Renowned bassist/educator talks of addressing social issues through music

Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
December 4, 2023

Photo by Dan Kane

Joe “Bearclaw” Burcaw is a bass player, bandleader, and educator from Connecticut. He’s performed and/or recorded with everyone from the Neville Brothers, the Black Crowes, Train, and the Roots, in addition to being a member of the Celtic rock band Black 47 for nearly a decade. Joe’s also collaborated with bassists Ron McClure, Nick Beggs and Mark Egan, and has worked closely under the mentorship of Duran Duran bassist John Taylor. Joe’s band, Bearclaw & the Balance Brigade, has a new release, Four on the Floor, featuring Corey Glover of Living Colour. This debut EP addresses, through music, issues including racism, domestic abuse, immigration freedom, and gay rights, under the backdrop of world events like the George Floyd incident and Black Lives Matter movement.

Watch our interview with Joe!

See Jon’s blog, with key takeaways from this interview here.