How long have you been playing James?

Six and a half years.

How did you get started?

My uncle’s blues band needed a bass player, and I had just started playing. and just finished school so I kinda needed something to do. Thanks uncle Len!

So you come from a musical family – that’s a couple of rungs up the ladder before you even get started!!!!

Well not really no one in my immediate family plays an instrument my mom however can belt out a mean tune when she asked to. .

What was your first instrument?

I will never forget it, it was a Yamaha I think but it looked like it came straight out of “the Jetsons” cartoon. I often try to explain it to people but you have to see it to believe it! The only word that describes is “ HORRIFIC “.

And your amp?

My first amp was a samic, don’t know what model it was, but it provided sound, not very much though!

What’s your favourite band / solo artist?

Jaco Pastorius, Richard bona, the Beatles!

That’s interesting – Richard is a Jaco clone (sorry Richard) so if you like one, you’ll like the other but the Beatles are a totally different cup of tea!!! Thought you’d say Weather Report!!!!!

Yeh ! The Beatles are the one musical gift my parents gave me. I have loved them ever since I can remember.
As far as song writing is concerned they do it for me, and the guy who played the bass on their albums wasn’t that bad either.

I love all things jaco not just as a bass player, but as a composer, arranger, innovator etc. So I don’t think he is a bad choice to model your playing on, but no matter how hard you try you will never sound like jaco and that’s not a bad thing, you will always sound like you.

What are the amps and instruments you currently use?

SWR Mo Bass amp head
SWR 4x10 goliath bass cabinet.
Lakland 55-94 Deluxe (that’s my baby)
Musicman stingray 5
(John Doe) upright acoustic bass.

Yeah, I’ve been secretly hoping that Lakland phone me up to ask me to endorse their product (maybe they haven’t got my cell number). How long have you been playing upright?

I am very new to the upright I only started on it this year, unfortunately I don’t get much time with the instrument. But it is starting to happen, I will carry on working on it and eventually tame the beast.

What instruments would you like to have if money were no object?

FODERA FODERA and few other little toys would be nice!
Variety is the spice of life as they say.

Yeah, Foderas are also very cool – big thanks to V.W. for helping to give them a high profile. Which model would you go for?

Oooooh ! I think I would go for one of the imperial series basses, a lot of my friends say its ugly. but there is beauty in that creature . I know Tom Kennedy plays one those, awesome sound!

Being a player that’s already investigated upright bass and being into Jaco, do you see yourself getting into fretless bass guitar in the future?

Most definitely, as a matter of fact I have a Godin A5 fretless on its way cant wait to get my hands on it, the fretless has such a great vocal quality. And with certain little gadgets you can get the craziest sounds out of them.

What have you been doing for the last five years or so?

Well I spent the first three of those five at Pretoria technikon, the lecturers there really taught me a lot I am still trying to get my head around a lot of the stuff. Then I have just been freelancing for various pop rock and jazz outfits, I do have a day job, but I enjoy it! Otherwise I would never get out of bed before eleven.

Was Marc Duby your bass instructor?

Yes! Marc was a great instructor he inspired me a lot. He was actually very good to me and did things that were beyond his call of duty as a teacher. Forgive me for going on but I think this little story has to be told.
While I was nearing the end of my third year at Pretoria tech. My flat was broken into and I was cleared out and my bass went too. At that point in my life there was no way I was going to be able to afford another instrument. Marc took it upon himself to help, so he contacted a few people and managed to organise me a new bass the day before my final third year recital. For that I will be forever grateful to Marc. I still have the bass, at the moment I am in contact with a music school in Daveyton on the east rand and I will soon be passing the bass on to another young bass player who is perhaps less fortunate then my self, who will benefit from the same kindness that was once shown to me. Thank you Marc!

Do you minor in anything?

Not really! I mess around on guitar and the piano when writing new tunes but I would never let anyone see me do that in public.

What recordings that you’ve played on would you recommend for listening?

I haven’t done any recordings yet (strange) maybe the industry is trying to tell me something. (A little humour).

Yeah, that is a bit strange – and here I was, hoping to see a cd featuring J.S. in my post box!!

Alas not today!

What’s been the low point in your career so far?

Without a Doubt! Woodcutters pup and grill in Benoni. I had a residency there once . I wanted to quit music there and then!

Tell us what happened!!!

Nothing really happened, it is just the last venue I ever want to go back to. God willing!

And what has been the high point?

I have two very different high points I had to mention both.
- Playing with guitar legend John Fourie at Aardklop one year. It was the scariest most exciting gig ever.
- Touring with the band Westlife in April earlier this year as a member of Heinz Winckler’s band awesome experience.

Playing with Johnnie Fourie hey? Next stop, John McLaughlin (GREEN with envy hahaha).

I was in no way ready as a player for that gig, but it showed me exactly where I would like to be one day.
The only way to describe it is that I didn’t feel like playing. All I wanted to do was listen to someone else saying something that was a lot more important than what I had to say.

So what do you do when you’re taking a break from music – hopefully, not running some religious cult in Warmbaths!!!

No! not at all . The cult runs itself. I have great guys working with me. ha ha ha .
I love watching television, simple but it does the trick for me!

What are your goals currently?

- Well I just want to keep getting better at what I do. Play as many gigs as possible and play with as many different musicians as I can. Everyone I play with has taught me something new about music and myself. Music is personal that way!
- I would also like to get into the studio thing. Who knows, maybe next year! Ha ha ha

Thanks very much for a great interview James.