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Charles Buonasera started his musical career at the age of 14 when he got his first electric bass. He began playing upright bass at the age of 16 and participated in jazz ensembles, orchestras, marching bands, and pits for the school plays. During this time he studied with a Long Island legend and student of Jaco Pastorius, Mike Frost. During high school, he also had played with local bands. Charles played in the Tri-State area opening for bands such as Skid Row and Kings X. Right out of high school Charles toured Eastern Europe with the Long Island Youth Orchestra performing in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Republic of Georgia, and Ukraine.
After high school, Charles studied music at schools such as Hofstra University, SCCC, Molly College, Stonybrook, Aaron Copland School of Music, and receiving a BA in Music Education from Five Towns College. During this time Charles has performed in more than 65 musicals from Long Island to New York City with Musician Union #802. He’s performed at places such as Airport playhouse, Gateway playhouse, Symphony Space, Sag Harbor, and Downtown Brooklyn. Some of these musicals were premiers. He’s also played in jazz groups, rock groups, cover bands all over the Tri-State area, Nashville, Memphis Tennessee, and New Orleans. His studio work is still played on radio stations such as WSOU Street Patrol. During this time he has also played for the Dvorak society in Manhattan. Charles also served as a reservist in the Marine Corps infantry with the 2/25 out of Garden City.
After college, he has performed with the Sound Symphony in Long Island and was the section leader and board member for the Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts (BAFFA) Orchestra. He has also taught strings for 15 years. He currently has been teaching music in the public school system on Long Island and now the New York City School System. He teaches privately, as well as at The Suffolk Music Center in Patchogue and at Musicology in Smithtown where he’s the director of the jazz ensemble and the classical string quartet. He currently maintains a studio of 50 plus students and has students participating in SCMEA and LISFA as well as had students perform in NAM in California.
Charles Buonasera currently performs with High Note who’s attached with Island Exclusive, Clover Curfew, and Phil Firetog trio. He intends to obtain his master's in Performance in Jazz and Commercial Music. You can look up Charles Buonasera on , , and the web at Charles Buonasera Bassist.
- Screen name:
- charles1505275
- Member since:
- Jan 14 2021
- Active within 1 week
- Level of commitment:
- Very Committed
- Years playing music:
- 20
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 4-5 nights a week
- Most available:
- Nights
Influences
Upright Bassists
Scott Lafaro, Garry Karr, Oscar Osted Peterson, Eddie Gomez, Christian McBride
Electric Bassists
Jaco Pastorious, Victor Wooten, Flee, Mark King, Stanly Clark, John Paticutchi, James Jamerson, Markus Miller. Ryan Martini,
Other Musicians
Miles Davis,
Bands
Instrument experience:
- Bass Guitar:
- Expert
- Cello:
- Advanced
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Moderate
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Moderate
- Violin:
- Moderate
- Keyboard:
- Moderate
- Piano:
- Moderate
- Vocalist - Baritone:
- Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Upright Basses
two Kolstine upright basses
Electric Basses
Carvin/kessel Electric and Frettless Basss
Amps
Mark bass SD 800
Mark Bass Combo Amp
Keyboards
Yamaha
Other string instruments
