Lately, I have been discovering quite a few multi-instrumentalists who create their music by playing all the instruments involved. The most amazing aspect of this to me is how proficient they are and how the bass plays a significant role in their music.

Dave Perry is one such talented musician, and plays all the instruments in the band “Fear of Water”. Not only does he compose and perform all his music but he has had to surmount some serious obstacles to be where he is today.

Join me as we learn about Dave’s Journey, how he overcame being clinically deaf as an infant, how he gets his sound, the process behind his music, and his plans for the future.

I am thrilled to introduce you to Dave Perry!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in October 2024

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Henry Johnson quite simply is a guitarist's, guitarist.  I can amplify that by saying that he is the guitarist that I have had the most requests to interview - “Hey, have you ever thought about Henry Johnson, he’s amazing”! I heard it a hundred times...  I have known of Henry for a long time and admired his playing and wanted to get him in Jazz Guitar Today - but our roads kept missing each other.  I was so happy that we finally put it together.  Henry has a fantastic resume playing with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Ramsey Lewis, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Stanley Turrentine, and Joe Williams, WOW! He is an educator, an artist, and a gentleman! He is from my era and influenced by lots of the same people and likes a lot of the same music.  It is with great pride that we bring to you this conversation with the great Henry Johnson.

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I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to very seasoned career bass players.

Hank Horton is a heavy-hitter vocalist, producer, and bassist who fits into that category. Hank has a diverse skillset where he can play electric for Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (and a ton of other renowned musicians), play upright in the Detroit Symphony, or be excellent in a Broadway pit. 

I also understand that Hank has been using the Katana-210 Bass Amplifier, typically designed for electric bass, for his upright bass—a unique technique that he says has helped him to elevate his sound in recent years.

Join me as we get the low down from Hank Horton himself!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in September 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

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

Since that early hit record, the band has been going strong and kept very busy touring and releasing albums; it is great to see a band with such continuity and staying power.

Tad Kinchla has been playing the bass for Blues Traveler since 1999 and I am thrilled to have a chance to bring you this interview. Join me as we learn about Tad’s musical journey, his experiences with Blues Traveler, how he gets his sound, and his plans for the future.

Here is New Jersey’s own, Tad Kinchla!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in Oct 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Do you remember back in the day when a certain song came on the radio that just made you feel happy but you didn’t know who was playing?

This was the case with “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys. I was glad when I finally found out who the band was as I could look for more of their music. BTW, this tune still makes me smile from the opening few bars.

After more than a decade, the news of a new album titled, “Resurrection” came across my desk and the expertly crafted tracks I heard were full of messages of hope and healing, fitting for our times.

I was very excited to have the opportunity to chat with the band’s bassist, Jojo Garza and to be able to share this conversation. His story is inspiring and his musical journey is quite remarkable. Join me as we hear about how Jojo gets his iconic sound, details about “Resurrection” and the band’s plans for the future.

Les presento Jojo Garza!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in September 2024

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

Join me as Suzy talks about some of the points from her article and so much more.

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in August 2024

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I am always impressed by musicians who can play and sing simultaneously. I am even in greater awe of these multi-instrumentalists who are highly proficient on many instruments.

Richie Kotzen is one of these very talented musicians. His upcoming (September 27, 2024) album “Nomad” is proof as he plays every instrument in all but two tracks and does it amazingly well. 

Richie’s main strength is as a vocalist/guitar player and he has played with some of the best bassists in the business but in “Nomad”, he holds down the low end nicely.

Join me as we hear about Richie’s musical journey, details about “Nomad” how he gets his sound, how bass fits into his musical toolbox, and his plans for the future.

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in September 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to fellow bass players as they travel on their musical journey. Jonny Rubin, AKA Dr. Funk has been at this since he was a kid and has made the huge leap across the pond to make a go at it in sunny southern California.

Join me as we hear about his musical past, present and future.

Photo courtesy of Jonny Rubin

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in July 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

JGT Podcast: Jazz Guitar Today's Bob Bakert talks to guitarist David Becker about his unique compositions and performances.

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

Fortunately, Lee is also an excellent writer (among so many talents) and has recently released his book “Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass”. This book is a very fun read for everyone and shares a ton of details about Lee’s life in general, his experiences as a musician, a radio host, and a luthier. Now I am fortunate to have the great opportunity to gain even more insights into this renaissance man with this video interview.

Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass is available online at Amazon.com

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in July 2024

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.