The Bass Shed Podcast

The Bass Shed

THE BASS SHED PODCAST is a collection of in-depth interviews with Double Bassists & Electric Bassists from all over the world. Hosted by Los Angeles freelance Bassist Ryan Roberts, each interview examines artistry, career, culture in a personal ad relaxed style. Rated in the top 10% of ALL podcasts in the world, and listened to in more than 80 countries, The Bass Shed Podcast is a valuable resource for every bassist of any genre.

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Episodes

EP 126 -Mark Egan (Session Player, Solo Artist, Pat Metheny Group)
Jun 14 2024
EP 126 -Mark Egan (Session Player, Solo Artist, Pat Metheny Group)
Send us a textOne of the premier electric bassists of contemporary jazz, Mark Egan has distinguished himself over the past five decades with his distinctive fretless bass sound that has graced countless jazz and pop albums as well as award-winning movie and television soundtracks. An in-demand New York City studio musician who has played on multi-gold and platinum-selling recordings by Sting, Arcadia, Marc Cohn,GRP Christmas, Mecano and Joan Osborne, Egan has also recorded with a wide variety of artists from pop stars like Roger Daltrey, Sophie B. Hawkins, Marianne Faithfull, Judy Collins, Cyndi Lauper and Art Garfunkel to jazz notables like David Sanborn, John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie, Randy Brecker, Gato Barbieri, Freddy Cole, Jim Hall, Joe Beck, Pat Martino, Mark Murphy and Larry Coryell.A charter member of the Pat Metheny Group (formed in 1977) and member of the Gil Evans Orchestra for 13 years, Egan has 14 albums as a leader to his credit and another 10 as a co-leader of Elements, the fusion band he formed in 1982 with his Pat Metheny Group bandmate, drummer Danny Gottlieb.Egan discusses his latest album release "Cross Currents", his process when creating the album and practices routines.Mark Egan "Cross Currents"Mark Egan WebsiteFeatured on this episode:"Is That You" - Split Five WaysCraft Brewed Music PodcastGET FEATUREDSupport the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 124 - Tom Kennedy (Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Micheal Brecker, Solo Artist)
May 24 2024
EP 124 - Tom Kennedy (Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Micheal Brecker, Solo Artist)
Send us a textTom’s musical roots with on the acoustic bass, an instrument he started playing at age 9 and took to so naturally that within a few years he was performing with internationally known players such as Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, Nat Adderly, Sonny Stitt and Stan Kenton.At age 17, Tom would create a musical alter ego when he began playing the electric bass. Intrigued by the endless possibilities of the instrument, he began developing his now signature style best described as deep, soulful grooves merging seamlessly into acrobatic, horn-like soloing.Gaining a reputation that soon traveled beyond his native St. Louis, Tom relocated to New York City, where he quickly gained work with multiple groups. Further accolades came through a recording with guitar great Bill Connors and tours with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker in the world-renowned jazz-fusion group Steps Ahead. Additional tours and recordings with Brazilian pianist Tania Maria and guitarist Al DiMeola followed.On episode 124 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Tom discusses his latest recording "NEW START", the production of the album, his writing process, the gear he uses live and in the studio and more. Tom Kennedy - "New Start" on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/album/7KvXyweoy8GYAT7KdDYSKq?si=N2p-FWRzQeuAKGFbqcTa1AFeatured on this episodeInternational Society of Bassistshttps://www.isbworldoffice.comNew EP "Split Five Ways" by "Is That You?" Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/album/1XDABliqn5zwBl1zrumuxp?si=Jl8C3hBxQpCcQmTcxxgUQQCraft Brewed Music Podcasthttps://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-k22g9-97dac4Support the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 122 - Darek Oles (Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Solo Artist)
Apr 17 2024
EP 122 - Darek Oles (Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Solo Artist)
Send us a textDarek Oles (Oleszkiewicz) was born on February 20, 1963 in Wroclaw, Poland. At the age of five Oles began his music education at the State Music School in Wroclaw. Piano was his first instrument, but later he played guitar, electric bass and finally at eighteen years old, he switched to accoustic bass. While in his teens he played with amateur groups, evolving in popular music styles from rock, blues, jazz-rock to straight ahead jazz. In the early 1980’s, Oles participated in various jazz festivals and national competitions for young musicians. In 1983, he was the most awarded musician at the Jazz Juniors in Cracow, winning the first individual prize, first prize for jazz composition and a second prize in jazz combo category. Later that year Oles was invited by Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski, a jazz legend in Poland, to join saxophonist’s quartet on tour.In the following five years Darek Oles was working steadily with some of the best jazz bands in the country such as: Zbigniew Namyslowski Quartet, Tomasz Szukalski Quartet, Henryk Majewski Quintet, Wojciech Karolak Trio and Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio and Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski Quartet. With those groups he recorded for Polish Jazz, Polskie Nagrania, East Wind and also for the radio and television in Poland and abroad. Darek was touring extensively in Poland, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Cuba, Mexico and performed at major festivals, concerts and jazz club venues.In 1988, Darek Oles arrived in Los Angeles with a simple plan in mind: to broaden his musical horizon. One year later he received a full scholarship from California Institute Of The Arts and began studies with the legendary bassist Charlie Haden. After graduation in 1992, he accepted a teaching position at the Institute, where he has been conducting jazz ensembles and teaching bass ever since. Since 2002 Oles has been a jazz faculty member at the University Of California in Irvine.Aside from his teaching duties, Darek Oles has been very active as a performer and became one of the most sought after bass players on the West Coast. “Oles” (his American nick-name) had the opportunity to perform and record with the greatest masters in jazz. A partial list of his collaborations include: Brad Mehldau, Billy Higgins, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, Charles Lloyd, John Abercrombie, Bennie Maupin, Lee Konitz, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Bennie Wallace, Victor Lewis, Harvey Mason, Dave Grusin, Art Farmer, Horace Silver, Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane, James Newton, Arthur Blythe, Lew Tabackin, Steve Kuhn, Gary Smulyan, Ronnie Cuber, Billy Hart, Kevin Hays, Munyungo Jackon, Steve Hass, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Marian McPartland, Janis Siegel, Bob Brookmeyer, Curtis Fuller, Roy McCurdy, Tom Harrell, Larry Goldings, Bill Stewart, Chris Potter, Kei Akagi, Billy Childs, Bob Sheppard, Joe LaBarbera, Bill Cunliffe, Patrice Rushen, Bennie Golson, Piotr Baron, Teri Lynn Carrington, Buddy De Franco, Terry Gibbs, Anthony Wilson Nonet and Los Angeles Jazz Quartet.Moods in Freedom on SpotifySupport the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 119 Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Solo Artist, Clinician)
Mar 7 2024
EP 119 Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Solo Artist, Clinician)
Send us a textBryan Beller has maintained a multi-faceted career as a bassist, composer, solo artist and clinician for over 25 years, earning his reputation as a uniquely talented yet supremely tasteful team player for instrumentally-minded artists. He is a founding member of The Aristocrats which is one of the hottest acts in rock/fusion today; their 2019 release You Know What…? debuted at #2 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. The Aristocrats also just released a new album titled “Duck” that Brian will speak about.Brian Beller has been Joe Satriani’s touring bassist since 2013, and also tracked Satriani’s complete 2022 album The Elephants Of Mars. He was Steve Vai’s choice for the 2009 live CD/DVD Where The Wild Things Are, and he also toured and recorded in the “band” Dethklok, a tongue-in-cheek extreme metal band borne of the hit Cartoon Network “Adult Swim” show Metalocalypse. He’s been a musical partner of freak/genius guitarist Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa) for over 20 years and 10 albums.In addition, Beller’s solo album catalog includes a 2003 release View, 2008 release Thanks In Advance, and the 2011 release Wednesday Night Live, as well as an Alfred instructional DVD. all of which have received widespread acclaim. Brian has also been Contributing Editor for Bass Player Magazine, and a former VP of SWR bass amps. On The Bass Shed Podcast Brian discusses his latest release with The Aristocrats, his early days in music, bass gear and a lot of other fascinating topics.  Support the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 118 - Russell Thompson (Principal Bassist Arkansas Symphony)
Feb 23 2024
EP 118 - Russell Thompson (Principal Bassist Arkansas Symphony)
Send us a text Russell was lucky to grow up in a musical family in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His mother played the bassoon, his father played the french horn, and his step-father taught saxophone and played jazz. He began playing the bass in 4’th grade, but his interest in classical music began to spark when he began studying with Tracy Rowell and  joined the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) his sophomore year. It wasn’t until attending the inaugural summer of the National Music Festival in Floyd, Virginia that he considered pursuing music as a career.      He earned a bachelors degree in Music Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2015 before going on to earn a Master’s degree at Boston University and a Master of Musical Arts at Yale. He was also a founding member of the disciplinary performance group Artists By Any Other Name based in New York City. During this time, he also found a love of teaching and of encouraging students to reach their fullest potential. Thompson is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of North Texas with Jeff Bradetich. His previous teachers have included Tracy Rowell, Max Dimoff, Edwin Barker, and Don Palma. He plays on a bass made by Oregon luthier Seth Kimmel and a bow by Louis Morizot. On The Bass Shed Podcast, Russell candidly discusses his work as a freelance bassist as well his position as Principal Bassist of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, challenges and perspectives of the occupation and his practice routines. Support the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 113 - Marty Isenberg (NY Jazz Double Bassist, Composer, Recording Artist)
Jul 24 2023
EP 113 - Marty Isenberg (NY Jazz Double Bassist, Composer, Recording Artist)
Send us a textPlaying bass was love at first pluck for Marty Isenberg. His career as a jazz musician began at the age of 12, after losing his father to cancer the year prior. A skilled amateur musician, Marty’s father kept many instruments around the house that he would play for the family. After his death, Marty would pull one of these instruments off the wall and begin teaching himself how to play by reading tablature in Bass Player Magazine. The first song he ever learned was My Own Summer by The Deftones. Playing bass was love at first pluck for Mr. Isenberg. It was a cathartic healing experience, a way to stay connected to his father, and a way to creatively express himself. He went on to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he majored in Jazz Performance and minored in Jazz Composition, and received his Master of Music degree from New York University. He is now a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University where he is the teaching assistant to the jazz department chair Ray Anderson.For almost 20 years, Mr. Isenberg has been part of the rich New York City music scene. His performing career weaves though many styles of music, from jazz, to classical music, to theater and contemporary music. Mr. Isenberg pulls from all of these experiences to arrange the music of his debut album The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson, adding his own voice and reimagining the music that helped to shape his own musical identity.Marty Isenberg LinksThe Way I Feel Inside (Album)Marty Isenberg WebsiteYoutubeMarty Isenberg TwitterMarty Isenberg InstagramSupport the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 112 - Roberto Vally (George Benson, Christopher Cross, Bobby Caldwell, Boz Scaggs)
Jun 14 2023
EP 112 - Roberto Vally (George Benson, Christopher Cross, Bobby Caldwell, Boz Scaggs)
Send us a textRoberto Vally’s accomplishments within music date back to his formidable years in New York where he was awarded his Junior High School’s Music Honor Award. It was clear that Roberto was destined to pursue an education in music. From 1974-1978 he attended New York City’s legendary High School of Music and Art-depicted in Fame (1980 film). Continuing his education in music theory and classical bass he attended the highly acclaimed Julliard School from 1976-1978. There, most notably, he was mentored by the prominent professor and classical bassist, Homer Mensch. Roberto loved every minute of his bass education, but the “itch” to perform and take his bass skills on the road eventually took hold of him. In 1979 he auditioned for a show band that toured in the US and Canada, and off he went! His ferocious playing and charismatic stage presence were extraordinary. There was no stopping him. His skills and thirst for fun and adventure brought him overseas to France, where he not only gigged, but mastered surfing and skiing. Perhaps unbeknownst to him at the time, in the midst of his playing on stage, on slopes and on surf boards, Roberto was building a remarkable set of diverse “chops” that come only with countless live stage experiences.  Years of honing live performance skills really paid off when he auditioned with Spyro Gyra. Thru 1987 and 1988 Roberto toured and recorded with Spyro Gyra, performing in over 150 concerts in the US and around the world. With Spyro Gyra he recorded “Stories Without Words”, which is to date, one of the group’s most popular albums. Touring continued for Roberto in 1990 when he joined Michael Franks on his Blue Pacific Tour-once again taking him on tour worldwide.Westward bound. While Roberto was on tour with Michael Franks he took a leap of faith and invited Bobby Caldwell to one of the California shows with Michael, and as fate would have it, Bobby showed up and immediately asked Roberto to join his band. So in 1991, he moved to Los Angeles and started rehearsing with Bobby, To date, Roberto is playing with Bobby for an astonishing 29 year tenure!In 1993 he took stage with Randy Crawford as her bassist, but his adept demeanor and impressive musicality led Randy to appoint him as Musical Director where he headed tours encompassing the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia for over 15+ years.Since moving to Los Angeles, Roberto has performed and/or recorded with the following artists: George Benson, Christopher Cross, Jeffrey Osborne, Bob James, Al Jareau, Hillary Duff, Diane Schuur, David Benoit, Boz Scaggs, Kirk Whalum, Bobby Caldwell, Patti Austin, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Carlton, Marion Meadows, Jeff Golub, Peter White, Norman Brown, Paul Brown, Boney James, Ric Braun, Michael Lington, Richard Elliot, Joan Sebastian, Johnny Rivers, Euge Groove, Eric Darius, Anna Barbara, Support the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
EP 109 - Chris van Voorst van Beest (NY Chamber Music Composer / Bassist)
Mar 16 2023
EP 109 - Chris van Voorst van Beest (NY Chamber Music Composer / Bassist)
Send us a textChris van Voorst van Beest is a bassist and composer who grew up in Maine and lives in Brooklyn, NY. Hailed as "a double bassist with an exceptional ability to improvise," (Erminio Garotta - Sound & Vision) Chris has performed and/or recorded with artists as diverse as Frank Kimbrough, Robert Glasper, Gabriel Kahane, and George Garzone. Sought after in a variety of musical settings, Chris is a member of a number of original music projects including The Danny Fox Trio and Garage Ellington, plays for immersive theater (Sleep No More), and collaborates with multi-media artists, most recently with choreographer Kelly Ashton Todd with whom he wrote and performed incidental music for the 45 minute dance piece 'Nest'. Chris also writes contemporary classical music, most recently finishing his first work for orchestra 'Short Story'. The founder of his own chamber ensemble, Chris's latest concert, 'Miniatures and Improvisations', features a broad program of short pieces for trio, each piece immediately followed by an improvised response, exploring the dialogue between improvisation and composition. Chris was awarded a Dutch grant for composition in 2010 to compose music for the children's book 'The Lamplighter' and has been nominated three times for the Charles Ives Arts and Letters award. Chris van Voorst van Beest WebsiteDanny Fox Trio on SpotifySupport the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes