In college Eric studied bass under Buell Neidlinger at California Institute of the Arts where he was on scholarship.
While in Los Angeles, Eric’s music career included many aspects of the music industry, such as recording albums with artists from Bill Cosby to Chaka Khan, television and film soundtracks, and numerous television and radio commercials. He was a member of the rhythm section in those situations and also played in the orchestra double bass sections.
Eric has toured many countries in Asia, throughout Europe, Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Central and South America and has been a member of the bands of Freddie Hubbard, Taj Mahal, Bennie Maupin,The Jazz Tap Ensemble, The Doug MacLeod Band, the Pointer Sisters and Barry White. He has also backed artists Nancy Wilson, Gary Bartz, Bob Mintzer, Franklyn Ajaye, George Howard, Sonny Stitt, Joe Williams, Della Reese, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Harold Nicholas, Todd Cochran (Bayete), Pee Wee Crayton, Joe Louis Walker, and many more.
Eric moved to Australia in 1998 and has work with many of Australia’s top jazz artists accompanying them at jazz festivals, in jazz clubs and on recording sessions. Some of those artists are Bob Sedergreen, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky,Bernie Mcgann, the Mike Price Trio (with guitarist Mike Price and drummer Colin Hoorweg), the Time Within duo (with pianist Mike Nelson), Lucky Oceans, Miroslav Bukovsky, David Jones, Kevin Hunt, Christine Sullivan, Don Burrows, Errol Buddle,Ted Vining, Sam Keevers, John Mackey, Adrian Cunningham, Bob Barnard, and Johnny Nicol.
Eric is a member of the Straight Up! (Trio) who have recorded their debut album The Flow (released 2006). The band featuring Eric C. Ajaye (bass), Michael Azzopardi (piano/synth) and Chris Thwaite (drums), has received excellent reviews and responses from critics and audiences who have attended their performances at concerts and jazz festivals. The band has performed at The Thredbo Jazz Festival, The North Coast Jazz Festival, The Merimbula Jazz Festival, The Moruya River of Art Festival, The Moruya Jazz Festival, Lanyon Winter Concert Series, The Lanyon Under the Elms Concert Series, The Moruya River of Art Festival, The Gods Cafe Jazz Trio Series, and at the Manly Jazz Festival 2006.
Since February 2000 Eric has been a member of the Jazz Department faculty at The Australian National University School of Music, teaching double bass/electric bass, aural, improvisation, creating and running a “Styles for the Studio†class and directing the Commercial Ensemble, which performs at various jazz festivals during the school year.
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