Notes From An Artist

Send us Fan Mail From his home in Swindon England, XTC co-founder and bassist Colin Moudling discusses his new single / video “The Hardest Battle,” his influences, and reflects on his career in one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Colin Moulding Playlist

Send us Fan Mail Why are older music fans (and musicians) having a hard time grasping contemporary music? Among the many topics trumpeter / composer / recording artist / educator / producer / journalist Ben Neill discusses with hosts David C. Gross and Tom Semioli include the emerging role (and popularity) of timbre in modern pop compositions and  recordings in comparison to the standard elements...

Send us Fan Mail You judge a musician by the company he keeps! A New York City sax colossus, Arno Hecht is a founding member of the iconic Uptown Horns (with Larry Etkin, Bob Funk, Paul Litteral, and Crispin Cioe), the go-to section for artists spanning The Rolling Stones, Joan Jett, Late Night with David Letterman, Iggy Pop, David Johansen, Ronnie Spector, J. Geils Band, Lou Reed, Bonnie Raitt, a...

Send us Fan Mail John Altman: Not to be confused with the British actor, this Londoner is among the most prolific and accomplished composers, arrangers, and producers in the history of recorded music. And when he’s not scoring films (James Bond), or making hits with George Michael, Monty Python (“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”), Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Barry White, Simple Minds, and...

Send us Fan Mail John Altman: Not to be confused with the British actor, this Londoner is among the most prolific and accomplished composers, arrangers, and producers in the history of recorded music. And when he’s not scoring films (James Bond), or making hits with George Michael, Monty Python (“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”), Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Barry White, Simple Minds, and...

Send us Fan Mail Michael League: The Snarkiest Puppy Perseveres! He is a bassist, producer, collaborator, entrepreneur, label owner, recording artist, musical director, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and… light-bulb changer!  As the founder and bandleader of Snarky Puppy, Michael League has carried the torch of world music – jazz fusion maestros such as Joe Zawinul, Miles Davis, Fela Kuti, and M...

Send us Fan Mail Dave Swift (Later…with Jools Holland NOTES FROM AN ARTIST WITH DAVE SWIFT: He is the UK’s most recognized bass player by way of his tenure on the BBC's “Later…with Jools Holland” television program for over two decades which features legendary and undiscovered artists for live studio performances, interviews and musical magic. Dave is also a devout student of the bass – from...

Send us Fan Mail “Let me call Paul and see what he has to say about it…” Drummer, producer, recording artist, bandleader, session ace Denny Seiwell reflects on his work with Paul McCartney on the recording of RAM in New York City in 1971 and his role as the drummer and co-producer of RAM ON: A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF PAUL AND LINDA MCCARTNEY’S RAM out now on Cherry Red Records. Co-produced...

Send us Fan Mail “Jeff is the best bass player on the planet!” proclaimed Geddy Lee! “Jeff the best bass player I’ve ever heard” noted Jack Bruce.  In fact, Jeff Berlin is not only a master bassist, recording artist, music journalist, podcast host, and composer – he is an acclaimed and controversial educator whose books, lectures and videos are essential for serious bassists. In addition to his ex...

Send us Fan Mail To rock bass players who came of age in the late 1970s and early 1980s Bruce Thomas was the main Attraction! He is among the outstanding bass players of Britain’s golden era of singer-songwriter “pub rockers” – which somehow got categorized as “punk.” Akin to Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury & The Blockheads), Graham Maby (Joe Jackson Band) and Andrew Bodner (Graham Parker & The...

Send us Fan Mail To paraphrase Dr. Winston O’Boogie (John Lennon speaking of Chuck Berry and the art of rock and roll) – if you want to call solo bass by another name…call it… Michael Manring! A fretless virtuoso, Manring brings the instrument to places hitherto unknown, unexplored, and untried – until now. Working his virtuosity on the fretless with a myriad of tonal and textural effects and alte...

Send us Fan Mail “I always try to play with feel…” You’ve heard him on the radio…you’ve heard him on the juke box on the song “Juke Box Hero” among many others….and you’ve likely seen him on the concert stage. Rick Wills commenced his remarkable chart-topping career as a bassist with British blues rockers Jokers Wild in 1965 – which also featured future Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. Wills an...

Send us Fan Mail Though he never achieved the commercial success of his contemporaries Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page – the late Irish blues master Rory Gallagher was among the most lyrical guitarists of his era. The bassist for Rory’s entire recorded solo canon was John Gerrard “Gerry” McAvoy. Unlike traditional blues rock players, McAvoy rendered contrapuntal melodies,...

Send us Fan Mail Sideman, bandmember, producer, composer, arranger, vocalist, recording artist, and bassist, among other titles, if we were to list John Regan’s entire curricula vitae we may break the internet. A master pocket and melodic player, among John’s credits include his extensive tenure with Peter Frampton, along with his work on stage and/or in the studio with Ace Frehley’s Comet, Dave E...

Send us Fan Mail “With great powers come great responsibilities!” Benny Rietveld is the longest tenured bassist in the matchless history of Santana. He followed the footprints (Miles pun intended) of Michael Henderson, Dave Holland, Darryl Jones, Marcus Miller, Harvey Brooks, Foley, and an electrified Ron Carter, among others as the voltage enhanced anchor of the Miles Davis band in the 1990s. Rec...

Send us Fan Mail Among the most prolific, versatile and accomplished bassists on stage and on record, Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont aka Rudy Sarzo has anchored some of hard rock’s most groundbreaking and influential artists: Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio, Yngwie Malmsteem, and Tony MacAlpine, to cite a select few. Along with Tony Franklin, Boz Burre...

Send us Fan Mail FREEBO INTERVIEW: One name, one groovin’ cat! A master of blues, folk, roots music, and a longtime associate of Bonnie Raitt (he anchored her stage and studio band from 1971-79), Freebo was an early proponent of the fretless in a pop context. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, recording artist, singer, and producer, Freebo has waxed sides and shared stages with a wide array of ico...

Send us Fan Mail Sit back and enjoy this conversation with legendary bassist Leo Lyons of Ten Years After with host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli. Leo discusses his influences, memorable gigs, Woodstock, his "Ian Hunter" bass, his signature Bass Centre instrument, and reflections on his career and where the art of rock and roll is headed! Leo Lyons Playlis...

Send us Fan Mail “Jim Fielder is one of the pioneers of the Fender Bass. His lines were as important and recognizable to listeners as the melodies and words.” Ron McClure (Charles Lloyd Quartet, Joe Henderson, Blood Sweat & Tears). With host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli, bassist Jim Fielder recalls his early years, influences, and evolution of his bass techniqu...

Send us Fan Mail  “At some point, rock and roll became more intelligent…” Richard Thompson joins hosts David C. Gross and Tom Semioli to discuss his new autobiography BEESWING: LOSING MY WAY AND FINDING MY VOICE 1967-1975 – available now on Algonquin Books. Richard Thompson's widely beloved early work within the band Fairport Convention revived British folk traditions, and his duet albums and...

Send us Fan Mail  “It’s nice to talk with like-minded people…” From the City University of New York, Queens College, session bassist and producer Harvey Brooks was the go-to player on the New York City studio scene in the 1960s and 1970s and helped to establish the electric bass in modern popular music and jazz. Brooks brought his understanding of blues, pop, soul, folk, and jazz to the instrument...

Send us Fan Mail An icon of the instrument, a jazz giant, and an insightful educator – Ron Carter discusses his latest book aptly entitled CHARTOGRAPHY (www. RonCarterBooks.com) which transcribes five performances of “Autumn Leaves” as played by Miles Davis' Second Quartet circa 1963-1967. Says Ron: "A single, one-chorus transcription of a bass line you admire cannot help you learn to do...

Send us Fan Mail  You’ve heard him on “Right Place, Wrong Time,” “Cissy Strut” “Lady Marmalade,” to cite a select few. If you build a Mt. Rushmore of bass players, get to work on George Porter Jr.’s profile! From a February 2021 interview  hosted by David C. Gross with Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli, this icon of the electric bass talks about his life, career, approach to the instrumen...

Send us Fan Mail Among the most in-demand, versatile session cats since the late 1970’s, Carmine Rojas’ credits on stage and on record span David Bowie, Tina Turner, Joe Bonamassa, Carlos Santana, Nona Hendryx, Ian Neville, Allen Toussaint, Paul Rogers, Rod Stewart, John Waite, Carly Simon, and Herbie Hancock to cite a very, very select few. A composer, producer, musical director (Rod Stewart, Jul...

Send us Fan Mail “Once you can play your instrument, the next question is ‘are you listening to what is going on around you...” From THE BASS GUITAR CHANNEL RADIO SHOW broadcast in February 2021 host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player“honcho” Tom Semioli talk with bassist Larry Grenadier. Larry talks about the merits of streaming and the traditional album format, digging deep into Art Tatum...