Gerald Veasley

GERALD VEASLEY - BIO

Bassist Gerald Veasley is well regarded as a composer, producer, artist, and educator. His varied musical career has allowed him to reach out to an ever-growing legion of fans. Fans and fellow musicians appreciate Gerald for his virtuosity yet soulful approach to music making. Meanwhile, critics have also noticed this six-string bassist's work. He has been voted “Best Electric Bassist” by Jazziz Magazine and named in both Downbeat Magazine's Critic's and Reader's Polls.

Gerald's love of music started as a 12 year old with a bass his father bought him for Christmas. With private lessons, and endless practice, he developed his skills quickly. He found other young musicians in his Philadelphia neighborhood and they began copying the music they heard and loved, Earth Wind and Fire, Santana and War. Eventually Gerald discovered the music of Miles Davis and was instantly attracted to the sound of jazz. Records by other great jazz artists such as Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderly and Weather Report would be the sound track to his teenage years.

Musical ability and a love of jazz, however, was not enough to convince Gerald that a career in music was a viable choice. With more sober dreams of becoming a lawyer, Gerald enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania. He put music on the back burner until the death of his father. Looking for solace, Gerald found it in the bass he had put aside. Recognizing the healing power of music, he decided to dedicate his life to sharing that power with others.

Collaboration has been an important feature of Gerald's musical career. He had a long and fruitful association with Grover Washington, Jr., and Joe Zawinul. He not only toured and recorded with those two masters, but he also contributed songs to their repertoire. Gerald has also worked with important jazz artists such as Pat Martino, Special EFX, Pieces of a Dream and the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. He has also formed all-star collaborations featuring leading contemporary jazz artists such as Kirk Whalum, Najee, Rick Braun, Chuck Loeb, Kim Waters, Maysa, and Bobby Lyle. Gerald’s recording projects feature John Legend, Dianne Reeves, Phillip Bailey, and Jaguar Wright, among others. Though Gerald is known as a contemporary jazz musician, the versatile bassist has never been content working in one genre. He is also worked with R&B legend, Gerald Levert, jazz diva, Nnenna Freelon, the soulful Teddy Pendergrass, gospel icons The Dixie Hummingbirds, straight ahead piano giant McCoy Tyner and many other diverse artists.

Though bassists are rarely thought of as recording artists, Gerald has eight CDs to his credit. Among them is On The Fast Track, which featured the top ten hit, “Do I Do”. Gerald's live CD, At The Jazz Base, was recorded at Gerald's jazz club, Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base, in Reading, PA. In addition to being a creative base for his various projects, the Jazz Base has presented Acoustic Alchemy, Yellowjackets, Vital Information, Freddie Cole and more.

Your Move, released in 2008, is in collaboration with award winning guitarist Chuck Loeb of Fourplay, who produced four tracks. Gerald’s most recent release, The Electric Mingus Project, revisits the spirit of the late Charles Mingus’ work in a way that pays homage without mimicking him. This release allows the feeling, energy, and irrepressible soul of this artist to burst forth from every track

Having a desire to spread the joy of music has kept Gerald very involved in music education. He is on the faculty of Philadelphia's University of the Arts, where he holds the rank of Master Lecturer. He is also Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Bass BootCamp, an annual seminar that has inspired bass players of all levels from around the world. Gerald has written articles for Jazz Times and Bass Player magazines. He has served the music community as a Trustee and Chapter President with the Recording Academy.

Whether performing, touring, recording or teaching, Gerald enjoys sharing the power of music.