Instructors

Gerald Veasley’s musical odyssey has taken him to the top of the contemporary music world as a bassist, bandleader, composer, producer and educator. His performance as a bassist has been top shelf, as his memorable work with the late, great Grover Washington Jr., Joe Zawinul, and the Jaco Pastorius Big Band attests.

He has recorded and/or performed with many of the world’s top performers in various genres of music such as Chuck Loeb, Special EFX, Pieces of a Dream, McCoy Tyner, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Nnenna Freelon, Philip Bailey, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Phil Perry, Will Downing and Pat Martino.

Gerald currently has a residency at Philadelphia’s most prestigious jazz venue, SOUTH, where he is curator of the “Unscripted Jazz Series”. The series has presented more than 75 events featuring notable guest artists such as Kirk Whalum, Raul Midón, Alex Bugnon, Kim Waters, Keiko Matsui, Maysa, Rick Braun, and Gerald Albright. He is in the process of producing two recording projects, “The Purple House” and a salute to the legacy of The Sound of Philadelphia.

When not collaborating with notable artists, Gerald tours and records with his band, which features talented musicians in their own right. Gerald’s recordings as a bandleader are: Look Ahead, Signs, Soul Control, Love Letters, On The Fast Track, Velvet, Live at The Jazz Base, Your Move and The Electric Mingus Project.

Veasley is on the faculty of the University of the Arts (Philadelphia), where he shares his knowledge of the electric bass and jazz performance. He is founder and artistic director of Gerald Veasley’s Bass BootCamp, which has nurtured a growing army of bassists of all skill levels. Whether performing, recording, collaborating, or teaching, Gerald brings a joyous, polished professionalism to the process of making music.

Joe found his passion for bass in 1983 at age 16 while attending Siena Heights College and later at Washtenaw Community College focusing on jazz. He has studied with great mentors such as Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Marcus Miller and Dan Pliskow.

Joe currently teaches bass privately and also is a member of the John E. Lawrence Band and has recently performed with national jazz artists Jessy J, Eric Marienthal, Chris Standring and Jay Rowe.

Oskar Cartaya, during the course of a full career playing bass, composing, arranging and acting as musical director for an amazing array of artists, Oskar has soaked up the influences of his homes in Puerto Rico, New York and Los Angeles to create his very unique style.

A long prolific career working with the likes of Spyro Gyra, Herb Albert, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Tito Puente, Robbie Robertson, Willie Colon, Dave Valentin and more has given a solid reputation in the music industry.

Some of Oskar’s credits include the production of “Passion Dance” by Herb Alpert (Almo Records) and “Plenarriqueña” for Jennifer Lopez, a live concert on DVD (Sony Music). Touring with a plethora of artists including Steve Winwood, Spyro Gyra and the late Tito Puente.

Add in to the mix a stint in the house band for TV’s “ShowTime at The Apollo”, The ESPY’S, Latin Grammy, Guys Choice Awards composing and arranging for projects such as Jodie Foster’s movie Contact, Producing the soundtrack for the movie “Wedding Bell Blues” and playing on Grammy^®Winning albums for Arturo Sandoval, Willie Colon and Spyro Gyra.

When playing his own music live he is surrounded by the Enclave which Oskar describes as “a musical play on words, the voice of a culture from within the boundaries of America, and a musical expression played en clavé. Our sound is a gumbo of jazz and funk, Afro-Caribbean percussion and urban street soul attitude.”

Other recent projects include playing on albums with Tito Nieves, Pete Escovedo, Andrae Crouch, Juan Gabriel, Sheila E. and the fun collaboration between Puerto Rican compadrés – Rumbantela, and playing live behind such varied artists as Justin Timberlake, Wayne Brady, Playing For Change, Gilberto Santa Rosa, All 4 One, Wynona Judd, Jonathan Butler, just to name a few.

Saxophonist Chris Farr graduated from University of the Arts in 1994 with his Bachelors degree in music and then continued on to finish his Masters degree in arts and teaching in 1995. Since then he has been a highly sought after performer and educator. Chris is currently a full time professor at the University of the Arts, where he serves as the undergraduate instrumental division head.

Chris is also a clinician and endorser of Andreas Eastman saxophones. Throughout his career he has performed, toured and recorded with the likes of Blood Sweat & Tears, Elvis Costello, Jill Scott, Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau, The Philly Pops and The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. Chris was also part of the horn section for the 2020 super bowl halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Freekbass was an only child who initially wanted to be a magician. He later developed his own obsession for cartoon superheroes and comic books, relating to the underlying themes. Living in Cincinnati exposed Freekbass to genres of music he may have missed otherwise. While most kids were listening to Nirvana and Green Day, he connected with the bottom-heavy sounds coming out of the boom boxes like Zapp and Midnight Star. While working in a music shop to pay off his first electric bass he had in lay-away, he began to study the classics of Larry Graham, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Parliament and Bootsy with a bass in one hand, and an MPC2000 in the other.

Freekbass has released six full-length CDs, including “Concentrate” (available here for free download) with guests Bootsy Collins, DJ Spooky, Adam Deitch, and Steve Molitz, and “Junkyard Waltz,” which includes guest appearances by Phish bassist Mike Gordon, guitarist Buckethead, keyboard wizard from P-Funk/Talking Heads Bernie Worrell, and is produced by funk legend Bootsy Collins. Also, national music DVD instruction company, The Rock House Method, recently released two Freekbass instructional DVDs “Learn Funk Bass with Freekbass (Level 1 & Level 2)” and TrueFire.com just released the instructional DVD/download “50 Freekbass Licks You Must Know.” In 2010 Freekbass connected with DJ Logic, and Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz to form the funktronica trio, Headtronics.

Going into 2015 Freek has a lot of things on the table. He just released his next album, “Everybody’s Feelin’ Real,” which is produced by Duane Lundy (My Morning Jacket’s Jim James/Ben Sollee) and includes P-Funk/Rubberband keyboardist Razor Sharp Johnson, horn man Skerik, and Trey Anastasio Band vocalist/trumpet Jennifer Hartswick . Also, he was a part of this year’s London Bass Guitar Show in the UK giving a master class and performing. Plus he will be doing extensive touring with his mainstay funk group, “Freekbass & The Bump Assembly,” which also includes Razor Sharp Johnson (Bootsy’s Rubberband/P-Funk) on keys and synths and Rico Lewis (George Clinton & P-Funk) on drums. And just last month, he signed with the esteemed label Ropeadope, which you can read about by clicking here.

Born March 25, 1975 in Newcastle, England. Tony is a multi-instrumentalist, master bassist, composer, producer, published author and award-winning music educator; he studied at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2001, receiving the prestigious ‘Outstanding Performer’ award. Tony is known for his 6-string electric bass technique, his blend of jazz/world-fusion compositions, and his groundbreaking music education curriculum and teaching Philosophy.

Tony has gone on to collaborate and perform with some of the world’s greatest musicians, such as: John McLaughlin, Hiromi, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gavin DeGraw, Hotei Tomoyasu, Dennis Chambers, Bill Evans, Zach Alford (David Bowie/B52’s), Reeves Gabrels & Jason Cooper (The Cure), Zakir Hussain, Gregorie Maret, Gary Husband, Mino Cinelu, Brian Blade, Mike Stern, Karsh Kale, Wayne Krantz, Steve Lukather (Toto), Branford Marsalis, Shaggy, Ice-T, M-1 (Dead Prez), Melanie Fiona, Toby Lightman, Simon Philips (Hiromi/Toto), Dave Holland, Mark Guiliana, Kenwood Dennard (Sting/Miles Davis), Russell Ferrante (The YellowJackets), David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos/Meshell Ndegeocello), Larry Watson, Fabrizio Sotti, Ada Rovatti, Jetro Da Silva (Whitney Houston/Patti Austin), David Garfield, Frank Mccomb, David Nichtern, Res, Raymond Angry, Gene Lake (David Sanborn), Dave Dicenso, Chris Dave, Oliver Rockberger, Falguni, Reb Beach (Whitesnake), Deantoni Parks, Lionel Loueke (Wayne Shorter/Charlie Haden), Naveen Kumar, and Christian Scott.

In 2004, Tony had the great honor of performing at New York’s Lincoln Centre with David Nichtern’s band ‘Drala’ for his holiness the Dali Lama.

In 2012 Tony set forth on his journey as a music educator and unveiled the Tony Grey Bass Academy, the first documented online Academy in Bass Education. The Bass Academy was initially intended to be a companion to his book ‘Tony Grey Bass Academy: Jazz Bass Method’; however, the Academy exceeded its initial vision and stands today as a complete and structured online music curriculum, designed to take players from the beginning of their journey through music, all the way to the very end and beyond, learning music creatively rather than mechanically. A groundbreaking philosophy developed by Grey, which now leads thousands of students to becoming the next generation of bass virtuosos.

Tim Hutson is in high demand as a musician and has traveled the world with artists such as John Legend, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Maysa Leake (formerly of Incognito), Grammy Award winner Regina Belle, Billy Paul, Jeff Majors, Gato Barbieri, Ronnie Laws, Myles Jaye, Cece Peniston, Walter Bell, Kindred the Family Soul, Ray Goodman, and Brown, The Stylistics, The Manhattan’s, Joey Sommerville, Marian Meadows, The Delphonics, Simone (daughter of the great jazz vocalist Nina Simone), Brian Simpson, Oli Silk, Huge Groove, Alex Bugnon, Tom Braxton, Jeff Bradshaw, Jakiem Joyner, Jaguar Wright, Steve Cole, Frank McComb.

On a funny, personal note:

People frequently note the size discrepancy between the electric bass and me, a five-foot tall “not my first pick for the basketball team” female.  “That bass is bigger than you are!” they exclaim.

Believe it or not, I’ve got a good fifteen inches on most of my instruments, but I certainly appreciate and embrace the humor of seeing someone my size wield a massive gig bag through airports and all around town.  It is equal parts hilarious, curious, and mind-boggling.

All kidding aside, I’m used to it.  In fact, I never really noticed—I just decided to pick up the instrument and start playing.  As the old saying goes, the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wanted to listen to Motown and play along to Booker T. and the MGs.

Down to business:

With a formidable start and an informal education on the Philadelphia blues scene, Ryan studied Music Business and Communications at New York University.  After graduating, she returned to Philly for corned beef sandwiches, Zydeco, water ice, classic R&B, and plenty of rock and roll.  A few years and many, many gigs later, she decided to take a leap of faith, throw her gear in the car, and drive to Tennessee.

Since moving to Nashville in 2012, she has had the privilege of working with some of Music City’s most talented artists and producers, including Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots, Pat McLaughlin, Tenille Arts, Kyshona Armstrong, Alicia Michilli, Nicole Boggs, Fred Mollin, Lamont Dozier, Daphne Willis, and many others.

She is currently touring with guitar virtuoso Robben Ford, playing on various sessions, and teaching private lessons and clinics.

Thanks to good fortune, exciting phone calls, and many hours of practice, she has backed up artists such as Garth Brooks, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Marren Morris, and Hanson. Ryan has served as Musical Director for the annual “Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots Million Dollar Show at The Ryman” to benefit St. Jude’s and has made appearances on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons of the hit TV show “Nashville.”

When she’s not performing, you can find her at coffee shops writing columns for the online bass magazine, No Treble.

Jonathan Maron is a Grammy-nominated electric bassist, composer and producer. Maron’s unique approach, propulsive basslines and big sound travel with him always, regardless of the musical setting.

Early in his career, Jonathan co-founded New York’s now legendary Groove Collective, a band that has toured internationally, released eight albums including their Grammy-nominated, “People People Music Music.” The band’s dance-floor blend of afro-cuban rhythms, jazz, funk and house music has provided a perfect showcase for Maron’s playing and writing. With other artists, Jonathan can be heard on over 200 records ranging widely in style, including Maxwell’s platinum selling “Ascenscion (Don’t Ever Wonder).”

Maron has also performed or recorded with Donny McCaslin, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mike Doughty, Ron Trent, Shigeto, Mark Guiliana, Karsh Kale, Dave Douglas and Kurt Rosenwinkel, among many others. In 2021 Maron released his own record, ‘Wide Open Lazy Eye,’ and performs as a leader regularly.

Rob Smith is a professional bassist, teacher, and clinician. He has taught over 25,000 lessons and has been an instructor at Gerald Veasley’s Bass BootCamp for the past eight years. He won the WMMR Building the Band contest and was previously named Philadelphia’s best rock bassist by Origivation magazine. Rob is currently performing and recording with Dave Weiner, Rob Balducci, and Matthew Landis. He proudly endorses Skjold Basses.