Thunder of the Bass



Meet The 2017 Bass Faculty
Attention Jazz Bassists! You don’t want to miss this opportunity to study with some of the top jazz educators on the planet. Intense, hands-on instruction will bring you closer to your instrument and these instructors will show you what it means to play jazz bass. Who are we talking about? Rufus Reid, David Friesen, John Goldsby, Tyrone Wheeler, Chris Fitzgerald, Rich Armandi, Bob Sinicrope and JB Dyas. You’ll leave the workshop with tons of exciting ideas on constructing bass lines, and improvisation.
Rufus Reid
Sometimes called a chameleon, Rufus Reid is one of today’s premiere bassists on the international jazz scene. He has performed and recorded with some of the greatest names in Jazz. His musical prowess can be found perfectly comfortable in an array of performance settings. He has an impressive 250 recordings in his discography. Read Full Bio
David Friesen
Friesen’s music borders on spiritual new age but on a higher emotional level. While stationed in Germany in 1961, he taught himself the bass. After short stints with John Handy and Marian McPartland, Friesen worked with Joe Henderson for two years. Read Full Bio
John Goldsby
Since 1994, John Goldsby has held the position of solo bassist with the Grammy Award-winning Westdeutscher Rundfunk Big Band (the Cologne Radio Big Band). From 1980 to 1994, Goldsby lived in New York City and was a fixture on the New York jazz scene. He is actively involved in the jazz scene as a bassist, bandleader, composer, teacher, clinician and author. Read Full Bio
Tyrone Wheeler
Tyrone is a highly-respected, first-call jazz bassist in the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis regions. He has performed with James Moody, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, J.J.Johnson, Jimmy Raney, Jim Hall, David Liebman, Slide Hampton, Eddie Harris, and many others. He has also been in the pit for many Broadway productions and toured with Buddy Rich. Tyrone is featured on many of Jamey’s Play-A-Long recordings. Read Full Bio
Chris Fitzgerald
Chris is a graduate and teacher at the Univ. of Louisville, and keeps busy teaching, composing and performing in the Louisville area. Read Full Bio
Rich Armandi
One of Chicago’s most in demand Bassists and Tubists. In Jazz, Rich has worked with Barry Harris, Marion McPartland, Carl Fontana, Geoff Keezer, Geri Allen, Marcus Printup, and many others. In Classical: Lyric Opera, American Ballet Theater, Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago Brass Quintet, and many others. Read Full Bio
Bob Sinicrope
Bob founded Milton Academy’s jazz program in 1974. The Milton combo has twice won the DownBeat magazine student music award as best high school jazz combo, played at the North Sea, Viennes and Montreux jazz festivals, has performed twice at the White House for President and Mrs. Clinton and has toured South Africa eight times. Read Full Bio
J.B.Dyas
Director of Education and Curriculum Development for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. He has directed large and small ensembles and taught a wide variety of jazz courses to students from virtually every level of musical development. Read Full Bio