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Craig Akin
Warm and familiar, you know this tune by heart. Yet with twists in tempo, his story marches to its own beat. Meet Craig Akin, a versatile upright and electric bassist whose three decades of stage and studio experience have afforded him the skills to play myriad styles of music with ease. Born into a musical family in Tulsa, OK and now attuned to the rhythms of the Nashville skyline, he’s a quick study whose talents have taken him across the globe.
Before the bass altered the course of his life at age 20, he spent his musical upbringing learning piano, guitar, and trumpet. Now, whether he’s playing upright or electric bass, Craig is comfortable and creative, and consistently delivers the goods. With a degree in music education from Kansas University and formative years spent cutting his teeth in Kansas City’s jazz & blues scene, followed by 17 years immersed in the New York City jazz, blues, and songwriter scenes, he currently can be found playing all over Nashville. Since 1997, Craig has performed over 6,000 shows and contributed to more than 100 albums.
Highlights from Craig’s career include two years of study with Ron Carter, playing or recording with Tom Harrell, Pete Christlieb, Joe LaBarbara, John McNeil, Tim Hagans, Frank Mantooth, Lee Konitz, Dave Stryker, Gary Foster, Dave Pietro, Dick Oatts, Bobby Watson, Kevin Mahogany, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, David Schnitter, Mike Metheny, Ken Peplowski, among others.
“Craig is equally impressive on electric bass or upright. He's got enormous technique, great imagination, and an approach to his instrument that is unusual and fresh."
Rich Hill, Jazz Ambassador Magazine
Before the bass altered the course of his life at age 20, he spent his musical upbringing learning piano, guitar, and trumpet. Now, whether he’s playing upright or electric bass, Craig is comfortable and creative, and consistently delivers the goods. With a degree in music education from Kansas University and formative years spent cutting his teeth in Kansas City’s jazz & blues scene, followed by 17 years immersed in the New York City jazz, blues, and songwriter scenes, he currently can be found playing all over Nashville. Since 1997, Craig has performed over 6,000 shows and contributed to more than 100 albums.
Highlights from Craig’s career include two years of study with Ron Carter, playing or recording with Tom Harrell, Pete Christlieb, Joe LaBarbara, John McNeil, Tim Hagans, Frank Mantooth, Lee Konitz, Dave Stryker, Gary Foster, Dave Pietro, Dick Oatts, Bobby Watson, Kevin Mahogany, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, David Schnitter, Mike Metheny, Ken Peplowski, among others.
“Craig is equally impressive on electric bass or upright. He's got enormous technique, great imagination, and an approach to his instrument that is unusual and fresh."
Rich Hill, Jazz Ambassador Magazine
Member statistics
- Messages
- 125
- Reaction score
- 54
- Birthday
- Apr 5, 1973 (Age: 53)
- Website
- https://www.craigakin.com/
- Location
- Nashville
- Gender
- Male
- Current Setup
- 1880 Tyrolean flatback, 1960 German Juzek, 2004 Shen SB-100, Eastman carved, 1942 Kay S-9 w/ removable neck, Lemur Flyaway travel case, Spirocore and Velvet strings, full circle pickup, Lifeline pickup. Acoustic Image, GK amps, Schroeder cab, and Hartke 210 cabs. Fender fretless P bass, '73 P bass, '67 Harmony H-22 hollowbody electric, '10 Jazz active deluxe 5 string.
- Occupation
- upright and electric bass player
- Favorite Genres
- I play pretty much all new music these days. A lot of songwriters-pop, indie pop, rock, alt country, blues, Americana, modern jazz composers, Motown, bluegrass, soul, etc.
- Gigs and Ensembles
- Freelance bassist in Nashville.
- Previously Owned Gear
- I have owned many Kay basses over the years and am fascinated with their history. I am a dealer of the Rick Williams dbl bass buggie and Ear Trumpet Nadine mic, available on my website www.craigakin.com.
I rent and sell upright basses in New York and Kansas City.
- Influences and Teachers
- Dave Holland, Paul McCartney, Ray Brown, Larry Grenadier, Anders Jormin, Edgar Meyer, Palle Danielsson, Niels Pederson, Charlie Haden, Patitucci, McBride, Jaco, Rocco, Lafaro, Ron Carter, Keith Jarrett, Mehldau, and countless more.
- Hobbies and Interests
- biking, hiking, skiing, home improvement, buying/selling on eBay, Recording sessions, recording overdubs from home.
Contact
- akinthebassist
Signature
"Every note every time Mr. Akin"- Ron Carter
www.craigakin.com
www.craigakin.com
