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.

(NY Chamber Music Composer / Bassist)

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.”

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.

n demand Nashville Bassist Ted Pecchio has recorded with Doyle Bramhall II, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Amy Helm, Oliver Wood and Colonel Bruce Hampton and The Codetalkers. Ted is originally from Youngstown, Ohio and was born into a musical family. His father Daniel Pecchio was the bassist for Glass Harp (a rock band based in Ohio that had gained success opening up for groups such as Alice Cooper, Chicago, Yes, Grand Funk Railroad and ore..) and also The Michael Stanley Band. On this episode of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ted speaks from the heart about his time working with Colonel Bruce Hampton, his personal philosophies regarding being in the moment while performing and more.

Nate Sabat is a bassist, singer-songwriter, arranger and instructor based in Brooklyn, NY. He is a founding member of the award-winning string band Mile Twelve. A native-New Yorker, he attended LaGuardia High School as a vocal principal and went on to study upright bass at the Berklee College of Music. He has performed on stages throughout Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States, at festivals and venues including Celtic Connections, Savannah Music Festival, ROMP and Carnegie Hall. ​Nate's bass playing , while rooted in American folk music, goes far beyond any preconceived notions of the instrument's role within the genre. With a relaxed, vocal sound and equal fluency with pizzicato and the bow, Nate takes full advantage of the never-ending variety of sounds and textures the bass has to offer. Recently, he has begun performing solo, with upright bass as his only tool for accompaniment. ​Nate Sabat has worked with artists such as the T Sisters, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, The Foreign Landers, Eliza Edens and Honeysuckle. In fall 2020 he had his first moment in the producer's chair, bringing Deviant Folk , the debut album of Boston-area singer-songwriter Mark Abruzzese , to life.

NY Bassist/Bandleader Steve Millhouse speaks about his new album "The Unwinding" available on Steeple Chase Records. More about the album: The first Steve Millhouse Trio recording will be released on SteepleChase Records on February 15th. Liner notes by Steve Swallow and Gary Fukushima. Physical copies will be distributed internationally and available on all streaming platforms. Included are two original compositions as well as songs from Monk, Steve Swallow, Horace Silver, Benny Golson and Sam Jones. Featuring Rich Perry - tenor saxophone & Eric Halvorson - drums. CD Steve also speaks about his custom bass built by Fodera specifically for this trio and the importance of the right bass for the music.

Becky Baldwin is one of the UK’s busiest rock bassists. After playing the piano as a child, Becky picked up the bass guitar as a teenager and began performing with bands at school. In 2009 she moved from Trowbridge to Bristol to study at BIMM Bristol and became closely involved in Bristol’s music scene. Becky holds a BA Honors degree in Professional Musicianship and now lives in the birthplace of heavy metal – Birmingham, UK.

Shakira, Michael Buble, Composer, Producer