rwsansom + Musician in Arlington, MA

SEEKING

ABOUT

I am a bassist, banjoist, and guitarist with experience playing rock, jazz, soul, jam band, Americana, alt-country, GB top 40, triple-A, folk, and bluegrass.

Electric bass has been my principle instrument since 1990, with banjo becoming my secondary since 2017.

I studied Music Production & Engineering at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and Sound Recording Technology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. I've played with AJ Edwards & The List, Airport, Grassroot, The Dan Rodman Band, The Organic Sound Project, Evan Gavny (of Three Day Threshold), Evey's Late Night Dinner, Hot Mess, West Entrance, Jell, Johnny & The Undergarments, and numerous other original and cover-band projects. I also initiated, hosted, and performed at a successful weekly open mic event in Harvard Square for a number of years.

What pays the bills: Director of Product Design. Find me on LinkedIn if interested to learn more.

Screen name:

rwsansom

Member since:

Mar 11 2013

Active within 1 month

Level of commitment:

Just for Fun

Years playing music:

30

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

1 time per week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

As a bass player, my playing gravitates towards soulful, groove-based and melody, and am heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, James Jamerson, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Jaco Pastorius, Pino Paladino, Rocco Prestia, John Paul Jones, Jamiroquoi, The Black Crowes, Little Feat, and Wilco. I also really love prog-rock, and cite Yes, Dream Theater, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Phish, and Rush as influences.

As a banjoist, I play Scruggs-style and am into progressive bluegrass. Influenced greatly by Steve Martin, Punch Brothers, Bela Fleck, Wes Corbett, Alison Brown, Don Reno, Tony Trischka, Bill Evans, Jens Kruger, Tony Ellis, Sam Bush, and David Grisman.

Instrument experience:

Bass Guitar:

Expert

Banjo:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

INSTRUMENTS:
- ‘66 Fender P-bass
- '93 Fender American Jazz bass
- '89 de-fretted and rewired Ibanez EX 4-string bass
- Huber VRB-4 resonator banjo
- Deering Goodtime open back banjo
- '91 Fender Stratocaster
- '93 Yamaha Acoustic guitar
- MicroKorg synth keyboard
- Yamaha upright piano
- Pedro Soto Charango
- Navajo flute (F#m)
- Assorted percussion

RIG:
- Ampeg SVT-CL 300w
- Aguilar Tonehammer 500w
- Avatar 4x10 cab

PEDAL BOARD (in signal chain order)
- Peterson StroboStomp mini tuner/buffer
- 3LeafAudio Octabver
- EHX MicroPog
- 3LeafAudio Proton
- 3LeafAudio Doom 2
- Empress Effects Bass Compressor MkII
- MXR Phaser 95
- Dark glass vintage micro tubes
- Lehle Sunday Morning Driver

FX LOOP
- Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus
- Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick Jr.
- TC Electronics Ditto Looper mini

MUSIC