Renowned bassist and educator talks about his boot camp and current projects
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
June 17, 2019
By David Sands
Gerald Veasley came of age in the lively Philly music scene of the ‘70s and ‘80s, first playing in R&B bands and later becoming a regular with jazz and fusion groups. His efforts with the latter led to high-profile work with saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., keyboardist Joe Zawinul and the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. Over the years, Veasely has also played or recorded with artists from a wide selection of genres, including Chuck Loeb, Pieces of a Dream, Mcoy Tyner, Teddy Pendergrass, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Phil Perry, Will Downing and Pat Martino. Veasely recorded his first solo album, Look Ahead, in 1992 after signing with the Heads Up International record label. His 2008 album, Your Move, scored big with jazz fans reaching No. 12 on Billboard’s U.S. Contemporary Jazz Album charts the year of its release. Veasely currently has a residency with the Philly jazz venue SOUTH, tours and records with his own band and is the founder of Electric Mingus Project, a tribute to Charles Mingus. Beyond that he also teaches bass and jazz performance as a faculty member with the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and is the founder and artistic director of Gerald Veasley’s Bass BootCamp.
FBPO’s Jon Liebman recently met with Veasely in Philadelphia where the two of them talked about his boot camp, working with Joe Zawinul and Grover Washington Jr., his signature Ibanez bass and current projects.
Watch our interview with Gerald!
See Jon’s blog, with key takeaways from this interview, here.
