Mike Inez (Ozzy, Slash, Alice in Chains)

Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com

Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com

He is a versatile bassist who threads grunge, metal, traditional hard rock, alternative, and permutations thereof on record and on stage. 

 

A member of Alice in Chains since 1993, Mike Inez does it all – from lower register grooves to upper register counterpoint as the situation warrants.  

 

An engaging performer, educator, composer, sideman, band member, and collaborator – among Mike’s high-profile gigs aside from AIC includes Ozzy Osbourne, Slash’s Snakepit, Heart, and Black Label Society, to cite a select few. 

 

A hard hitting drop D tuning plectrum player inspired by John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Geezer Butler and his mom’s Elton John and Beatles slabs, among Mike’s weapons of choice include: Ampeg SVT, Fender Bassman, Warwick and Spector basses.

Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com

Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com

Mike Inez Sound & Vision…

 

Alice In Chains: 

“Down in a Hole” from MTV Unplugged https://youtu.be/nWK0kqjPSVI

 

“Raineir Fog” https://youtu.be/irNTqjI7A8E

 

Slash’s Snakepit “Beggars & Hangers On” https://youtu.be/FddCGr7mD54

 

Ozzy “I Don’t Want to Change the World” https://youtu.be/8d6AgoFStFQ

Robert Trujillo (Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne)

Photo courtesy of Metallica Com Photo courtesy of Metallica Com

Photo courtesy of Metallica Com

A master of metal bass, Roberto Agustin Trujillo has distinguished himself on stage and on record with Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, and Infectious Grooves, among others.

 

Plying his craft with a decidedly funky disposition, Robert varies his tools from traditional four to extended range with deft expertise and purpose.

 

Inspired by James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Sly Stone’s Larry Graham and Geezer Butler – Robert is a versatile finger, plectrum, slap player. Though he studied music “formally” Trujillo developed his own code for bass charts and arrangements. Among Robert’s main weapons of choice include Fender Precision, his signature Warwick bass, Zon, and Yamaha instruments.  

 

In addition to his well-earned status as a world-class player, Mr. Trujillo was a major force as co-producer in the creation of the Jaco Pastorius documentary and occasionally plays Jaco’s restored “Bass of Doom” in concert.     

 

 

Robert Trujillo Sound & Vision…

 

Black Label Society: “Demise of Sanity”  https://youtu.be/iNeQz5JVxXI

 

Infectious Grooves “Violently and Funky” https://youtu.be/1f7XwCsx4fs

 

Ozzy Osborne “Gets Me Through” https://youtu.be/2AsLRPzqdpc

 

Metallica

 

“Hard Wired” https://youtu.be/uhBHL3v4d3I

 

“The Day that Never Comes” https://youtu.be/76m2kmsAxhA

 

Metallica & Lou Reed: “Sweet Jane” https://youtu.be/aoyoBUoy6UI

 

Photo courtesy of Metallica Com Photo courtesy of Metallica Com

Photo courtesy of Metallica Com

Leslie Langston (Throwing Muses)

Courtesy of 4 AD Courtesy of 4 AD

Courtesy of 4 AD

She was among the alternative / indie rock era’s most identifiable and inventive bassists during her six year membership in Throwing Muses. Whereas most post-punk players traveled a limited roots-only route, Leslie Langston was a dexterous, melodic player who anchored Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly’s compositions with passages that exuded funk and soul influences. Retired from the music biz, nowadays Leslie is an independent clinical social worker.

 

Leslie Langston Sound & Vision…

 

“Devil’s Roof” http://bit.ly/2BuQwHh

 

“Dizzy” http://bit.ly/2EHFVek

 

“Dragonhead” http://bit.ly/2F2cyBf

 

Thowing Muses e.jpg Thowing Muses e.jpg

Brian Stanley (Garland Jeffreys, Beach Boys)

Brian Stanley_opt.jpg Brian Stanley_opt.jpg

Spanning recording studios to arenas to concert halls to the festivals to the pubs, Brian Stanley is the go-to bassist for some of rock’s top composers. He is, to my ears, the consummate “song player,” drawing from an expansive knowledge of pop, jazz, blues, and soul which emerges in his style, tone, grooves… and conversations! Among Mr. Stanley’s laudable credits include The Beach Boys, Garland Jeffreys, Bryan Adams, Willie Nile, Jules Shear, Tommy Shaw, Mike Scott, and G.E. Smith to cite a few.

 

Dig Brian Stanley on Know Your Bass Player on Film: Season One – New York City 2016 Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/32vpFXI

 

Paul Page (Ian Hunter’s Rant Band, John Cale)

Photo by Tamara Guo

As the anchor of Ian Hunter’s finest post-Mott the Hoople / Hunter-Ronson ensemble, The Rant Band, Paul Page tethers his bandleader’s half-century canon with pocket passages that exude a passion for soul, rhythm & blues, and old-school glam.  Prowling the bandstand with a weathered Fender P, Page’s improv on “All American Alien Boy” harmonically twists, swoops, and growls, quoting a lick or two from Jaco’s masterstroke. Mr. Page has backed legends aplenty including Dion, Lou Christie, John Cale, and Gary U.S. Bonds, and waxed sides with Martin’s Folly, among others.

Dig Paul Page on Know Your Bass Player On Film – Season One : New York City 2015 Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/32vnZ0m

 

Pablo Tellez (Malo, Santana)

Pablo Tellez was at the forefront of the Latin jazz rock movement by way his tenure in two watershed ensembles: Malo, led by Jorge Santana and Arecelio Garcia; and as a member of Carlos’ extraordinary 1976-77 Santana line-up.

Tellez percolated in-the-pocket, plying harmonic extensions aplenty amid the poly-rhythmic percussion and extended improvisations which defined the genre.

 

Pablo also plied his craft with LaBelle, Pete Escovedo, and The Latin Spice Band, among others.

 

Pablo Tellez Sound & Vision…

 

Santana and Gato Barbieri: “Europa”  https://youtu.be/h4Mrp6wuSwk

 

Malo: “Suavecito” https://youtu.be/y6pL7hwZAgM

 

 

Jimmy Bain (Rainbow, Dio)

Photo courtesy of Polydor Records Photo courtesy of Polydor Records

Photo courtesy of Polydor Records

Among the premier hard rock bassists on stage and in the studio, the late James Stewart Bain was also a multi-instrumentalist and composer.

In addition to his tenure in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and Dio, Jimmy also toured and waxed seminal sides with Phil Lynott (keyboards, co-writer), Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, and The Scorpions among many others.

Primarily a pocket player, among Bain’s weapons of choice were Fender Precision, Gibson Thunderbird, and Yamaha BB, along with Ashdown cabinets and amplifiers.

Dig KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore’s rendition of “Rainbow in the Dark” – co-written
by Jimmy Bain with Ronnie James Dio,  https://youtu.be/rcl-T4C2ovk

Dig Jimmy on lead vocal with his band Wild Horses “Reservation” https://youtu.be/pHaiZ8_MVEE …and Wild
Horses https://youtu.be/oCYApcmHEog

Dig Jimmy on “With Love” by Thin Lizzy  https://youtu.be/lqOwLMOhUhQ

Dig Jimmy with Gary Moore “Hiroshima” https://youtu.be/GazQAsIgMf4

Dig KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Sentore’s rendition of “Stand Up and Shout” https://youtu.be/NdK50IsS81o

Photo by Jan Nicholas Photo by Jan Nicholas

Photo by Jan Nicholas

Art Nardini (Iron City Houserockers)

Art Nardini Portrait_opt.jpg Art Nardini Portrait_opt.jpg

By Thomas Semioli

Rock ‘n’ roll lives in the blood, sweat, and beers of the American bar band, and to my ears, among the genre’s best were the Iron City Houserockers, later to emerge as Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers.

 

Oft compared to the E Street Band in style and execution (The Boss produced the band’s spectacular American Babylon LP in 1995); founding bassist Art Nardini has been working the pocket with Joe since ‘76. Art’s weapons of choice include the Fender Telecaster and Jazz, and MusicMan Stingray.

 

Why this band and their leader never enjoyed the commercial success of Bruce, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, or Tom Petty, among others, is among rock ‘n’ roll’s great mysteries!  

 

Art Nardini Sound & Vision with The Houserockers:    

 

“I Can’t Take It” Live (1979) https://youtu.be/FMRsZCUZoWo

 

“Junior’s Bar” Live (1988) https://youtu.be/9307ZVkFvOY

 

“Everything’s Gonna Work Out Right” https://youtu.be/ryQ3AuxPTaM

 

“American Babylon” https://youtu.be/52L5-64cm2E

 

With The Boss “That’s What Makes Us Great” https://youtu.be/VirqIl99q6A

 

Art Nardini Houserockers.jpeg Art Nardini Houserockers.jpeg

George Porter Jr. (The Meters) VIDEO INTERVIEW

 

Cissy Strut,” “Lady Marmalade,” “Right Place Wrong Time” … I feel like I am working towards something that will be remembered….”

 

A giant of the instrument, an elite bassist whose tone and phrasing renders him recognizable in first measure of any passage he renders, George Joseph Porter Jr. is a founding member of The Meters (with Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, and Zigaboo Modeliste) and among of the forefathers of the genre referred to as “funk.” Make that ‘Nawlins funk….”

 

To dig deep into the storied history of The Meters, check out this June 2020 Music Aficionado feature by Jim Farber https://bit.ly/3elIC3L

 

A composer, solo recording artist, producer, valued sideman, and endlessly sampled player, Porter’s signature style is rooted in his growling split-coil “Precision” tone, staccato phrasing, and his absolute mastery of rhythm and space whilst working in tandem with the kick drum of Zigaboo, or any other cat he’s waxed sides with. Every passage George renders means something rhythmically, harmonically, aesthetically – no filler, no wasted notes….

 

Porter’s collaborations span Tori Amos, Earl King, Harry Connick, Albert Lee, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Buffett, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Sir Paul, David Byrne, LaBelle, Robbie Robertson, Taj Mahal, Joe Cocker, Robert Palmer, Solomon Burke, Willy DeVille, and John Scofield… to cite a ridiculously select few!

 

When George isn’t in the studio cutting chart topping, watershed sides, he leads his own ensemble Runnin’ Pardners – a staple on the jam band festival circuit.

 

 

George Porter Sound and Vision…

 

The Meters

 

“Cissy Strut” https://youtu.be/Nd3yDoOyvbY

 

“Ain’t No Use” https://youtu.be/tKWEL-e4_pc

 

“Cabbage Alley” https://youtu.be/dL6-2euKSgs

 

“People Say” https://youtu.be/UpEmtoTv2iw

 

“Hey Pocky Way” https://youtu.be/eFz9GEYLq80

 

LaBelle: “Lady Marmalade” https://youtu.be/ku7W0BZcxdw

 

Dr. John: “Right Place Wrong Time” https://youtu.be/G5zPqgQ67yo

 

Robert Palmer:  “Sailin’ Shoes https://youtu.be/V592ldkLMBs

 

Robert Palmer: “How Much Fun” https://youtu.be/FWuBeZlyn70

 

David Byrne: “Hanging Upside Down” https://youtu.be/3o_3CXa1ZDs

 

Tedeschi Trucks Band: “Ain’t No Use” https://youtu.be/VqwhwtlvXYo

 

Solo George “Woogie Boogie” from his Runnin’ Partner slab https://youtu.be/2JbIQvWB-Ac

 

Tori Amos “Professional Window” https://youtu.be/5ImEt52CxVY

 

Harry Connick “Booker” https://youtu.be/Bs6i5R_waPY

 

Courtesy of George Porter Jr Com

 

Damon Minchella (Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, The Who)

Behold Brit Pop Royalty!

 

A founding member of Ocean Colour Scene, Damon Minchella is a purveyor of hazy, hypnotic grooves which he plies on his battered Fender Jazz with a reverence for psychedelia, baroque pop, and classic rock.

 

In addition to his work with OCS (five Top 5 UK slabs, fifteen Top 20 UK singles the last time I counted…) Damon also anchored Paul Weller’s band for a dozen years, and appeared with The Who at Live 8.

 

Following a serious hand injury, which he as fully recovered from, Michella now turns to academia, teaching a pop music course at The University of South Wales.

 

Damon Minchella Sound & Vision…

 

Ocean Colour Scene:

 

“The Day We Ride the Train” https://youtu.be/1rr4tXN2eJM

 

“The Riverboat Song” https://youtu.be/brzzM31G4x8

 

“You’ve Got It Bad” https://youtu.be/GSCRUwJk1_Q

 

Paul Weller:

 

“He’s The Keeper” https://youtu.be/dUx-E8w3ctU

 

“Horseshoe Drama” https://youtu.be/byB1-AWxZlU

 

The ‘Oo at Live 8

 

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” https://youtu.be/t1fJVdpIyRM