Brian Mulholland

Brian Mulholland is a new voice in the world of electric bass. Whether simultaneously playing melodies and bass lines together, adding chords behind soloists, or serving up a groove, Brian highlights the new facets and roles of today’s bass player.

Beginning with the piano at age 3 while growing up in Anderson, South Carolina, Brian also sang in musicals and the GAMAC Youth Chorus. He picked up the bass at age 10, and after only two months of practice he performed with the high school jazz band.

He continued by learning extended tapping and thumbing techniques after listening to Victor Wooten. Soon he met Wooten and was able to perform with the Flecktones on several occasions starting at age 12. He has gone on to share the stage with many musicians - Béla Fleck, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Stockton Helbing, to name a few.

While attending the University of South Carolina, Brian performed with the USC Jazz Strings Ensemble, created by pianist and jazz studies director Bert Ligon. As part of their 1999 IAJE performance, Brian performed with acclaimed violinist Darol Anger.

Brian also gained tenure in the USC Left Bank Big Band, touring England and France as part of their Ellington Sacred Service performances in 2000. After graduating, Brian continued to work in South Carolina as a freelance bassist, performing with the likes of Chris Potter and David Haynes.

As a pianist, he musically directed productions of 1940’s Radio Hour and Once On This Island; he even found time to perform the role of “Smudge” in three separate productions of Forever Plaid. His transcription work was also requested for Victor Wooten: Bass Day ’98 at Hudson Music’s Online site, HudsonMusic.Com.

Seeking more musical challenges, Brian undertook studies from the world-renown faculty at the University of North Texas. In addition to lessons with well-respected bassist Lynn Seaton, he performed with the L5 Guitar Ensemble and in the 3 O’Clock Lab Band (Jay Saunders, dir.).

He became the Jazz Bass and Jazz Theory Teaching Fellow in 2004, teaching undergraduate and graduate jazz bass lessons. Brian also performed with Seaton and Jeff Eckels (Whatdyaknow) as part of the Lower Convergence Trio at the 2005 ISB Conference in Kalamazoo, MI.

He has recorded with Urban Folk, Lily Maase, Stockton Helbing, and Clay Ross. Right after receiving his Master of Music degree in 2005, Brian released his debut album of all-original music: Deco. It features not only his quintet writing but also his technical ability as a bass soloist, making his mark in raising the bar for bassists everywhere.