Features
Bassist Brittany Frompovich – Why Is Music Important (The Panel Experiment) by Brent-Anthony Johnson
Bassist Brittany Frompovich – Why Is Music Important (The Panel Experiment) by Brent-Anthony Johnson…
Who are you, and what do you do?
I am Brittany Frompovich, and I’m a performer, clinician, and music educator. As a performer, my shows range from booking myself as a solo artist, to working as a bassist in a wide range of ensemble situations. I also teach private lessons at various locations and online via Skype.
Who are your primary musical influences?
There’s a real mash-up of genres and artists that influence me. In my teens, I was into bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Joe Satriani, Van Halen, Steve Vai, Queen, and Extreme. In college, as a classical bassist, my ear tended to gravitate towards Baroque pieces. This was a period where I also began gravitating towards singer songwriters like Jeffery Gaines, Jim Croce, and David Wilcox – who were huge influences on me. I would say influences in later life include Bill Frisell, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Eva Cassidy, Edgar Meyer, Michael Manring, Michael Dimin, Steve Lawson, Adam Nitti, Bryan Beller, and Anthony Wellington. I also find myself inspired by what Darren Michaels, Aaron Gibson, and Scott Varney do as singer-songwriter/bassists. I’ve always been drawn to world music as well, and that influence shows up in my music.
Can you tell us about your earliest musical listening and performance experiences?
My earliest listening experiences were being exposed to my family’s musical tastes. My mother was into a mix of genres. A good sampling of what she likes includes Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Arlo Guthrie. She also has several classical albums that we listened to from time-to-time. Dad liked country and some rock and roll like Kenny Rodgers, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and the Beach Boys for example. My grandparents also lived with us, and my grandmother had a stereo cabinet up against the wall that was common to my bedroom. So I’d hear artists like Patsy Cline, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman.
At some point, I got a portable radio as a gift, and I would stay up late and listen to a variety of radio stations until I fell asleep. I discovered all kinds of great stuff there such as metal, classic rock, early 80’s pop, and Motown on the oldies stations.
As for my earliest performing experiences… I had my dad’s clarinet, a toy guitar, a small synth, and a toy piano in grade school. I played clarinet in the elementary school orchestra, and was in a few school plays. In middle school, I got a better guitar. I was self-taught for quite awhile. But, eventually, I was able to get lessons, and I also played in a rock band in high school. That was the beginning of really getting “the bug”, and getting serious about understanding music.
Also, what projects are you participating in lately?
There have been a variety of things I’ve been working on…! I have a few tracks I am working on for various people (and projects) right now. Additionally, a local TV station filmed and produced a documentary about me, and that was a huge honor! The storyline follows me through different aspects of my life… from teaching private lessons and group classes, to playing solo bass shows, playing in ensembles, and leading and teaching student ensembles. I was pleased that many of my students were also able to be included in the filming. The film is in the works – and being edited at this writing.
The past two months have been largely taken-up with rehearsals and shows – including playing bass in the pit for a local production of the musical Avenue Q. I get to play both electric and double bass for that show… and it’s been a blast!
What are you listening to musically, in the past 12 months that has enhanced the way you think about music and your craft?
Everything affects musicians…even if we dislike what a musician is doing! Here’s a small sampling of artists that have had an impact on my recent listening habits: Michael Manring, Aaron Gibson, Steve Lawson, Darren Michaels, The Aristocrats, Trip Wamsley, Donovan Stokes, Annie Lennox, The Bad Plus, Black Country Communion, Chickenfoot, The Meters, Victor Wooten, Johnny Cash, Michael Dimin, Trey Gunn, Rob Wasserman, Scott Fernandez, Evelyn Glennie, Rench, Squarepusher, Dixie Dregs, Michael Hedges, Morphine… and Esperanza Spalding.
I’m also listening to a lot of classic rock because I’m working on material for a student rock orchestra. I’ve had to think about how certain pieces would have to be arranged, in that context. Therefore, I’ve been listening to Queen, Led Zep, Heart, The Who, The Black Crowes, Rush, The Stones, Apocalyptica, Jethro Tull, Mountain, Zoe Keating, the Hampton String Quartet, Miles Mosley, The Section Quartet, Kronos Quartet, and the Vitamin String Quartet.
If we wanted to listen to you, which recordings would you suggest? Along with that, which recordings are your proudest of, and why?
There are several recordings at my Reverbnation page at: https://www.reverbnation.com/brittanyfrompovich. And there is a video of live shows here: www.youtube.com/user/ladybassmusic.
I don’t gravitate towards any one recording in particular – as far as a recording I’m proud of. I believe there is always room to grow and improve.
How does your personal musical voice directly relate to the function of the basses? Also, what are your main instruments?
I play many different instruments, and I think that comes out in my playing. Many folks have commented that my approach on the electric bass guitar is still very influenced by my upright training. My note choices on passages tend to be more “upright-like” – which means moving linearly along one or two strings, versus moving across several strings and staying within one or two fretboard positions. My approach isn’t something I’d given a lot of thought to until folks pointed it out to me. Several guitar techniques also cross over into my bass playing. For example, I definitely quote Rory Gallagher in the way he used pinch harmonics at times. Chording on bass is a welcome concept because of the guitar background.
But the most important thing, in regards to function, is that first and foremost I listen and try to play in a way that serves the musical situation. A friend heard me play in an ensemble setting for a show I was hired for. They were very surprised that they did not hear my “signature sound” all night. (I’m using their words to describe it, not mine.) They are familiar with what I do as a solo artist, so I think they were expecting a certain tone. I explained that at this particular show, it was not my job to express a “signature tone”, but to be versatile, supportive, play the pocket, and to fit in to what the group needed. For some tunes, I needed to have a cello-like voice in the upper registers of my upright to support a ballad. At other times, I had to play Motown grooves on electric. My job was to blend and to be a good foundation for the group. That’s how I approached and played the gig. Being appropriate to the musical situation I’m in is the biggest factor that will shape my voice and the function of the bass.
My main basses are: a Spector Euro 6LX, a NS Radius CR5, a LightWave Saber VL 5 string, an NS CR5M electric upright bass, a Syme/LightWave fretless 5 string bass, an Eastman 605 double bass, and an older Czech built double bass. I also have an Ibanez Ashula that I’ve been playing around with for altered tunings and other ideas. I’m currently using Warwick amplification.
Describe your musical composition process.
Usually, I start by getting an idea captured as quickly as possible with the nearest recording tool available to me. The idea doesn’t always come from a bass! I’ll write using guitar, cello, drums, hand percussion, or I may also sing the idea. Usually, the nearest tool is my iPhone, or my tablet. I will capture the idea as an audio file… and, possibly, as a video file. If my Boss RC-300 looper is nearby, I will record the idea. After that, the idea may be developed further using either the looper and/or my laptop.
In some situations, I will sit down and compose more formally using Finale or another piece of notation software. Really, the method I use depends on whatever I am hearing in my head.
How does music affect your culture and immediate environment?
The physical manifestation of my relationship to music in my immediate environment is hard to ignore. One of my adult students paid a visit to my home studio recently, and commented that it was amazing to see how my home has been taken over so completely by music! I often jokingly say, “Residential music store is a good look in home décor these days!” For most folks, it’s a rare thing to see a house so overtaken by music. I recently watched a documentary about Evelyn Glennie (on YouTube) and I related to how extensively her instruments had taken over much of her living space and her office.
So, I get all kinds of interesting reactions from people who visit my home. Some people are very inspired when they see the level of engagement and commitment that music has literally taken over my environment. Some people are put off by it, and don’t understand it. Others have even said my “she-cave’ trumps their “man-cave.” Still others come in and immediately feel the urge to engage in creative activity! I love how it hits folks!
What would you be, if not a professional musician?
I could see myself in various careers… I would enjoy a career that involved working with my hands, such as woodworking, Luthiery pottery, or as some kind of craftsman/tradesman. Another good option would be working in the sciences or computer related field. I was also interested in studying marine biology for a time when I was younger.
What is the greatest sacrifice you’ve ever made while in the practice of being a musician, and how did that sacrifice affect you?
Hmm… Sacrifice is an interesting word. We always give something to get something. I’ve certainly given… and I’ve gotten a lot back! But, it was never felt like sacrifice. It has felt more like I made a choice because I had to prioritize. My priority was simply to be a better musician.
We all make sacrifices to get through life. Look at the sacrifices parents make to raise their children… Or, when someone starts a small business. Some of those choices might be tough, and we might not enjoy them… But, that’s part of navigating the consequences of a choice. We make choices based on our priorities. The difference is that we can choose to view those choices we make as “sacrifices”, or as part of aligning yourself with our priorities.
I’ve simply made choices that lead me to the things I wanted. That means giving up something that wasn’t as important. If it wasn’t that important, it probably wouldn’t have made me that happy anyway.
Describe your standing practice regimen. Also, what technical (and musical) aspects of your playing are you currently working on?
Practice, for me, changes over time, and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, good projects show up with short timelines and hard deadlines. Two such recording projects showed up last week, actually. Other times, I have a long-term project that becomes very time consuming for various reasons. So, practice can become very strategic – between teaching, gigging, and the nature of the projects I get involved in.
I would say, early on in my life, “practicing” was learning songs for shows, concerts and recitals. As I’ve gotten older, I still feel a pull toward that, and there’s a definitely real joy in that, for me. That’s why we play after all, right? But, I try to use an approach that focuses on three areas to keep my growth better balanced.
1) Repertoire – Reviewing challenging tunes I haven’t played in awhile… to keep them fresh in my hands. I also play through pieces on the upright and tunes from the Real Book. Sometimes I pick a song that I like and learn to play it by ear.
2) Technical skills – Drilling the notes on the fingerboard, so they stay hard wired through doing a variety of finger permutations with the metronome for speed and dexterity. I choose a scale and drill it. Also, sight reading, ear training, and putting in time – working on the upright to keep intonation skills and physical strength up-to-speed.
3) Then I spend time working creatively – writing or arranging material, improvising, and working out any song ideas that came to mind. This isn’t really practice… But, some of this always seems to happen as a result of practice. Creative ideas may evolve out of some part of regular practice.
I keep a journal of what I am working on so I can come back to areas and ideas that need further work. This is VERY valuable when you go down the rabbit hole because a good project showed up with short deadlines or a huge time commitment! I can pick up my journal, read the last entry, and get back to work on whatever items I had to momentarily put aside. The journal also helps me recall specific details of practices, and I find it helps me recall and re-enter the mental space I was in while I was getting that work done.
We call it “practice”… But, at the end of the day, practice is really just a form of problem solving. We are taking time to work on areas of our playing that we feel dissatisfied with – while making a new and desired skill permanent (and consistent) upon execution, improving a technique… working on tone, and developing speed.
What does music, and being a musician, mean to you – at the deepest level of your being?
It’s a multi-faceted gift! It gives me a medium to give back to others in a very unique and personal way. For example, we were performing some shows during the weekend of the recent terrorist attacks. I approached the shows that weekend with a real hope that our performances would help folks in the audience have a better day… even if only by getting folks to disconnect from the stress in their lives for awhile. Enjoying live performances improves quality of life; performing during that recent weekend was a huge reminder of how valuable that gift is.
Music has been the medium to grant me many great experiences, and it’s given me opportunities to travel, and it has allowed me to meet wonderful teachers, students, friends, and peers. It’s also a gift that needs to be respected and nurtured. There’s always so much to learn…it can be both overwhelming and inspiring at the same time.
Music helps me process the experience of living, and the study and performance of music has been insightful, metaphoric, and often informative to approaching other aspects of life. It teaches lessons about time management, mastery, patience, listening (what relationship doesn’t improve with more listening?), mindfulness, being present… the list of skills literally goes on and on.
It’s a calling. It’s a gift. It’s a relationship that requires work and respect. I’m grateful for it.
How important is it to understand the Language of music?
A non-musician approaches music with virtually no education about music and still understands the emotive content of what the music is saying. They may not be able to tell you what a tempo marking means… But, they can tell you if a song is slow or fast… and they can certainly tell you what the song invokes for them. So, there is communication happening there.
However, it is essential for musicians to stud, and to get inside the Language and develop fluency. It’s developing the skill set so one can express oneself fully with ease, and to identify the nuances and inflections that add depth and authenticity.
Are you involved in educating others?
Yes. I currently teach from four different studios located around NoVa and Richmond, Virginia, and online via Skype.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I try to get people addicted to music! It doesn’t matter if they want to be a recreational musician, or if they are aspiring to have a full, or part-time, career in music. In everything I do with them, the goal is to deepen and further their relationship with music. I also want people to have a relationship with music beyond just being a listener and a consumer of music. I want them to get a handle on being able to create it for themselves and express their own voice.
For all students (no matter how deep their commitment level) I really try to create a sense of connection and community. That’s essential! I want to get them involved in the culture of music as much as they will permit. Part of that is having concerts, clinics, and recitals on the local level. That expands from there to taking interested folks to concerts, clinics, and other events that happen all over our region. It’s very important to get people out of their houses and connected with a larger sense of music community. It can be a real struggle because people are so over-committed these days. Having those community experiences is a huge factor in helping students stay committed to studying music. Community building is a very important part of my teaching philosophy.
Also, if you could change one thing about the way music students learn, what would that be?
Making sure ALL school music programs were properly supported, well equipped, and running on appropriate budgets. There are school music programs out there that run on a yearly budget that is less than an average household spends on groceries for one month.
It would also be great to see music programs scheduled in a way that demonstrate that music is a priority and not an afterthought. There are school districts that have scheduled their orchestra programs to meet before school even starts….so these kids are getting up earlier than their classmates to go to school in order to have the experience of being in orchestra. What message does that send to the orchestra director and the kids? Not to mention what message does that send about the value that school places on music?
I’ve also seen some school districts schedule their honors and AP classes in a way that forces students to drop ensembles in order to take the honors classes. The students often don’t want to quit the ensemble classes. And parents become concerned about their child losing interest and quitting. This also puts an ensemble director in a difficult situation when they are trying to build a strong program; strong students are forced to drop out due to schedule conflicts. These problems are not happening in every district, but it is happening.
How do you collect the series of seemingly random influences and articulate them through music?
Its really just part of processing the experience of living, I believe. As part of processing the experience, the idea wants to come out as musical expression. The process helps make sense of the experience. It’s the common thread shared by painters, poets, writers, photographers, sculptors, and any other folks with a creative streak. No matter what the chosen medium is, one is just processing what we need to express. We process that reaction in our own time. Sometimes it hits all at once and we have to work with it immediately…as in drop everything and get it recorded as quickly as possible before it is gone!
Can music ever truly become commercial? Why, or why not?
There are many talented people who are making money in various music related careers: artists, songwriters, session musicians, and composers for film, games, commercials, and TV scores. So, there is an industry where music is a product that is bought and sold. That industry has changed over time, and that can be another lengthy conversation all on its own.
Not all music being created is going to be an ideal “product” for the established industry… and that’s fine – as connecting with a listener is what makes music ultimately successful. That said, there are plenty of musicians who strive to create music without having to worrying about the pressure of commercial success. Charles Ives is a perfect example of this – in that he worked a career in insurance so he could create exactly the music he wanted without financial pressure. Some musicians balance creating the music they want to express while working to attract an audience that supports their authentic expression. Thankfully, independent musicians have many more avenues, these days, to connect with their audiences and independently attract patronage for their projects, if they choose to do so.
Visit online at ladybassmusic.net
If you are an electric bass player, this is an exciting time to be alive as this relatively new instrument evolves around us. Some creative individuals have taken an active role in this evolution and made giant leaps in their own direction. Lee Barker is one of these inventive people having created the Barker Bass.
Fortunately, Lee is also an excellent writer (among so many talents) and has recently released his book “Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass”. This book is a very fun read for everyone and shares a ton of details about Lee’s life in general, his experiences as a musician, a radio host, and a luthier. Now I am fortunate to have the great opportunity to gain even more insights into this renaissance man with this video interview.
Plausible Gumption, The Road Between a Christmas Toolbox and The Barker Bass is available online at Amazon.com
Interview and photo courtesy of Holly Bergantino of Bergantino Audio Systems
With an expansive live show and touring, Mt. Joy bassist Michael Byrnes shares his experiences with the joyful, high-energy band!
Michael Byrnes has kept quite a busy touring schedule for the past few years with his band, Mt. Joy. With a philosophy of trial and error, he’s developed quite the routines for touring, learning musical instruments, and finding the right sound. While on the road, we were fortunate to have him share his thoughts on his music, history, and path as a musician/composer.
Let’s start from the very beginning, like all good stories. What first drew
you to music as well as the bass?
My parents required my sister and I to play an instrument. I started on piano and really didn’t like it so when I wanted to quit my parents made me switch to another instrument and I chose drums. Then as I got older and started forming bands there were never any bass players. When I turned 17 I bought a bass and started getting lessons. I think with drums I loved music and I loved the idea of playing music but when I started playing bass I really got lost in it. I was completely hooked.
Can you tell us where you learned about music, singing, and composing?
A bit from teachers and school but honestly I learned the most from just going out and trying it. I still feel like most of the time I don’t know what I am doing but I do know that if I try things I will learn.
What other instruments do you play?
A bit of drums but that’s it. For composing I play a lot of things but I fake it till I make and what I can’t fake I will ask a friend!
I know you are also a composer for film and video. Can you share more
about this with us?
Pretty new to it at the moment. It is weirdly similar to the role of a bass player in the band. You are using music to emphasize and lift up the storyline. Which I feel I do with the bass in a band setting. Kind of putting my efforts into lifting the song and the other musicians on it.
Everybody loves talking about gear. How do you achieve your “fat” sound?
I just tinker till it’s fat lol. Right now solid-state amps have been helping me get there a little quicker than tube amps. That’s why I have been using the Bergantino Forté HP2 – Otherwise I have to say the cliche because it is true…. It’s in the hands.
Describe your playing style(s), tone, strengths and/or areas that you’d like
to explore on the bass.
I like to think of myself as a pretty catchy bass player. I need to ask my bandmates to confirm! But I think when improvising and writing bass parts I always am trying to sneak little earworms into the music. I want to explore 5-string more!
Who are your influences?
I can’t not mention James Jamerson. Where would any of us be if it wasn’t for him? A lesser-known bassist who had a huge effect on me is Ben Kenney. He is the second bassist in the band Incubus and his playing on the Crow Left the Murder album completely opened me up to the type of bass playing I aspire towards. When I first started playing I was really just listening to a lot of virtuosic bassists. I was loving that but I couldn’t see myself realistically playing like that. It wasn’t from a place of self-doubt I just deep down knew that wasn’t me. Ben has no problem shredding but I was struck by how much he would influence the song through smaller movements and reharmonizing underneath the band. His playing isn’t really in your face but from within the music, he could move mountains. That’s how I want to play.
What was the first bass you had? Do you still have it?
A MIM Fender Jazz and I do still have it. It’s in my studio as we speak. I rarely use it these days but I would never get rid of it.
(Every bass player’s favorite part of an interview and a read!) Tell us about
your favorite bass or basses. 🙂
I guess I would need to say that MIM Jazz bass even though I don’t play it much. I feel connected to that one. Otherwise, I have been playing lots of great amazing basses through the years. I have a Serek that I always have with me on the road (shout out Jake). Also have a 70’s Mustang that 8 times out of 10 times is what I use on recordings. Otherwise, I am always switching it up. I find that after a while the road I just cycle basses in and out. Even if I cycle out a P bass for another P bass.
What led you to Bergantino Audio Systems?
My friend and former roommate Edison is a monster bassist and he would gig with a cab of yours all the time years ago. Then when I was shopping for a solid state amp the Bergantino Forté HP2 kept popping up. Then I saw Justin Meldal Johnsen using it on tour with St. Vincent and I thought alright I’ll give it a try!
Can you share a little bit with us about your experience with the Bergantino
forte HP amplifier? I know you had this out on tour in 2023 and I am pretty
certain the forte HP has been to more countries than I have.
It has been great! I had been touring with a 70’s SVT which was great but from room to room, it was a little inconsistent. I really was picky with the type of power that we had on stage. After a while, I thought maybe it is time to just retire this to the studio. So I got that Forte because I had heard that it isn’t too far of a leap from a tube amp tone-wise. Plus I knew our crew would be much happier loading a small solid state amp over against the 60 lbs of SVT. It has sounded great and has really remained pretty much the same from night to night. Sometimes I catch myself hitting the bright switch depending on the room and occasionally I will use the drive on it.
You have recently added the new Berg NXT410-C speaker cabinet to your
arsenal. Thoughts so far?
It has sounded great in the studio. I haven’t gotten a chance to take it on the road with us but I am excited to put it through the paces!
You have been touring like a madman all over the world for the past few
years. Any touring advice for other musicians/bass players? And can I go to Dublin, Ireland with you all??
Exercise! That’s probably the number one thing I can say. Exercise is what keeps me sane on the road and helps me regulate the ups and downs of it. Please come to Dublin! I can put you on the guest list!
It’s a cool story on how the Mt. Joy band has grown so quickly! Tell us
more about Mt. Joy, how it started, where the name comes from, who the
members are and a little bit about this great group?
Our singer and guitarist knew each other in high school and have made music together off and on since. Once they both found themselves living in LA they decided to record a couple songs and put out a Craigslist ad looking for a bassist. At the time I had just moved to LA and was looking for anyone to play with. We linked up and we recorded what would become the first Mt. Joy songs in my house with my friend Caleb producing. Caleb has since produced our third album and is working on our fourth with us now. Once those songs came out we needed to form a full band to be able to do live shows. I knew our drummer from gigging around LA and a mutual friend of all of us recommended Jackie. From then on we’ve been on the road and in the studio. Even through Covid.
Describe the music style of Mt. Joy for me.
Folk Rock with Jam influences
What are your favorite songs to perform?
Always changing but right now it is ‘Let Loose’
What else do you love to do besides bass?
Exercise!
I always throw in a question about food. What is your favorite food?
I love a good chocolate croissant.
Follow Michael Byrnes:
Instagram: @mikeyblaster
Follow Mt. Joy Band:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtjoyband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtjoyband
I am sure many of you are very familiar with Mark Egan as we have been following him and his music for many years now. The last time we chatted was in 2020.
Mark teamed up with drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Shane Theriot to produce a new album, “Cross Currents” released on March 8th, 2024. I have been listening to this album in its entirety and it is simply superb (See my review).
Now, I am excited to hear about this project from Mark himself and share this conversation with our bass community in Bass Musician Magazine.
Photo courtesy of Mark Egan
Visit Online:
markegan.com
markegan.bandcamp.com
Apple Music
Amazon Music
Bassist Adam Sullivan…
Hailing from Minnesota since 2012, By the Thousands has produced some serious Technical Metal/Deathcore music. Following their recent EP “The Decent”s release, I have the great opportunity to chat with bassist Adam Sullivan.
Join me as we hear about Adam’s musical Journey, his Influences, how he gets his sound, and the band’s plans for the future
Photo, Laura Baker
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Bergantino Welcomes Marc Brownstein to Their Family of Artists
Bergantino Shares: The innovative bassist/sonic explorer/DJ Marc Brownstein discusses his life of touring with Disco Biscuits, the current tour with the new album “Revolution in Motion, and more!
By Holly Bergantino
Marc Brownstein is the king of “Trance-Fusion” – a subgenre that his band Disco Biscuits has been in the center of for the past two decades. As a founding member of the band from their days at UPenn, Marc has quite the experience under his belt, and each tour has gotten more and more exciting. Disco Biscuits is currently on tour with their new album Revolution in Motion, a full multimedia experience accompanied by a 25-minute animated film that tells a story of intergalactic travelers finding their way on Earth.
D. J. Brownie! What made you want to be a musician and start playing bass and who drew you to it?
I was drawn to music after John Lennon was assassinated. I was raised in NYC and the city was just going crazy. I was 7 years old at the time and my thought was, wow why is everyone freaking out so much, this guy must be really special. And so I started to check the Beatles out and that was the beginning of my journey with music.
A question from one of your fans and fellow bass players Karina Rykman: “How do you keep your bubble of positivity intact and thriving”?
Well it’s funny she should ask. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the run of positivity we are experiencing now began right at the beginning of tour at the beginning of January 2023 when we had Karina opening for us for a week. I can say that her positive energy on tour definitely left its mark on the rest of our tour. Some people are so naturally happy and positive that it leaves you feeling that way, sometimes permanently!
Besides the bass guitar, what other instruments do you play?
I dabble with piano, guitar, and I can make my way around a drum kit if I get into it for a few weeks. I’ve played flute and saxophone as well at different times. I also play the double bass. But I would say Piano is my second instrument at this point. I play everyday.
What is your favorite (and least favorite) thing about touring?
The best part of touring is the 4 hours on stage with the band. But also getting to visit so many great places all of the time. That’s the silver lining. The only thing I don’t love about touring is missing my family.
Tell us about your first music teacher. What lesson did you learn from this person and still use today?
My first music teacher, Mrs. Koslov, 2nd grade, I just was at her funeral a few weeks ago. I eventually became best friends with Mrs Koslov’s son and we stayed in touch for my whole life. She taught me a lot but really she was the one who gave me the courage to perform. My first public performance ever was a piano version of Eleanor Rigby.
What was the first bass you had?
This is tough. I think I had a standard Ibanez jazz style bass first. Within a year or two I got an American Fender Jazz bass.
What are the basses you have and use now?
My main bass is an Elrick 5 string by Rob Elrick. I also have a Q5 Modulus and an Alembic 5 as well. Oteil (Burbridge) sent me a Roscoe custom 6 during the Pandemic that I like to play. I also have a Sire Marcus Miller, a newer American Fender Jazz bass, a custom Ibanez SDGR, an Ibanez BTB and an Elrick 5 string Fretless bass which is my main bass at home.
Who were the musicians who inspired you and what qualities do you admire about them?
I was deeply influenced by Phish when I discovered them in college. I admired their ability to mesh jazz, classical and rock Improvisational styles. I was very inspired by classic jazz musicians. Miles. Monk. Coltrane. Dexter Gordon. Cannonball Adderly. Mingus. This is the generation of musicians that laid the groundwork for what we do now.
You studied and started the band Disco Biscuits at UPenn. Tell us more about the origins.
The band just sort of linked up in the quad (dormitory) and we started to set up our gear and jam for fun. Within a short time I realized the guys I was playing with were really talented and so I applied to the New School for jazz and went and spent a year crash coursing music at a high level so I could return to Penn and start a band with them.
You have a new album “Revolution in Motion,” that you’re currently touring on. How is it going?
The tour has been amazing. It’s one of the best tours we ever had in our career. We sold out more than half of the shows and are receiving really great feedback across the country.
I watched the video on YT for Revolution in Motion. The Choreography, production, color, cartoon characters, and theme were so much fun. Space aliens and psychedelic art, pop ups like a comic book, and you in your alien jump suit with your baseball cap were amazing. Loved! How was this collaborated?
We have a co-writer on this project named Joey friedman. He conceived of the concept for the album and he had a very specific vision for what the visuals would look like. He spent hours and hours with the animators (Blunt Action) and the AI animator (Todd Kushnir) working through each iteration to make it come to life in the way that it was conceived.
How would you describe the music you create for Disco Biscuits?
We always hoped that the music we created would be the weirdest and craziest music of all time but we describe it as Trance-Fusion, which was a name that was drawn from jazz-fusion, the mixing of jazz with rock and roll instruments. We found our own sound by mixing trance music with rock and roll instruments, hence the genre title. It was renamed jamtronica many years later by the folks over at SiriusXM who started a radio show called the Jamtronica show to highlight acts from our scene. I was the host of that show for the first 3 years.
Describe the creative process when you write new music.
These days the creative process is a team effort. Usually we start by combing through improvisational sections of music from the tours to see if we can find any melodies or chord structures that are song worthy. When we find it we bring it into our DAW (ableton) and creating a grid. This is easy for us because we often play to a time clock on stage. From there we start building out the structures of the new piece of music while Joey and maybe me or Aron or Jon will start working on some lyrical concepts. Within an hour or two we start to record some of these initial lyrics and melodies and Jon usually starts to adapt them and tweak them to make them comfortable for him to sing. Usually within a few hours we are able to walk away with a very advanced demo of a new song. It’s been an extremely fruitful experience that has left us with albums worth of the best material we’ve had in decades.
The lighting for your shows is amazing. Who does the lighting design work and choreography for the tours?
Our new LD is known as Herm, but his name is Alex. We know him as Herm though. He came to us from the band Twiddle at the beginning of this year and has totally revitalized the visual elements of the stage show. He’s a really great fit and we feel grateful to have been linked up with such a massive talent. It was luck and timing and some might call it fate.
How would your bandmates describe you?
My bandmates would probably describe me as energetic and talkative and headstrong but also they might notice that I’ve become really good at going with the flow and backing their creative instincts. They may further describe me as anxious and nervous but may also notice that these elements have been remediated of recent. Mostly I think they would describe me as loyal and dedicated.
How did you find Bergantino Audio systems?
I was first introduced to it by Ed Grasmeyer who I know as Mike Gordon’s tech in Burlington. I was playing a show at Nectars and needed a backline and Ed came and set me up with the ForteHP2 and I was blown away by the tone. I then noticed Karina Rykman was using Bergantino as well and that’s when I started to think I needed to get in contact with the company. Karina was opening for the Biscuits on Boston and that’s where I had the chance to demo the forte hp2 in the context of the biscuits stage show. I haven’t looked back since that night.
Tell us about your experience with the Forté HP2 on the tour?
There are so many things that I can say about it but the most notable is that I’m not struggling to hear the frequencies that I want to hear on stage anymore. I used to have to boost the bass everywhere. In an EQ pedal, on the preamp on the actual bass. But every time you add a little of those low frequencies in those other places you risk degrading the tone of the signal. With the Forte HP2 there is a punch button that gives me exactly the frequency I’m looking for. 100 hz. 4 db. It’s perfect.
Did you think Jim talked too much when you met him in Boston?
I will never notice when someone talks too much because chances are I’m out talking them.
What’s your process for dealing with performance anxiety?
I used to self-medicate for this purpose but I was recently in touch with a psychiatrist who has helped me regulate my own chemical imbalances and I have found that my performance anxiety isn’t really an issue when I have the proper amount of dopamine in the system!
Imagine that you’re at a party and it’s a little stale. What’s the “party trick” (or hidden talent) that you’d bust out to liven the place up?
Before the app existed I was known as a real life fruit ninja. I take a big knife and people throw fruit from across the room and I chop it in half in mid-air. It’s not the safest party trick anymore because I lost vision in my right eye a few years ago and I’m not as accurate as I used to be!
What hobbies do you have outside of music?
I love sports. I love reading. I love word games. I love gardening. I love hiking/running/moving. My biggest hobby was snowboarding for many years but I’ve grown injury prone and stay off the mountain these days.
What is the most trouble you ever got into?
Well, I managed to stay out of trouble until college. But before weed was legalized I had a series of run-ins with the law and spent a night in the clink in Amherst Mass during my freshman year fraternity pledge trip. Luckily this isn’t an issue anymore for those of us who don’t drink or smoke cigarettes but prefer a little of the wacky tabacky to cool down.
What is the message you would give to your fans?
Well I give them so many messages all the time but the most important one that I try to remember to keep constant is a message of gratitude. Thank you so much for sticking with us through thick and thin, through ups and downs, for decades now you have allowed us to live our dreams and have the most blessed lives possible.
How do you feel social media has impacted your music?
Social media is a double edged sword. It has allowed us to create a strong community where everyone feels like a family but for someone like me who gets addicted to things easily, I really have to be vigilant with practice and writing and other aspects of my life not to spend the whole day scrolling and wasting the time away.
What is your favorite song of all time?
Right now my favorite song of all time is probably a short and beautiful little ditty by Labi Siffre called Bless the Telephone. I would suggest everyone take the 1:29 to listen to it and feel the bliss.
What did I miss for a question that you would like to share?
Bass players don’t really get to play solo shows, at least not my style of bass, so I’ve had to learn how to DJ in order to perform by myself at times and I would suggest coming out to see a DJ Brownie show at some point.
Last one! Describe your perfect meal!
I love to eat great meals. I’m partial to Asian foods but the perfect meal to me is one slice of pizza from Freddie and Peppers on 72nd and Amsterdam in NYC. PERFECTION.
Follow Marc Brownstein:
Instagram: @marcbrownstein
X (formerly Twitter): @marc_brownstein
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcbrownstein4
www.discobiscuits.com
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