She’s a bassist, singer, composer, recording artist, bandleader, side-woman, arranger, producer, educator, author (Groove Mastery – Hal Leonard Publishing), session ace … and a virtuoso pocket / melodic player who works extended range.

Oneida James anchored one of Joe Cocker’s finest ensembles – as evidenced on Fire It Up: Live In Cologne. James’ resume spans rock, alternative, pop, Latin, jazz, fusion, soul, world beat, rhythm & blues, funk, dance…and every permutation thereof.

Dig Oneida groovin’ with Joe on “Keep Your Eye on the Prize” http://bit.ly/2z5ngSE

…and “Fire It Up” https://youtu.be/6w4OAD0kJI8

Ms. Jones bass cover “I Can’t Help It” https://youtu.be/qJ0tF6UfwOg

This great Dane was Prince Rogers Nelson’s bassist on his final NPG and 3rdeyegirl ensembles, rendering riveting rock – funk passages in the service of the purple deity!

A muti-instrumentalist, solo recording artist, bass designer (Sandberg signature model) composer, educator, clinician, and graduate of the Royal Danish Academy – Ida Kristine Nielsen has traversed many a genre with Zap Mama and MLTR, among others.  Her finger-style playing and approach to the instrument honors tradition while pushing harmonic and rhythmic boundaries.

In addition to her signature model, Ida’s weapons of choice include Fender Jazz, Yamaha TRBS, and Eich amps and cabinets.

Among her nom de plumes include Bassida, Bass Ida, and Ida Funkhouser – no relation to the Curb Your Enthusiasm character.

Ms. Nielsen describes her music as “a mixture of old school funk and hip hop with reggae and world music pop ups, ear catching melodies, and lots of bass!”

Did Ida Neilsen and The FunkBots! https://youtu.be/wIo4kKRwVsY

Says Ida about her tenure with Prince: I have had the incredible big honor of working with the legendary musical icon PRINCE – since August 2010 and until his very tragic and untimely passing in April 2016… Playing with PRINCE has been the most magical musical journey ever, and an ongoing learning experience beyond all imagination!

So I want to acknowledge the importance of his impact on me through my life – first musically and later on as I got to know him – also in other aspects of life. And I want to acknowledge the fact that the place I am at today is because of him.

He taught me SO much about music and about life in general and was not only my teacher and mentor but also my friend. It has been such a huge gift and blessing to be able to sit on the front row and watch his genius work and I am eternally grateful for having had this precious time.

I would not be where I am today if it was not for him, and I will do everything I can to move on and honor him by keeping the musical standard high and my heart open and kind – just like he taught me.

A student of fusion icon Alphonso Johnson, jazz bassist /composer / recording artist Darek Oles, and extended range virtuoso Todd Johnson, she’s the rumbling bass behind Adventure Time’s “Marceline the Vampire Queen.”

A rocker with a funky disposition – or perhaps a funkster with a rock temperament, Ashley has anchored slabs and shows with a wide range of artists including Ed Harcourt, Adam Lambert, CeeLo Green, My Jerusalem, Filter, Cher, and Great Northern, among others.

Check out Ashley’s demo of the Fender American Deluxe Dimension Bass V https://youtu.be/u_l8t8yZfAk

Andy Pyle, bassist by Tom Semioli

An exemplary pocket and melodic player with a supportive disposition, Andy Pyle’s resume as a sideman, session cat reads like a storied history of British rock and roll, traversing genres spanning blues, pop, and hard rock.

Pyle plied his craft with Bloodwyn Pig, Savoy Brown, Gary Moore, Juicy Lucy, Wishbone Ash, Rod Stewart, and Alvin Lee, among others. In 1985 Andy waxed his sole solo slab Barrier Language. Though he was never an official member of The Kinks, Andy anchored their two most important comeback slabs Sleepwalker and Misfits – and several tours between 1976-78.

Andy Pyle Sound & Vision:

Bloodwyn Pig “Modern Alchemist” https://youtu.be/EqV-uBMPMzA

Alvin Lee “Burnt Fungus” https://youtu.be/yLDvxorMKsE

Gary Moore “Back On The Streets” https://youtu.be/hAi24EF92PI

That’s Andy mugging for the camera on the Kink’s “Father Christmas” video from the winter of ’77  http://bit.ly/2ATS66A

Dig Andy with The Kinks on the Old Grey Whistle Test 1977 https://youtu.be/ZkRXfMj7lk4

He’s among the most prolific UK studio cats / sidemen whose basslines have anchored seminal sides by Eric Clapton (From The Cradle, Pilgrim), Eric Bibb, Robin Trower, Gary Moore (Blues for Jimi), my doppelganger Andy Fairweather-Low, Bo Diddley, and with various artists on The Concert for George.

Dave Bronze is a pocket and melodic player who also plies his craft on upright and extended range, always in the service of the almighty song. Aside from the aforementioned guitar gods, you’ve heard Dave with Colin Blunstone, Tom Jones, Chris Farlow, Paul Carrack, and Art of Noise, to cite a select few.

Dig Dave with Slowhand from “Blues With Russell” https://youtu.be/KP5Zn-onAk0

“He got this old bass fiddle out, started slapping it, with a shuffle beat, and showed me the basic three notes you need on a little bass run to get started with, and I gave it a try and I said, ‘Hell, I can do that!”

He started out as a guitarist, however following a 30-minute slap bass lesson from bandleader Bill Haley, Marshall Lytle forged rock and roll history. A showman, standing atop his doghouse or hoisting it over his shoulder, Lytle anchored “Crazy, Man, Crazy,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” and “Rock Around the Clock.”  He split from Haley to form The Jodimars, which became a popular Vegas lounge act. Lytle was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his Comets comrades.

Here’s the song that started it all …”Rock Around the Clock” https://youtu.be/ZgdufzXvjqw

Assuming the bass chair from Humphrey Ocean, who went on to a rather impressive career as a contemporary British painter and Royal Academy Professor of Perspective, the groovin’ pocket playin’ Charlie Sinclair anchored Ian Dury’s “other group” – Kilburn and the Highroads.

Formed by Ian in 1970, these pub rockers forged their craft with an array of influences influence, spanning 50s to reggae. Sinclair provided the pocket for Mr. Dury to perfect his persona which came to full fruition with the Blockheads.

Their lone official slab is a commendable collection, featuring sax colossus and future Blockhead David Payne.    

Charlie Sinclair Sound & Vision

“Upminster Kids” https://youtu.be/i6SxxjnAr2c

“Bill Bentley” https://youtu.be/39bhjv5dN8Y

“Roadette Song” https://youtu.be/WZUDV64z7c4

Courtesy of Paul Gray Bass Online Com

Stay tuned for Paul’s exclusive KYBP On Zoom interview slated for November 2020…

Eddie and the Hot Rods “Do Anything You Wanna Do” https://youtu.be/rUYkHNAtXTI

Andrew Ridgeley “Red Dress” https://youtu.be/CjvqVImpsDs

UFO: “Heaven’s Gate / Night Run” Live https://youtu.be/JNIcHjaYAjc

Paul Gray Bass  https://www.youtube.com/user/paulgraybass

Producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist Johnny Sandlin was among the architects of a genre commonly referred as “Southern Rock” – yet his body of work was far more expansive, incorporating elements of jazz and classical into many of his collaborations.

Sandlin’s credits include watershed slabs with the Allman Brothers, Gregg Allman, Richard Betts, Wet Willie, Delbert McClinton, The Outlaws, Bonnie Bramlett, Elvin Bishop, Dixie Dregs, Captain Beyond, and Widespread Panic to cite a select few.

Oft times producer Sandlin worked both sides of the sessions, helming the bass chair as well – most notably with Gregg and Duane in Hour Glass, Livingston Taylor, Gregg’s magnificent solo bow Laid Back (1973), and Richard Betts’ brilliant Highway Call (1974), among others.

Johnny was a pure pocket player with a penchant for rhythm and blues grooves!

Johnny Sandlin Sound and Vision…

With Duane and Gregg in Hour Glass “So Much Love” https://youtu.be/fkiDSbICaHc

Gregg Allman: “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” https://youtu.be/wJwxMHsfRU8

Richard Betts: “Long Time Gone” https://youtu.be/7fZZiQOJM7Q