Ex-UZEB bassist on benefits of thinking faster while playing
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
June 1, 2020
By David Sands
Alain Caron’s name will be forever linked to his time with the celebrated Canadian jazz fusion band UZEB. The popular group, which featured him on bass, Michael Cusson on guitar and Paul Brucho on drums, has sold more than 500,000 albums. During their heyday, they played sold-out shows across the globe, and attracted a crowd of 96,000 for their final concert at the 1992 Montreal Jazz Festival.
A self-taught musician, Caron kicked off his professional career doing studio and live sessions in Montreal. He later attended the Berklee College of Music, and in Boston regularly shared the stage with artists like Tom Harrell, Frank Tiberi and Bob Moses. Caron was active with UZEB from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. He followed that work up with a series of his own albums. Over the years, Caron has also toured with Mike Stern, Billy Cobham, Frank Gambale, Tiger Okoshi and Gino Vanelli and played with the WDR Big Band. He currently teaches at the University of Montreal.
At this year’s Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California, FBPO’s Jon Liebman got a chance to speak to Caron about teaching, theory, fretless and upright basses, advice for up-and-coming musicians and the possibility of a new album.
Watch our interview with Alain!
See Jon’s blog, with key takeaways from this interview, here.
