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An Interview with Gregori Hofmann by Martin Simpson

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An Interview with Gregori Hofmann by Martin Simpson… For this month’s interview, we’re going over to London to find out what young Greg is getting up to over there.

When did you start playing the bass?

I started playing Bass and Acoustic Guitar around the age of 13 or 14.

Did you have lessons?

I never had any lessons when I was starting out, as there were no bass players where I lived let alone teachers. The closest city to me was Durban and that was over 100km away. I mainly learnt from friends who played guitar and was learning songs by ear.

What are you like with theory/sight reading etc.?

I love theory and I have spent a lot of time learning from a few teachers, some great books and through transcription. My sight-reading is okay but could be better. I go through phases of practicing it a lot or when I get gigs where I know I’m going to have to read then I get back into it very quickly!

Who were/are your influences?

When I first started out I wanted to be Jason Newsted from Metallica so I played exclusively with a pick for about 6 years. At least it’s a skill I’ll never lose! Over the past 6 years when it comes to bass players I’ve checked out all the guys that you have got to check out. James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Stevie’s Synth Bass, etc. On Double I’ve just been checking out Ray Brown and Ron Carter because that the lineage and the language and you can get overwhelmed by the amount of amazing musicians there are to learn from. Other than that I check out guys like Pino and Raphal Saadiq because I love that vibe and tone. I’m also big into Matt Garrison and what he’s doing with his music and his instrument. But to be honest I have barely been checking out bass players when it comes to composing or melodic stuff because so many guys write ‘jam night’ tunes when they compose on the bass. I love checking out horn players i.e. Trane, Miles, Bird and listening to the harmony of piano players like Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. Over the past few weeks I’m really feeling like I’ve got to get back to learning some tunes and focusing more on playing bass like a bass because I’ve been composing a lot so I need to dedicate more time to bass playing again. Luckily whether I wanted to or not I’m getting a lot more Soul, Motown and Blues function gigs so I’m getting fully into all those great tunes again. I’m also rehearsing a band for a new jam night I’m going to be putting on in London so we are going to be covering everything from Jazz to Soul and Funk and are going to be dedicating a night each week to a different seminal album from artists we love so that’s going to be a huge lesson.

Tell me about your band, and any other musical projects you have on the go?

My group the Gregori Hofmann Trio finished our debut album ‘An Offering’ a while ago and we did quite a lot of touring off the back of that but I’m almost finished writing a new album and I’m changing up the band so I’m probably going to work with a lot of different guys on this new one. There are so many musicians I want to work with.

You also teach bass. What is your approach to tutoring? What fundamentals do you try to get in place with your students?

I do stress the importance of fundamentals to all my students and sometimes you have to read the student because you don’t want to make people feel too much mental strain when they just want to jam their favorite tunes. The last thing I want to do is take away the love of music or bass from anyone’s mind. I spend the first few lessons on basic technique, theory and knowing where all the notes are on the bass and then if the student seems to be keen on that I’ll keep going. It all depends on the student. The more advanced guys normally are focused on concepts and improvisation which I love too so we all learn! I can never stress enough how important learning tunes and lines by ear are!

What unique challenges are presented to you as a session musician?

Well right now its learning hundreds of songs a week, dealing with rehearsals, recordings and teaching and trying to spend time with my wife and maybe practice what I want somewhere along the line! I do enjoy learning new music though and you always learn a lot about composition and the way people write and arrange especially when you do something like a function gig dedicated to a certain style like a Turkish wedding or a country gig. You get a chance to learn about that tradition and that way of playing, so even though it’s a challenge, it’s all learning and developing. With all that said, no situation is more challenging than the expectations I have for myself.

What advice would you give someone who wants to become a working bassist?

My advice is to be as versatile as you can be because there are a lot of bass players out there and most of the time people just want you to go for the ‘Simple and Solid’ vibe, which is essentially the bassist’s role in most Western Music. You’re probably not going to get a paid gig where people ask you to play a Weather Report tune so spend some time getting your backing vocals together. Learn about recording with Logic and Pro Tools. Learn to play guitar. Pop gigs aren’t paying that well lately because most of the big names are playing to backing tracks and are making repetitive, simple tunes so there are a lot of guys who could do those gigs after playing for a year who will do the gig for free to make themselves feel good or ‘get a name for themselves’. I think that functions are a good thing to get into to make money and get yourself a website and a degree so you can market yourself and if you wanted to, get into teaching. With all that said, keep practicing because so many guys that are making a living from music doing pop gigs and functions feel like they are doing okay and making enough so they become complacent. There is always time to practice and improve.

What are 5 basslines you are loving right now?

That’s tough but I’m going to go with ‘Endangered Species’ by Wayne Shorter because that bass line is amazing! So melodic and so strong rhythmically while outlining some beautiful harmony at the same time.

Esperanza Spaldings new album has a tune on it called ‘Crowned and Kissed’ and that bass line is such a reflection of her personality. It’s really melodic, inventive and conversational.

‘Trippin’ by Lucy Pearl with Raphael Saadiq on bass because it is just the phattest bass line I’ve checked in a while.

‘For Once in My Life’ by Stevie Wonder is some of the most amazing playing I’ve ever heard and James Jamerson is just busting out on that one!

Lastly I’m going to go with ‘Inner City Blues’ by Marvin Gaye. I think its Bob Babbitt. I mean that is just perfection and that tune makes me want to weep.

If you could have played in any band in history, which would it have been?

So difficult to answer because I love so many different bands and artists but I would love to be in Waynes Quartet right now and I wouldn’t mind being in The Roots. Both the Bass Players in those bands are pretty amazing though so they’ve got nothing to worry about. Ha

Do you play with fingers, pick, slap, all of them. Why do you have a preference?

I do play with all of them, depending on the gig. Obviously most of the time I play with fingers and my thumb but I have done quite a bit of stuff lately with a pick.

What equipment are you into at the moment and why?

Fender for life. I played a Washburn when I first started, I’ve had some Ibanez basses, I had a really good Warwick, I had an ESP for a while and I’m not going to say anything bad about the experiences I had with those basses because there are good things about every instrument but I went out and bought a Mexican P Bass Deluxe about 4 years ago and I have played it every single day and I will until I die. That bass is my best friend and I love the tone and the feel of it. I’ve also had an American Deluxe 5 string Jazz but I always go back to the Mexican. I’ve got an Ibanez Acoustic which I love and sounds beautiful and then I’ve got a pretty beat up Double Bass which has had its day so its time to upgrade. I’ve got a Mark Bass 2×10 cab and a Little Mark 2 head and I love the tone that I get from Mark Bass and obviously the portability. I’ve been spending a lot of time playing some GMR basses now that they have a place on Denmark Street and I’ve fallen in love with a 5 string they have there so that bass is on my mind a lot.

You are from South Africa. Why did you make the move over to London and are there any South African Musicians and Bassists who have inspired you?

I left South Africa when I was 18, as soon as I finished school. I left because there weren’t a lot of opportunities for me to play or learn from musicians around my hometown, which was a tiny surfer town with absolutely nothing going on. I decided to go to London because I knew there would be so many musicians from all over the world and there were really great places to study music. I knew every touring musician that I wanted to see live would definitely be playing there at some point so I had to go. There are so many amazing South African musicians that I love and admire and the country has such a rich musical history. There are guys all over the country playing in churches and at jam nights that will blow your mind! If you get a chance to read the book ‘Soweto Blues’ you can learn a lot about the history of South African music. From a bass player point of view I’m sure everyone knows Bakithi Khumalo who played on Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’. That guy is amazing! What he does on his instrument is sing in such a unique voice that could only come from South Africa. Then Sipho Gumede, who was the first ‘Solo Bass’ kind of guy I actually ever heard. Before I even knew who Jaco was or James Jamerson I had heard Sipho! Africa in general has just got so many amazing artists. Richard Bona is, bass playing aside, one of my favorite musicians that has ever lived. I am in awe of that man. His voice and the emotion I feel when I listen to his music are incomparable. He is just music personified.

Since you’ve moved to London, what opportunities have you had to learn and play with local musicians?

It’s been amazing. When I first got here I played in a few rock bands for a while and then I made a conscious decision to stop playing music I had played before. Which may sound crazy but I wanted to learn about other styles and I wanted to dedicate myself to that decision. A few years ago I was playing in about 6 bands doing 5 or 6 gigs a week playing every style you could think of. Soul, Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk, Pop, Electro, Folk and function gigs. Whatever there was I was doing it! Once I got married, I decided to focus on projects that were worthwhile financially or that I loved enough to make time for. I have had the privilege to play and learn from so many amazing musicians here. Femi Temowo has been a big influence on me and has given me so much advice. He was the person who drew me to playing Jazz after never having played before because I wanted to experience whatever I could see and hear he was creating! Neil Charles is one of the greatest Double Bass players on the planet and I’ve been lucky enough to hear him play live and take a few lessons with him. Binker Golding is a Sax player who can just play with such intensity, has the biggest tone and can just bust out line after line of melodies that will make jaws drop. There are too many to name!

What’s your number one gigging tip?

Try relaxing and having a good time…  The vibe is more important than getting every note right. Time and Tone are far more important than getting any licks in there. Be friendly to everyone and LISTEN!

Any final thoughts?

Check out my website www.gregorihofmann.com for a whole load of free lessons. Have a listen to my album ‘An Offering’ on Spotify and iTunes. Thanks to Martin and Bass Musician Magazine for the interview!

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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