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John Goldsby
Member Since: 2008 | Location: Cologne | Page Views: 2,447 
About Me
Bassist John Goldsby recently retired after 30 years with the WDR Big Band Cologne — his recent release is Big Band Bass—WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer
John Goldsby played bass with the Grammy Award-winning Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) Big Band in Cologne, Germany 1994 until 2024. Originally from Louisville, he was a protagonist on the New York jazz scene from 1980 through 1994. His recordings as leader include Space for the Bass [Bass Lion], Live at the Nachbar [with Jacob Duncan and Jason Tiemann on Bass Lion Records], The Innkeeper's Gun [also with Duncan and Tiemann], Cologne [with Bill Dobbins and Peter Erskine on Fuzzy Music], Viewpoint [Nagel Heyer], and Tale of the Fingers [Concord], in addition to countless recordings as a sideman. Recent recordings include Segment (w/ Billy Test & Hans Dekker), a series of duo EPs with Billy Test, and a three-album project: The WDR Big Band—Small-Group Sessions. His current release is Big Band Bass— WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer. He is known as an author for his widely-read tome, The Jazz Bass Book [Backbeat Books], the complete history of jazz bassists and their techniques. The Jazz Bass Book is used worldwide in conservatories and universities and is considered the definitive text on the history and development of jazz bass playing. He has also published Jazz Bowing Techniques for the Improvising Bassist [Aebersold Jazz] and Bass Notes [Aebersold Jazz]. John has written regularly for Bass Player Magazine (USA), Double Bassist Magazine (GB), Bass Professor Magazine (Germany), and UK Jazz News. For more info, visit his webpage at www.goldsby.de
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This page was last updated on 2026-06-01.
