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Interview With Tom Kennedy

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I have received such a great response to my last article that I have decided to try the same format again. I’ve done an interview with bassist Tom Kennedy that I will share with you in this issue. I am currently on tour with Tom, Mike Stern and Dave Weckl. Also in the band is saxophonist Bob Franciscini. We are in Paris today and have a show later this afternoon. Tom was kind enough to take some time out of this incredibly grueling tour we are doing to talk to me about a number of things that most bassists will find useful and interesting. Here is a bit of

Toms background:

Tom Kennedy has been a first call bassist on the music scene for more than 25 years. He began playing the acoustic bass at the age of 9. It was only one-year later that he and brother/pianist Ray Kennedy began building a high-profile reputation in and around St. Louis. By his late teens, Tom had already worked with such jazz veterans as James Moody, Peter Erskine, Bill Watrous, Barney Kessel, David Sanborn, Eddie Harris, Nat Adderly, Freddie Hubbard, and Stan Kenton. His interest was primarily mainstream jazz, until his introduction to the bass guitar at age 17.

Tom moved to New York City in 1984 and became involved in numerous musical projects on both acoustic and electric Bass. He appeared on master-guitarist Bill Connors’ album “Step it”, and toured with the legendary jazz group “Steps Ahead,” bringing immediate recognition. Since then, his credits include performance and recordings with such greats as Al DiMeola, Tania Maria, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, and Steve Gadd.

Tom has truly found his home as an original member of the Dave Weckl Band, and is featured on all DWB recordings, including: “Rhythm of the Soul”, “Synergy”, “Transition”, “Perpetual Motion”, “LIVE (and very plugged in)”, and the latest release, “Multiplicity.” Tom also appeared on Dave’s debut recording, “Master Plan,” in 1990.

Tom released his debut solo CD “Basses Loaded” in 1997, with his second solo project, ‘Bassics,” which featured jazz legends Mundell Lowe and Joe LaBarbera. He performed on guitarist Al DiMeola’s release “The Infinite Desire,” “A Tribute to Bill Evans,” with Dave Grusin, and a new classical/jazz release “Two Worlds,” with Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin. Tom also has continued his “Who’s Who” list of performance credits with Joe Sample, Alan Pasqua, Ernie Watts, Jeff Beal, Vinnie Colaiuta, Clay Jenkins, Virgil Donati, and Simon Phillips.

So let’s talk to Tom!

Can you describe your bass rig?

I have several setups, but my normal rig is a MARKBASS 800watt head with a 4-10h enclosure. This is pretty common system for any type of gig, be it a small pr large room.

What do you look for in a rig?
Plenty of power… at least 800 – 1000 watts. I always look for warmth and punch in the low frequencies, a variable midrange that can be tailored to a room’s acoustics, and crisp clarity in the extreme high frequencies.

How many amps and basses do you have? 
I use MARKBASS amps, and have basically 3 complete rigs varying in size and power. I use Fodera electric basses, and currently have 2… a vintage 6 string monarch model, and a TK model 5 string.  I also have 2 upright basses. One is an exceptional recording instrument, and the other is great for live work.

Do you bring multiple axes and/or amps to a session? 
Depending on the music, I am frequently asked to play acoustic and electric bass on the same session… sometimes a fretless electric as well.

Do you tailor the rig to the session?
I don’t find myself using an amp in many recording situations, but it is definitely a different sonic sensibility from live work. I think the main difference would be going for a more round sound using the preamp in the amp head… I don’t think I’ve ever recorded with a mic’d speaker cabinet.

What kind of strings do you use?
I use Fodera strings on all of my electric basses, and Spirocore Thomastic strings for the double bass.

What are your favorite mics?
Believe it or not, I actually prefer small diaphram mics for my acoustic bass. Neumann KM84s seem to work well, and I usually use 2… one in front of the bridge center, and the other close to the F-hole on the G-string side.

What do you like in your headphone mix?
I usually have plenty of myself, and I always pump up the drums to really lock-in the time. Everything else is nominal.  The main thing for me is not to get the mix too loud in my ears; so I usually gauge the volume by getting a comfortable volume on myself… the rest normally falls into place.

What kind of headphones do you like?
I usually like closed headphones, mainly because they tend to focus the lower frequencies. I have been using a pair of Sony DJ headphones for the last 3 or 4 years, and have developed quite a comfort level… consistency is really the key.

What’s the best gig you ever did?
Many! I would have to say that working with Dave Weckl in The Dave Weckl Band has been the most gratifying situation for me. I also just started doing more work with Mike Stern (also with Dave), and what a joy it’s been!

What’s the best session you ever did?
Again, The Dave Weckl Band CDs have been a complete joy, as the band and recording situation is so consistent… I feel so “at home” on those sessions.

Any advice for someone starting out? 
My best advise is to prepare for the things you are going to be asked to do, be it a recording or live situation. Many students feel that facility and speed are the most important aspects of becoming a “known” player, but the truth is that a good utility player will always prevail. Not to say that you shouldn’t have those elements, but they should be tools to hopefully create something musical.

Any advice for someone just starting to record? 
Find the ‘sweet spot’ in your sound. Many players have a tendency to overplay the instrument, while other guys don’t really get the inherent character out of it. The trick is to find that in between place where you can really hear the vibration and sustain of each and every note. Duration of notes is also a good thing to be aware of, especially in pop or contemporary jazz music.

What do you consider your big break?
I was asked to play with Michael Brecker in the group “Steps Ahead” in 1985. I think so many opportunities have stemmed from that experience, and it was definitely my first national and international touring situation with such a highly esteemed group of musicians.

What’s your favorite type of music to play? 
My main thing is groove and feel. I started out as a mainstream upright bassist, and have never shed those roots. I remember playing with so many great “bop” drummers in the early years, and later realized that the same intensity and swing could exist in any kind of music.

What’s your playing Strength? 
I like to think that I have a good solid feel and groove, and in that light, capable of enhancing whatever situation I’m in. I also feel at ease as a soloist in virtually any situation thanks to my experience as a jazz musician.

What kind of gigs are the most fun?
Again, I like creative situations… gigs that allow me to really stretch out and create a spontaneous musical experience with the other guys in the band. It’s so great when you feel that you’re truly communicating something on such a profound level.

What do you hate about recording? 
The sterility of it from time to time. There are times when a producer is only trying to get something completed as quickly as possible, or more concerned about the business end than what’s happening musically… that can be very frustrating.

What do you hate about bass playing?  Nothing…

Tom can be contacted at www.tomkennedymusic or at MySpace at www.myspace.com/tomkennedymusic

I will see you next month with another interview!

Dennis

Bass Videos

Interview With K3 Sisters Band

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Interview With K3 Sisters Band

K3 Sisters Band Interview…

It is very rare when I talk to a band where all the members play bass. The K3 Sisters Band is a perfect example of a group where Kaylen, Kelsey and Kristen Kassab are all multi-instrumentalists and take turns playing bass.

Hailing from Texas, these three sisters have been playing music since they were very young and have amassed an amazing amount of original music,  music videos, streaming concerts, podcasts, and content that has taken numerous social media platforms by storm. On TikTok alone, they have over 2.5 million followers and more than a billion views.

Join me as we hear the story of their musical journey, how they get their sound, and the fundamental principles behind these prolific musicians.

Here is the K3 Sisters Band!

Photo, Bruce Ray Productions

Follow Online:

k3sistersband.com/
TikTok
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook 

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Bass Videos

Interview With Bassist Danielle Nicole

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Interview With Bassist Danielle Nicole

Bassist Danielle Nicole…

Blues music has universal appeal. We all have our ups and downs and this particular musical genre often fits our reality. Just hearing that we are not alone makes us feel a bit better. 

Danielle Nicole writes and sings the Blues. She does an amazing job at delivering both exquisite smoky vocals but plays just the right bass line to drive the tune home. Danielle recently released “The Love You Bleed” last January and will be touring the album this upcoming year.

Join me as we learn about Danielle’s musical journey, how she gets her sound, her plans for the future and more.

Follow Online

daniellenicolemusic.com/
IG @daniellenicoleband
youtube.com/daniellenicoleband

Photo, Missy Faulkner

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Features

Bergantino Welcomes Karina Rykman to Their Family of Artists

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Bergantino Welcomes Karina Rykman to Their Family of Artists

Interview with Karina Rykman…

Karina Rykman…The high-energy bassist discusses her path on bass, her upcoming tour, how she came to find Bergantino through another Bergantino artist, and more!

A lifelong Manhattanite diehard New Yorker, Bergantino welcomes new Artist Karina Rykman. Jim and Holly had the privilege of meeting Karina and her band in Boston to see her perform. She lights up a stage with her charismatic passion as a bass player and singer – a true powerhouse of joy and energy. On stage, she smiles from ear to ear, hopping, jumping, and dancing; the entire room overflowing with positivity! If you don’t know this titan of bass yet, you will soon enough. Karina’s JOYRIDE 2024 tour picks up this month with the debut of her new album. We had the opportunity to ask Karina some questions about her career so far. 

You have quite the career that began at a very young age. You have so much going on!! Can you share some of your musical path highlights you are most proud of?

Oh man, thank you! What a long, strange trip it’s been. I’m proud of still being so absolutely enthralled by music after playing in a million bands and finally ending up at this current juncture: being able to make my own music and tour under my own name. It just seems completely surreal – every gig, every recording…I’m on cloud 9 being able to continue to do this, and we’re just getting started. I’m extremely proud of being so young and being able to learn so much from Marco Benevento, without whom I’d be absolutely nowhere. Being put up to a large task with enormous shoes to fill, and stepping in even though I barely knew what I was doing at the time. Every gig with Marco is extremely special to me. 

Tell us about your new album release Joyride and your 2024 tour.

Joyride is my debut record! It came out in August 2023, and we’ve been touring behind it nonstop ever since. You only make your first record once, and I’m so proud of this one – it’s fun, searing, lush, with chantable choruses and, of course, incredibly thick bass and infectious grooves. It was produced by Phish’s Trey Anastasio, who also contributes guitar parts to 5 of the 9 tunes. 

What makes the bass so special to you particularly, and how did you gravitate towards it?

There’s nothing quite like feeling the subs rumbling under your feet in a venue and being responsible for those sounds is thrilling. I played guitar first, at age 12, but essentially completely switched over to bass when I was 22 and got the gig playing bass with Marco Benevento. I haven’t looked back since, except for a few gigs on guitar here and there (notably in the house band on Late Night with Seth Meyers and on The Today Show backing up Julia Michaels). 

People hate this question, but: If you were constructing your personal Bass Mt. Rushmore, who are the four players that would make the cut and why?

Geddy Lee, Cliff Burton, Bootsy Collins, Les Claypool. The list goes on and on, of course, but those four have imprinted their unique styles upon my brain since I was so young, and I’m perpetually learning from them – even in the case of the deceased Cliff (RIP), going back and watching Cliff ‘Em All videos is something I do all the time. Endlessly compelled by these four players and their original takes on the instrument.

How did you learn to play?

I never took lessons, but in middle school and high school, I just surrounded myself with equally music-obsessed people. All we did was play music and go and see live music, which is wildly accessible when you grow up in New York City. I had a really tight-knit crew of amazing players as my friends, and everyone would teach each other riffs and licks. I was fearless – playing with people much better than me and saying “yes” to every cool opportunity that came my way. I essentially learned from playing in a million bands and playing along to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin records. 

Are there any other instruments you play?

I started on guitar, and still love to write on guitar. I can get around on keyboards a bit, but you’d never hire me as a keyboardist. The same goes for drums – I LOVE playing drums but you’d never hire me as a drummer. 

Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that can be improved on the bass.

I play both with a pick and my fingers, depending on the specific needs of / vibe of the tune. I love playing fuzz bass and writing bombastic “lead bass” moments, which are a staple of my live show. I’d say I’m about the least “traditional” bassist in just about every way – which is both a strength and a weakness depending on how you frame it. I play what I hear, what I like, and I adhere to very few rules. I’ve always hated rules, and I didn’t start playing rock n roll to follow them. 

How did you find Bergantino Audio Systems?

I’m pals with Mike Gordon, bassist of Phish, and his tech is named Ed Grasmeyer. Ed suggested he bring Mike’s Bergantino for me to try out at a show I was playing in Vermont, and I fell instantly in love. 

You have been using the Bergantino Forté HP2 head. How have you been setting the controls on this and what changes to those settings might you make as you plug into your other individual instruments?

I love my Forté HP2! The versatility and headroom are incredible, and I’ve been having a lot of fun dialing it in at home. The real fun will begin this weekend when I take it out for 2.5 weeks of tour – dialing something in an apartment just isn’t the same as on a big stage with a PA and subs and all that good stuff. I like to roll my highs a bit and I keep “punch” on all the time. So far, it’s been a dream.

You are the inspiration behind Bergantino cab the new NXT410-C. Can you tell us more about this cab and your experience so far?

Firstly, I’m beyond touched to be the inspiration behind, well…anything! But this is truly insane, and such an honor. I love this cab. Not only is it light and extremely good-looking, it can handle all my loudest, most abrasive and obnoxious effects. My old amp didn’t come close, and could just fart out or I’d have to turn down to appease it. I’m a big fan of playing at earth-shattering volumes, so this is going to be a match made in heaven. 

We all love your custom-made Goldie Hawn bass guitar! Can you share more with us about this bass design and why it is so special to you?

Thanks! That’s made by “Zeke Guitars” – it’s the second custom bass he’s made for me! He reached out in the summer of 2019 and asked what my dream bass would be, and I said it was basically my 1978 Fender P-Bass, but lighter, whiter, with Lindy Fralins, gold hardware, and shorter scale. And, well..he did exactly that! I love that bass so much. And the gold, which is referred to as Goldie Hawn, was born in December of 2022, and has the same specs. I just love it, it sounds amazing and looks, arguably, even better. 

Jim and I were lucky to get to meet you in person when you came to Boston with the band. The members of the band are such a great group of people! Can you share more with all about the band and crew. 

I’m so lucky to keep such incredible company. My bandmates, Adam November and Chris Corsico, are not only unbelievable musicians but also incredible humans. We just laugh and laugh, and we’re there for each other when the road gets tough or we’re exhausted or whatever life throws at us. It’s the joy of my life to get to tour the world with these guys. And the crew! That night was Connor Milton on sound and Nick Koski on lights – we have a rotating cast of people who play those roles based on availability, and everyone who works for us are absolute consummate professionals and the sweetest humans. They are my team of experts and I just adore them so much. Shout out to Zach Rosenberg, Jeff Volckhausen, Dylan Hinds, Dom Chang, for being the best rotating crew a gal could ask for!  

What else do you do besides music? 

Not much! I love going to the beach! I love eating dinner! 

Because I am a foodie, I always ask people what their favorite food is!

Oysters, caviar, sushi. I’m a raw bar fanatic. 

At a very young age, Karina is a diligent hard worker. She juggles many balls managing her business and is savvy beyond her years. We are very happy to be working with Karina and are excited for her continued success!

Follow Karina Rykman:

Instagram: @karinarykman
X (formerly Twitter): @KarinaRykman
Facebook @karinarykman/

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Bass Videos

Interview With Bassist Ciara Moser

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Interview With Bassist Ciara Moser

Bassist Ciara Moser…

Ciara and I sat down for this interview a few months after the launch of her debut album, “Blind. So what?”

Blind since birth, she is a powerhouse of talent; she is not only a professional bassist, but also composes music, and is a producer and educator. I am just blown away by her talent and perseverance.

Join me as we hear about Ciara’s musical journey, the details of her album, how she gets her sound, and her plans for the future.

Visit online:

www.ciara-moser.com 
IG @ moserciara
FB @ ciara.moser

Photos by Manuela Haeussler

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Bass Videos

Interview With Bassist Travis Book

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Interview With Bassist Travis Book

Interview With Bassist Travis Book…

Bluegrass music has had a very solid following over many years and I am always happy to hear from one of the pioneers in that genre.

Travis Book plays bass for the Grammy award-winning band “The Infamous Stringdusters” and has recently released his first solo album “Love and Other Strange Emotions”. As if he wasn’t busy enough, Travis also hosts a podcast, Plays a Jerry Garcia music show with Guitarist Andy Falco, and is constantly gigging locally in his neck of the woods.

Photo, Seyl Park

Visit Online:

www.thetravisbook.com
www.thestringdusters.com
FB @ TheTravisBook
IG @ travisbook

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