The Bass Shed Podcast - The Bass Shed

Kathryn is a member of several contemporary music ensembles including the renowned Australian ELISION Ensemble, Fonema Consort (NYC), and the Echoi Ensemble (LA). She has performed as a guest artist with various adventurous international ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, Ensemble MusikFabrik, Delirium Musicum, Ensemble Dal Niente, and Ensemble Vertixe Sonora. Equally passionate and experienced as an orchestral musician, Kathryn served as a core member of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive seasons from 2014-2017 and has performed with the Ojai Festival Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, New West Symphony, California Chamber Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Alumni Orchestra, Pacific Lyric Opera, Maui Chamber Orchestra, and Hawaii Opera Theater.

Matt Hare is well known as a performer and educator. He is on faculty at the University of California at Irvine, Concordia University, and Saddleback College. Dr. Hare also teaches several sections of Music Appreciation and History of Rock online and in the classroom at Saddleback College. He is a string coach at Irvine, Laguna Hills, Trabuco Hills, and University high schools. He frequently gives recitals and master classes that often include his own transcriptions and arrangements. Dr. Hare is a long-time member of the International Society of Bassists. He was a clinician for their Young Bassists’ program at the 2009 convention at Penn State, and the 2011 convention in San Francisco. He holds a BA from Bloomsburg University, a MM from Butler University and a DMA from the University of Iowa. Major teachers include Mark R. Jelinek, Diana Gannett, David Murray and Volkan Orhon.

Bryan Beller has maintained a multi-faceted career as a bassist, composer, solo artist and clinician for over 25 years, earning his reputation as a uniquely talented yet supremely tasteful team player for instrumentally-minded artists. He is a founding member of The Aristocrats which is one of the hottest acts in rock/fusion today; their 2019 release You Know What…? debuted at #2 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. The Aristocrats also just released a new album titled “Duck” that Brian will speak about. Brian Beller has been Joe Satriani’s touring bassist since 2013, and also tracked Satriani’s complete 2022 album The Elephants Of Mars. He was Steve Vai’s choice for the 2009 live CD/DVD Where The Wild Things Are, and he also toured and recorded in the “band” Dethklok, a tongue-in-cheek extreme metal band borne of the hit Cartoon Network “Adult Swim” show Metalocalypse. He’s been a musical partner of freak/genius guitarist Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa) for over 20 years and 10 albums.

Russell was lucky to grow up in a musical family in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His mother played the bassoon, his father played the french horn, and his step-father taught saxophone and played jazz. He began playing the bass in 4’th grade, but his interest in classical music began to spark when he began studying with Tracy Rowell and joined the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) his sophomore year. It wasn’t until attending the inaugural summer of the National Music Festival in Floyd, Virginia that he considered pursuing music as a career.

Tony has gone on to collaborate and perform with some of the world’s greatest musicians, such as: John McLaughlin, Hiromi, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gavin DeGraw, Hotei Tomoyasu, Dennis Chambers, Bill Evans, Mino Cinelu, Brian Blade, Mike Stern and countless others.

Bassist David Rodriguez has worked with groups ranging from Isaac Hayes to Tito Puente to the Rochester Philharmonic. He studied at Juilliard, the Eastman School of Music, and Mansfield University. David is currently the Executive Producer and Executive Vice President of The New Jersey Performing Arts Center where the Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass is held.

John Peña is an in demand touring and session bassist, writer, arranger, producer, and engineer. John has performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of artitists , including: Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Tania Maria, Natalie Cole, The Crusaders, Herb Alpert, Chaka Khan, Jerry Garcia, Chick Corea, Steve Vai, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Ricky Martin, Barry Manilow, Larry Carlton, Michael McDonald, Joe Sample, Dave Koz, Arturo Sandoval, Dionne Warwick, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Patti LaBelle, Patti Austin, Kenny G, Oleta Adams, Thelma Houston and countless others. On The Bass Shed Podcast, John speaks about his 3 album recording project LIFE, LEGACY & MUSIC and how the recording embodies the diverse aspects of his career. John also speaks about the the process of assembling the project and more.

Jerry Jemmott is a highly respected American bass guitarist and session musician, best known for his work in the realms of blues, jazz, and R&B. He was born on May 22, 1946, in New York City. Throughout his extensive career, Jemmott has played with numerous iconic artists, leaving a significant impact on the music industry. He is particularly known for his bass playing with B.B. King, with whom he collaborated for many years. Jemmott's distinctive bass lines contributed to the sound of numerous B.B. King recordings, and he played a crucial role in defining the blues bass style. Aside from B.B. King, Jerry Jemmott has worked with a wide range of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Freddie King, King Curtis, Wilson Pickett, and many others. His skillful and innovative bass playing has made him a sought-after session musician in the music industry.

Playing bass was love at first pluck for Marty Isenberg. His career as a jazz musician began at the age of 12, after losing his father to cancer the year prior. A skilled amateur musician, Marty’s father kept many instruments around the house that he would play for the family. After his death, Marty would pull one of these instruments off the wall and begin teaching himself how to play by reading tablature in Bass Player Magazine. The first song he ever learned was My Own Summer by The Deftones. Playing bass was love at first pluck for Mr. Isenberg. It was a cathartic healing experience, a way to stay connected to his father, and a way to creatively express himself. He went on to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he majored in Jazz Performance and minored in Jazz Composition, and received his Master of Music degree from New York University. He is now a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University where he is the teaching assistant to the jazz department chair Ray Anderson.

Roberto Vally’s accomplishments within music date back to his formidable years in New York where he was awarded his Junior High School’s Music Honor Award. It was clear that Roberto was destined to pursue an education in music. From 1974-1978 he attended New York City’s legendary High School of Music and Art-depicted in Fame (1980 film). Continuing his education in music theory and classical bass he attended the highly acclaimed Julliard School from 1976-1978. There, most notably, he was mentored by the prominent professor and classical bassist, Homer Mensch.

San Diego Symphony / San Diego Bass Fest

Steve Miller Band, Session Player Kenny Lee Lewis has been a member of The Steve Miller Band for over 41 years and is now their current touring bass player. The Steve Miller Band was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2016. Kenny speaks about how he landed the gig with Miller and attributes of his artistry that have sustained him in the music industry. Kenny, also an amateur luthier, took it upon himself to create his first custom signature series model bass while integrating the historic content and integrity of one of our most beloved founding fathers. Kenny speaks about his signature bass ..the Franklin Founding Father Five. Kenny's signature bass is formed with a piece of 200 year old Spruce which was once a used in Benjamin Franklin's House in Boston, MA.

Double bassist P.J. Cinque joined the San Diego Symphony in 2015, having previously been a member of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, P.J. serves as Assistant Principal Bass of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, P.J. served as the double bass professor at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and has given masterclasses at Northern Arizona University and SooChow University in Taiwan. A native of Long Island, he received his bachelor and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School with further study at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers include Homer Mensch, Timothy Cobb, Albert Laszlo, and Owen Lee. During his studies, P.J. participated in the Pacific Music Festival and spent three summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School as an orchestral fellowship recipient. P.J. is proud to be a part of the robust bass community in San Diego and enjoys coaching at local high schools, maintaining a private teaching studio, and connecting with fellow bassists at San Diego Bass Fest. San Diego Bass Fest Website San Diego Bass Fest Facebook Page 547 Days Welcome to 547 Days, the podcast that gives you an inside look at two musicians... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA/ View More Episodes

Kenny Lee Lewis has been a member of The Steve Miller Band for over 41 years and is now their current touring bass player. The Steve Miller Band was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2016. Kenny speaks about how he landed the gig with Miller and attributes of his artistry that have sustained him in the music industry. Kenny, also an amateur luthier, took it upon himself to create his first custom signature series model bass while integrating the historic content and integrity of one of our most beloved founding fathers. Kenny speaks about his signature bass ..the Franklin Founding Father Five. Kenny's signature bass is formed with a piece of 200 year old Spruce which was once a used in Benjamin Franklin's House in Boston, MA. Borrowing from the iconic designs of Leo Fender, Kenny Lee built and finished this bass with TruOil gunstock linseed oil. He left all the knotholes and imperfections visible for an antique, transparent representation- not unlike our great nation, a work still in progress. Kenny Lee also inset a silver 1954 Franklin 50 cent piece, the year that Kenny was born, and the Franklin logo is taken from the 100 dollar bill. Kenny Lee Lewis talks about his Franklin Founding Father Five on YouTube 547 Days Welcome to 547 Days, the podcast that gives you an inside look at two musicians... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA/ View More Episodes

(NY Chamber Music Composer / Bassist)

Chris van Voorst van Beest is a bassist and composer who grew up in Maine and lives in Brooklyn, NY. Hailed as "a double bassist with an exceptional ability to improvise," (Erminio Garotta - Sound & Vision) Chris has performed and/or recorded with artists as diverse as Frank Kimbrough, Robert Glasper, Gabriel Kahane, and George Garzone. Sought after in a variety of musical settings, Chris is a member of a number of original music projects including The Danny Fox Trio and Garage Ellington, plays for immersive theater (Sleep No More), and collaborates with multi-media artists, most recently with choreographer Kelly Ashton Todd with whom he wrote and performed incidental music for the 45 minute dance piece 'Nest'. Chris also writes contemporary classical music, most recently finishing his first work for orchestra 'Short Story'. The founder of his own chamber ensemble, Chris's latest concert, 'Miniatures and Improvisations', features a broad program of short pieces for trio, each piece immediately followed by an improvised response, exploring the dialogue between improvisation and composition. Chris was awarded a Dutch grant for composition in 2010 to compose music for the children's book 'The Lamplighter' and has been nominated three times for the Charles Ives Arts and Letters award. Chris van Voorst van Beest Website Danny Fox Trio on Spotify 547 Days Welcome to 547 Days, the podcast that gives you an inside look at two musicians... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA/ View More Episodes

Eric Shedd is the bassist for the Colorado based group "Birds of Play". Birds of Play is an Americana Roots quartet based in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. Their distinct sound is rooted in and inspired by their connection to the land in which they reside. The band features multi- instrumentalists and songwriters Alex Paul on Guitar, Upright Bass, Mandolin and Vocals; Eric Shedd on Upright Bass, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals; Anneke Dean on Violin, Guitar and Vocals and Jack Tolan on Guitar, Mandolin, Electric Bass and Vocals. Eric speaks about when he started playing bass, how he joined the band and the group's latest recording "Murmurations Vol. 2" Murmurations Vol. 2 continues Murmurations Vol. 1’s explorations of the natural world and how humans connect with it. When the band launched a Kickstarter campaign for the new album, lead singer and songwriter Alex Paul noted, “The land has been instrumental in how I’ve come to write and share my musicality. It’s very tied to love — love of the land and connection to the land.”

Eric Shedd is the bassist for the Colorado based group "Birds of Play". Birds of Play is an Americana Roots quartet based in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. Their distinct sound is rooted in and inspired by their connection to the land in which they reside. The band features multi- instrumentalists and songwriters Alex Paul on Guitar, Upright Bass, Mandolin and Vocals; Eric Shedd on Upright Bass, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals; Anneke Dean on Violin, Guitar and Vocals and Jack Tolan on Guitar, Mandolin, Electric Bass and Vocals. Eric speaks about when he started playing bass, how he joined the band and the group's latest recording "Murmurations Vol. 2" Murmurations Vol. 2 continues Murmurations Vol. 1’s explorations of the natural world and how humans connect with it. When the band launched a Kickstarter campaign for the new album, lead singer and songwriter Alex Paul noted, “The land has been instrumental in how I’ve come to write and share my musicality. It’s very tied to love — love of the land and connection to the land.” Birds of Play Website 547 Days Welcome to 547 Days, the podcast that gives you an inside look at two musicians... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA/ View More Episodes

Bassist Zach Gilliam was born in Memphis Tennessee and moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting. After deciding to take a break from music, he moved to the small mountain town of Eagle, Colorado. While in Colorado, Zach joined the band " The Runaway Grooms" On this episode, Zach discusses his move to Colorado from Nashville, TN and what his intentions were with the move and what ended up happening. Zach describes the recent release by "The Runaway Grooms' and how it's different from previous recordings.

Bassist Zach Gilliam was born in Memphis Tennessee and moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting. After deciding to take a break from music, he moved to the small mountain town of Eagle, Colorado. While in Colorado, Zach joined the band " The Runaway Grooms" On this episode, Zach discusses his move to Colorado from Nashville, TN and what his intentions were with the move and what ended up happening. Zach describes the recent release by "The Runaway Grooms' and how it's different from previous recordings. 547 Days Welcome to 547 Days, the podcast that gives you an inside look at two musicians... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA/ View More Episodes