LA bassist/educator shares his musical origin story, philosophy for teaching bass
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
November 11, 2024
Steve Billman is a phenomenal bassist, guitarist, and educator, originally from Orange County, CA. He has performed or collaborated with notable artists such as Frank Gambale, Billy Cobham, Liza Minnelli, Daniel Ho, Tak Matsumoto, Alex Acuña, and Mike Stern. After being given a bass at the age of 13, Steve was soon voted Most Outstanding Jazz Player of his high school and went on to spend a year at Orange Coast College. He split the next four years between the Bass Institute of Technology and Berklee College of Music studying with the likes of Herb Mickman, Jeff Berlin, Ray Brown and Bob Magnusson. Steve went on to teach at the Dick Grove School of Music before starting at the Los Angeles College of Music in 1996. He currently participates in seminars and clinics in electric bass playing, groove workshops, and improvisation in and around greater Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Watch our interview with Steve!
