In this episode, I sit down with Rich Derbyshire, bass player for Wild Adriatic/ Andy Frasco and the UN, for a grounded, honest conversation about musicianship, taste, and what it actually means to jam.

We talk about why real jamming isn’t about showing off chops, but about listening, understanding the room, and knowing when less is more. Rich breaks down how knowing your instrument — and knowing your role — shapes better musicians and better bands.

We also get into:

• The difference between playing at music and playing with people
• Why taste and restraint matter more than speed
• Learning to hear genres, keys, and feel in real time
• Growing as a bass player and a bandmate
• Choosing a life in music when stability was an option

Rough Pumpkins- real stories from people who should have gotten real jobs. 

🎧 New episodes every Thursday

📍 Recorded in Upstate New York

https://youtube.com/@roughpumpkinspodcast?si=D0hwyyaWNi2mrCwI