciated.
Bass players know this of course it goes with the territory. Its something they need and love to do,
whether it gets recognized or not.

Secondly, I was struck (though not surprised) by the large number of bass players that are multi-
instrumentalists. This book is evidence of just how many have come to the bass via a range of other
instruments. The broader musical insights that this imparts are probably unique, and plausibly what
equips many to become successful composers, arrangers, and bandleaders.

For an instrument that is apparently so simple to play, it is remarkable just how widely the bass and its
exponents are misunderstood by others. Even someone as insightful as Frank Zappa freely admitted that
he didnt get bass players. He simply couldnt understand how they could get off playing mostly repeated
figures. Although he referred to electric bassists as often being failed guitarists, he did, however, have a
grudging admiration for their ability to hold down a groove without getting bored. Ironically, his
perceptions didnt stop him from working with some of the best bass players in the business. Bass players
certainly do need the right temperament and ears for the instrument another factor that makes them
special.

Trish Bailey says that the bass is easy to play, yet impossible to master. I like that. Sue Condie
Stephenson says it a bit differently, referring to the instrument as being as simple or as difficult as you
want it to be, anytime. These are just some of the thoughts from contributors that struck me. There are,
of course, many others too numerous to mention, and to all of these people go my thanks for sharing their
insights. Mostly go my thanks to you, Martin, for making this all happen. I do have one point of
disagreement with you though. In your contribution, you refer to yourself by definition as a bass guitarist
and not a bass player. If there is one thing that your book has shown us, we are all bass players.

For me, the final words as to why we all play bass must go to Lucas Senyatso when he says: What would
this world be without bassists? Groundless..

Edo Castro : As bassists, we're an odd lot, being the low end to hold the harmony in place, provide
tension, rhythmic placement and be soloist, but rarely does the world get a glimpse of the persona behind
the instrument. Martin has provided a window, if you will, into our world. This document/book is a
testament to Martin's love of the bass, the bass players and his willingness to share with you his
meticulous documentation of our thoughts. I'm very honoured to be amongst the finest players in the
world listed in this collection.

Bob Skeat : When I first heard of Martin's idea for this book I wasn't sure if it would truly be that
interesting...but now that I've read it, it's absolutely fascinating to get an insight into those earliest
emotions and passions of hero and fellow players. A good read for the established and an inspiration for
those just starting out!!

Phil Peters : Bass players have seemed to have more of a (non gender specific) brotherhood than guitar
players. We tend to get excited when other bass players get great gigs etc. I think it is very cool that we
have a way to understand the diversity of who populates our community.
 Why I Play Bass Comments (5)

Bruce Gertz : I find Martin's book to be enlightening. Everyone has been honest and soulful about what
brought him or her to this great place where they love to play the bass.

Adam Nitti : "Why I Play The Bass" is a fascinating insight as to what ultimately inspires musicians to
establish a relationship with their instruments. Martin's compilation of bass players' stories and historic
insight is a fantastic read that ultimately inspires the reader to discover more completely where they came
from and where they are headed as a player. Regardless of your musical background, this is a project that
will capture your attention and reveal new things about the bass and the people that choose it as a form of
communication.

Steve Doner : Martins compilation is fun and enlightening to read in part because we hear both from
pros, hobbyists and everything in between. It was very interesting for me to see that we bassists share
many things in common regardless of how we got started or how skilled we have become. I hope that
there is a special section for us in heaven, with a trio of 12 string basses producing melodic thunder,
instead of those girly harps.

Joseph Milstein : This is the greatest book for any bass player and musician. Hours of intrigue and
entertainment consolidated into 100+ pages. Who knew there were so many bassists available to make a
contribution? - and each with a wonderful, unique story. I love this fraternity and hope it continues to
grow. Thanks Martin, for assembling this fantastic collection.

Schalk Joubert : Martin Simpson has created a unique book with unique stories from musicians all over
the world, all sharing one common interest their reason for being in love with the bass!
In the current world where the focus of the media and governments seems to be constantly highlighting
the differences between people, it is really refreshing to come across a book like this which once again
makes you realize that the power of music is indeed one of the greatest unifying factors in our
quarrelsome and fickle species. Thank you Martin

Virgilio Venditti : I play bass purely for fun. Ill never be a working musician. My daily job is
completely different yet I am absolutely proud to be a bass player musician and this book proves that
there are as many kinds of bass players around - at least as many as there are basses on the planet!
Scrolling through the pages, youll realize that in the city of music everyone settles in the preferred
suburb (blues, rock, metal, bluegrass, jazz) and every citizen feels fully entitled to express him or
herself, conveying his or her own feelings - either by three subtly placed background notes or by a long
uninterrupted solo. Bass brotherhood is not only a word: its a reality and this book helps with keeping the
community tight together!!! "Good job, Martin! :) V.".

Martin Motnik : Why I Play Bass is an incredibly extensive collection of statements why bass players
chose to play that particular instrument. It is a real source of inspiration. And since it is combining
statements from both, amateur bassists and real bass legends, it shows how unifying making music is.
Why I Play Bass shows the core of a particular breed of musician, one that is not necessarily known to
stand in the spotlight, but one that is responsible for building the solid foundation on which every band
needs to stand. Why I Play Bass shows that bass players are aware of this, and proud of it.

Anthony Scelba : The Why I Play Bass book is an inspiration and something that helps build
community among all of us in the bass world. The book is a great idea well executed.

Gary Jibilian : WIPBT is a very unique, and entertaining read. Great collection of ideas from a wide
array of players of all genres and styles. I'm honoured to be a part of it!

Tony Senatore : In his book entitled "Why I Play Bass" Martin Simpson polled a vast group of Bassists
worldwide to find out what got them started in the business. While the locations of the musicians varied,
the core of the story was the same; In each case, they were taking the inspiration derived from listening to
their personal heroes and giving it their own spin, passing along the art to a new generation of upcoming
Bassists.
 FRONT COVER
Did YOU spot the bassists appearing on the front cover?

Al Garcia Chuck Bianchi Fred Charlton John Goldsby

Lars Lehmann Lee Barker Mark Roberts Marten Andersson
Michael Manring Richard Jay Terrien Rob Gourlay
Scott Hubble Steve Clarke Stewart McKinsey Yves Carbonne
 .. & The BACK COVER?
Did YOU spot the bassists appearing on the back cover?

Adrian Davison Albert Hobson Alfred Kalfass Antonella Mazza

Bootsy Collins Byron Santo Jaime David Vazquez Jeff Plant
Autographs (Page 1)
Autographs (Page 2)
Autographs (Page 3)
Disc One (7 Countries Represented) Running Time 79:46
Title Bassist Nationality

Track 1 Play Bass Markus Setzer German

Track 2 Puppy Gardener Jason Marsh British

Track 3 Fast Monday Jimmi Roger Pedersen Danish

Track 4 Get The Funk Lars Lehmann German

Out Ma Way

Track 5 Our Love Kerry Hiles South

African

Track 6 9M PM Pippo Matino Italian

Track 7 Psalm 1 Andrew Warneke South

African

Track 8 Liquid Dino Fiorenza Italian

Track 9 Toward The Light Theo Klassen South

African

Track 10 Fannys Toy Reggie Washington American

Track 11 Romance Leon Bosch South

African

Track 12 No Sea of Tears Mark Roberts American

Track 13 Hologram Jorge Pescara Brazilian

(A Tribute To
Michael Manring)

Track 14 Left & Right Lorenzo Feliciati Italian

Track 15 As Luck Would Have It Al Garcia American

Track 16 Judging By The Jay Terrien American

Size of Carnie

Track 17 Speed Zuzo Moussawer Brazilian

Track 18 Richochet Adrian Davison British

Disc One
Composer List of Musicians & additional Info

Track 1
Play Bass Markus Setzer Bass Album : Play Bass
3:09 Joachim K Greve - Drums
(M. Setzer)

..
Track 2
Puppy Gardner Jason Marsh Bass Album : Godsticks
Band : Godsticks Darran Charles Guitar & Vox
5:29 Steve Roberts / Aaron Evans Drums
(D. Charles / J.Marsh)

..
Track 3
Fast Monday Jimmi Roger Pedersen Bass Album : Bass Beyond
4:07
(J. R. Pedersen)

..
Track 4
Get The Funk Lars Lehmann Bass Album : Music Like
Out Ma Way Helge Adam - Keyboards Pictures
4:00 Thomas Zander Tenor Sax
(L. Lehmann) Ralli King Guitar
www.larslehmann.com Kristof Hinz Drums
Anja Telloke Backing Vocals
Lars Lehmann uses Music Man basses, Ernie Ball strings
and Markbass amplification
..
Track 5
Our Love Kerry Hiles Bass & Vox Album : Missiles
4:07 Dave Manchip Everything Else
(K. Hiles)
Track 6
9M PM Pippo Matino Bass & Sampler Album : Third
3:24
(P. Matino)

..
Track 7
Psalm 1 Andrew Warneke 6 string Bass Album : Just The
4:36 Bassics
(A. Warneke) Andrew plays Cort basses & Harke HyDrive amps

..
Track 8
Liquid Dino Fiorenza Bass Album : Its Important
4:03 Prachant Aswani - Guitar
(D. Fiorenza) Mistheria - Keyboards
Gaetano Nicolosi - Drums
Dino exclusively uses Galli Strings, Markbass amps.
Di Marzio pickups, Hipshot hardware, Sonuus midi
Device and only Mr. Vester bass
..
Track 9
Towards The Theo Klassen Bass, Guitar
Light & Programming
3:34 Graham Smith - Keyboards
(T. Klassen)
..
Track 10
Fannys Toy Reggie Washington Bass Album: A Lot of
3:44 Ahmir "?uestlove" Love Live
(R. Washington) Thompson - Drum Sample
Track 11
Romance Leon Bosch Bass Album : The Russian
2:58 Sung Suk Kang Piano Double Bass
(Anton Grigoryevich
Rubinstein)

..
Track 12
No Sea of Tears Mark Roberts Bass, Synthpads
6:38 & Drum Sampling
(M. Roberts)
..
Track 13
Hologram Jorge Pescara Piccolo Fretless Bass with Altered tuning
6:40 "Jorge Pescara courtesy of Jazz Station Records USA, plays
(J. Pescara) D'Alegria basses, Megatar, Elixir strings,
Powerclick & StudioR amps"
..
Track 14
Left & Right Lorenzo Feliciati Bass Album: Upon My Head
4:36 Lucrezio de Seta - Drums
(L. Feliciati)

Lorenzo Feliciati uses MarkBass amps, Ibanez basses and D'addario strings
..
Track 15
As Luck Would Al Garcia Bass, Album : All Things
Have It Drums & Percussion Must Converge
4:21
(A. Garcia)

....
Track 16
Judging By The Jay Terrien Bass Album : All The Dolls
Size of Carnie Pat Mastelotto - Drums In The Same Place
5:41 & Percussion
(J. Terrien)
Track 17
Speed Zuzo Moussawer Bass Album : Organic
4:01 Fernando Baggio - Drums Urban World
(Z. Moussawer)

..
Track 18
Richochet Adrian Davison Bass Album : Alibi
4:31 Paul Marangoni - Percussion
(A. Davison)

..
About My Track (Disc One)
Markus Setzer : The Inspiration kisses me during a sailing boat trip on the Baltic sea in Denmark. I was
looking for an Opening track for my instructional DVD "Discover Your Groove 1.0" to animate people to
play the greatest instrument! Play Bass! I spoke it, I sung it out loud. And naturally the rhythm of the first
chords comes out. Suddenly the whole song was ready in 10 min Back home, I went into the studio
together with my old friend and Drummer Joachim..thats it! I hope you enjoy the song and I hope that
some young dudes will begin to play the bass!

Jason Marsh : I used my Fender Jazz which had been de fretted with a super glue finish on the fretboard,
super low action with just the bridge pick up dialled in. Puppy Gardener was written in rehearsals, a band
effort. It was recorded using a DI, no effects, some compression, a mid range boost and round wound
strings.
The bass part is not at all complicated and generally involves bouncing around octaves, harmonics and
broken down scales, I'm not sure which ones though. The difficult thing about the bass part is maintaining
the stamina to actually play it. It's a very tight, precise and although not a fret board frenzy, it always felt
relentless while playing it!
The end solo section is a nightmare to play and I've never played it the same since it was recorded. Weird,
like doing a cover of your own bass part, you never can get it as it was recorded, haha!
Puppy Gardener works for me because of its 3 piece approach, my absolute favourite set up for a band as
a bass player.

Jimmi Roger Pedersen : The Song Fast Monday is made on a minor blues in E but stretched to 24 bars
(AAB like). The bassline in this key sounds big with all the open strings E, A and G that may ring when
possible. The theme is based on a G pentatonic with a little blues feel and sometimes moving to Ab
pentatonic including some chromatism. In the solo you might be able to find an improvised 12-tone line
here or there ;-)

Lars Lehmann : "Get The Funk Out Ma Way" is a song from my solo album "Music Like Pictures"
which came out in early 2010. In a way I guess the track is some kind of heritage from the times when I
was lucky to be on the road with guys from James Browns or Prince's bands a lot. People like Pee Wee
Ellis, Bobby Byrd or the Soulsisters Martha High, Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins or Vicky Anderson... at
that time we used to play and jam a lot all over Europe, either inventing new stuff or using classic funk
tracks as a basis for our adventures during shows or soundchecks. "Get The Funk..." definitely has that
great percentage of aggression and dirt we used to put into the music back then. To me it's just rare, dirty
funk. Listen to Thomas' amazing sax solo and what is going on in the rhythm section while he is taking
off. I guess you'll get my point! I hope you'll enjoy the track as much as I do up till today every time I
listen to it!

Pippo Matino : 9M PM - Its typically my solo song.....usually I play that live with my head rush.....
some inspirations in this case from the singer Silvia Barba.....

Andrew Warneke : The melody of 'Psalm 1' came to me after reading the first Psalm in the Bible. It's all
about how you will be blessed through trying to live a life that is righteous. I composed the melody and
then added chords around it to create a solo piece.

Dino Fiorenza : Liquid is a song that probably represents me more than any other tune that Ive
composed I use my Hipshot d-tuner (Drop E strings in D) for the entire duration of the track. I called
the song liquid because it gives me that feeling like a liquid that proceeds forth, unstoppable, destroying
everything that obstructs its path its how I see life - face it with determination and courage

Reggie Washington : Fanny's Toy was a "work in progress" for my wife!

I was recording it in my studio when I broke the 4th 5th metatarsal bones in my left hand.
After the surgery (2 titanium plates/10 screws) & rehab (4 months) I recorded it again during the mixing
session for the CD ! My first after-surgery recording !!
Mark Roberts : No Sea of Tears was the final tune of a series of songs that included me performing
multi-tracks of extended-range bass guitar with synthesizer pads and e-drum patches that was related to
the efforts to create the Voyage CD. However, the extended-range bass in this tune was not multi-tracked.
It was a stand-alone track from start to finish. No punch-ins or otherwise. An extreme effort to do so and I
have yet to re-accomplish such a feat! The title defines my feelings of the time the song was composed. It
is an auditory "painting" of feelings. Though considerable preparation, practice and patience were
necessary, the final effort "went-to-tape" and was completed faster than other Voyage compositions.
Maybe because there WAS so much FEELING involved.

Jorge Pescara : Hologram is a song written and composed on Cheruti piccolo fretless bass with two
alternate tunings: D A C # F # and C G D G
The word 'Hologram' comes from the term Holography is an old technique to simulate a 3D image. It is
used as a way to store data and is a technical analysis of materials. In summary, I named this song
Hologram because it contains aspects where I try to simulate a 3D sound spectrum.
Inspired entirely in the compositions and experiences of Michael Manring, Hologram is made up of
several distinct parts. Using the techniques of harmonics, tapping and pizzicato, and the inclusion of
effects makes a compact package of the composition. The exaggerated use of compression justifies this.
The reverbs and delays were used in order to make it more spacey, ie, to the 3D simulation. As this song
was recorded in a modern DDD system, ie, all digital, I decided to move the recording to an analogue
tape to give more body to the sound. When I compose themes like this, I think very philosophically, so I
always give different names for each piece of music, so it makes me more holistic in a sense.
The intro (DAC # F #), which I call The fourth dimension is where I explored thumb slap with
harmonics for comping chords and some tapping.
Then a small piece of harmonics called "Fractals and human nature'. Here we have arpeggios in
harmonics with alternating notes in 'bass pedals' to contrast with the cadence.
Here, a space opens to improvise with tapping and alternate tuning (CGDG).I called this piece 'The third
law of the triangle', because of the accents on the 3rd beat.
Returning to the pseudo theme, I used the previous tuning and played a variation of the chords with
harmonics. I called this part of the 'Tales of causality, and molecular life'.
In the last part of the song, a re-exposure of the intro, 'Holography in the fourth dimension' I enclose the
initial idea to fade out fine ...
I dedicate this study to Manring and all true researchers and explorers, which results in 'Where No Man
Has Gone Before'!

Music & Peace from OuterSpace .:.

Lorenzo Feliciatti : I composed this one around the drums: Lucrezio de Seta did a great job on this
tune, there is a melody that reminds me of something from Joe Zawinul who is, and forever will be, one
of my greatest sources of inspiration. I played everything except for the drums, I have tried a couple of
times to do a live version of this song but without success, I think Ill have to use only certain sections of
the song

Al Garcia :This piece consists only of bass guitars and drums/percussion. In addition to playing the
basses, I also played drums and congas. I played the underlying Afro-Cuban montono like part using
harmonics (with a little bit of chorus effect) on a fretted Ken Smith BSR 5 MW 5-string bass. I played
the lyrical melody alternately on the Ken Smith 5-string and a fretless MTD Kingston 5-sting. The two
basses trade solos in the centre and end of the piece.

Jay Terrien : This is one of the songs that I wrote just before I handed off my final pre-session demos to
Ronan Chris Murphy. I recorded this using my Status Graphite fretless 6 in an EBDF#C#E tuning
exclusively. There is the primary fretless progression track as well as a few improvised tracks above that
(improvised oddly enough, in the same tuning!). Ill give you the basic structure of the song: Bars 1-9
(Intro in 4/8 time at 75 BPM) (Tapping Intro) C-Section: Bars 9-25 in 4/8 (Tapping Theme) A: Bars 25-
41 in 5/8 (Slapping Motive) R: Bars 41-57 in 6/8 (Fingerstyle Fragment) N: Bars 57-73 in 7/8 (Heavy
Metal Muted Fingerpicking) I: Bars 73-105 in 8/8 (Tapping Harmonics) E: Bars 105-121 in 9/8 (WEIRD
Harmonics and Soundscape Outro) This is Pats favorite song on the whole record, which is probably due
to the fact that he doesnt play any live acoustic drums on this composition. What you hear is the pre-
production drum loops and hits that P@ programmed in his garage back in Austin, which he then dumped
into my Pro Tools sessions. His programming work was so phenomenal that Ronan decided NOT to mess
it up by adding any other drum parts on top of it. You cant argue with that. This song clearly showcases
how Pats advanced production and drum programming abilities (and proper compositional placement of
beats) provide a platform for my fretless lines to carve into.

Adrian Davison : On the subject of my track "Ricochet" ....all that I would like to say is that the track
was recorded live in front of an audience in Dallas Texas...there are no overdubs and that I used my usual
set-up, which is two outputs from the bass into 2 separate rigs....one that is a clean signal with some
compression, and the second with a delay and minor effects. Each rig contains 4x 10" speakers 2x 12"
speakers and 1x 15" speaker...They had direct lines out to the PA system...It was a large set-up because
the venue was a 3000 seat hall..
Disc Two (7 Countries Represented) Running Time : 79:53
Title Bassist Nationality

Track 1 Bass Face Simon Goulding British

Track 2 Arniston Kai Horsthemke German

Track 3 There Are No Accidents Michael Dimin American

Track 4 The Troll of History Magnus Rosn Swedish

Track 5 BiPolar / Hughs Jig Rob Gourlay American

Track 6 Delayed Martin Motnik German

Track 7 Southeast Passage Mark Egan American

Track 8 Final Event Garth deMeillon South

African

Track 9 Shubert Sherzo Anthony Scelba American

Track 10 Comfort jvera Spanish

Track 11 Dance Architecture Franc OShea British

Track 12 Days In The Sun Darren Michaels American

Track 13 Levis Blues Marius Goldhammer German

Track 14 Fangoula Sammy Webber South

African

Track 15 Night Cap Al Caldwell American

Track 16 Mediterranea Vincenzo Maurogiovanni Italian

Track 17 Bit For Bert Bert Askes South

African

Track 18 Money In Your Pocket Grant Stinnett American

Disc Two
Composer List of Musicians & additional Info

Track 1
Bass Face Simon Goulding Bass Album : Familia
6:10
(S. Goulding)

..
Track 2
Arniston Kai Horsthemke Bass Album : The Train
5:22 Mike Meiring - Guitar Not The River
(K. Horsthemke) David Novis - Drums
David Gordon Assorted Percussion

..
Track 3
There Are No Michael Dimin Bass Album : There Are No
Accidents Accidents
4:24
(M. Dimin)

Recorded and Mastered at NRS Recording Studio, Catskill, NY

..
Track 4
The Troll of Magnus Rosn Bass Album : Set Me Free
History Birger Lfman - Drums
4:32
(M. Rosen) www.felleniusmanagement.com
Track 5
Bipolar / Hughs Jig Rob Gourlay Bass Album : Lets Do It
4:05 Gord Gourlay - Drums
(R. Gourlay)

..
Track 6
Delayed Martin Motnik Bass Album : Bass Invader
3:12
(M. Motnik)

..
Track 7
Southeast Passage Mark Egan 4 string Fretless Album : Beyond Words
4:32 Pedulla Basses &
(M. Egan) Keyboards
Recorded in NYC Dec.1991 Clifford Carter - Keyboards
Composed, produced Don Alias- Percussion
and published by
Mark Egan/Azal Music
..
Track 8
Final Event Garth deMeillon 6 string Bass Album : An Evening @
Band : Rendezvous Illimar Neitz Guitar St. Pauls 2007
4:39 Joe Penn - Saxophone
(Rendezvous) Gideon Meintjies - Drums

Note : Saxophonist, Joe Penn (Thats him on the cover of the album)
is also a bassist his story appears on page 21
..
Track 9
Schubert Great Anthony Scelba Bass Album : Schubertiana
C Major Quintet Kean University Concert
3:53 Artist Ensemble
(Schubert)
Track 10
Comfort Jos Vera jvera Bass Album: Butterfly
3:27 Pedro Barcel - Drums
(jvera) Jacob Sureda Piano & Hammond
Antonio Serrano - Harmonica
Javier Pedreira Guitar fx

..
Track 11
Dance Architecture Franc OShea - Bass Album : Esprit
5:29 Tristan Banks - Drums
(F. OShea) Nigel Hitchcock - Alto saxophone
Gerard Presencer - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Mark Edwards - Piano & Keyboards
Alex Postlethwaite -Violins
Charlotte Glasson - Violas
Sarah Barker - Cellos
Franc O'Shea uses Jeff Chapman basses and Elites strings
..
Track 12
Days In The Sun Darren Michaels Basses & Vocals Album : Cumulo
4:01 Julian Scott Bryan Drum Loops
(D. Michaels & Synths
& J. S. Bryan)

Recorded at Studio Dud

..
Track 13
Levis Blues Marius Goldhammer Bass Album : Goldhammer
3:47 Mario Garruccio - Drums
(M. Goldhammer) Mathias Grosch - Keys
Reiner Witzel - Baritone Saxophone
Levi Goldhammer Count In

..
Track 14
Fangoula Sammy Webber Bass Album: Happy To Be
4:22 Karriem Darries - Drums
(S. Webber) Tony Paco - Percussion
Andrew Ford - Piano
Shaggy Scheepers - Synthesiser
Track 15
Night Cap Al Caldwell Bass Album : Forbidden
3:11
(A. Caldwell)

....
Track 16
Mediteranea Vincenzo Maurogiovanni Bass Album : Tempus
4:56 Fugit
(V. Maurogiovanni)

....
Track 17
Bit For Bert Bert Askes Bass Album : Homegrown
Band : The Steven Baker - Keyboards
Homegrown Band John Paul Destefani - Guitar
5:22 Wayne Houghton - Drums
(B. Askes)

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at B# Studios

..
Track 18
Money In Your Grant Stinnett Bass Album : Money In Your
Pocket Everett B. Pendleton - Guitar Pocket
4:23 Tom Arey - Drums
(G. Stinnett)

..
About My Track (Disc Two)
Simon Goulding : BASS FACE. The track was recorded for my debut studio album 'Familia'. Its a track
built up of different grooves & a few riffs. I was influenced by big band music and the way the brass,
saxes & rhythm section build up their different parts and create the complete tune. Sort of a call &
response in a way. I started the track with a drum and Rhodes loop then added a bass figure influenced by
Paul Jackson's playing with the Headhunters. Then into more of a Funk shuffle with 3 bass parts and
Fender Rhodes. The track ends with a slap part in harmony (4ths).

Kai Horsthemke : Arniston is a small seaside village near the southernmost tip of Africa. Its usually a
tranquil (and beautiful) spot except when the storms hit! This piece, a single, live-in-the-studio take, is
also homage to Paul Motian, one of my favourite drummers, and Bill Frisell, one of my favourite
guitarists. RIP, David Gordon.

Michael Dimin : "There Are No Accidents" was one of those tunes written in about 15 minutes. It was
inspired by my wife, Julie, who would quote that phrase. Musically, it was meant to have an ambient and
ethereal feel to it; flowing from one chord to the next, from one section to the next. It wasn't till after I
had played it many times that I realized that the melody is really just an embellished major scale!

Magnus Rosn : My idea was from all the touring I did with the Metal band Hammerfall - over 10 years
of touring around the world, to SET ME FREE with bass playing. I worked with beats like 4/4, 4/8, 4/16
and single notes with straight bass lines. In metal, its the way most of the bass lines are. When I stopped
playing with the band, I was so hungry to play more bass lines with interesting beat changes. The song,
Troll Of History, is with Bass & Drums together with a Gregorian monk choir. Its interesting with this
mixture - Id never heard it done before, so my wish was to try it. The recording of Troll of History was
done in Sweden at a metal studio ( Sonic train studios ). I play 4 string bass almost exclusively - with
light strings - gauge 40 to 95 - it gives me more possibilities for technique playing. For me, its most
important to feel with my bass and playing.

Rob Gourlay : Bipolar is the soundtrack to a story of a day that starts out great and then somehow goes
off course.Hughs Jig is a tribute to my Dad and was debuted at the Berklee College of Music basslines
concert in 2006. Dad always loved many styles of music and we heard a lot of Scottish and Celtic music
growing up. Hughs Jig was written from that inspiration from an amazing Father.

Martin Motnik : "Delayed" was the first song I recorded for my solo album "Bass Invader". It was
originally part of a bass solo I used to play when I was performing with my former original band What4
when I was still living in Germany. The inspiration for the song came from the Simple Minds song
"Ghostdancing" that has a steady 16th note bass riff going through most of the song, which I emulate on
the D respectively A string, as well as from U2's guitar player David Howell Evans - better known as
"The Edge" - who uses delay effects a lot. I wanted to create a steady, riff-based and pulsating solo piece
with a simple and catchy melody, spiced up with some pinched and hammered harmonics. I always
played the song as a solo piece, in 2010 however was I hired to perform with LexRox, a very talented
young singer from Las Vegas, for which we rearranged "Delayed" for a dance performance and added
guitars, keyboards and drums, giving the song much more dynamic and more atmosphere. I loved it!

Mark Egan : The song Southeast Passage was inspired by my music experiences while in my Miami
days....(Southeast U.S.)
Miami is a real musical and cultural melting pot as it is a port city near the Caribbean islands, Cuba and
South America.
While in Miami I heard, learned and played with some of the best Latin musicians in the world. I used to
go to Cuban grocery stores and coffee shops looking for rare Mongo Santamaria/Santeria religious
records. Yes, records as this was in the early 1970's.
While recording Beyond words I wanted to feature a track with bass and percussion and Don Alias was
my first choice since he is a master percussionist.
Also on the track was keyboardist Clifford Carter, a long time friend and great musician that I also shared
much of the same experiences with during our "Miami days" studying music at the University of Miami.
The backwards sounding fretless bass on the intro to the song is from an effect setting on the Eventide
H300s Harmonizer...."backwards".
I played all fretless 4 string Pedulla basses on the track through a T.C. Electronics stereo chorus. The
harmonics that are the bed of the groove were tripled and I overdubbed the solo as well as played some of
the keyboard parts.

Jvera : For my track, Comfort, it was my intention to create music that would allow each of the
collaborating musicians the opportunity to freely express their own musical vision of my music on this
album. It was an opportunity for me to listen and hear their own individual ways of expressing the music,
that in the end, they have managed to make their own. Im grateful to all of them!

Franc OShea : The title of my tune "Dance Architecture" comes from a Frank Zappa quote where he
says "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture". The main melody and riff comes from an
old funk bassline that becomes somewhat chromatically enhanced. It has a funky "dance" feel but really is
a full on Fusion assault! It was inspired by Mike Stern's excellent "Chromozone" tune. It features the top
Jazz horn players Nigel Hitchcock (Jamiroquai, Kate Bush) and Gerard Presencer (Sting, Joni Mitchell).
They sight read the complicated head in the studio and what you hear on the recording is the first take.
There were stellar performances by everyone and I love the rich textures that were created. The solo's are
built on sections of chords that rise in minor thirds which provides a continuous feeling of exciting
motion and the soloists trade with each other in ever decreasing bar lengths until they are finally soloing
together. The outro is based on a repeating riff that uses motifs that diminish by one note as each phrase is
played. At the end of the final unison run you may be able to pick out Gerard playing a really high F on
the trumpet. Apparently only a handful of trumpet players in the world can reach this note.

Marius Goldhammer : This is just a little minor jazz-blues for my son levi, who also counted off the
track. We recorded the rhythm section live as a trio and added the sax-parts and the bass-solo later.
It came out very nice and is one of my favourite tracks on the album.

Sammy Webber : What I do most of the time when I'm composing is sit at my keyboard (piano not PC)
or pick up my bass and then just allow ideas to grab hold of me....so there's no big inspiration of staring at
the ocean or looking at the stars or running a marathon or anything like that. The story behind the title is
that I had a girlfriend at that time who worked on the cruise ships - her favourite destination was Greece
and "Fangoula" is the greek word for "skattie or liefie or bokkie" (roughly translated of course) and she
liked that word, and from there I decided to make it the title of one of my songs on the album.

Al Caldwell : Night Cap was written as a tribute to Jaco. I used to watch Jaco play at 7th Ave South, in
New York. His brilliance was smeared by drugs at the time. One night he played Killer Joe, without going
to the change, for an hour. I had to remember that this man lifted the melodic shift of the 4 string bass to a
Parker like status!!! I had to remember that Jaco the composer, was my hero. I went home after that gig,
saddened by his state, but inspired by his presence. I was staying with Dave Weckl the drummer, at the
time. I wrote that song...that night. Hence the name... Night Cap!!

Vincenzo Maurogiovanni : My track is inspired by our Mediterranean landscapes, the scent of our
ancient countryside, our history, and all my memories. Ive used the bass to tell my story and describe my
point of view, taken from my second album as leader Tempus Fugit. Life goes fast, I try to slow down,
I like to enjoy every moment, and I hope you will enjoy my composition too.
This composition has no overdubs, and its a first take thats how I like to record.
Disc Three (8 Countries Represented) Running Time 79:42
Title Bassist Nationality

Track 1 Bass Song Joseph Patrick Moore American

Track 2 Northern Stories Jan-Olof Strandberg Finnish

Track 3 Spain Vuyani Wakaba South

African

Track 4 Gratitude Alfred Kallfass German

Track 5 Holy Spirit Yves Carbonne French

Track 6 Paco Patrick Paco Muller German

Track 7 Graphic John Flitcraft American

Track 8 Moving South Florian Friedrich Dutch

Track 9 Hymn For Molobye Lucas Senyatso South

African

Track 10 Snowflakes David Hughes Swedish

Track 11 Fif Damian Erskine American

Track 12 Conversations With Trip Wamsley American

Like Minds

Track 13 A Dark Light Aram Bedrosian American

Track 14 QX4 Martin Simpson British

Track 15 Ye Olde Bass Players Inn Jason Green South

African

Track 16 Thanks Damian Ernie Leblanc American

Track 17 Simone Sereeka Greg Moonsammy South

African
Disc Three
Composer List of Musicians & additional Info

Track 1
Bass Song Joseph Patrick Moore Bass Album : To Africa
2:33 Wayne Viar Drums With Love
(J.P. Moore Tyrone Jackson Keys
& Tyrone Jackson)

..
Track 2
Northern Stories Jan-Olof Strandberg Bass Album : Illustrations
4:09
(J.O.Strandberg)

..
Track 3
Spain Vuyani Wakaba Bass
5:28 Chris Edwards Percussion
(C. Corea) Adrian Garza Drums
Juan Garza Guitar
Vuyani endorses Essential Sound Products, DNA Amplification,
DR Strings, Mogami, HJC Customs (Basses), Galien-Krueger Amplifiers,
Centrance and iGig Gig Bags.

..
Track 4
Gratitude Alfred Kallfass Bass Album : Jasmin Graf
2:29 Jasmin Graf Vocals & Alfred Kallfass
(Ani de Franco)
Track 5
Holy Spirit Yves Carbonne Bass Album : Carbonne -
3:22 Di Piazza - Manring
(Y. Carbonne)

..
Track 6
Paco Patrick Paco Mller Bass, Album : Playstation
i Arrival Programming, Voice, Additional Percussion
ii Go n Get It & Keyboards
iii Struggle Matthias Anton - Saxophone
iiii Paco Begins Nico Schliemann - Guitars
Band : Playstation Klaus Webel - Keyboards & Synthesizer
6:34 Jan-Philipp Wiesmann - Drums
(P. S. Mller) & Percussion

..
Track 7
Graphic John Flitcraft Bass Album : Graphic
Band : Altered Jeff Miley Guitar
5:41 Steve Holmes Drums
(J. Flitcraft)

..
Track 8
Moving South Florian Friedrich Bass Album : Moving South
4:52 Eduardo Righini - Guitar
(F. Friedrich) Randal Corsen - Piano & Rhodes
Mark de Jong Drums & Percussion
Track 9
Hymn For Lucas Senyatso Bass Album: All of Me
Molobye Rob Watson Drums
6:46 Johan Mthethwa Keys
(L. Senyatso)

..
Track 10
Snowflakes David Hughes Bass Album: Foreign Shores
6:54 Graham Ward Drums
(D. Hughes) Michael Bluestein Piano
Nate Tschetter Rhodes
Brian Price Acoustic Guitar
Billy Hulting Percussion

..
Track 11
Fif Damian Erskine Bass Album : So To Speak
8:13 Reinhardt Melz - Drums
(D. Erskine) Ramsey Embick - Piano
Chris Mosley - Guitar
Rafael Trujillo - Congas
Carmello Torres: -Timbales
Derek Reith - Percussion

..
Track 12
Conversations With Trip Wamsley Bass
Like Minds
5:15
(T. Wamsley)
..
Track 13
A Dark Light Aram Bedrosian Bass Album : A Dark Light
2:37
(A. Bedrosian)

www.arambedrosian.com
Track 14
QX4 Martin Simpson Album:
1:47 Four 5-String Basses Varyaeshunz
(M.Simpson)

......
Track 15
Ye Olde Bass Jason Green Bass Album:
Players Inn Luke van der Merwe - Guitar An Evening @
Band : Circumference Andre Behnke Keyboards St. Pauls 2007
6:34 Garth Farrant - Drums
(L.v/d Merwe)

....
Track 16
Thanks Damian Ernie Leblanc Bass
0:51
(E. Leblanc)
.........
Track 17
Simone Sereeka Greg Moonsammy Bass Album : The Journey
5:31 Moses Efijenue - Drums
(G.Moonsammy) Olufemi Ogunkoye Alto Sax
Neil Engel Trumpet & Horn
Dapo Dina Keyboards
Ayo Solanke Tenor Sax
Moloko Kgomo Guitar
Neil Kuny Percussion
About My Track (Disc Three)
Joseph Patrick Moore : The main melodic idea of this song was something I fooled around with for a
while. I use to play this as a way to check the entire "live sound" range of the instrument and primarily
for clarity. It morphed into a song/jam and I wanted something on the "To Africa With Love" CD that
was primarily a bass feature so I decided to flush it out and record it.

Jan-Olof Strandberg : This is the closest to what I wanted to do with my new acoustic bass guitar (I was
developing with my friend Rauno Nieminen) for the Illustrations album. There are influences of classical
music maybe a bit of inspiration of flamenco and northern European music, and hopefully a lot of my
own things as well

Vuyani Wakaba : I've always been a big fan of Chick Corea ever since I heard the tune "500 Miles
High". I've always wanted to play one of his compositions at some point. Fortunately, I was blessed
enough to have some great musicians around me in my band who were also eager to play Chick's music.
We chose "Spain"....and it was a group choice.
What you hear on the recording is a live take on this tune. It was recorded in Chicago for a live video
taping. As you can hear, the band was really on it! The band, called Vuyani Wakaba & Friends, was
made up of my friends, Juan Garza on guitar, Chris Edwards on percussion, Adrian Garza (Juan's brother)
on drums, with me playing bass. Unfortunately, we only performed this song three times - with the first
time being at a gig we played with bassists Doug Johns and Jauqo III-X.

Alfred Kallfass : I got this (Gratitude) and a lot of other songs on a mixtape years ago, which my friend
Anna from Madison WI sent me. We met on a school bigband exchange back in 1997 and both became
musicians, she being a wonderful Singer/Songwriter now. Jasmin also liked the idea of recording an Ani
DiFranco song, so I did a little bass arrangement and we recorded it in one take.

Yves Carbonne : "Holy spirit": Using the fretless 8-string with its orchestral possibilities, a soulful
expression of my feelings for my son with a simple fretless melody.

Patrick Paco Mller : The tune Paco from the debut-cd of the German fusion/jazz-rock band
PLAYSTATION is a real funky piece with a great vibe, punchy groove, a heroic theme and a lot of
strange sounds. The Intro itself tells a complete story.
The composers nickname is the title of this short concept-opus consisting of four movements:
I. Arrival II. Go`nGet It III. Struggle IV. Paco Begins
The parts follow the evolution of this stage name, built by friends out of the composers first name,
Patrick, and Jaco (we-all-know-who), but all in all, it also stands for the beginning of Paco becoming a
bass-player (thats why theres the Slap-Parts) and getting self-conscious about being a musician.
Sometimes in a dramatic and hard way, but with a lot of fun and emotional feelings thats Paco, in
music and in person. And thats his song!

John Flitcraft : I wanted to write something in the "Tribal Tech" vein with lots of room for finger funk
playing. Jeff solos over a D7Alt chord vamp which leaves a lot of room for interesting rhythmic and
harmonic twists and turns.
Great solos by Jeff and Steve.

Florian Friedrich : I came up with this bassline/groove. It was a cold rainy day and when I sat down to
figure out what to play "around" it (the chords, the melody, the form) everything fell into place. It was
one of those "magical" moments of inspiration, I just couldn't stop until my little demo version was ready.
And while listening to the demo afterwards, I imagined myself driving south through Italy in a
convertible. The sun was shining, it was all just this big cliche... hahaha. So there it was: "Moving South"
, the title of the song which later would become the title track of my CD.

Lucas Senyatso : The song was recorded in 2005. Peter Molobye used to teach Piano at the school I was
studying at. We later became band mates and I learnt a lot from him. he was like a brother to me. so when
he died a few years later on, I was devastated. I composed the song as a tribute to him.
David Hughes : Snowflakes is from the album Foreign Shores. When listening to a new tune I close my
eyes and title it according to the emotion it evokes. This tune made me reminisce about my childhood
winter days in Sweden, the snow on the ground making everything so quiet and the light snowflakes
falling straight down in the dead calm.
I played my 1969 Fender Jazz Bass strung with DR medium high beams through an Avalon SP737
preamp. I used a touch of Logic's chorus to make the bass a little wider in the mix, but high passed the
effect to retain the punch of the low frequencies. This is a feature available on some chorus pedals and in
my opinion is essential for bassists.
Bass and drums were tracked together and the other instruments were overdubbed, mainly for practical
reasons.
Many bassists owe much to Marcus Miller, and I am not shy to say he has been a great influence. The
swelling, clustered horn chords were probably something I picked up from Steve Reich.
I hope you enjoy the track!

Damian Erskine : "Fif' began as a rhythmic exercise, actually. I was playing with a metronome (in 5)
and experimenting with triplets and omitting certain subdivisions (initially in the bassline and then with
the melody as well). The B section has evolved since the recording into more of a Tumbao feel and this
track is incredibly fun to play for me. I've always loved playing in 5 for some reason and this song has
led me to some interesting places rhythmically. I've come to love the explorative side of composition and
it all started with this track.

Trip Wamsley : I used my 8 string ERB and a fretless here. I "orchestrated" different things to come in
and out. What seems to be multiple parts might just be one and vice versa. I enjoy doing things like that.
This track just evokes the feelings I get, when I get to be amongst kindred spirits. Much love to all and
thanks for listening.

Martin Simpson : QX4 means Quinterican Multiplied by Four. This piece originally started life as a two
hand tapping exercise called The Quarterican which was composed for a four string bass. I recorded it
for my Lost In Space mini album in 1997. I went back into the studio two and a half years later and
recorded it a fourth higher, with my (newly acquired) five string bass (tuned EADGC) recording it on
the bass twice to get a full stereo effect, for my Bass To Bass album. Listening back to it (after a live
recorded performance of it at St. Pauls Church in 2004) I realised it actually had no balls (too much
tapping on the G and C strings) so I went back into the studio and used four basses two tuned E through
C and two basses tuned B through G - which allowed me to play the piece in two octaves for a more full
blooded stereo effect. Some of you monsters will wonder why I didnt just use a six string bass to perform
all the parts, but unfortunately, I just cant handle more than five strings at any given time (Im just a
mere mortal)!!!

Ernie Leblanc : Back in February of 2005, after listening for some time to some CD's Damian sent to me
from his personal collection and try as I may, I just could not play like him. In a moment of my deepest
angst, I just gave up and played with an image in my mind of how Damian must play and let my fingers
fly! "Thanks, Damian" is What Come Out! To this day, Damian is one of my greatest inspirations.
"Thanks, Damian!"

Greg Moonsammy : Simone Sereeka is my 27 year old daughter. She moved to the USA with her Mom
when she was 10 years old and it has been hard for me as an absentee parent. This track is a dedication of
my love for her.
Disc Four (5 Countries Represented) Running Time : 57:51
Title Bassists Nationality

Track 1 Landscape Jim Stinnett American

Rob Gourlay American

Track 2 Sub Jam Yves Carbonne French

Michael Manring American

Track 3 Herbie Joseph Patrick Moore American

Adam Nitti American

Track 4 57th Latitude Edo Castro American

Michael Manring American

Track 5 Blues For Helen Todd Johnson American

Kristin Korb American

Track 6 The River Martin Simpson British

Kai Horsethemke German

Track 7 Piscatorial Dreams Jim Stinnett American

Rob Gourlay American
Grant Stinnett American
Michael Manring American

Track 8 St. Pauls / Give Thanks Concorde Nkabinde South

African
Victor Masondo South
African
Disc Four
Composer List of Musicians & additional Info

Track 1
Landscape Jim Stinnett Bass Album : Two Low
6:30 Rob Gourlay - Bass
(J. Stinnett Dom Moio - Cymbals
/ R. Gourlay) Lionel Loueke Guitar & Vox

....
Track 2
Sub Jam Yves Carbonne Bass Album : Carbonne
4:02 Michael Manring - Bass Di Piazza Manring
(Y. Carbonne
/ M. Manring)

....
Track 3
Herbie Joseph Patrick Moore Bass Album : Decade
5:37 Adam Nitti - Bass
(J.P. Moore)

....
Track 4
57th Latitude Edo Castro Bass Album : Sacred Grafitti
6:30 Michael Manring - Bass
(E. Castro)
Track 5
Blues For Helen Todd Johnson Bass Album : Get Happy
6:30 Kristin Korb - Bass
(T. Johnson) Kendal Kay- Drums

....
Track 6
The River Martin Simpson Fretted Basses
4:49 Kai Horsthemke Fretless Basses
(M. Simpson Colin Heaney Drums
/ K. Horstheke)
....
Track 7
Piscatorial Dreams Jim Stinnett Bass Album : Project M
7:39 Grant Stinnett - Bass
(J. Stinnett) Rob Gourlay - Bass
Michael Manring - Bass

....
Track 8
St. Pauls Concord Nkabinde Bass Album : An Evening
/ Give Thanks Victor Masondo - Bass @ St. Pauls
17:35

....
About Our Track (Disc Four)
Yves Carbonne : "Sub Jam": It was just a jam in the studio between Michael Manring and myself, when
the album "Carbonne Di Piazza Manring" was recorded. We liked the result, and decided to include it in
the album.

Joseph Patrick Moore : I recorded the upright bass track and then sent Adam Nitti the tracks. He added
an amazing electric bass part, flew it back in and added some synths and sound effects. This song was
recorded in 2004 and I was honored to have Adam Nitti guest appear on this track.

Edo Castro : This piece was originally slated to be on my first release "Edo" but was axed. Partly due to
the fact that the original track was just too loose and the producer didn't like this track at all.
I went back to the drawing board and re-recorded my part and added the textural items using a Roland
GR33 and my Conklin 7 string Midi bass. This was after my 2nd release "Phoenix."
For the main fretless chordal part, I used a Fretless Stinger Bee Bass. While I was recording I kept
hearing Michael Manring playing on this. Since we were well acquainted through various gigs and
whatnot, I emailed him and proposed the track. He agreed and put his part down.
The title came about by accident. I had originally called it "7th Latitude" or something like that, and Lisa
Star, of Passion Star Records, kept referring to it as "57th St" So I ended up calling it "57th Latitude"

Martin Simpson : With this piece, I went back to Andy Thomas recorded drum part that he laid down
for my The Bass Remains The Same album and laid down an assortment of fretted bass parts which
interacted with each other in a pan extreme left and pan extreme right call and response approach. I then
asked fretless wiz, Kai Horsthemke, to lay down something to run down the middle which he did, using
both bass guitar and upright bass. I remarked later on, that I saw my parts as the embankment with his
parts being the river that runs between them so we called the piece The River. I deleted the original drum
track and asked Colin Heaney to play something that fitted in with what us two bassists had done.
The track doesnt reside on any of our solo albums yet - Kai actually prefers the un-drummed version
but I prefer this version so well probably each put our own favourite version on our next solo offerings..
Listen to this track with phones on, for the full stereo effect of what we were trying to achieve.

Martin Simpson : St. Pauls / Give Thanks - O.K. I didnt actually perform on these particular pieces,
but I was there and witnessed this amazing seventeen and a half minutes of bassin (if you listen intently,
youll hear me clapping). Kai Horsthemke, Bert Askes, Dave Askes, Phil Raath and Judy Foxcroft (all
contributers to this book) were also there and a great evening was had by us all. Judy had organised the
evening at St. Pauls church for the South African Bass Players Collective to let their hair down and strut
their stuff. Phil opened the evening with his band and Bert & Dave Askes closed the first half (thats them
on the cover of the album). I opened the second half, followed by Kai (thats him on the cover). Concs &
Vic played out the evening with this amazing showcase of bass virtuosity and improvisational creativity.
Concord is the bassist doing the talking in between the pieces.
 Out-takes Pages
As with every cd / DVD /Film, theres a certain amount of footage that doesnt make it to the final
presentation. My own Bass To Bass album originally consisted of 82 minutes of recorded music
before I whittled it down to a one-hour presentation. Visit any manufacturing plant and they will
tell you that they allow for 10% waste. This book is no exception. As believable as their stories may
seem, these people may or may not be bassists. They could in fact be just very good storytellers. In
all the years that this book has taken me to put together and with much badgering, these people
werent able to supply me with a photo of themselves with a bass. These are their (????) stories.

Ulf"Rockis"Ivarsson : For me, its really simple. I love basslines!! And there are too many egos out
there in the guitar territory!
From the beginning, in the post-punk days 1978-79, when I started to play bass, I bought a bass guitar in
January, started a band in February and had my first gig in March! It probably sounded dreadful but it
was fun!! I think that was the main thing with the punk rock scene, you didnt need to be a virtuoso on
your instrument, and the choice of bass guitar was a coincidence for me. My music teacher told me that
he only taught bass and guitar, so I chose bass in one minute. It could have been guitar or drums - there
was never any smartness about my decision regarding this. Then of course, after a couple of gigs with un-
tuned instruments and bad sounding songs, I started to take my bass-playing more "serious". Im listening
to all kinds of different music styles and bass-players to get on top of my chops! So there you go, Im still
growing as a musician because Im constantly working on being a better listener rather than a "good bass-
player". Thats why Im playing so many different styles of music!!

Graeme van der Schyff : I started playing acoustic guitar when I was around 14 years old. A couple of
years later, I met a guy who played the bass and he started teaching me a couple of things about it.
Haven't look back since, it just seemed to grab me and has never let go. I think there'd be a big hole if
bass playing were taken away from me. Anyway, my bass is calling ("Coming dear!"). Cheers!!

Edward Victor : There are a number of reasons Why I play the Bass Guitar: -
It really appeals to me.
I just have that innate ability for it.
I really derive a lot of inspiration from it when Im picking my notes.
Joy exudes out of me whenever Im holding my chords on it.

Werner Ainslie : Why do I play bass? I started playing bass about 2 years ago. I was playing acoustic
at that time in a band called Apparently Greenwood when the bassist fell ill. So I stood in for him.
When I played that first chord with the whole band and that weird feeling came running up my spine I
knew that this was what Im going to doTwo weeks after that, I got my Ibanez gsr 200/ 4 string and I
was set. I just love the way it sounds and the way it feels. I played all kinds of instruments - Acoustic 6
and 12 string, piano, trumpet, drums, but the bass still is and will always be the instrument I prefer. Its
nice to know that there are people that feel the same out there

Andrew Nelson : Bass tickles that elusive spot in my stomach that only the greatest longing or a simple
drop in elevation* can. Playing a double bass exaggerates the sensation as you are in contact with the
body as it resonates.

*cresting a sharp hill in a fast car

Neil Weir-Smith : Let's be honest, it all started in a drunken stupor after a R2.50 a shot tequila party
night. I was waiting to be picked up by my father, yes I was under age at the time, and talking to a friend
of mine. He was starting a band and currently had two guitarists but needed a drummer and a bassist.
"Bass?" I said, "I could do that." so we made plans to go out the next day and shop for a bass guitar for
me. The next day I called him to see if he was still keen to go shopping, he was surprised I remembered
that conversation...obviously the drunken stupor wasn't quite so drunken :)...From there we got together
and bought a bass later that day. I'm sure my parents thought that this was just a passing phase but the
whole thing took off for me and I've never looked back. Seven and a half years later and I'm probably
more in love with my bass than I was when I started. Passing phase? HA, is what I say to that idea.
Bassists of the world unite!!!!

Clive Woodvine : From my pimple-free, pre-pubescent days, I was fascinated by the mop-headed blokes
who appeared on Top of the Pops and Ready, steady, go! playing guitars. I loved them and they
drove my old man daft !! Noise is in the ear of the listener. On the verge of my growing up in England in
the swinging 60s my family moved to South Africa .
Denied access to seeing these newfound idols on TV, I had to settle for second-best: LM radio!! Primary
school made way to high school and in the first week I forgot what homework I had, so I walked to the
home of the class monitor who lived just a few streets away. From the confines of his bedroom came
sounds similar to wasps in a jam-jar. It was actually a Guyatone through an 8-watt Meazzi amp he
played guitar!! Sod the homework, did I play guitar? No? Would I like to play? Yes? Would I like to play
Bass? Whatsit??
From the depths of a cupboard, a dilapidated jumbo-bodied acoustic was produced and the four bottom
strings were strung. . We were a band!!
That was Vanderbijlpark, January 1968. Thereafter followed many evenings and weekends spent honing
my craft, while the world waited with baited breath for me to conquer it. Fast forward to the present - Ive
just turned 50 and have only ever missed one gig.
Ive played in dance bands and club bands; played at concerts and corporate functions; played to full
houses and to tables-and-chairs; played pop, rock, reggae, blues, jazz, punk, gospel and latin. Ive played
Japanese copies to American customs; fretted, fretless and foot pedals; through combos to double stacks;
choruses to cry-babies. Ive been rewarded and ripped off; been professional and been penniless. Ive
picked it, plucked it, snapped it, and slapped it. Why do I play bass? Because I forgot my homework
when I was 11 . . . .

Lloyd Engelbrecht : I started playing bass by a stroke of luck. Growing up, my parents sent me for
piano lessons, which I didnt enjoy, I moved on to guitar lessons, which I didnt enjoy. I played the sax
and clarinet, and also didnt enjoy that. Then our church instruments were kept at our house during the
week while the building was still being built. I started playing with the bass guitar when I used to get
home from school. It became like a drug and I couldnt wait to get home after school for my afternoon
fix. It got to a point where even on weekends I would just want to stay home and play.
To boil it down is easy. Bass controls the music. Eg when you hear music from a car with serious
decibels pumping out of it, the bass is the first thing you hear.

Rudo Pieterse : I love music and I love sitting in the sweet pocket of any groove.

Andre Brzek Le Roux : One of my best friends had a nice Gibson and always rocked on it, It got me to
the point of getting a bass guitar to join him, and so the first band started with a couple more friends, I
went for a few lessons just for the basics. I had a real "Pick n Pay" special bassguitar when I started, lol.
From there, just loved it so much that it got me studying music at a college, I like the studio work, but
love the stage and a random jam is one of the best things ever since. I think bass, for me, is a place to let
go of all the crap and frustrations we face in life, it releases me to be free in a way. Therefore I guess Ill
enjoy it for as long as I possibly can.

Cleo Moneyedao : Irrespective of it's sex (the bass) I can pick on it and slap the Sh#t out of it without
getting into trouble with the law, never mind the fingering.

Andrew Buntain : I play bass in order to get It out. Bass releases It, and therefore playing bass releases
me from the tyranny of conscious thought. When I'm playing the instrument, nothing else really matters.
The bass is not just an escape mechanism from ordinary life, that's too much of a clich. I'm talking about
what matters when you're playing a song - dynamics, tempo, rhythm, notes - they're all so important. I'm
communicating with others in the band, and the audience the whole time I'm on stage. And you can't do
that until It gets out.

Patrick Cousins : Just over a year ago I had thoughts of learning to play the drums. My buddies had a
three-piece band, The Uninvited they had been practicing for a gig at my place and had left a set of
drums there for collection. So one morning after the gig I was bashing around a bit on the drums and the
doorbell rang. On answering I found one of the lead guitarists standing there with a bass in his hand
saying, here try this, so I did. Its a big learning curve for me and I still have a lot to learn but it is great
fun

Melinda Marks : Bass is the most versatile, fun instrument to play. I grew up playing classical music on
the violin. I picked up the bass after college when I reunited with a pianist who used to accompany me on
the violin. She was in a cover band, and I was teasing her, asking whether they needed a go-go dancer or
something and whether I could join. She had an idea I could pick up the bass and join the band because
they wanted to kick out their bassist! It was easy to pick up, and it was easy to play a simple bass line, but
there was so much more I could do with it. I could pick, pluck, slap, pop, I could play fretted or fretless. I
could add switches to modulate my pitch. I could play a 4 string, 5 string, or even an 11-string and each
different string or finger position can make a different sound. Its all about holding down the low end and
keeping the beat while adding your own style. Someone told me once that you may not think people
notice the bass part, but if they are tapping their feet or dancing, they are grooving to the bass.

Mark Wood : I'm not sure why I play the bass... It's just something that's visceral, which cannot really be
put into words. It's that undefinable something holding a band together, driving the music and filling in
the blanks, that stimulates something deep within me. Maybe its a feeling of being part of the soul of a
piece of music.

Kevin F. Bolembach : My mom forced me to! I wanted to play guitar originally, but our school gave
free lessons on the upright Bass. We were pretty poor and couldn't afford private guitar lessons, so my
mom said "you will learn the Bass instead!" I didn't even know what a Bass was but she's German, so
you better listen when she talks! Anyway, after playing in the string orchestra for about 4 years, I
figured out that the upright and the electric Bass were pretty much the same thing, so I traded in my
Double Bass for a '73 Fender P and never looked back!

Steve Becker : In 7th grade, I received a six-string electric guitar as a hand-me-down from my older
brother. I played it for about a month before realizing that I knew seven people that played guitar, five
drummers and no bassists. So I guess I started playing to be different. I learned how to play by listening
to my favourite music and picking out the bass lines. Once I started playing sports in school, free time
was a rarity. I played somewhat infrequently for the next four years until what I call my Bass Epiphany.
During my senior year of high school, a buddy of mine lent me his copies of Jamiroquais Emergency
On Planet Earth, The Return Of The Space Cowboy, and Travelling Without Moving. Hearing
Stuart Zenders bass lines on those albums realizing how it was his playing that held all of their songs
together and provided them with their grooves and funkiness realizing how FUN his bass lines were to
play I was sold. By listening to him, I understood a bassists true role: being the bridge between the
rhythm and the melody, incorporating both into your playing, and being the glue that holds everything
together and I LOVE playing this role. There is another aspect of playing the bass, however, that I
believe is the main reason Ive stuck with it. Playing my bass is my release. If Ive had a rough day at
work I pick up my bass. Bad mood? I pick up my bass. Argument with a girlfriend? I pick up my bass.
My bass has always had the ability to bring me out of any bad funk and put me into the good funk. Its
my most trustworthy friend and companion. My bass is my soul mate.
 Alphabetical Index
Names shown in Red are accompanied by their photographs alongside
Autographed contributions are indicated

A
Abel Stoltz Autographed 37
Adam Engela 17
Adam Nitti Autographed 5
Adam Taylor Autographed 85
Ado Roza Autographed 117
Adrian Davison 13
Adrian Lay 18
Adrian Kuban-Maruszczyk 52
A.J. Hager Autographed 123
Al Caldwell Autographed 50
Al Cardillo 117
Al Garcia 48
Al Turner 17
Alan Goldstein 82
Albert Hobson Autographed 101
Albey Balgochian 51
Alex (11) 45
Alex Bershadsky Autographed 127
Alex Davison 42
Alex Searle 81
Alexander Kalinovski 19
Alexander Vankevich 82
Alfred Kallfass 22
Alfred Smith 133
A.L. "Artie" Terry 45
Ali Hairunie 136
Alistair Andrews 62
Alliston Europa 51
Alofa Toetu 131
Alvin Cordy 138
Alvin Hendicks 33
Amy Shook 144
Anastasia Ferrara 48
Andre van Zyl 16
Andra Reitz 38
Andrew Pfaff 16
Andrew Warneke 68
Andy Gonzalez 5
Andy Long 135
Andy Pietropaolo 35
Andy Till 128
Anthea Buys 53
Anton Marshall 46
Antonella Mazza 80
Aram Bedrosian Autographed 89
Ariane C. Cap 131
Ariel Garcia 70
Arlyn Culwick 53
Arran McSporran 59
Ashley Kelly 110
Ashley John Long 62
Aurlien Dervaric 122
Austin Underhill Autographed 119

B
Barry Irwin 33
Barry Sherman 4
Barry Sparks 33
Bart Tarenskeen 81
Basil Fearrington Autographed 110
Ben Allison 29
Ben Jones 14
Benoit Grigaut 80
Bernard Myburgh 67
Bernhard Lackner Autographed 18
Bert Askes 30
Bill Clements 56
Bill Ellison 80
Bill Parish Autographed 35
Billy Sheehan 9
BISCUIT Autographed 139
Bob Skeat 43
Bootsy Collins 102
Brad Davies 126
Brent-Anthony Johnson 92
Brent Lovell 39
Brian Bromberg 48
Brian Lawrence 49
Brian Lee Autographed 103
Brian Ogawa 15
Brittany Frompovich 136
Brogan Thompson 51
Bruce Gertz 46
Bruno Migliari 121
Bryan Beller Autographed 6
Byron Santo 50

C
Calvin Jones 37
Carl Rohrbeck 81
Carlos del Pino Autographed 64
Casey Andersen 121
Cees van der Weele Autographed 98
Celste Reyneke 41
Cesare Cassarino 28
Charles Adams 76
Cheech Carriero 137
Chris Adams 85
Chris Badynee Autographed 20
Chris Chard 30
Chris Garner 12
Chris S. Harris 38
Chris Tarry 63
Christian McBride 100
Christo Groenewald 67
Christoph Victor Kaiser 22
Chuck Bianchi 17
Chuck Rainey 111
Cladio Juliano Autographed 43
Clement Georges 18
Clment Schepens 133
Clive Jackson 80
Cobus Keyser 22
Colin Brown 57
Colin Deacon Autographed (Page 120) 62
Concord Nkabinde 13
Corn Dannhauser 64
Corrado Canonici 75
Craig Bissell 54
Craig Martini 132

D
Damian Erskine Autographed 89
Dan Hawkins 74
Dan Hestand 107
Dan Rubel 106
Daniel Burger Autographed 50
Daniel Gray 26
Daniel Madu 121
Daniel Rezant 78
Daniel Sher 59
Dann Glenn 144
Danny Fox Autographed 17
Danny Lugo 89
Darius Willemse 103
Darren McGregor 33
Darren Michaels 21
Dave Askes Autographed 31
Dave Avenius 134
Dave DeMarco 72
Dave Meros Autographed 72
Dave Pomeroy 114
Dave Segall 14
David (13) 45
David Dyson 126
David Geschke 57
David Heyes 27
David Houghton 12
David Hughes Autographed 10
David Neubert 128
David Tourville 126
Dean Barbour 6
Delton Daniels 28
Denis Lalouette Autographed 4
Dereck Walstra Autographed 74
Derek Oliver 13
Derrick Davis 125
Derron Ferreira 62
Dillon Govender 115
Dino Fiorenza Autographed (Page 118) 18
diRASTAMAN 88
Djordje Stijepovic Autographed (This Page) 61
Don Bryce Autographed 95
Don Campbell 85
Donn Dowlman 36
Donovan Tose 54
Double-Z 143
Doug Johns 83
Dr. Donovan Stokes 90
Duncan Bell 52

E
Earl Craft 118
Ebinho Cardoso 84
Ed Friedland 39
Ed Poole 9
Eddie Kohen 119
Edo Castro Autographed 23
Edwin Huik 130
Edwin Paanakker 76
Eelke van der Hak Autographed 17
Eldred Schilder 116
Emil Nysschens 42
Eric (9) 45
Eric Owens Autographed 55
Eric Rupert 136
Ernie Leblanc Autographed 40
Errol Bong Strachan 32
Evan Marien 62

F
Fedis Gray 19
Florian Friedrich Autographed 89
Franc OShea 20
Francois Marais 15
Frederick Charlton Autographed 51

G
Gareth Langdon 79
Gareth Sherwood 43
Garth de Meillon Autographed 97
Gary Jibilian 92
Gavin Langevelt 94
Geddy Lee 137
Gene Torres 122
George Moye 143
Glenn Letsch 12
Glenn Topping 37
Glenn Veale 98
Gonzo 26
Gordon Johnson 104
Grace (8) 45
Graeme Currie Autographed (Page 118) 20
Graham Jacobs Autographed 8
Graham McKay Autographed 116
Grant Stinnett Autographed 63
Greg Brown 128
Greg Cavanaugh 44
Gregori Hoffman 129
Gregory Moonsammy 57
Greg Olwell 11

H
Hadrien Feraud 81
Harald Weinkum 19
Hartmut Hillmann Autographed 107
Henry (13) 45
Herbert Smith 49
Hilliard Greene Autographed 84
Hilton Vermaas 29

I
Ike Onwuagbu 105
Ilze Fourie 62
Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley 135
Ivan Poskal 116

J
Jackson Mann 127
Jacques Steyn 35
Jade Abbott 20
Jaime David Vazquez 39
Jake Kot 60
James Eller 119
James Sunney 65
Jamie Canivet 64
Jan Olof Strandberg 28
Jason Green 101
Jason Marsh Autographed 94
Jauqo III-X. 74
Jay Terrien 13
Jayen Varma Autographed 124
Jean Baptiste Collinet Autographed 93
Jean-Bertrand Carbou 13
Jeremy Howard 70
Jeff Berlin Autographed 14
Jeff Dodd Autographed 125
Jeff Plant 8
Jeff Schmidt 26
Jennifer Sharp 138
Jeroen Paul Thesseling 31
Jerome Robinson 67
Jerry Scott 127
Jessica Handley 55
Jesse Mogale 95
Jiggs Downing 73
Jim Guthrie 88
Jim Stinnett Autographed 76
Jimi Curve 80
Jimi Glenister Autographed 77
Jimmi Roger Pedersen Autographed 94
Jitka Brzek 30
Jo Janssen 37
Jodi Stevens 118
Joe Penn 21
Joe Sanchez 94
Joe Smith 37
Joey (12) 45
Johann Eicher 54
Johann Kruger Autographed 38
John Archer 68
John Dahlman 119
John Flitcraft 52
John Goldsby Autographed 16
John Lester 48
John B. Williams Autographed 112
Jon Liebman 142
Jonathan Dimond 19
Jonathan Moody Autographed 113
Jorge Carmona 130
Jorge Pescara Autographed (This Page) 85
Joris Teepe Autographed 21
Jose Aponte 23
Jose A. Valentin Caro 24
Jose Joey Vera 46
Joseph Milstein Autographed 99
Joseph Patrick Moore Autographed 19
Judy Foxcroft 79
Julian Fairall 58
Julian Mayer 32
Julian Spruce 62
Justin Maree 48

K
Kai Horsthemke Autographed 33
Kenny Aaronson 101
Kenny Weydener 127
Keri Moore 64
Kerry Blewett Autographed 50
Kerry Hiles Autographed 61
Kevin Brandon 9
Kevin Charles McGinnis 27
Kim Clarke 95
Kirwan Brown Autographed 81
Kristin Korb 34
 L
Lane Baldwin 127
Lars Lehmann 32
Lee Barker 6
Lee Smith 23
Lenny Padayachee 76
Leon Bosch Autographed 56
Lex Futshane 39
Lige Grant Curry 22
Lisa Jonker 42
Llewellyn Alberts 63
Llewellyn Bethwaite 16
Llewellyn John 59
Lloyd Wilke 32
Logan Byrne 134
Lorenzo Feliciati Autographed 41
Lorne Peakman 71
Lucas Senyatso 74
Lynn Seaton 129

M
Magnus Rosen Autographed 72
Marc Levine 74
Marcin Suchodolski 82
Marius Goldhammer 88
Marius Liebenberg 34
Mark Egan Autographed 11
Mark Freel 98
Mark Grandcourt 85
Mark Meadows 25
Mark Neuenschwander 47
Mark Roberts 36
Mark White Autographed 140
Mark Williams Autographed 92
Markus Setzer Autographed 102
Marten Andersson Autographed 40
Martin Engelien 43
Martin D. Fowler 57
Martin Motnik Autographed 81
Martin Simpson Autographed 143
Mary-Anne Ray 86
Matt Bissonette 129
Mattheus (10) 45
Matthew Bairstow 9
Matthew Moss Autographed 8
Max Theron 55
Maxim Starcke 69
Mel Brown 86
Mergan Naidoo 142
Michael Auer 58
Michael Brown Autographed 44
Michael Dimin Autographed 103
Michael Manring Autographed 14
Michael Stram 130
Michelle Ohlhoff 40
Mike Campbell 75
Mike Dorea 133
Mike Dyer 125
Miles Askes Autographed 31
Mischa Marcks 86
Mitch (11) 45
Mlungisi Gegana 58
Monk Montgomery 56
Morn Brainers 120
Moses Andrew Rixi Roman 52

N
Nick Beggs Autographed 102
Nick Bellinger 16
Nick Cook 63
Nico Kruger 50
Nicola Lori 42
Nik Felbab 21
Nikolai Neronski 44
Nippy Cripwell 104
Nixon Rosembert 124
Norm Stockton 53

P
Pat Cullen 52
Pat Wilkins 17
Patrick Paco Mller Autographed 42
Paul DeLano 66
Paul Martin 36
Paul Vosloo 75
Pete Ball 27
Peter Murray 73
Peter Tambroni Autographed 45
Phil Kloppers 33
Phil Peters 99
Phil Raath 15
Philipp Rehm 20
Pierre Schnehage Autographed 43
Pino Palladino 8
Pippo Matino 78
P.J. Phillips 104
Ponkey Reilly 71
Prakash John 60
Prof. Marc Duby 57

Q
Quinn Hawley 15
Quintin Berry 5
 R
Rami Lakkis 84
Randy Coven 104
Randy Kertz Autographed 4
Raul Amador 85
Ray Riendeau 15
Reggie Washington Autographed 34
Reggie Worthy 46
Riaan Hefer 138
Ricardo Rodriguez Autographed 46
Richard Bodkin 59
Richard Sims 25
Richard Wallenburg 131
Rico de Jeer 132
Rika Hebrst 85
Roald Nel 34
Rob Dakiniewich Autographed 51
Rob Gourlay 24
Rob 'Acebass' Perl 18
Robbie Sanna Autographed 55
Rob OBrien 78
Ronald John Pillay 67
Ronnie W. Dalesio Autographed 117
Ross Pickford 15
Roy Melville Autographed (Page 119) 48
Roy C. Vogt 52
Rudy Sarzo 32
Rufus Reid 12
Ryan Norton 54

S
Sammy Webber 102
Sander Huiberts Autographed (In Gallery) 50
Schalk Joubert Autographed 100
Scott Hubbell 35
Scott Kungha Drengsen 29
Scott Pazera 14
Seamus Doyle 30
Sergio Groove 57
Sharlafunk 126
Shaun Dutton 60
Shaun Moseley 14
Shaun Johannes Autographed 83
Shaun Scott Autographed 63
Simon Cox 73
Simon Goulding 99
Simone Vignola 31
Siyabonga Ngubane 65
Skip Hartman 141
Stanley Clarke 11
Stef Neumeyer 78
Stefan Held 52
Stefan Henrico 21
Stefan Redtenbacher Autographed 108
Steve Adelson 132
Steve Bailey 6
Steve Crozet 7
Steve Doner Autographed 97
Steve Gee Autographed 88
Steve Rodby 8
Steve Swallow 114
Steve Walters 84
Stewart McKinsey Autographed 61
Sting 10
Stuart Hamm 10
Stuart Krahn 98
Stuart Watkins 73
Sue Both Fourie 58
Sue Condie Stephenson 36

T
Tammy Wilson 18
Taylor 75
Thabang King Moshoeshoe 126
Theo Josias 80
Theo Klassen 42
Tiens van Zyl 90
Tim Bogert 101
Tim Seisser 14
Todd Johnson Autographed 42
Tom Genovese 22
Tom Kennedy 79
Tommie Rademeyer 62
Tony Reeves 134
Tony Saunders 55
Tony Scelba Autographed 66
Tony Senatore Autographed 16
Tony Vaughn 19
Trevor Muller 25
Trevor Smith 75
Trip Wamsley 91
Trish Bailey 70

V
Vail Johnson 104
Valery Bashkov 45
Vaughan Ross Autographed 66
Vernon Hodgetts 24
Vic Bergh 73
Victor Bailey 7
Victor Denson Angulo 91
Victor Masondo 19
Victor L. Wooten 12
Vincenzo Maurogiovanni Autographed 88
Virgilio Venditti Autographed 87
Vuyani Wakaba Autographed 47
 W
Wan Abdullah Wan Salleh 24
Wayne Fox 21
Wes Watson 133
Wesley Chetty 103
Wilbert van Niekerk 47
Willem Perold 36
Willem Samuel 115
William Japhta 65
William Maxwell 60
William Slimmerts 33
William Teags Autographed 7
Winton Palmer 15

Y
YoYo Buys 24
Yves Carbonne Autographed 18

Z
Zeljko Zelle Glamocanin 115
Zuzo Moussawer 21
 Sander De Gier
I got into building for fun. I played guitar and
wanted to build my own one. I went to get some
training from another luthier. When the training
was half done, I was ready with my guitar. He
probably recognised talent and offered me a job. I
worked for him for a year. Then I started my own
business. It was very small at first, mainly repairs
and custom guitars. After a few years, I started
with my own designed guitars. Word got around and I got orders. Eventually that grew out to where we
are now, 3 people working here, mostly building our own models. We do everything here. Woodworking,
finishing, etc. I'd like to deliver a perfect instrument. We choose the wood carefully and work very
concentrated. The lacquer we use has been chosen after more than 10 years of experimenting to get it just
right. As far as sound is concerned - we may have a slightly different approach than other luthiers. You
always need to get used to an instrument - and the ears and needs of players are continually growing. So
we try to deliver a guitar that sounds just great, but we know that eventually the customer might want to
change pickups or so. So we are not concerned too much about that. For every sound that exists, there is
someone out there who loves it. But when it comes to playability and construction, it just has to be perfect
and, of course, look perfect. A guitar that looks great is inviting to play. When it plays easy, it makes you
feel you can reach higher. So a guitar must inspire you. Great looks are very subjective of course, so we
always let the customer decide. One prefers relic and another prefers high gloss, clean and neat. But
nobody likes sloppy fretwork or an uncomfortable neck. So basically that's my philosophy. Try to get it as
perfect as possible, but with the humble acknowledgment that the customer might want to change
something after a while. When picking a guitar from the shelf, you know what youre buying but when
you have a custom guitar made for you, there is always an element of surprise. I can perhaps get 80 or 90
% close to what a customer hears in his or her head, expressed through words to me, then translated to
wood again. But for a little bit he just has to wait and see.
 Bill Conklin
I build basses for many of the same reasons most bassists play.
For me, it is a creative outlet; a way for me to express my artistic
passion much like a musician writing and recording songs.
Hopefully the material that I design and create will make an
emotional connection with enough like-minded bass players to
allow me and my business partner to eek out a respectable living.
But it's not about the money. We honestly do this because we love
it and we pour our heart and soul into each process. There is a
sense of spirit with the wood that inspires us to make the best use
out of each piece and then pass our creation on to another type of
artist so they can use it to do great things.

I have always run my business on the philosophy that there is no right or wrong way to build an
instrument; sure you have the core principles of scale length and string tension, etc. that must be adhered
to, but
beyond that, there are no rules and therefore, I am continuously thinking of ways to innovate, simplify
and improve.

I've always kind of preferred bolt-on neck construction because it seems to be a little more forgiving in
terms of allowing us the freedom to be more experimental with sound chambers and hollow bodies,
unique tops and pickguards, neck heels and neck angle and the installation of various hardware and
electronics componentry. In the end though, it's up to the customer and we are fully prepared to build it
just the way they want it.

I love to get creative with different species of wood and different types of figure and colours within the
wood. Nowhere is that more apparent than in our exclusive "Melted" tops, fingerboards and headstock
caps. This is a process where we carefully select the most beautiful examples of 3 to 5 different woods
and then meticulously cut and join them in such a way that they form gorgeous flowing patterns, or as we
like to say, "organic graphics". Sometimes we just make a stunning top out of the "melted" woods and
other times we may continue the pattern all the way through the fingerboard and headstock cap for a truly
spectacular effect.
 Michael Pedulla
After receiving his BM degree as a classically trained
violinist, Michael Pedulla moved to Massachusetts and set up
shop as a repair tech and builder in 1975, repairing and
building a myriad of instruments from acoustic guitars to
banjos. Having repaired basses for professional bassists Mark
Egan and Tim Landers, Michael took a specific interest in the
need for the extension of what was then mostly a one bass world for players, a new tool that would
allow the bassist to play what was in their head, a tool to keep up with the demands of the new music, and
the new era of bass playing. Thus the MVP/Buzz was born.

The design and execution process has always been focused on tending to the specific acoustic tone of
each and every instrument, coupled with the ergonomic needs of the bassist to facilitate their technique.
With the use of different woods, various neck designs, hardware and electronics, the acoustic color of the
sound could be manipulated, which led to the full line of the current five models: MVP/BUZZ,
Thunderbass/Thunderbuzz, Thunderbolt, Rapture, and the Nuance, each having their own unique
character. All designs are original, the art of reproducing existing instruments never interested Michael.

Michael maintains that there is a difference between a bass and an instrument (perhaps from his
classical training), a view that has guided his building philosophy. The bass is the sum of its physical
parts, design, ergonomics, and performance. An instrument is more, it has an energy that comes from
the builder and the player, allowing one to transcend inherent limitations of the bass and the player,
they become one.

To that end, Michael has returned to building each and every bass himself, 100%. With decades of
experience, and a well formed technique and art, Michael imparts a piece of himself in each and every
instrument he builds. There can always be room for improvement, every day, no matter what the level of
achievement becomes that is the challenge, in instruments and in life. I love building basses and cant
imagine doing anything else.
 Anthony Olinger
I started playing bass during freshman year in college
and absolutely loved the instrument. By my senior year,
I realized my musical abilities were being limited by my
mid-level bass. Being a broke college student I couldn't
afford the bass I wanted, so decided to try building one
myself. By the time I graduated I had a new handmade
bass that played like butter and a newfound passion for
lutherie. I started Xylem a couple years later and began
making basses and guitars in our kitchen full time (a.k.a.
my new dream job).
A truly excellent bass is not an entirely separate entity -
it becomes an extension of yourself whenever you play. A bass should be infinitely responsive and
comfortable, play effortlessly, and inspire its player to evolve as a musician. It is a precise, refined tool
for the master craftsman who shapes and polishes soundwaves. These are the basses I believe in building,
as they can benefit not only their musicians, but the music itself.
I design my basses to be lightweight, balanced in sitting and standing position, and easy to maintain in
playing condition. Every glue joint, contour and measurement is important when making a bass that will
stand up to time and world tours, without straining your hands or back. I choose woods for their stability,
weight, durability and how they complement a particular bass design. Precision fretwork is essential, it
determines how low you can set the action, which has a huge impact on the abilities of your fretting hand.
I strive for elegant design, so I'm always looking for simpler, more effective solutions, with an ambition
to revolutionize the bass guitar design. I'm also going to keep my basses available to musicians who have
more talent than money. Part of the reason why I am a luthier is the huge satisfaction I get from giving
bass players the tools they need to attain their musical ambitions. Not enough high-potential bass players
realize how essential a good instrument is to attaining their musical goals.
 Ado Roza
When I was a child, along with my brothers and all the children of the
neighbourhood, we used to have fun, building our own toys. Empty
(wooden) apple boxes, discarded plastic packs, and vegetable oil cans
could all be transformed into little boats, cars and, eventually, musical
instruments. At that time, we could beat them as a drum, fill them with
sand to shake and on rare occasions, the cans would get a wooden neck
(with matches as frets and pins as machine heads), which were stringed
with fishing nylon, to sound just like an acoustic guitar (they didn't.!).
But very "exotic sounds" used to come out from those instruments that never were in tune. No problem!
We weren't musicians as well.......... yet! This was my first approach to the art of playing and constructing
instruments. Today, Brazilian children (maybe World-wide!) should enroll on courses to learn how to
play with creativity..! We made toys like kites, home-made scooters, can drums etc. Nowadays, the kids
ask their parents go to buy them toys in the shops avoiding the creative (and the apprenticeship) process.

In my history, the phenomenal Black Sabbath's Terry Geezer Butler and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones
were the first bass guitarists to lead me to listen to the acoustic upright Jazz players like Ray Brown, Scott
La Faro, Eddy Gomes, Charles Mingus, Oscar Petiford etc. Rock led me to Jazz. Later, Stanley Clarke
and Jaco were to show me that the evolution wasn't anywhere near finished yet. Today nothing surprises
me. I think that I was ready for Victor Wooten and Charlie Hunter!! Who knows what else will come in
the years ahead!!

In the last few years, I've being playing, fixing and developing my own techniques in construction using
specific tools. The result is that I started to build my own instruments. Besides this, I guess that I build
basses because I play bass too and so bassists tend to trust me more for building their axes. Sometimes,
musicians want me to sell my own privately owned basses to them so I offer them a custom made one!
This is the advantage that a luthier, instead of a large company, can offer to a performing musician. A real
custom made and sometimes an original instrument. Each instrument for me is just like a son, "I almost
don't want to deliver to my customers.
Why I Play Bass Notes (1)
Why I Play Bass Notes (2)