The Bass Players United Team
He is also performing in the female-fronted metal band Splintered Soul, jazz-funk act Mr Little’s Noisy Band and many other cover and tribute acts. He has also done a lot of musical theater work, playing classic and contemporary musicals. When he’s not playing, he co-runs independent jazz/world music label MGP Records. Arran is endorsed by Ibanez Guitars and Rotosound Strings.
She attended a professional music school, the CPM, studying instrument technique and music theory, and then later decided to become a busker. Now Camilla plays on streets of cities all around Italy and she is endorsed by Cort and Elixir Strings.
Camilla also being a composer, considers Steven Wilson, Opeth her main influences..
When taking a break from bass guitar, Camilla would consider herself a greedy reader, she loves fantasy, sci-fi and Lovecraft’s horror literature.
After finishing high school in 2010, Iván decided to pursue a career in music and studied under the wings of several great musicians from the music scene in Peru (Noel Marambio, Matías Recharte, Javier Perez-Saco, etc).
Being exposed to several different music genres throughout his life, Iván developed a flexibility that allows him play in different music situations such as: rock, pop, funk, blues, latin, etc. His playing style is influenced by artists such as Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, David Ellefson, Steve Harris, Joscha Oetz, Noel Marambio, Janek Gwizdala, among others.
Currently, Iván is studying for a bachelor degree in Music at the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück, Germany.
Ric knew then that he wanted to learn what Cliff was doing, and like many became fascinated with Cliff Burton, David Ellefson of Megadeth and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
The more fascinated Ric became, the more he would tell people that he would one day open up for Metallica. Of course none of his peers believed him, but he later proved them wrong. In his teen age years, Ric moved to St John’s Newfoundand and began meeting other musicians with similar taste in music. At the age of 2, Ric moved to Prince Edward Island, Canad and joined forces with the band Negative J, a very Tool influenced band, and remained with that band until they disbanded in 07. In 08 Ric started playing with Death Valley Driver, and after playing together for a few years they opened for Metallica. Ric still talks about it as a surreal moment in his life! Ric also had the opportunity to open up for several other bands such as : Morbid Angel, Seether, Protest The Hero, Coheed And Cambria, Cryptopsy, Cancer Bats and 3 Inches Of Blood. In 2013 Ric parted ways with Death Valley Driver to focus on his family life. Ric remains an active musicians as he cannot stay away from it, and plays with an AC/DC tribute band called Riff Raff just for fun, and Eviscerator, a thrash meets death metal band. No matter what the future holds Ric will always love the bass. Ric has always encouraged everyone who feels the drive to have music in their lives to listen to the call, no matter what kind of music, but hold on, it can be a bumpy ride.
Shelby discovered the punk band AFI at the age of 11, which sparked her interest in heavier rock and metal music, and shortly after, she began borrowing friends guitars to teach herself how to play. To this day Shelby credits Hunter Burgan’s work on AFI’s earlier albums as one of her main inspirations to play bass. When she was given opportunity to play bass as a full time recording and touring member with her current band “Deadspace” she realised her scoliosis and back pain was going to present a challenge doing this, but instead of letting that deter her she decided to find a solution, and has since become one of the few people who uses short scale basses to play in drop tuning in the metal genre, where 5 strings and long scales are the standard.
As lover of a modern bass tone, most of her basses are Warwick’s and she recently had them make one of their iconic thumb basses in a 30″ scale, which is her pride and joy. Outside of music and bass, she works as an IT Systems Engineer, she is a huge Dragon Ball Z fan, and likes to spends time with her pet birds.
Katie started taking private lessons with Jeanne Bruhn when she was fourteen, and by the time Katie graduated high school, she was ready to commit to a career in music. Katie studied with Paul Sharpe and graduated from Texas Tech University. In 2005, Katie was Principal Bassist of the Texas Tech Symphony, and a tenured member of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Katie also taught private Bass lessons from 1999 until 2010 – everyone from beginners to college-entry level musicians. Besides playing and teaching music, Katie is busy raising her boys and adventuring around Alaska!
She set up her first band in 1999, an alternative rock band called ‘Faded Blossom’ in which she also sang. They recorded an EP and after many changes of line-up she decided to break up the band in 2007.
She had already joined another local band in 2006, Okay Daisy, and she has been playing bass with this trio for 3 years. Her last project, Worn Out was born in 2009, they recorded one EP (A present for you) and their first full length in 2014, Spleen. Their stuff is all available on the net, and the album is dowloadable for free on their band camp.The band is very active, they play a lot and they are planning their European tour at the moment.
In 2015 she joined another rock band called Plasticdrop, during this year they opened for many international bands (including Adolescents for example) .
Ema enjoys bands such as Three Days Grace and Thousand Foot Krutch, which she credits to picking up the bass guitar. Ema also credits her music teacher, Luciano Migliore who has helped her along her musical journey.
Memi participated in two musical projects: Lust (2011) and Inaltera (2013). In 2013 and 2014 Inaltera won first place in a local band contest.
jaredlees.com
Toby also spends his other time producing and mixing music (currently studying audio in the Bachelor of Music at Monash University).
His other current musical endeavours is playing for heavy-tech metal band “Annihilist” and post-hardcore prog band “caution:thieves”.
Adam’s influences include; His Father, John Deacon, Justin Chancellor, Stuart Zender, Adam Yauch, and of course his good friend Stew Mckinsey.
He plays a unique signature bass made by world-renowned luthier Jens Ritter and is a spokesman for Hartke, Dunlop, DR Strings and Neunaber.
arambedrosian.com
Some of his projects include working with artists:
Pinn Panelle (Live Electronic Sensation)
Felix Martin (16-String Guitarist)
Daniel Voth (Virtuosic Percussive Acoustic Guitarist)
Corelia (Progressive Metal Phenomenon)
Marco Minnemann (Drummer for Paul Gilbert, The Aristocrats, Necrophagist)
Les “Survivorman” Stroud (TV Celebrity, Songwriter, Harmonicist)
He has also worked with producers: Sylvia Massy (Tool, Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers),Mike Clink (Megadeth, Guns n Roses, Motley Crue), Danny Greenspoon (5-Time Juno Winner), Noel Golden (Matchbox Twenty, Triumph, Whitesnake)
“I’ve been playing live since 1993 and have been a part of many musical projects over the years and bands like Primates Of, Nico Tyrell, Khoda, Black Molasses & Boddickers”.
“I love everything about playing live, studio sessioning and writing with other like minded musicians and I hope that my musical adventures will still take me to many wonderful places to meet many wonderful and colourful people”.
Deans musical tastes are so varied that he can’t stick to one style of playing, so whether it’s Rock, Metal, Funk, Soul, jazz, Electronic or any other genre of music, he continues to adapt his playing style to fit.
Dean is currently recording with Boddickers and has started work on a new project that has a working title of “Kneel Before Zod” as well as being on the Bass Players United team and working with Bananaphish Studios.
Desde los 13 años comenzó a tocar con artistas reconocidos de la Argentina, como Miguel “Botafogo” Vilanova, Black Amaya, Daniel Raffo, Alambre González, Ciro Fogliatta, Juanse (de Ratones Paranoicos), entre otros.
Actualmente es bajista de JIMMY RIP AND THE TRIP y Led Ladies.
Es Endorsment de: Lakland Basses, Aguilar Amplification, DR Strings, Correas Antitodo, Vulk.
Luciana became interested in music at a very early age. At the age of 9 she had already started playing bass, and at the age of 13 she started playing with renowned artist of Argentina such as: Miguel “Botafogo” Vilanova, Black Amaya, Daniel Raffo, Alambre Gonzalez, Ciro Fogliatta, Juanse (of Ratones Paranoicos), among others. Luciana is currently the bass for Jimmy and The Trip Trip, and Led Ladies.
“It’s better to be a good street cleaner, then a bad musician.” That was his first feedback from a professional music teacher. That only put more determination into Dmitry.
After that he has been actively performing/touring/recording in different bands in all possible genres of music. He was even playing solo gigs , busking on a streets and together with his wife created duo project “Karmafree” ( where music is created only with bass and vocals).
Dmitry has won over several of his peers at BPU with his Unique style, and many bass player competitions in multiple countries. Dmitry and has also appeared at “Bass Day” events in Russia and Latvia. Currently Dmitry is specializing on Percussive Fingerstyle bass technique. A very fresh and unique style for bass guitar. Using the body of an acoustic bass as percussion, playing bass line, and solo part all together at the same time gives Dmitry enough place to experiment, and fully express himself and keep my music interesting.
Marine fell in love with funky bass lines, and starting exploring even further into the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Nils Landgren or Maceo Parker. Marine has played in several band from Pop to Hard Rock, but now plays in an only feminine Funk band called Atomic Ladies. Marine also works with Rock choir, and cover band projects.
Based in Worcester, UK, she began playing just before her 12th birthday and went on to perform her first solo gig a few months later.
As well as playing a wide range of genres, she also plays bass in Progressive Groove Metal band ‘Aramantus’, who are based in the West Midlands, UK.
Jen Benton has appeared/performed on National television programs such as the Craig Ferguson Show, MTV Live Canada, MTV’s Total Request Live, Breakfast Television, CBC, IFC, and ET Canada. She has also performed and appeared on countless live radio shows, awards ceremonies, record company showcases (Canada), Virgin Festival, Sirius Radio, and live internet broadcasts. Artists that Benton has been billed alongside with include The Cult, New York Dolls, Cyndi Lauper, Tegan and Sara, Debbie Harry, Tommy James and the Shondells, Lenny Kravitz, The B52’s, and the Dresden Dolls. She has also performed live with Alex Lifeson, Andy Kim, Ron Sexsmith, Colin James, Dru, Kim Mitchell, Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, august, Lily Frost, Lights, Sarah Slean, The Cliks, Luke Doucet, Divine Brown, Mark Holmes, and Lorraine Segato to name a few. She recorded a full length album “Dirty King ~ The Cliks” with Producer Sylvia Massy in the fall of 2008 in Weed, California.
Benton graduated with Dean’s Honour Roll recognition from Hamilton’s Mohawk College in the Applied Music Program. She then completed Humber College’s Music Bridging Program. She studied both jazz and classical theory and performance as well as privately on upright bass with teach Pat Collins. She was accepted into Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp in Tennessee during the spring of 2003 where she was honored with a complete scholarship.
Jen has been apart of groups who have won “The Artist on the Brink Award” (2008), Toronto Independent Music Award for “Best Country” (2006), as well as the 14th Best Bass Line Composition from online music site “Garageband”. Benton was officially endorsed by Spector Bass on July 7, 2011. She also endorses Markbass Amplifiers, EMG pick-ups, Mono Cases, Gruv Gear Fret Wraps, and Mesa Boogie Amplifiers.
Joe wanted to expand his musical knowledge so he enlisted the help of renowned New Jersey teacher, Joe Macaro. Since studying with Macaro, Joe’s been pretty active in the New York scene playing with the likes of New Hope Community Church, Hope Kills Fear, Redeemer’s Cross and EO. In addition to his heavy stage and studio performances, Joe recently started a YouTube channel, Just Bass It, specifically targeted at demoing products he utilizes on a daily basis.
Amongst a variety of musical projects; She is a Youtube Musician. She posts original solos with the aim of creating peaceful, relaxing music for her audience to unwind to.
Her favorite bassists include Tal Wilkenfeld, Zander Zon, Jeremy Davis and Victor Wooten.
Outside of bass she holds a keen interest in Art, Film, RPGs, Axolotls and television show Adventure Time (as evident in the naming of her jazz bass after Adventure Time character ‘Randy Butternubs’).
Remco is a freelance player, backbone of jam sessions, a teacher & has performed at NAMM & Musikmesse for brands like EBS & Hammersmith, for which he has a signature model.
Remco is currently running Remco’s Groove Lab on the web, sharing the love for groove, gear & techniques with fellow musicians.
Laura also always had an extreme passion for traveling which has also helped mold her. Laura has recently played with “Shadow Souls” on the East Coast, NYC/Philly area.
Laura considers Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, Foo Fighters, Collective Soul, Audioslave, Sixx AM, Pop Evil, MAGIC, some of her influences.
Laura has been key in helping promote Bass Players United from the start, and helping reach the bass community with new products.
Throughout his career, Johnson has worked with many world class musicians, such as: Bassists Abraham Laboriel and Adam Nitti, drummers Alvaro Lopez, Eric Boseman and Nikki Glaspie, pianist David Garfield among many others, as well as maintaining a successful solo career.
Johnson was born in Guatemala, Guatemala, in 1982. He started composing and performing professionally at the age of 20, when Integrity Music signed him as part of Award winning band “Vertical”.
After touring with Vertical around the world for 4 years, he quickly moved from playing pop and rock to jazz, gospel and R&B. Johnson has been part of many master recordings as a bassist, producer and/or multi-instrumentalist, alongside world class musicians such as: Abraham Laboriel, Michael Landau, Luis Conte and many others. Johnson has released 2 instrumental albums, “Bass&Beyond” (2012) and “The Leslie Johnson Project” (2015).
Both albums have received many positive reviews from different magazines and radio stations. Both albums feature many special guests such as: Adam Nitti, Philip Lassiter, Frank McComb, Nikki Glaspie, Eric Boseman and many other top musicians. Leslie is currently touring as MD for multi-award winning christian artist Marcela Gandara.
Leslie has been with Bass Players United since early on, and was eager to help. Leslie has done many tutorials and lessons for Bass Players United, which can be found on our you tube page. While Leslie always considers family first, and busy with creating, producing music, clinics and master classes, he still continues to do skype lessons by request.
Valeria currently plays alongside his father Joe throughout Italy and Switzerland. Her basses of choice are a sunburst Fender Precision American Vintage 62 and a Fender Precision Road Worn. She occasionally plays her father’s bass, a beautiful sunburst Fender Jazz Bass made in 1968.
Joanna also performed at the International Blues Challenge 2015, Memphis, Tennessee, USA; at the Bliuzo Naktys in Lithuania and Blues Alive in Zlin, the Czech Republic; in Germany. Joanna has performed with Niki Buzz, Felicjan Andrzejczak, Robert Chojnacki, Dr Blues, Wojciech Hoffmann, Grzegorz Kupczyk, Leszek Cichoński, Piotr Kałużny, Marta Podulka, Jacek Jaguś, Bartosz Miarka, Bobby “Mercy” Oliver and many other others.
On 3rd February 2014, Joanna Dudkowska was declared one of the greatest Polish blues musicians; the results of Blues Top 2013 were broadcast on Trójka, the Polish radio.
Joanna Dudkowska recorded the album ‘Dr Blues – Tribute To Ol’Skool Masters’ together with an American guitarist Niki Buzz and the band Dr Blues & Soul Re Vision. ‘Dr Blues – Tribute To Ol’Skool Masters’ was claimed to have been the best blues album in Poland in 2013.
In March 2015 she appeared on the cover of BASISTA – a Polish magazine for musicians. She took part in recording CD B.B. King Tribute in which participated very famous Polish guitarists.Joanna Dudkowska collaborates with Felicjan Andrzejczak (a Polish musician from Budka Suflera band), and other bands such as SheMoans (girlsband known from Szymon Majewski Show), Dr Blues & Soul re vision, SoulfunK – Dr Blues & Jaromi zez Ekom.
Danny has received great plaudits for his ability as both a bass player and a vocalist, including praise from artists such as Marco Mendoza and Cody Wright. As a YouTuber, he is gaining popularity for his variety and inventiveness of using the bass guitar. He is also an award-winning songwriter – writing for his band Nervous ‘Orse, who have shared stages with acts such as Labrinth, Ella Eyre, The Hives, Ash, Super Furry Animals, and many more.
Thebasswizard.com
Andy has 3 album releases of completely original material to his credit, in addition to recording credits on over 50 other albums. In 2014 he authored the book “Passion and Action a Musician’s Journey” which has garnered exceptional reviews world wide. He has published 3 educational DVD’s, two of which were produced by leading music education distributor True Fire, “Bass Mechanics – Crucial Groove” -2015, and “30 Beginner Bass Grooves You Must know” – 2016. The 3rd ( a 90 min multi topic musicianship lecture) he produced him self “Joyful Musicianship-Mechanics & Mindset” – 2014. In May of 2016 Andy launched The Daily Funk Club website/forum, a completely free donation driven website for all bassists to learn, read interviews with renown bassists and builders, share their own videos and insights within the community, and check out a wide variety of basses, amps and gear. All his music albums, book and educational products are available in the shop section at http://www.TheDailyFunkclub.com