Toronto (GTA) Bassist Club

[the_hook]

We have a Canadian and Toronto GTG threads, but I haven't seen one that addresses GTA bass players, if they're pro, semi-pro, hobbyists, what music they like and play, gear (what they have, where they buy), gigs, clubs, bands, etc.

So let's get it rolling...

Some information about yourself:

location
bass gear
where you got it
years playing
are you in a band?
where do you gig?
styles of music you play (and like)
influences (bands, players)
did you take lessons (and where)?
any other info you want to share

Here's mine:

location-north Toronto

basses-SX Jazz and SX P-bass, OLP MM
amps/preamps-Yamaha PB-1 preamp, Peavey TB Raxx preamp, Acoustic B200H amp
cabs: 2x10 and 1x18 Bag End cabs

where you got it-SX's from Rondo, Yamaha PB-1 and Acoustic amps off TB, Peavy preamp from Steve's Music, Bag End cabs off Craigslist

years playing-under two years

are you in a band-No, but currently playing Rush, Zeppelin and Sabbath tunes with a guitar player, looking for a drummer

where do you gig-basement

styles of music you play (and like)-Rush, Zeppelin, Sabbath, The Police, then would like to move onto Jamerson's work and learn some R&B, Funk, and also Reggae

influences (bands, players)-Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller

did you take lessons (and where)-a few weeks with a double bass player to learn some theory basics

[Steve Clark]

Location: London. Suburb of Toronto?

Bass gear: Sadowsky, tc electronic, Shen, Rob Allen

Years playing: on and off since high school. 44 years old now

Are you in a band? Lots of freelance work including Aeolian Hall House Band, Light of East Ensemble, Emm Gryner, Alfredo Cajax Latin Band, Karen Scheussler Singer.

Where do you gig? Mostly Ontario with occasional touring. Bookings in link below.

Styles of music you play (and like) Anything and everything. Jazz, roots, Greek, Arabic.

Did you take lessons (and where)? Humber College, late 80s

[the_hook]

Well we'll overlook that 'extra' distance from Toronto... But since you attended Humber you get a number.

Steve Clark #2.

[kimio]

location: downtown
bass gear: rickenbacker. epiphone eb-0. peavey nitrobass. Russian big muff. looking to get a 1x15 ampeg cab
where you got it: craigslist, paul's boutique, long & mcquade
years playing:6 years
are you in a band: Kaiju- its like a heavy doom band www.myspace.com/kaijudoom
where do you gig: Toronto
styles of music you play (and like): heavy rock, stoner, prog, doom, not too much standard metal anymore. middle eastern stuff. some punk
influences (bands, players): Lemmy(Motorhead), Al Cisnersos(Sleep/Om), Tatsu Mikami (Church of Misery)
did you take lessons (and where): this guy on Harbord & Spadina.

Maybe looking to start a crazy Hawkwind style psychedelic band, or a heavy Swans/Killing Joke type one.

[Toronto Bassist]

Location: Formerly the Annex, now in the Junction, soon to be Downtown

Bass Gear: Eden Nemesis R700 head, Bergantino cab, Gibson Les Paul Bass with Darkstars, as well as an EMG 8-string, a Danelectro 65 reissue with flats, and a Fender fretless frankenbass

Years playing: About 20 (on and off)

Band: No band currently, although I have a project in mind. My previous band was Liquid Puzzle, a psychedelic covers band (Hendrix, Beatles, Doors, The Who, etc.)

Gigs: Nothing at the moment, but my previous band played at Lola in the Kensington market, the Unicorn, Grossman's. However, we got fired from just about every place we played for being too loud.

You can sometimes catch me jamming at Harlem Restauraunt on Monday nights though.

Music styles: R & B, funk, jazz, rock

Influences: James Jamerson, Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, Bruce Thomas, Graham Maby, Rufus Reid, Sting, Anthony Jackson, Alphonso Johnson

Lessons: Got my diploma from Humber College and I now take lessons with alum Will Jarvis. Also used to study with Mike Farquharson and Dave Levtov.

[the_hook]

Kimio and TB, great to read all this great info on each of you. Kimio, I'll have to check out your myspace. Hawkwind and Lemmy? Now there's a combo.

TB, which Harlem location do you play at? I'd love to hear your Gibson Les Paul Bass with Darkstars.

You guys should consider dropping in at the next Toronto Bass players GTG at Cherry Street. It's informal; you can hang out as long as you like, try out other people's basses and rigs and talk shop. Keep an eye out on the Toronto GTG thread when we arrange another one:

Toronto GTG!

kimio #3
Toronto Bassist #4

[Toronto Bassist]

Originally Posted by the_hook

TB, which Harlem location do you play at? I'd love to hear your Gibson Les Paul Bass with Darkstars.

http://www.carolyntband.com/pb/wp_00..._00fc4834.html

If anyone knows of any other jam nights, please say so (other than the Rex jazz jams, that is...I may like jazz, but I don't play it well enough yet to embarass myself onstage)

[Steve Clark]

Toronto Bassist, what years were you at Humber. '89 graduation for me. I hear you on the Rex jazz jam. I heard last week that the host bassist is a monster. My friend could not remember the name.

[Toronto Bassist]

I was at Humber from 91 - 95 (four years because I was in the pre-music course). The bass staff at that time were Mike Farquharson, Lenny Boyd, Will Jarvis and Shelly Berger. Shelly also taught arranging and had an ensemble.

[Steve Clark]

I studied with Mike and Lenny as well. Had a couple of lessons with Dave Young. My enduring memory of Dave is, "Steve, it's just a blues!"

[Toronto Bassist]

Dave had left by the time that I was there. Mike is in Boston now, teaching at Berklee. If you graduated in 89, then all the cool final year players (Fritz Kraai, Mario Potestio, John Spiro, Brent Tocheri) would have been just starting off.

When I took some arranging lessons from Shelly, he would ask if I was sure I didn't want to move to LA. I take it to mean that even for proffessionals, there's not a lot of work here in Toronto.

[bassaroo]

Hello fellow T.O. bassists

My name is Dave;

location: Toronto
bass gear: 80's Yamaha BB series basses, Fenders
years playing: many years playing - in my basement
are you in a band? Play at church, and a few other gigs a year.
styles of music you play (and like): I like Funk, Reggae, Pop. I don't get much chance to play, though.
influences (bands, players): Lionel Williams - what a musician!
did you take lessons (and where)? Occasional lessons from Lionel Williams.
any other info you want to share: I'm mainly a classical player - that is my day job - the best job in the world!

Cheers!

[VeeSpade]

New in Canada in general, about a month, here in Toronto, junction.
Hobbyist for the time, though I'm bass-less for now...((
I am trying to get a job and then buy some gear

[VeeSpade]

Originally Posted by kimio

location: downtown
bass gear: rickenbacker. epiphone eb-0. peavey nitrobass. Russian big muff. looking to get a 1x15 ampeg cab
where you got it: craigslist, paul's boutique, long & mcquade
years playing:6 years
are you in a band: Kaiju- its like a heavy doom band Kaiju | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos
where do you gig: Toronto
styles of music you play (and like): heavy rock, stoner, prog, doom, not too much standard metal anymore. middle eastern stuff. some punk
influences (bands, players): Lemmy(Motorhead), Al Cisnersos(Sleep/Om), Tatsu Mikami (Church of Misery)
did you take lessons (and where): this guy on Harbord & Spadina.

Maybe looking to start a crazy Hawkwind style psychedelic band, or a heavy Swans/Killing Joke type one.

If you ever wanna sell that ric...I'm waitin...

[Muzoid]

Not sure if I can join...I'm a Toronto Boy....but the chances of a Sudbury Bassists thread is kinda slim.

My family is still there and I still consider it my hometown

Location: Beaches (mom and dad's house)
Gear: Aria Pro II, Greg Bennett, Dean, Peavey Mk IV, Custom made cabs
Years playing: 31
Band: Studio and freelance player these days
Genres: all of them
Influences: Jaco, Geddy, Caron, RUSH, Yes, Genesis, Marillion

Fingers crossed, I'll make the cut.

[Afif]

Location : Midtown Toronto

Gear : 78 Fender J, 73 Rickenbacker 4001, 83 Sqier Bullet

Years : I've been playing for 5 years, I'm 16

Band : Yes in a band, we play post rock and jazz fusion-ish.

Gigs : Play the odd all ages indie shows, and Battle of the bands

Influences : (Not only bass) Lionel Williams (bass teacher), Jaco, JFK (Death from above 1979), Paul Chambers, Charlie Parker, anything Weather Report, Return to Forever.

Lessons : Been taking lessons with L.A. Williams for about 3 years now,

just loving the whole music scene in T.O

[the_hook]

Time for an update:

Steve Clark #2
kimio #3
Toronto Bassist #4
bassaroo #5
VeeSpade #6
Muziod #7
Afif #8

[the_hook]

Some gear updates on my end:

basses-Roscoe Century Standard IV onyx black
amps/preamps-MarkBass F1 (pre-amps are gone)
cabs: 2 Euphonic Audio Wizzy 12's (Bag Ends are gone)

keyboards-synthesizer software, M-Audio Axiom 49 midi keyboard, homebuilt midi pedals

where you got it-Roscoe and amp from friends, cabs from a TBer, midi equipment used

are you in a band-Yes and no. We don't gig, but jam once a month

where do you gig-rehersal studio

styles of music you play (and like)-We cover mostly Rush (early stuff to Signals), and lately Yes, along with some band created songs.

[Muckaluck]

Ok, I'll play:

location: Whitby
bass gear:
Amp Heads: Traynor YBA-200, Genz Benz GBE500H
Cabinets: Ampeg Classic 1X12, Acme Flatwound, Genz Benz B115
Basses: Lakland LOG bass, Squier p bass, Franken-jazz (The Canabass)
where you got it:
Genz head: Daddy's Junky Music in Connecticut
Traynor head: Long and McQuade
Ampeg cab: Cosmo music
Acme Flatwound: Direct from Acme
Genz Benz cab: Cosmo music
Lakland LOG: The LOG forum
Squier p bass: Long and Mcquade, Bill Lawrence pup direct from Bill
Franken Jazz: parts from all over including ebay and greasy groove
years playing: About 15
are you in a band? Yes, Monkey Planet in Maple.
where do you gig?: Various pubs and backyard parties
styles of music you play (and like): Motown, classic rock, funk, swing.
influences (bands, players): Jamerson, Jaco, Pino, Stuart Zender
did you take lessons (and where)?: I've had one lesson on soloing, wouldn't mind taking more.
any other info you want to share: The most important part about playing music is listening.

[bigbrotherbass]

location: Downtown Toronto

bass gear: '95 Fender Jazz Deluxe, Random Fender P-Bass Gallien-Krueger 700rb, Crybaby Wah for Bass, EH Bass Blogger (distortion), Samuel Eastman Model 85 upright

where you got it: J-bass from an old roommate, who bought it in Dubai, P-Bass from an upright jazz player studying in Montreal, the rest from L&McQ, probably, the upright was payment for an album (!!!)

years playing: 17

are you in a band? Yes, a few. The Elastocitizens (www.elastocitizens.com), Marta Pacek (Music By Marta Pacek), Matt Edison, The Local 164.

where do you gig? All over toronto

styles of music you play (and like): Funk, Rock, Jam, Folk, Country, Pop,
influences (bands, players): Bootsy, Tony Levin, Flea, Larry Graham, Stanley Clarke, James Brown, Duck Dunn, Jamerson, Zappa, Jim Creegan, The Violent Femmes, Jaco, John Entwhistle, John Paul Jones, Timmy C, Tony Kanal, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Wilson Pickett, Les Claypool, Mingus, Paul Chambers, The Jesus Christ Superstar Album,

did you take lessons (and where)? Yes. In Sault Ste. Marie

any other info you want to share: I'm starting a bass blog at bigbrotherbass. I've never done a blog before, so here goes! Hope you like it!