Jeff has finished his debut solo release entitled 'FALLING AWAKE' which is now available to purchase hard copies or to download. The recording is based around acoustic piccolo 4 string bass and fretless bass. There are several premier players guesting on the release, including MICHAEL MANRING, TONY FRANKLIN, YVES CARBONNE, JEFF SCHMIDT, JONNI LIGHTFOOT, BRADY MUCKELROY and RUSS HODGES. Jeff is currently the only known acoustic piccolo four string bass player in the world. ATTENTION: The final track entitled 'Things to Come' is for all of you musicians out there (available to download free from this site). Whatever instrument you play, Jeff welcomes you melodic interpretation to. Just lay your tracks, send them to him and make sure you occasionally check his website www.JeffDoddonBass.com for random audio tracks he recieves.
He continues to record bass tracks for artists around the world in all genres. He is a local studio musician, clinician and live performer in the Salt Lake City area. He also engineers and mixes select artists in the western United States. These recordings are as equally diverse musically as the tracks he lays down. For more information about Jeff or to hire him for studio, clinics or live performances contact him through this sight or at: fretlessbass.jeff@gmail.com.
AN OVERVIEW OF JEFF'S HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE:
Jeff began his bass career in the early 1990s as the bassist and only original member through the life of the progressive metal band DREEMWICH. The band toured professionally for approximately six years playing east coast to west coast throughout the United States performing with bands like Quiet Riot, Vicious Rumors, Cacophony, Greg Howe and Metal Church to name just a few. The band released two albums, and a third was recorded but never released to the public. At the end of the bands career, Jeff turned his focus on his skills as a bassist and started learning various styles and roles the bass players took in those styles.
While sharpening his skills on bass he began playing with PEACEMAKER through the end of the nineties. This Seattle style funk/rock group released their debut self entitled album and toured mainly in the Midwest in the United States. Live television performances were aired and a reggae/rock crossover song written by the group was purchased by a Kansas based station and used as an intro to every live musical television performance to get underground music known. This is also the time frame that Jeff began music instruction through a local Kansas Music store.
In early 2000 Jeff teamed up with two musicians that would push his playing to new extremes. Scott Shipps (acoustic guitar) and George Fluke (percussionist) would challenge Jeffs fretless playing, which he had begun months before the start of what the trio called SOUNDESCAPE. This was also the beginning of Jeffs venture into solo acoustic piccolo bass playing. An eighteen song CD first release would include guest players such as Mark Case (Gibson Guitars Rep/Professional Nashville Session player), Andy McKee (now World Renowned Harp/Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitarist) and Sam Trinon (Jazz Saxophonist). MICHAEL MANRING said that "SOUNDESCAPE has a very cool sound and its a pleasure to hear music with such attention to dynamics, interaction and musicality. I think they have a unique sound that deserves to be heard". The trio ended up with endorsements from Taylor guitars, Martin Accessories, SWR Engineering, DR stings and Latin Percussion as well as write ups in national musician magazines. Tracks from their CD were aired across the nation. Talk of re-releasing this CD continues to circulate, as well as possible new recordings.
Influences
Abraham Laboriel, Dominique Di Piazza, Edagr Meyer, Gary Grainger, Gary Willis, Jaco Pastorius, Jonas Hellborg, Kai Eckhardt, Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Mark Egan, Matthew Garrison, Michael Manring, Otiel Burbridge, Richard Bona, Stanley Clark, Tony Franklin, Tony Levin, Victor Bailey, Victor Wooten, Yves Carbonne and many other bassists I have unfortunately forget or have not heard yet - just check out my friends, there are an unlimited amount of talent within! I can also say that I have been greatly inspired by many other musicians that are not bassists, too many to try to fit, so I will not try as to not leave out anyone. I believe ultimately that regardless of your instrument or genre, if you are passionate about what you play people can tell, and it will inspire.
Jeff has been playing bass since 1989. He has toured professionally with metal, rock, funk and instrumental bands and currently records for studio projects for artists is various genres around the world. He plays five string fretted and fretless basses, tenor bass and piccolo acoustic bass. Jeff has been playing piccolo acoustic bass for around ten years and is endorsed by Taylor guitars. He uses a custom AB2 in various piccolo altered tunings. He is also endorsed by Bassline basses, LaBella Strings and Accugroove cabinets. He finished his solo release, which is currently available to the public through CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, iTunes, digistation, directly through Jeff or through this site. This album features many great bass artists playing on his compositions. The release is mainly based around the piccolo acoustic 4 string bass and fretless bass. Artists that are playing on the release include Michael Manring, Tony Franklin, Yves Carbonne, Jeff Schmidt, Jonni Lightfoot, Brady Muckelroy and Russ Hodges. There are full solo sections by these great artists as well as the superb melodic playing that they are known for.
Jeff is available for studio recordings, live performance and clinic performances: for more information contact him at: jeff.fretlessbass@gmail.com or through this myspace account.
Hello Thanks so much for your friendship it’s a real pleasure for me- I am very impressed by your songs – wow really amazing music. Currently I am pretty excited as I have just now released my first solo double album “An Ocean Of Dreams”. It would be a real honour and pleasure for me if you could give it a listen and if you have some time leave me a comment with your thoughts about my baby. I say thanks in advance and wish you a beautiful day Mindmovie
Thanks for adding me!! I was looking for some cool people to connect with. There are so many great people on here and it’s my pleasure to have you as a friend on my page. Musically, Jay
