John McKenzie (Seal, Everything But The Girl)

Courtesy of Mark Bass Courtesy of Mark Bass

Courtesy of Mark Bass

By Thomas Semioli

John McKenzie, bass player; Seal, The Pretenders, The Eurythmics, Dr. John, Everything But The Girl, James Ingram, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Alison Moyet, Renato Zero, Karl Jenkins, Bond, Moya Brennan, Eternal, Shakira, Graham Lyle, Charles Aznavour, Andrea Corr, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Jim Diamond, Tom Scott, Paul Brady, Johnny Mathis, Wham, Andy Newmark, Blair Cunningham Leon Ware, Mudbone, The Breakfast Band, Kokomo,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Maksim Wild, Sinead O’Connor, Reel People Steve Hillage, Man, Leo Sayer, Eric Burdon, Annette Peacock, Davy Spillane, Mirage, Global Village Trucking Company, Albert Lee, Tim Finn….to cite a select few.

A remarkably prolific genre-traversing, versatile UK session ace, sideman, collaborator, composer, bandmember, and educator, among other endeavors: John Michael McKenzie’s resume of credits was astounding.

A supportive soulful player who worked the trad four, fretless, and extended range…dig John with…

Everything But The Girl “Five Fathoms” https://youtu.be/x67EEIBuwIw

The Pretenders “Let’s Make a Pact” https://youtu.be/Lteg_r9alSU

Seal “ Future Love Paradise” https://youtu.be/cj21h504wKU

Bond Live at the Royal Albert Hall https://youtu.be/6OLEnJj5Y80

Steve Hillage “Live at Canterbury” https://youtu.be/MExLFl2g688

“John McKenzie Rocks That Bass” https://vimeo.com/196673711

Chucho Merchan (Eurythmics, Pete Townshend, EBTG, David Gilmour)

A first call session cat, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, band-leader, solo recording artist, and human and animals rights activist; Bogota born Jesus Alfredo “Chucho” Merchan is among the instrument’s most prolific players.

 

Merchan has forged grooves incorporating fretless, slap/pop style, jazz , Latin, funk, punk, soul, and permutations thereof  with Everything But the Girl, The Dream Academy, Pete Townshend, Thomas Dolby,  Eurythmics, Billy Bragg, The Pretenders, David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, Sam Brown, and Robert Wyatt, to cite a very, very select few.

 

Chucho Merchan Sound & Vision:

 

Chucho Merchan: “Pachamadre Mamatierra”  https://youtu.be/uBTv4a6vQqE

 

David Gilmour for “Wish You Were Here” courtesy of Chucho Merchan YouTube page: https://youtu.be/CYUTMzgQtXQ

 

Pete Townshend’s Deep End courtesy of Chucho Merchan YouTube: https://youtu.be/SYP0qzw-tbI