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Amy Shook

Amy Shook is one of the most in-demand upright bass players in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.

About Me

Since moving to the east coast in 2003, Amy Shook has become one of the most in-demand upright bassists in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, coveted for her huge sound and infectious, driving groove. She is an incredibly versatile musician who enjoys playing jazz standards as well as new music by her local colleagues. She is also an accomplished composer, and her personality truly comes through in her writing. Amy co-leads her own quartet with drummer Frank Russo, and her husband, Pat. Their first album, The Shook/Russo Quartet featuring Greg Gisbert was released on Summit Records in July 2006, and it features all original compositions by Amy, Pat, and the group's pianist, Tim Young. Amy and Frank also co-lead the FAB Trio with jazz pianist extraordinaire, Bob Butta. The trio's first album, The Shook/Russo Trio featuring Bob Butta: Introducing the FAB Trio, debuting new music by both Amy and Bob, was released in July of 2007 on Summit records, receiving national acclaim in Jazztimes Magazine. She has also received national recognition in reviews for her performance on the album Uncertain Path by the Rob Levit Trio, an exciting trio she performs regularly in, with guitarist Rob Levit, and drummer Frank Russo. As a result, she was featured in Bassics magazine on their CD Sampler published with the magazine.

The Shook/Russo Quartet's 2009 release on Summit Records, So Far From Home, once again features trumpet virtuoso Greg Gisbert, and all new music by Amy and Pat. In addition, she is featured on singer/songwriter Felicia Carter's 2008 double CD release Feather/Step Lightly, both as a performer and arranger. Amy collaborated with Ms. Carter, writing music and lyrics for Next Stop: Silver Spring, a television documentary on the B&O Railroad, airing on WETA (DC) in early 2008.

In addition to her constant performance schedule, Amy is also an accomplished music educator, and holds two bachelor's degrees (performance and composition) and a master's degree (performance) from the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID. She is currently jazz faculty at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. Amy also performs and teaches with the Jazz Update, a quartet lead by saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk. The members of this ensemble are integral components of the Washington Performing Arts Society's (WPAS) Capitol Jazz Project in affiliation with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz At Lincoln Center. The Capitol Jazz Project holds an unique partnership with the D.C. Public Schools to support the study of music through jazz instruction and student performance in the schools, as well as through a free summer jazz camp. For more information on this program, visit www.wpas.org.

Amy has performed at such venues as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Strathmore Mansion, Blues Alley, Twins Jazz Club, and Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in New York City, and many festivals such as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, East Coast Jazz Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Cape May Jazz Festival. She was also invited to perform at the White House on three occasions in 2009. She has shared the stage with such notables as Lionel Hampton, Jane Jarvis, Claudio Roditi, Al Grey, Bill Watrous, John Stowell, Greg Gisbert, Ingrid Jensen, Ethel Ennis, Slide Hampton, Paquito d'Rivera, Ali Ryerson, Maureen McGovern, Dee Daniels, Sherrie Maricle, George Mesterhazy, Rebecca Parris, Jim Snidero, Frank Lacy, Walt Weiskopf, Greg Boyer and Bobby Watson to name a few. For more information, please visit www.amyshook.com.