Precious few musicians demonstrate the scope to be dubbed renaissance men, but Rob Wasserman has more than earned the title. His daunting versatility has made him one of the last two decade's most in-demand bassists -- as demonstrated by recording and touring stints with Lou Reed, Van Morrison, and Elvis Costello. His longtime creative partnership with Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir have yielded a trove of fertile sounds. And, last but far from least, the albums issued under his own name have won awards from sources in the jazz, pop and rock fields.
That acclaim has much to do with Wasserman's unflagging devotion to artistic purity and the value of real musicianship. Trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he developed a style of upright bass playing that he likens to cello, more than standard bass methodology. He's put that ability to the test in a variety of contexts over the years, most notably on a series of three albums -- SOLO, DUETS, and TRIOS -- that demonstrate his unparalleled knack for making his voice heard without shouting, for allowing the collaborative process to flower to its fullest
That trilogy began with the release of SOLO, an album completed with the support of an NEA Composer's Fellowship. Although already widely respected as a player -- collaborating with artists as varied as Stephane Grappelli and Rickie Lee Jones -- Wasserman far exceeded expectations of what a solo bass album could deliver, garnering acclaim in a number of venues, including Downbeat, which voted his debut Jazz Album of the Year and voted him Bassist and Composer of the Year.
On the Grammy-winning DUETS (named Vocal Album of the Year by Billboard) Wasserman's collaborators included Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Bobby McFerrin, and others. While that album put the bassist's interpretive skills to work on standards spanning a full half century of American music, it merely set the stage for Wasserman's release, TRIOS, an album dubbed "dazzling" by Rolling Stone and granted a rare five-star rating by Downbeat. TRIOS brought together artists like Jerry Garcia & Edie Brickell, Bruce Hornsby & Branford Marsalis, Neil Young and Bob Weir, Elvis Costello and Marc Ribot, Brian & Carnie Wilson (produced by Don Was), and the late Willie Dixon (in his last recorded appearance), to perform a set of original material.
"I never considered myself a sideman, since I was always involved in the creative process says Wasserman, "My nature is that I love to play this instrument but I won't be limited by it. I don't sing much, can't play drums, can't play guitar, so I have to say everything I would say with those instruments through the bass.
Another addition to the Rob Wasserman catalog, “Space Island” (Atlantic Records) broke new barriers for him as he teamed up with master mixer/producer Dave Aron (Snoop Dogg, Prince) to create a bass groove record with a hip hop rhythm. The record features drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), scratcher DJ Jam (Dr. Dre) and other special guests. Billboard called it “Exhilarating...one of the most kinetically fun albums of the year.”
Wasserman has consistently proven he isn't shy about stretching the limits of his chosen instrument. Having worked on the designs for a number of new basses including, with guitar wizard Ned Steinberger, a revolutionary six-string electric upright bass, he's turned his attentions of late to creating new sounds on his basses with the help of the latest effects technology.
Not that such endeavors have taken Wasserman's attention from his myriad of other projects. He served as a collaborator with and as a member of Lou Reed’s band from 1988 to 1995, and re-joined Lou’s band in 2006. Another creative partner is dance choreographer Mark Morris, who Wasserman collaborated with to develop and present “Dances to American Music” which world-premiered at Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, and then toured the U.S. and Europe.
Wasserman has balanced such rather high-toned pursuits with projects like RatDog, the band he and longtime partner Bob Weir assembled after touring as a successful duo for ten years. Arista Records released Weir/Wasserman Live, a collection of the duo’s hottest live performances and followed that with RatDog’s debut studio recording, “Evening Moods.”
In tandem with Grateful Dead Merchandise, Rob formed his own label, Rare Wasserman Records. Released were DUA, an album of original improvisations with world master sarengi player Ustad Sultan Khan, and BASSICALLY ME, a new collection of solo bass compositions.
As a featured part of all Weir/Wasserman and RatDog concerts for fifteen years, Rob presented solo bass to enthusiastic acclaim. He has since begun an expanded performance schedule that features solo bass on tour with Lou Reed, DJ Spooky, Particle, John Popper, and DJ Logic, among others.
Rounder Records has released “TRILOGY” – SOLO, DUETS,
and TRIOS brought together for the first time as a three cd boxed set.
The package features new notes and commentary by Rob and several of his collaborators, as well as 24 bit re-mastering by Joe Gastwirt.
Rob is presently recording and producing his next cd, “My Name Is New York” to be released in 2009. A collaborative project with The Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archive, it features Rob in duet with an incredible cast of singers interpreting unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics. Recorded so far are Ani di Franco, Lou Reed, Chris Whitley, Michael Franti, Pete Seeger, Nellie McKay, Studs Terkel, Keren Anne and Kevin Hearn-- More unique collaborations will complete the project.
Some of Rob's recorded work with other artists:
David Grisman Quintet - "Quintet '80" (Warner Bros.)
David Grisman/Stephane Grappelli - "Live" (Elektra)
David Grisman Quintet - "Acousticity" (MCA)
Van Morrison - "Beautiful Visions" (Warner Brothers)
Rickie Lee Jones - "Flying Cowboys" (Geffen)
Lou Reed - "New York" (Sire/Reprise)
Elvis Costello - "Mighty Like A Rose" (Warner Bros.)
Lou Reed - "Magic & Loss" (Sire/Reprise)
Rickie Lee Jones - "Naked Songs " (Geffen)
Bruce Cockburn - "The Charity Of Night" (Ryko)
Banyan - (CyberOctave)
Ratdog - "Evening Moods" (BMG/Arista)
Ratdog - "Live at Roseland" (BMG/Arista)
Ustad Sultan Khan - "Dua" (Rare Wasserman Records)
Les Claypool - "5 Gallons of Diesel" (Prawn Song Records)
Hal Willner - "Sea Shanteys" (Anti-)
Lou Reed - "Berlin" (The Weinstein Company)
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Hey Now Rob Thanks For The Add.... Thanks For The Tunes.... Thanks For Your Big Bass.... Makin Fine Music In R Faces.... All the Best To U Rob........ Love Ya, Little Ms Loose Lucy XO
Congratulations on your successful tour with Lou Reed. Berlin is a stand out work which reminds me of some of Schubert's leider. Have you heard "The young Nun" and "The Earl King" by Schubert. Both have outstanding bass lines. I saw your photo in Uncut magazine. I was thrilled!
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hello from switzerland, yesterday I saw you with Lou reed in Zürich. For me a wonderful, great concert, Berlin a story which is not for everybody, but I like it.... you and all the other musicans worked very hard, I say: "Thank you very much"! Sincerely Peter Tschirky
Ive been a fan of yours for a long time, ever since I bought the "Trios" album. Your bass playing is very inspiring and I was wondering if that was you playing with Lou Reed at Memphis in May! I wrote a song called Conquistador that was inspired by your playing. Thank you for adding us. Respectfully, Eric
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