CURRENT PROJECTS<><>THE HELLBLINKI SEXTET-Asheville, NC-Bass Player<<>>ALLAN JAMES PROJECT-Washington, DC-Bass Player
<>AUDIO OUTLAWS-Teays Valley, WV-Bass Player<<>>THE GLOBAL HARMONY ORCHESTRA-Hurricane, WV-Bass Player/Flugel Horn..
Influences
Jesus, My Parents, Stanley Clarke, Dee Dee Ramone, Tony Franklin, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee, Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Jaco, Geezer Butler, Bob Marley, Steve Harris, Mel Schacher, Paul McCartney, Tom Peterson, Doug Pinnick, Beaver Felton, Rocco Prestia, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Buffett, The Blues and American Roots Music.
Sounds Like
The way a bass should sound. The bass the material calls for with a deep pocket, tight rhythyms and a deep down flair with an ear candy attitude.
I play bass. All kinds of bass, Upright, 4, 5, 8 & 12 string fretted and fretless. I've played bass for a long time and never wanted to play anything else. I knew from early on that I was never going to be a songwriter or singer (to a degree I'm happy with), so I set out on a course to become a technician on my instrument that people who were great singers, songwriters and bands would seek to be part of their musical vision. I don't play any particular style, I only play bass and am adept at most styles from Big Band Swing to Metal, Cabaret to Funk and Blues to Progressive/Alternative.
I started very young in the late 70's playing in garage bands and playing clubs when I was underage with musicians much older than me. I played in the Jazz Lab in high school where I studied music theory, classical, swing and Jazz. I went on to Marshall University where I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with Jazz Legend, Professor Vincent Lewis.
I played in bands throughout college and upon graduation, moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to join a premeire Southwest Metal band "Angelis Domini". After a summer of fun playing in the southwest, I moved to Washington DC to pursue music on a more full time basis. My time in DC was wonderfully inspirational. I was befriended by phenominal musicians Allan James and Donnie Gray. Allan took me into his projects where I played in the studio and live. Allan is a wonderfully tallented singer, songrwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer and allowed me to spend 5 great years with him as bassist at "Arc of Light Studios". I played in a studio environment with original material on an almost daily basis. Allan is a great friend and an influential part of my musical development. I was fortunate to play in the studio constantly and perform some great large scale live shows.
After Allan, I had the opportunity to join the "Worlds Greatest Surf. Metal, Punk, Power Pop Band". "Danny Blitz and The New FBI". Performing all original material, we played some great shows on the East Coast; DC, Philladelphia, Baltimore & New York City. A great time to bring my training and experience into a professional live showcase forum. Some great times playing at world famous venues such as CBGB's, The Bayou Theatre, The 9:30 and playing with great acts from The Ramones & The Talking Heads to RUN DMC & Blondie.
In the early 90's I moved to Charleston, WV where I formed "Crazy Jane" with Andy Park, Karen Allen and Mark Davis. We were signed to Bedlam Records and I was involved in several recording projects as well as many live shows in the region.
Throughout the mid to late 90's I played and recorded with a variety of musicians in the Charleston and Huntington Area. I played many live shows in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia and recorded with "Gas Cap" and "Distal". We performed almost exclusively original material and were a well respected group in the original aleternative music scene.
In 2001, I was asked to play bass for "The Global Harmony Orchestra". A 25 piece Big Band/Orchestra under the direction of Professor Marshall Barnhouse III. This was the beginning of 5 years of sharpenning my site reading skills, playing original and arranged charts from composers and musicians from around the world, and performing on upright and electric bass on a weekly basis. When the group switched from Big Band style to Classical I played Flugel Horn and Cornet in the Brass Section. I continue to study privately with Professor Barnhouse as I continue my quest to be the best bassist I can be.
I have recently, since 2004, been playing wtih "The Walken Christopers" and "Greathouse", two acoustic oriented bands where I play upright bass exclusively. Both bands perfrom around the Charleston/Huntington area.
During October 2007, I had to opportunity to fill the bass spot for The Hellblinki Sextet, an original gypsy, cabaret, pirate blues, vaudeville group from Asheville, NC/Augusta, GA. We played a two week East Coast Mini-Tour that took us to Asheville, NC, Raleigh, NC, Richmond, VA, Washington DC, New York City, Boston, MA, Albany, NY and Charleston, WV. This was a great tour and allowed me to go from traditional upright bass to heavily effected experimental 5 string electric and back to traditional again during the course of each performance. I also play on the new Hellblinki Sextet CD to be released in May 2008. I am also recording material for the new Allan James CD to be released in the fall of 2008. My playing schedule also includes bass duties wth Connections United Methodist Community in Teays Valley every Sunday morning with a very talented group of faith based pop/rock/praise musicians.
2008: Touring and Recording with THE HELLBLINKI SEXTET, ALLAN JAMES PROJECT, AUDIO OUTLAWS and MARSHALL BARNHOUSE, III.
Thanks for reading!
Rodney
www.myspace.com/bassinthevalley
BassInTheValley@gmail.com
304-552-1597 Cell
hi Rodney! it was so great to meet you! we love the amazing Hellblinki Sextet, it was awesome seeing you perform! hope to see you guys again soon... xo, Bekah and David
