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John Goldsby

Bassist John Goldsby recently retired after 30 years with the WDR Big Band Cologne and his upcoming release is Big Band Bass—WDR Big Band, John Goldsby, Bob Mintzer

About Me

John Goldsby played bass with the Grammy Award-winning Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) Big Band in Cologne, Germany since 1994. Originally from Louisville, he was a protagonist on the New York jazz scene from 1980 through 1994. His recordings as leader include Live at the Nachbar [with Jacob Duncan and Jason Tiemann on Bass Lion Records], Cologne [a cooperative trio 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 upcoming 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. 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