Just two years after she first picked up the instrument in her native Australia, Tal Wilkenfeld commenced studies at Los Angeles Academy of Music. She split college for New York City wherein she sat in on local jam sessions and quickly built her reputation as a top player. An invitation by Allman Brothers Oteil Burbridge and Derek Trucks to join the band on stage at their annual Beacon Theater residency led to widespread exposure and an impressive audition tape which she sent to Jeff Beck. Within months of that performance, Tal waxed her debut slab Transformation (2006) and was on the bandstand with Chick Corea. She later joined Beck’s band for several tours, one of which is captured on the incendiary Live At Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Wilkenfeld quickly rose to the top echelons of her profession, which is where she sits now, collaborating with the crème de la crème of rock, jazz, and pop artists including Prince, Herbie Hancock, Warren Hayes, Corinne Bailey Rae, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, The Roots, Wayne Krantz, David Gilmour, Macy Gray, Ryan Adams, Pharrell, Buddy Guy, Jackson Browne, Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, and Dr. John to cite a very select few. Tal’s weapons of choice are Sadowsky basses, and EBS amplifiers.
Her solo bow entitled Transformation (2007) is a 21st Century jazz-fusion masterpiece.
Tal’s sophomore slab, Love Remains (2019) was a surprise to her “bass only” fans as she emerged as a formidable singer-songwriter, drawing influences as diverse 70s Laurel Canyon and 90s alt-rock!
Tal Wilkenfeld Sound & Vision…
Tal with Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott’s “Nadia” https://youtu.be/drAv2FoYji8
“Transformation” https://youtu.be/iBKChtJ2AeU
“Corner Painter” https://youtu.be/sJuO_HKrVPQ
A composer, electric / upright player, session ace, band member, collaborator, vocalist, and producer – he forged the grooves to two seminal ‘70s anthems* an 80s anthem or two ** and then some!
Assuming the Rufus bass chair from Willie Weeks – Dennis anchored two of the band’s more successful slabs before taking over for Three Dog Night bassist Jack Ryland when said band was on their last (canine) legs.
That’d Dennis in Aqaunet mode with Animotion for their hit “Obsession” slappin’ ‘n’ poppin’ as was the way we did things back in the Regan years.
A first call session player with an astounding list of record credits, Belfield’s canon spans Flora Purim, Shaun Cassidy, Booker T. Jones, Rita Coolidge, Art Garfunkel, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Rick Springfield, Juice Newton, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Belinda Carlisle, Roy Orbison, Darlene Love, The Monkees, Lou Rawls, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Franks, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, David Sanborn, Harvey Mason, Carl Carlton, and Debbie Boone to cite a ridiculously select few.
Dennis Belfield Sound & Vision…
*Rufus: “Tell Me Something Good” https://youtu.be/vuDCi5neNMM
**Animotion “Obsession” https://youtu.be/hIs5StN8J-0?si=_C1hVhyjyMVFodIY
**Rick Springfield “Don’t Talk to Strangers” https://youtu.be/cp42V938eBA?si=lf1P1ua24Hrj0CsC
Floria Purim “Walking Away” https://youtu.be/1ayGxJs7EKo?si=cWJwE0LPBIn8ph4I
*Carl Carlton: “Everlasting Love” https://youtu.be/SqT1y5Qi6l0?si=0A8JqaxMyTAmTenR