John brings the root, the fifth, and occasionally the minor six! He can dance, he can sing and boy-oh-boy he can do THAT thing! Swing, Johnny, Swing!!!  Emily Duff

 

Akin to many of our g-g-generation John Hamilton came to the instrument by way of the six-string. Yet as contra-bass icon Anthony Jackson and such Jacksonian devotees as Dave Swift (Later …with Jools Holland, UK’s most recognized bassist) rightly pontificate: the electric bass is indeed a member of the GUITAR family!

 

Unlike many a convert, Hamilton eschews the riffage approach (see Keef, Ronnie Wood….) and works the pocket in the Willie Dixon / William Perks (that’s “Bill Wyman” to you civilians!) perspective in his supportive slant on stage and in the studio with the aforementioned Duff collective and The Bakersfield Breakers – the latter of whom have embarked on “a mission to reawaken the classic guitar-driven sound of 1950’s Bakersfield and the driving tunes of 1960’s surf rock….” 

 

As Ms. Duff details, Hamilton serves the singer, song, and soloist with a warm tone borne of his “mutt” P bass, among other fine tools of the trade.

 

John Hamilton Sound & Vision:

 

Emily Duff Band Haverford Music Festival:

 

The Bakersfield Breakers

 

L to R: Kenny Soule, Scott Aldrich, Emily Duff, Charlie Giordano, and John Hamilton with his “P Mutt”

Photo by Charles Chessler

 

John Hamilton and the “Mutt P Bass”

 

 

By Tony Senatore

By KYBP Austin Bureau Chief Robert Jenkins “Austin Underground”

 

Thad Stevens. Thad Stevens. Thad! Stevens!

 

Know that name. Know that bass player. Because Thad Stevens is one of the best bassists on the Austin Underground scene right now. He is a dedicated fretless player with a wide range of abilities that allows him to be somewhat of a chameleon in the jungle of bands in Austin.

 

Thad got his start at a relatively young age when he was in middle school. His brother played guitar and when a family friend offered to sell a bass, Thad took a stab at it. With a little background in music from middle school, the interest for Thad to play the bass was immediate, if only diversionary, at first.

 

Coming up during the post – grunge era, Thad was influenced early on by bands like Alice In Chains but was also drawn deeper into bass playing by listening to Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.

 

The music of Pink Floyd got Thad deeply interested in the sound of fretless bass. Listening to Death (and Steve Di Giorgio) helped Thad understand and love melodic bass playing in a metal context.

 

Thad’s bass career really started when he joined local Austin prog metal heavyweights Ethereal Architect. It was with this band that he was able to really showcase his range on the fretless bass in a setting of complex arrangements with broad melodic structure. The regimented style of Ethereal Architect helped Thad to really refine the style of playing fast and in tune on fretless.

 

Thad went on to play with Immortal Guardian and Descendants of Erdrick, continuing to explore his opportunities to add his fretless sound and style to a metal context.

 

Thad currently plays with local Austin hardcore behemoths Böndbreaker. “I really like playing with Böndbreaker because it allows me complete freedom to play my style while engaging in and promoting a message that I feel is important and worthy. It is very fulfilling” says Thad. He also plays with singer/songwriter Amanda Lepre. This provided him with the opportunity to learn to play in a “less is more” style, playing to the song so as not to be overbearing in a lighter musical setting.

 

Thad Stevens really can play just about anything. He is a musical chameleon with the ability to play a wide range of genres with a unique sound and style. You should definitely know this bass player.

 

Thad is an endorser of Clement Basses by Tom Clement of Florida.

 

He plays two Clement Basses: 5-string Wide Joan and 6-string Wide Joan, both fretless. His  5-string is a swamp ash body with a black limba top; white limba neck; black/white ebony finger board; Bartolini Original Bass Dual pickups; Bartolini preamp.

 

Thad plays through a Genz – Benz Shuttle Max 6.0 through Genz – Benz Shuttle 2/10 and 2/12 cabinets.

 

Who are Thad’s influences? There are too many to mention. But he credits Doug Kaiser of Wrathchild, Lars Norberg of Spiral Architect, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, and Geddy Lee of Rush as being his primary influences.

 

Thad Stevens Sound & Vision…

 

Thad with Ethereal Architect: https://youtu.be/kuVDC9PjU08

 

Thad with Immortal Guardian: https://youtu.be/jRUK6EpLUFI

 

Thad with Amanda Lepre: https://youtu.be/47VK3I4Zo_4

 

Thad with Descendants of Erdrick: https://youtu.be/WSFH2G0nXqM

 

Thad with Böndbreaker (full performance): https://youtu.be/8yWKu0hbjr4

 

Conceived, created, and gestated by Dr. Patricia Arean, this bass playing miniature replica of Know Your Bass Player “honcho” and Notes From An Artist radio / podcast host Tom Semioli traverses landmark locales in New York City….

 

 

 

 Rooftop hang on the #UpperEastSide of #Manhattan…. #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

 

 

“Twenty, twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours to go, I wanna be sedated, Nothing to do nowhere to go,  oh I wanna be sedated…” #LowerEastSide #JoeyRamone Place #Bowery & 2^nd Street #NYC #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #TheRamones #NewYorkCityRock #punkrock

 

 

 

“Happy and I’m smilin’ walk a mile to drink your water….” Standing Up with #IanAnderson #MartinBarre #GlennCornick #CliveBunker #JethroTull #NYC #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC

 

 

 

#GrandCentralStation #NYC #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NYTransit #MTA #NYSubway #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

 

 

“Once upon a time you dressed so fine, Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?”  Hangin’ at 4 Gramercy Park West in #NewYorkCity – the cover image locale of #BobDylan #Highway61Revisited 1965 #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

 

 

Hangin’ on the 50^th Anniversary of the last concert at Bill Graham’s #FillmoreEast 27 June 1971 #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #NewYorkCityRock #NewYorkCityLandmark  #SanFranciscoRock #FillmoreWest #AllmanBrothers #JGeilsBand #AlbertCollins

 

“Once I had a love and it was a gas, Soon turned out had a heart of glass …”#DebbieHarry #Blondie Mural at #BleeckerStreet & #Bowery #NYC #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #NewWaveRock #NewYorkCityRock #punkrock

 

 

#TompkinsSquarePark #LowerEastSide #EastVillage #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC

 

 

 

“The magnificent seven… Ring! Ring! It’s 7 A.M.! Move y’self to go again…” Hangin’ at the #JoeStrummer mural on the #LowerEastSide of #NYC at #NiagraBar adjacent to #TompkinsSquarePark!  #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #NewYorkCityRock #punkrock #TheClash

 

 

 

“Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence; that request came from his wife. Deep down, he knew she was right, but he also knew that someday he would return to her. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his friend, Oscar Madison. Several years earlier, Madison’s wife had thrown HIM out, requesting that HE never return. Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?” Hangin’ at 1049 Park Avenue,  #UpperEastSide #NYC Site of opening credits and “home” to Oscar Madison and Felix Unger 1970-75 #OddCouple #NeilSimon #TonyRandall #JackKlugman #Broadway #NewYorkTheater #trailguardian #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

 

“Tom, get your plane right on time, I know your part’ll go fine. Doh-n-doh-de-doh-n-doh. And here I am, the only living boy in New York… Hangin’ on the east end of The #CentralParkReservoir (since renamed for Jackie O.) at the precise locale of #SimonandGarfunkel album image for their first Greatest Hits collection. #PaulSimon #ArtGarfunkel #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC Feelin’ groovy?

 

 

 

“Let me take you to the movie.. Can I take you to the show? Let me be yours ever truly…Can I make your garden grow?” Hangin’ at 96-98 St. Mark’s Place, #LowerEastSide #NewYorkCity site #LedZeppelin #PhysicalGraffiti album cover #JimmyPage #JohnPaulJones #JohnBonham #RobertPlant #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #StMarksPlace

 

 

 

Hangin’ at the #VillageVanguard #GreenwichVillage #NewYorkCityJazz #JohnColtrane #BillEvans #ScottLaFaro #PaulMotian #NewYorkCityLandmark  #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC

 

 

 

“I hear voices, I see people I hear voices of many people, everything is everything…” Hangin’ at the legendary #BitterEnd #folkrock #DonnyHathaway #CurtisMayfield #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC “Hush now child and don’t you cry, your folks might understand you by and by, just move on up towards your destination, though you may find from time-to-time complications….”

 

 

 

“I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains, I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways …”  Positively West 4^th and Jones Street in #GreenwichVillage, site of #BobDylan Freewheelin’ (1963) album image  #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #folkrock #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC

 

 

 

“A hustle here and a hustle there, New York City’s the place where they said, ‘hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side…” What was once #CBGB at 315 #Bowery #punkrock #TheRamones #Blondie #LouReed #Television #PattiSmith #JohnVarvatos #RichardHell #IggyPop #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC

 

 

 

“…a smile relieves a heart that grieves, remember what I said, I’m not waiting on a lady, I’m just waiting on a friend…” Hangin’ at 96-98 St. Mark’s Place, #LowerEastSide #NewYorkCity – site of #RollingStones video “Waiting on a Friend” #MickJagger #KeithRichards #BillWyman #CharlieWatts #RonWood #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patjisan #NewYorker #stayingputinNYC #StMarksPlace

 

 

 

“I’m just sittin’ here watching the wheels go ‘round and ‘round, I really love to watch them roll…” Hangin’ at #StrawberryFields and The Dakota, home of #JohnLennon in #NYC #CentralParkWest #TheBeatles #GeorgeHarrison #PaulMcCartney #RingoStarr #YokoOno #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patsjisan #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

 

 

“I’ll be your mirror reflect what you are, in case you don’t know, I’ll be the wind, the rain and the sunset, the light on your door to show that you’re home…” Hangin’ with #LouReed at the #East86thStreet #NYCSubway station. #ChuckClose #NYCsubwayart #NYCarts #VelvetUnderground #JohnCale #NewYorkRock #RockHall #bass #bassplayer #FenderBass #FenderPrecisionBass #BassGuitar #NewYorkCity #NewYorkCityBassPlayer @trail_guardians @patsjisan #NewYorker #StayingPutInNYC

 

Hosts David C. Gross and Tom Semioli converse with bassist, producer, collaborator, entrepreneur, label owner, recording artist, musical director, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and light-bulb changer Michael League from his home in Spain. ML discusses his new solo record “Right Where I Fall” which was released on 6/25, his work with Snarky Puppy, his ongoing musical evolution, and the state of the music industry in the 21st Century.

 

 

 

 

“Ask him about throwing Roy Harper off a ferry!”

In this video preview from an episode of The Bass Guitar Channel Radio Show on Cygnus Radio with host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli, Richard Thompson discusses the bassists he’s employed over the years including Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley, The Doors), David Pegg (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention), Danny Thompson (Pentangle), Pat Donaldson (Fotheringay, Chris Spedding, Sandy Denny), Bruce Lynch (Kate Bush, Cat Stevens), Willie Weeks (Donny Hathaway, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton), and Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams).

 

 

By KYBP Austin Bureau Chief Robert Jenkins

 

Punk rock is an integral part of the evolution of music and Rock & Roll in particular. There are numerous bands who have been influenced by the sound of early punk rock and allowed that sound to develop into something completely new (just listen to the early Iron Maiden recordings to hear how British punk turned into British metal). But it is a sound that has endured numerous decades, still holding true to its roots. In Austin, Texas punk rock has been alive and well since the 1980’s and continues to thrive to this day.

 

Enter Jankem.

 

Gee Patino is the bassist for Jankem, a new punk band in Austin, Texas. Jankem is an extension of a punk band formerly known as Splif. Founded some years ago, (specifics aren’t needed because punk rock doesn’t care, it just is) Splif was formed with Gee as a founding member when he was 22. Originally a guitarist, Gee was forced into the role of bassist out of necessity (how often does that happen?) and he gladly accepted because, in his words, “Fuck yeah, it’s got two less strings and I get to make that thumping sound!” I mean, isn’t that really why we all play the bass? The honesty of our mission is distilled in that sentence.

 

What’s interesting about Splif is that their influences reach deep into prog rock. Their drummer, Mitchell, was heavily influenced by the likes of Genesis, King Crimson, Rush, et al. Gee was bringing the harder influences of The Minutemen (Mike Watt) and Fugazi. Splif guitarist, Anthony, brought along classic rock influences of Led Zeppelin et al. The result is a blissful, raucous mix of crazy musical arrangements paying homage to their influences while having the absolute irreverent blast a punk rock band should have. Sadly, the impact of COVID-19 brought Splif to an end when their drummer had to exit the band.

 

Okay, NOW enter Jankem.

 

Gee and Anthony kept working together. When they found a new drummer it was their decision to start the band anew. While Jankem still pursues the adventurous music started in Splif, they didn’t want the new drummer to feel confined to old material so everything is new. And Jankem is out of the gate in ATX having played their first show in March 2021 and continuing regularly to show the underground scene that they are here to, first and foremost, party, and then rock the house.

 

Gee is a humble bassist. He freely admits that he knows nothing of technique or music in general. He plays by ear and by what he feels, working closely with his bandmates to get the sound he needs. Gee also freely admits he doesn’t know anything about gear. Most (if not all) of what equipment he plays has been borrowed or bought as cheap as possible. “Dude, I’m not gonna spend $4000 dollars on gear to get fucked up and party with it.” By my reckoning, this is sound reasoning.

 

Jankem plays loud and obnoxiously, but they still respect the music they write and the music they listen to. Gee says, “We may not know a lot but we feel that we are good musicians for what we do. And we respect the musicians who work really hard at their craft. We love to listen to all kinds of music, and Jankem wants to draw from that. We keep an open mind. Good musicians have good taste.”  Jankem is doing what all musicians should strive for: they have fun.

 

So who are Gee’s two biggest influences?

 

1) Mike Watt

 

2) Les Claypool

 

Now for the fun part. Gee’s rig rundown (disclaimer: I have done tech work on Gee’s bass).

 

Bass: No Name Jazz style bass that plays really nicely. Gee says he got it for about $20 or so.

 

Amp: “What kind of amp do you use, Gee?”

 

“Fuck man. It’s an Acoustic. Let me Google it and see what kind. Yeah, here it is. It says here that it is a B300HD.”

 

Cab: “What cab are you running it through?”

 

“I think it’s a 4×10 stack.”

 

“So 2 4×10 cabs stacked; an 8×10 stack?”

 

“Yeah, maybe? Wait. No. It’s just one cabinet with 4 10s in it.”

 

“So a single 4×10. Cool. What kind is it?”

 

“Fuck, man, I don’t fucking know.”

 

“Sweet.”

 

Jankem, ladies and gentlemen, are punk rock at their core.

 

Gee Patino Sound and Vision…

 

Splif:

 

 

Visit the Jankem Facebook page for live clips and promotional videos: https://m.facebook.com/JankemATX/

 

 

“If you twist my arm and ask me what type of music I play, it’s chamber music!” Fretless bass virtuoso, innovator and recording artist Michael Manring reflects on the evolution of “live” performance and the future of instrumental music outside of the mainstream. This clip is taken from an episode of The Bass Guitar Channel Radio Show with host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli.

 

 

“David, the electric bass is not a valid instrument…” David C. Gross and guest Michael Manring discuss their time at Berklee and the bold proclamation which forever affected Mr. Gross , how Manring straddles the “pre-Jaco and post-Jaco eras,” Michael’s tuning methodology, and how Joseph Zon helped bring Michael’s aural visions to fruition. This video clip is from a February 2021 episode of The Bass Guitar Channel Radio Show on Cygnus Radio, hosted by David C. Gross with Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli.

Photo by Neil Segal

 

Evan Jagels fortifies his playing by practicing…. yoga! And likely jazz improv, classical etudes, and similar. A prolific and versatile player, teacher, composer, sideman, collaborator, performing and recording artist, among other titles; Jagels also claims to have created a new musical art form as well…read on!

 

A harmonically and rhythmically adventurous upright / electric player based in New York City; Evan does things the trad way: he earned a Masters Degree in Musical Performance in the borough known for producing some of the world’s most renowned bassists – Queens College in Queens County, New York. Among his mentors include two icons of the instrument: Ron Carter and Buster Williams.

 

A member of the Blake Fleming Trio and rockabilly/psychobilly collective The Mopar Cams, Jagels also anchors Elvanelle Music, described as “a time-defying curation of vaudeville, hot jazz, folk, cabaret and contemporary music.” His role as an educator spans the New York Summer Music Festival, the Oneonta Pop Music Experience, JazzConnect at Flushing Town Hall, and SUNY Oneonta. At present Evan is Lecturer of Music at Hartwick College.

 

Among Jagels wide array of international recording and stage credits include Arlen Roth, Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth, Herbie Hancock), Paul Berberich, Ray Vega, Gerry Weldon, Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman, Ray Anderson, John Stowell, and Chuck Lamb.

 

With regard to the aforementioned new genre/art form dubbed Improvignette, says Jagels:  An improvised piece of music under one minute in length which conveys a complete musical idea. It’s a word that I made up, and an artistic idea that I got from flash fiction aka cigarette novels.  

 

For all things Evan Jagels visit https://www.evanjagelsmusic.com/    

 

Evan Jagels Sound & Vision:

 

Blake Fleming Trio:

 

“Dunderberg Gallery #1”  https://youtu.be/ldOxTOaH13w

 

“Dunderberg Gallery #2” https://youtu.be/WAp_2Gv0SuQ

 

“Clip 2” https://youtu.be/QntvmRQJLiY

 

Freelance Armstrong “The Chicken” https://youtu.be/xoBm_fDx9Lk

 

“Solo with Loop Pedal” https://youtu.be/v2dD3c3nhvU

 

 

 

Where is the electric bass headed? Who are some of the young cats on the scene in New York City?

 

Enter Kenji Tokunaga. A former student at the New School of Jazz, Kenji has worked major local venues (Blue Note, Shrine, B.B. King’s) and shared stages with a legend or two or three (Force MDS, Bobby Womack, Geno Young) to cite a few, in this city considered the epicenter of jazz.

 

A double threat on electric and upright, Tokunaga is an exemplary pocket player, improviser, and soloist, referencing be-bop to hip-hop, rhythm and blues, and beyond.

 

Kenji Tokunaga Sound & Vision:

 

John Colonna:

 

Live from NYC Set 1 https://youtu.be/GtSruKLuz8E

 

Live from NYC Set 2 https://youtu.be/2mL5WcrqhH4

 

J Keys: “Corn Rows” https://youtu.be/pqb6yBNJfvw

 

Courtnee Roze: The Musical Side – B https://youtu.be/xepJMIhdOcc

 

Kei Owada “A Part of Me” https://youtu.be/S4AYRsiQkP4

 

Raiche SINGS her Heart out on Complicated for They Have The Range: Sessions! https://youtu.be/MFKOvMJHO-A