EP 113 - Marty Isenberg (NY Jazz Double Bassist, Composer, Recording Artist)
07/24/23 • 71 min
Playing bass was love at first pluck for Marty Isenberg. His career as a jazz musician began at the age of 12, after losing his father to cancer the year prior. A skilled amateur musician, Marty’s father kept many instruments around the house that he would play for the family. After his death, Marty would pull one of these instruments off the wall and begin teaching himself how to play by reading tablature in Bass Player Magazine. The first song he ever learned was My Own Summer by The Deftones. Playing bass was love at first pluck for Mr. Isenberg. It was a cathartic healing experience, a way to stay connected to his father, and a way to creatively express himself. He went on to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he majored in Jazz Performance and minored in Jazz Composition, and received his Master of Music degree from New York University. He is now a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University where he is the teaching assistant to the jazz department chair Ray Anderson.
For almost 20 years, Mr. Isenberg has been part of the rich New York City music scene. His performing career weaves though many styles of music, from jazz, to classical music, to theater and contemporary music. Mr. Isenberg pulls from all of these experiences to arrange the music of his debut album The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson, adding his own voice and reimagining the music that helped to shape his own musical identity.
Marty Isenberg Links
The Way I Feel Inside (Album)Marty Isenberg WebsiteYoutubeMarty Isenberg TwitterMarty Isenberg Instagram
For almost 20 years, Mr. Isenberg has been part of the rich New York City music scene. His performing career weaves though many styles of music, from jazz, to classical music, to theater and contemporary music. Mr. Isenberg pulls from all of these experiences to arrange the music of his debut album The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson, adding his own voice and reimagining the music that helped to shape his own musical identity.
Marty Isenberg Links
The Way I Feel Inside (Album)Marty Isenberg WebsiteYoutubeMarty Isenberg TwitterMarty Isenberg Instagram
Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes
Playing bass was love at first pluck for Marty Isenberg. His career as a jazz musician began at the age of 12, after losing his father to cancer the year prior. A skilled amateur musician, Marty’s father kept many instruments around the house that he would play for the family. After his death, Marty would pull one of these instruments off the wall and begin teaching himself how to play by reading tablature in Bass Player Magazine. The first song he ever learned was My Own Summer by The Deftones. Playing bass was love at first pluck for Mr. Isenberg. It was a cathartic healing experience, a way to stay connected to his father, and a way to creatively express himself. He went on to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he majored in Jazz Performance and minored in Jazz Composition, and received his Master of Music degree from New York University. He is now a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University where he is the teaching assistant to the jazz department chair Ray Anderson.
For almost 20 years, Mr. Isenberg has been part of the rich New York City music scene. His performing career weaves though many styles of music, from jazz, to classical music, to theater and contemporary music. Mr. Isenberg pulls from all of these experiences to arrange the music of his debut album The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson, adding his own voice and reimagining the music that helped to shape his own musical identity.
Marty Isenberg Links
The Way I Feel Inside (Album)Marty Isenberg WebsiteYoutubeMarty Isenberg TwitterMarty Isenberg Instagram
For almost 20 years, Mr. Isenberg has been part of the rich New York City music scene. His performing career weaves though many styles of music, from jazz, to classical music, to theater and contemporary music. Mr. Isenberg pulls from all of these experiences to arrange the music of his debut album The Way I Feel Inside: Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson, adding his own voice and reimagining the music that helped to shape his own musical identity.
Marty Isenberg Links
The Way I Feel Inside (Album)Marty Isenberg WebsiteYoutubeMarty Isenberg TwitterMarty Isenberg Instagram
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Previous Episode
EP 112 - Roberto Vally (George Benson, Christopher Cross, Bobby Caldwell, Boz Scaggs)
Roberto Vally’s accomplishments within music date back to his formidable years in New York where he was awarded his Junior High School’s Music Honor Award. It was clear that Roberto was destined to pursue an education in music. From 1974-1978 he attended New York City’s legendary High School of Music and Art-depicted in Fame (1980 film). Continuing his education in music theory and classical bass he attended the highly acclaimed Julliard School from 1976-1978. There, most notably, he was mentored by the prominent professor and classical bassist, Homer Mensch.
Roberto loved every minute of his bass education, but the “itch” to perform and take his bass skills on the road eventually took hold of him. In 1979 he auditioned for a show band that toured in the US and Canada, and off he went! His ferocious playing and charismatic stage presence were extraordinary. There was no stopping him. His skills and thirst for fun and adventure brought him overseas to France, where he not only gigged, but mastered surfing and skiing. Perhaps unbeknownst to him at the time, in the midst of his playing on stage, on slopes and on surf boards, Roberto was building a remarkable set of diverse “chops” that come only with countless live stage experiences.
Years of honing live performance skills really paid off when he auditioned with Spyro Gyra. Thru 1987 and 1988 Roberto toured and recorded with Spyro Gyra, performing in over 150 concerts in the US and around the world. With Spyro Gyra he recorded “Stories Without Words”, which is to date, one of the group’s most popular albums. Touring continued for Roberto in 1990 when he joined Michael Franks on his Blue Pacific Tour-once again taking him on tour worldwide.
Westward bound. While Roberto was on tour with Michael Franks he took a leap of faith and invited Bobby Caldwell to one of the California shows with Michael, and as fate would have it, Bobby showed up and immediately asked Roberto to join his band. So in 1991, he moved to Los Angeles and started rehearsing with Bobby, To date, Roberto is playing with Bobby for an astonishing 29 year tenure!
In 1993 he took stage with Randy Crawford as her bassist, but his adept demeanor and impressive musicality led Randy to appoint him as Musical Director where he headed tours encompassing the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia for over 15+ years.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Roberto has performed and/or recorded with the following artists: George Benson, Christopher Cross, Jeffrey Osborne, Bob James, Al Jareau, Hillary Duff, Diane Schuur, David Benoit, Boz Scaggs, Kirk Whalum, Bobby Caldwell, Patti Austin, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Carlton, Marion Meadows, Jeff Golub, Peter White, Norman Brown, Paul Brown, Boney James, Ric Braun, Michael Lington, Richard Elliot, Joan Sebastian, Johnny Rivers, Euge Groove, Eric Darius, Anna Barbara,
Roberto loved every minute of his bass education, but the “itch” to perform and take his bass skills on the road eventually took hold of him. In 1979 he auditioned for a show band that toured in the US and Canada, and off he went! His ferocious playing and charismatic stage presence were extraordinary. There was no stopping him. His skills and thirst for fun and adventure brought him overseas to France, where he not only gigged, but mastered surfing and skiing. Perhaps unbeknownst to him at the time, in the midst of his playing on stage, on slopes and on surf boards, Roberto was building a remarkable set of diverse “chops” that come only with countless live stage experiences.
Years of honing live performance skills really paid off when he auditioned with Spyro Gyra. Thru 1987 and 1988 Roberto toured and recorded with Spyro Gyra, performing in over 150 concerts in the US and around the world. With Spyro Gyra he recorded “Stories Without Words”, which is to date, one of the group’s most popular albums. Touring continued for Roberto in 1990 when he joined Michael Franks on his Blue Pacific Tour-once again taking him on tour worldwide.
Westward bound. While Roberto was on tour with Michael Franks he took a leap of faith and invited Bobby Caldwell to one of the California shows with Michael, and as fate would have it, Bobby showed up and immediately asked Roberto to join his band. So in 1991, he moved to Los Angeles and started rehearsing with Bobby, To date, Roberto is playing with Bobby for an astonishing 29 year tenure!
In 1993 he took stage with Randy Crawford as her bassist, but his adept demeanor and impressive musicality led Randy to appoint him as Musical Director where he headed tours encompassing the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia for over 15+ years.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Roberto has performed and/or recorded with the following artists: George Benson, Christopher Cross, Jeffrey Osborne, Bob James, Al Jareau, Hillary Duff, Diane Schuur, David Benoit, Boz Scaggs, Kirk Whalum, Bobby Caldwell, Patti Austin, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Carlton, Marion Meadows, Jeff Golub, Peter White, Norman Brown, Paul Brown, Boney James, Ric Braun, Michael Lington, Richard Elliot, Joan Sebastian, Johnny Rivers, Euge Groove, Eric Darius, Anna Barbara,
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EP 114 - Jerry Jemmott (Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, B.B. King, Session Musician)
Jerry Jemmott is a highly respected American bass guitarist and session musician, best known for his work in the realms of blues, jazz, and R&B. He was born on May 22, 1946, in New York City.
Throughout his extensive career, Jemmott has played with numerous iconic artists, leaving a significant impact on the music industry. He is particularly known for his bass playing with B.B. King, with whom he collaborated for many years. Jemmott's distinctive bass lines contributed to the sound of numerous B.B. King recordings, and he played a crucial role in defining the blues bass style.
Aside from B.B. King, Jerry Jemmott has worked with a wide range of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Freddie King, King Curtis, Wilson Pickett, and many others. His skillful and innovative bass playing has made him a sought-after session musician in the music industry.
Throughout his extensive career, Jemmott has played with numerous iconic artists, leaving a significant impact on the music industry. He is particularly known for his bass playing with B.B. King, with whom he collaborated for many years. Jemmott's distinctive bass lines contributed to the sound of numerous B.B. King recordings, and he played a crucial role in defining the blues bass style.
Aside from B.B. King, Jerry Jemmott has worked with a wide range of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Freddie King, King Curtis, Wilson Pickett, and many others. His skillful and innovative bass playing has made him a sought-after session musician in the music industry.
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