My musical compatriots recently are Gary Schulte, Reynold Philipsek, Jeremy Walker, Tim Zhorne, Brian Ziemniak, Peter Virks, Harolds Bondaris, Dave Roos, and Eron Woods. I've also been playing regularly with JoAnn Funk, Glen Helgeson, Rob Henry, Rhonda Laurie, Ben Seims and Jeremy Hauer. The list of players I have worked with includes the late Bobby Peterson, Debbie Duncan, Patty Peterson, Connie Evingson, Charmin Michelle, Jay Epstein, the late Gene Adams, Pete Whitman, Dean Magraw, and Dennis Spears.
Influences
BASSISTS: Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden, Anthony Cox, Milton Hinton, Jimmy Garrison, Dennis Irwin, Larry Gales, William Parker, Larry Grenadier, Eric Revis. GUITARISTS: Django Reinhardt, Bola Sete, Agustin Barrios, Gene Bertoncini. COMPOSERS, WRITERS, ETC: Thelonious Monk, A. C. Jobim, Steve Reich, Martin Williams, Francis Schaeffer, William Carlos Williams and my college music theory teacher the late Maxcine Posegate.
I am a jazz bassist and jazz/classical guitarist. After studying classical guitar for many years (completing a master's degree in guitar performance, studying under Jeffrey Van), and establishing a strong base in classical music I began to study jazz improvisation and history. I was always knocked out by the rhythm sections, and especially the nobility of the sound of the double bass. So a decade ago I took up the study of the double bass and played my first gig a year later. I consider myself a lifelong student of the instrument.
Besides freelancing in the Minneapolis/St Paul area, I play with a jazz trio of stringed instruments called SIDEWALK CAFE (www.sidewalkcafemusic.com), a regular duo at the historic St. Paul Hotel with pianist/vocalist JOANN FUNK, and a great new piano trio, SMALL CITY TRIO, for whom I also compose some music. I also play solo gigs, focusing on jazz and latin standards and classical repertoire played on the classical guitar.
I thought of a name for your solo record... "Bass jumping." Get it? Base/Bass... hahahaha oh man I am really funny - can you believe how funny I am I mean I just thought of that all on my own just now... um...
