Features

Bass Musician Magazine Q&A with Colin Trusedell

Published on December 18, 2014

Colin Trusedell sits down for a Q&A with Bass Musician Magazine…

Name:
Colin Trusedell

Born In What City:
Indianapolis, Indiana

Current Band(s) I Play With:
U.S. Air Force Academy Band – BLUE STEEL, Quartet of Jazz Death, Julie Bradley & Friends.

Former Bands I Have Played With:
U.S. Navy Band Northeast

CD’s I’ve Released/ Been a Part Of:
Blue Steel – Unclassified (2012), Colin Trusedell – Some of My Best Friends Are…Divas (2013), Colin Trusedell – Quartet of Jazz Death (2014)

Describe – The Way I Play Bass:
I would say that I really try and keep versatility at the forefront of my approach. There are times on upright where I am going for an Eddie Gomez approach but then other times I am trying to just lay it down like the “Godfather,” Ray Brown. On electric bass, for groove I definitely am influenced by Gary Willis and try to immulate his fluid approach to all grooves. On the electric for soloing, I try to think more like a horn player, attempting to breath with my solo.

Share – Why I Decided to Play Bass:
I decided to play bass because there is nothing like that warm round yet metallic consistency that you can get from a bass. I have always loved the sound of wood on the upright and also all of the different tones you can get through different electric basses.

My Musical Influences:
Upright; Ray Brown, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride, Ron Carter, Oscar Pettiford, Brian Bromberg, Francois Moutin, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson.
Electric; Jaco Pastorious, Gary Willis, Marcus Miller, Richard Bona, Jeff Berlin, James Jamerson, Michael Rhodes, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, and Tom Kennedy.

My Favorite Musical Styles:
Straight ahead jazz, funk, fusion, dubstep, metal core, rock.

My Bass(es):
1850 Bohemian Upright Bass, Roscoe LG-3005 Custom, Lakland 55-94

My Amps and Other Gear:
Mark Bass Little Mark Tube 800, Mark Bass NY121, Mark Bass Standard 104HF, Mark Bass Standard 104HR, Mark Bass Traveler 151P, Ampeg SVT Pro, MXR – Carbon Copy, Bass Octave Deluxe, Bass Chorus Deluxe, Bass Envelope Filter, Bass Fuzz and 10 Band EQ, Mark Bass Super Synth, EHX POG2, Morely Power/Wah.

I am Endorsed By:
Roscoe Guitars

The Best Bass Advice I Have Ever Received:
“It is all about the groove.” – Victor Wooten

One Piece Of Advice I Can Share With Other Bassists:
Be your own agent, publicist, producer, manager, website guru, and everything else you want other people to do for you. You will be so much more proud when you land your story, i.e. in Bass Musician Magazine, because of your persistence and the product you created is deemed worthy because of that persistence.

Most Amazing Gig so Far:
I have had a few really cool gigs that have happened multiple times. I have played in the middle of Times Square 5 times, Played on the Today Show 3 times, Fox & Friends 4 times, The Montel Williams Final Episode.

Dream Gig:
To be the Professor of Bass at a major university such as Berklee, University of Miami, University of North Texas and so on.

Most Embarrassing Moment on Stage:
Man, when your stuff malfunctions!!!!!! Or your battery in your bass goes out! Ugh!!

Favorite Tip to Share on Traveling With Your Bass:
If you fly with your upright for some reason, make sure you rent or buy a Kolstein Trunk and fly SouthWest. I have done that 4 times in the last 2 years and only had to pay $75 for oversize baggage and nothing happened to the bass at all.

What Would I Be Doing If I Weren’t a Musician:
Hmmmm, probably working as a concert promoter or booking agent.

The Question No One Ever Asks Me, But I Have Been Dying to Share:
I use the Source Audio Hot Hand all the time and no one ever asks about that.

Here’s What I Have Coming Up This Year:
I just released my second album as a band leader and now have about 8 brand new tunes that the Quartet of Jazz Death is flushing out. It might be possible to do another record in 2015 but for sure I am going to have an acoustic project with legendary drummer Scotty Barbier probably releasing in the fall of 2015.

Find Me Online: