The SBL Podcast

Throughout his career, Stu Hamm has pushed the technical boundaries of the bass guitar, firmly establishing himself as one of the most influential electric bassists of the past half-century. In the late ‘80s he redefined the limits of slap and tap techniques - there are some great examples on his debut album Radio Free Albemuth. In this interview, the sometimes Joe Satriani and Steve Vai sideman d...

John Patitucci needs no introduction from us - this man is bass legend! And who would argue. John’s career has seen him emerge as one of the most accomplished and adventurous bass players of his generation. In this interview he tells Jonathan Herrera about the life-changing moment of hearing James Jamerson for the first time, how he came to pick up the 6-string electric bass, and what it felt like...

If you live for live music and you’re climbing the walls waiting to get back out there gigging, we’ve got your back. In this interview we’re delving back into the SBL archives to find out how some of the world’s top bass players actually got their gigs, what you should expect from an audition and why your social skills are often WAY more valuable than having great chops.

The best bass players spend hours practicing on their own. Find out what you can do away from the stage to fine-tune your skills as we take a timely look back on the idea of practice as seen by the likes of Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten and more as we delve back into the SBL interview archives.

​We delve into our interview archives once again to look back on some of the blockbuster moments with the biggest names in bass, such as the time Scott interviewed Tim Lefebvre and got the lowdown on his insane pedalboard. Or when he sat down with Henrik Linder at the end of 2018 after his knock out set at the London Bass Guitar Show.​​

In this week's video we’re taking a look at some of the best interview moments so far…

Still holding the bass chair with Joe Satriani as well as his own power trio, The Aristocrats, in this week's interview we sit down with Bryan Beller.

There is no other bass player on earth like Jeff Berlin. Since he first emerged on the electric bass in the 1970s, Jeff has worked with a who’s who of jazz icons including Tony Williams, Allan Holdsworth, Gil Evans, George Benson, Dave Liebman AND the Brecker Brothers.

In today’s interview we sit down with Jack Frisch as he recalls his encounters with Jaco Pastorius in the mid ‘80s.​

In this week’s interview I’ll be sitting down with bassist to some of the most influential jazz artists of the past few decades; Tom Kennedy.

In this week's interview I talk to Derrick Hodge, bassist for the likes of Jill Scott, Q-Tip, Terence Blanchard and, of course, the Robert Glasper Experiment.

Jon Button is the bass powerhouse behind one of the most gargantuan bands in rock history; The Who.

Having provided the low end for Wayne Krantz, Bryan Adams, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Donny McCaslin, The Late Show, Knower and Empire of the Sun over the years, an invite to record on David Bowie’s spellbinding Blackstar album transformed Tim Lefebvre’s career path and artistic freedom overnight.

Expanding upon some of the technical concepts firmly established by the likes of Michael Manring, Victor Wooten and Doug Wimbish, John Ferrara is pioneering a non-traditional approach to the electric bass that incorporates two-handed tapping and some pretty extensive explorations with effects.

Having inspired a generation of bass players to try and master Cissy Strut, George Porter Jr.’s bass playing remains as funky as ever.

​So you want to play in a rock band? In this interview bassist Matt McJunkins offers up his advice for breaking onto the scene.​

In this interview Scott meets a master of the extended-range bass, Andres Rotmistrovsky, who did time at Berklee with the legendary Matt Garrison!

In this interview I talk with Sharay Reed; a vital force within the international music scene with an impressive resume.

In this interview Michael League lifts the lid on his musical education, including his time at North Texas State, the conception of Snarky Puppy and his lifelong love of groove music.

In this interview I talk to Billy Sheehan about his unbelievable career (and his monstrous bass chops!)

In this interview I caught up with Sheldon Dingwall to talk fanned frets and get the low-down on a killer Dingwall model, the D-Bird.

In this interview Vicky Warwick lends an insight into her evolution as a bassist in New York City.

In this interview I sit down with the phenomenal Verdine White, bassist with soul & disco legends Earth, Wind & Fire.

In this interview I sit down with SBL faculty members, Adam Neely and Evan Marien, to discuss how social media has changed the game for everyone in the music business.

In this interview I dig a little deeper into the bass playing of Dirty Loops bassist, Henrik Linder!