Rich Kaz profile picture

Rich Kaz

BuddyHolly+JohnnyCash+JohnLennon+MarilynManson=ME

About Me


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I'm a freelance high ambitionist. I've been this way since I was born. I refuse to stop until I achieve everything I set out to do. If I'm good at something, I'll get better. If I'm not so good at something it usually means that either I've never tried it, or have little interest in trying it. However when something's just not happening for me, I know when to gracefully acknolwdge so. Three things you need to know about me :
(1) I can do almost ANYTHING.
(2) If I say I'm going to do it... I'm doing it !!!
(3) I don't QUIT. I'm as tenacious as it gets.
BIO
I was 10 when I decided I wanted to make music for a living. I finally got a real guitar by age 14, and then a Bass at 15 and I just can't stop playing! I also can't seem to stop acquiring basses, guitars, amps, pedals, etc... well you get the idea. If it's a stringed instrument, I can probably play it. If I can't, I'll figure it out. However I like playing the Bass the most. But I can also get by playing Rhythm and Baritone Guitar. Being a melodically driven player, I have been known to throw down some primary melodies when a song needs it.
When I'm in a collective-creative group I typically function as a coordinator and a co-writer. When in the role of a Secondary Player (not in the songwriting team) I'm comfortable and committed. As a session player, I'm intuitive, a quick study, concerned about details, an admitted perfectionist, and yet easy to instruct and flexible. My stage show is always appropriate for the type of gig. Whether it's clothes or attitude, I focus on what's right for the show. Rock shows.... I Rock; Jazz/Groove shows.... I Groove; Ambient/Experimental Shows.... I'm in orbit. No matter what the situation, I definitely have my own vibe I translate. I'd like to think that I approach every session or gig with a sense of enthusiasm only matched by my professionalism.I believe Bass Playing is as much a mental philosophy as it is a physical role in a band. Guitar Players playing Bass are NOT Bass Players. One must THINK like a Bass Player. It is a spiritual occupation, not simply a sonic register. If you need an explanation as to why I understand this truth, chances are we won't be playing together until you find out on your own.I just love to play, and I genuinely enjoy making music, so I'll do whatever is necessary to continue doing so.
RESUME
CURRENTLY :
Providing Professional Sales and Motivational Training Services as a Senior International Trainer for Monster Cable .
Available for Session work when the right project requires me.
Bringing my Brand to everything I do and encouraging those around me to never give up... re-organize maybe, but never give up.
CO-ORDINATOR : recessINVOLVEMENT : Bass Player / Co-Ordinator / Divining Rod
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar, Didjeridoo, Hand Percussionrecess was a lot of fun while it lasted. It was a weekly organized jam session that took on many sonic shapes. The MySpace site is still up, but I moved to Capitola and have put the future of recess on the back burner.
STUDIO MUSICIAN : Jst Recorders or ( Jst Recorders @ Myspace )INVOLVEMENT : On Call Bass Player / Technical Consultant
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass GuitarFirst-Call status session player for a World-Class recording facility owned and operated by Brian Wheat ( TESLA , Soul Motor ).
GUITAR TECH : TESLAINVOLVEMENT : Guitar Tech / Stage Co-Ordinator / Babysitter / Gear Guru / Barista / Rehydration Specialist / Counsellor / Referee / Bitch / FriendGuitar Tech for Tommy Skeoch and periodically Brian Wheat . Part of a crew of men that cater to the bizarre and often eccentric "needs?" of some talented creative souls. Sometimes they drive me nuts, but they're my family now.
LOCAL CAT : Urban Jazz WorkshopINVOLVEMENT : Creative Partner / Bass Player / Urban Jazz Regulator / Cheerleader
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass GuitarSpend enough time in the grid and you'll find out what I'm talkin' about. We give it all at the Fox & Goose on Wednesdays. No amount of explanation can replace the experience, however this uber-cool jazz experiment takes on many shapes and feels, but the one thing that is constant, is the change.
STUDIO MUSICIAN : ARTIST:
JARBOE (the Swans)INVOLVEMENT : Creative Co-Conspirator/Studio Musician.
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar/Baritone GuitarALBUM : "MEN" Disk 2
SONG : "This is Life"Song “This is Life” developed for compilation tribute by men to Jarboe. Notables on album include: Blixa Bargeld (Einsterzende Neubauten, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), Alan Sparhawk (Low), Iva Davies (Icehouse, Master & Commander soundtrack), Jim Thirlwell (Foetus), Edward Kaspel (Legendary Pink Dots), Paz Lenchantin (Zwan, RTX), David Torn (David Bowie, David Sylvian), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface), David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets, The Jazz Butcher), Steve Von Till (Neurosis), Joseph Budenholzer (Current 93, Lydia Lunch), Mika Vainio (PanSonic, Bjork) and many more. ARTIST:
ClaireVoyant - Mertropolis Records ( ClaireVoyant @ MySpace )INVOLVEMENT : Studio Musician.
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar
ALBUM : "Love is Blind"
SONG : "He is Here"Internationally touring 3 piece Electronically-Based Darkwave/Ambient-Dream-Pop Band from Sacramento, CA.
BAND : LuckbucketINVOLVEMENT : Bass Player
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar4 pc. Pop-Rock Band from the Sacramento Valley Area that developed a medium-sized regional following opening for National Acts such as Seven Mary Three. Began playing a regular circuit of venues ranging in size from Clubs to Colleges along the West Coast and the Valley for over 2 years until personnel and life changes made separation imminent.
BAND : KBF (the King Bradley Fisher Group)INVOLVEMENT : Bass Player / Coordinator
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar8 pc. R&B/Soul/Pop Band from Sacramento that developed a strong local following for almost 4 years through constant performing in venues ranging from coffee houses and pubs, to large clubs such as Harlows . Nominated for a SAMMIE , KBF was at the peak of it's popularity when management at Harlows began negotiations with KBF for a full-time management relationship. By the time of KBF's separation, The group had an impressive resume of shows with seminal soul bands such as Tower of Power . It's fair to say that KBF helped pave the way for a resurgence of local Original Soul and R&B music in the region.
BAND : NUSINVOLVEMENT : Founding Member / Creative and Organizational Partner / Bass Player
INSTRUMENT/s : Bass Guitar / Baritone GuitarInternationally Touring 4 pc. Ambient Avant-Garde Band from the Sacramento area. Recorded Two Albums for Sub Rosa Records with Producer/Bass Player Bill Laswell in NYC. With articles in Alternative Press , well attended shows at NYC's the Cooler, and a growing international fan base, NUS began work on a material for a third album. Lack of proper label support, personnel changes, and personal differences let to the dismantling of this revolutionary sonic wellspring of talent.
PREVIOUS BANDS / PROJECTS
Seven Reasons or ( Seven Reasons @ MySpace ), CALL BOX , Josephine , Aimee Porter , Downboy, Enertia, Rasputins Tears, Berserker, MUK, Daisy Chain, Three Way Window Pane... and plenty more that I haven't mentioned.
PRODUCERS/ENGINEERS I'VE WORKED WITH
BILL LASWELL = (Bootsy Collins, BucketHead, George Clinton, White Zombie, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Bob Marley, Monster Magnet, Motorhead, Yoko Ono, Iggy Pop, PIL, the Ramones, Santana, Sly & Robbie, Sting, Tabla Beat Science, Bernie Worrell, Yellowman, John Zorn, and more.) OZ FRITZ = ( Prarie Sun ) (Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Primus George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Material, Ginger Baker, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Sonny Sharrock, William S. Burroughs, John Cale, D.J. Disk, Digital Underground, Jungle Brothers, Golden Palominos, Information Society, Meat Loaf, Buckethead, O Rappa, and more) ROBERT MUSSO BRIAN WHEAT = ( TESLA , Soul Motor ) at Jst Recorders or ( Jst Recorders @ Myspace ) MICHAEL ROSEN = (AFI, Rancid, Pavement, Santana, Joe Satriani, Death Angel, Testament, and more) (Credit List) CHRIS ROSS= ( ClaireVoyant & ClaireVoyant @ MySpace )And PLENTY MORE...INSTRUMENTS
Here's my main Bass. Hand made in Chicaco specifically for me. I believe these are the finest production Basses made in America... if not the world. Check www.lakland.com for more info. I currently own 19 electric bass guitars, with more on the way whenever I see something that truly appeals to me. In addition, I also own 2 baritone electric guitars, other various guitars, and plenty of other music-related noise generators. Truth is that I have way too much stuff.Corporate Affiliations / Sponsorship
MONSTER CABLE : Since 1995
DR Strings : Since 1995
Jim DUNLOP : Since 1996
LAKLAND Basses : Since 1997
TRAVELLER Guitars and Basses: Since 1997
FARGEN Amplification : Since 2002
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/10/2003
Band Members: Richard Vartan Kazanjian
RICH "KAZ"
Influences: S ONIC:
Roger Waters, Simon Gallup, Peter Hook, Geddy Lee, Andy Rourke, Jaco , Sting (Police stuff only), Adam Clayton, John Taylor, Rocco Prestia , Mark Egan , Jah Wobble, Bill Laswell , Doug Wimbish, Doug Pinnick, Brian Wheat , Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, Mark King, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Gary Numan, Charles Mingus, Mick Karn, Tony Levin, the Edge, Big Country, Everything but the Girl, Dave Grohl, Marty Wilson Piper, Massive Attack, Matt Johnson, Angie Aparo, Roland Orzabal, David Gilmore, Martin Gore, Talvin Singh, Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, AC/DC, Rick Ocasek, John Lennon, Crown Amplifiers pounding my sternum into submission...E VERYTHING ELSE:
Lou Gehrig , Yoda, Baseball, the Nikon D200 and Digital Photography, Integrity, Kayaking, Branch Rickey, the Aspire Foundation , Abraham Lincoln, John Lennon, Flight Attendants, Pistachios, True Patriotism, Beautiful Sunny Days, My Parents, Jackie Robinson, Lighthouses, Positive Social Development, Bruce Lee, Cooking, Skirts, The Ocean, Cars (old, new, fast, slow), Cheerleaders, Fresh Veggetables, Motorcycles, Garter Belts, My Friends, Personal Growth, Building or Fixing Things, Fatherhood,...


Don’t Believe the Hype!!!
Try not to forget that this country exists because of dissenters. We split from England because of UNFAIR TAXATION, amongst plenty of other reasons. Critical thought and dissent are CORNERSTONES or a true Patriot. The mainstream media is designed to lull us into submission. We Americans have ALWAYS challenged the “Mainstream Thought”. We are not followers we are leaders. As leaders, we need to set the correct examples of humane behavior and stewardship to all living beings.Our historical dichotomies and contradictions aside, I love this country enough to want to fix it. I believe that in spite of our problems and major issues facing us, the ideologies under which this is country was founded are in fact the greatest off all time and are worth preserving. Let us endeavor to live up to our slogan and truly become the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. But before that can happen, TRUTH and JUSTICE must really be the American Way.


Sounds Like: An enormous liquid-spewing tsunami of electricity gently plucking a dandelion from a field of dreams.
Record Label: Sense of the Infinite Recordings
Type of Label: None

My Blog

good things come to whose who.... wait a minute

So after plenty of false time lines, botched starts, miscommunication, disappointments, and what seems like a fucking ETERNITY, we're finally getting to move into our place on Beach Hill over in Santa...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:12:00 PST

When one door closes... PT.2

Thanks for all the good energy. We just dropped off a Money Order for what will be our new place: 3rd and Main St. on Beach Hill in Santa Cruz. I am humbled, blessed, and unimaginably grateful for my ...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:24:00 PST

Sun, Wind, and the Homie’s Home office

Grateful for "working" from home. Gives me time to pack, clean, hang out in my pj's, watch Yankee Spring Training Games, ground myself, be home for my girlfriend, cook for both of us, jump on my longb...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:02:00 PST

When one door closes...

... another one opens?So as if the immediate crunch of development of ALL of my materials for the success of a major training season for my ENTIRE year wasn't enough; Our Landlords have decided to "do...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:13:00 PST

Deceleration/Ascension

So I'd been pretty shitty for months. Even since before my last blog, but I just didn't write about it. It's funny how quickly a person can go from patient and tolerant, even open and grateful, to col...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:01:00 PST

Clogged

So one of the worst parts about touring and being away from home, family, and friends was the energy drain on my house itself. It's like when you put a bunch of flowers in a vase and everything in the...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:28:00 PST

Sometimes, it’s the simple things

Like getting your shoes shined... that remind me how awesome life is.For so long I cut out many things in my life because I couldn't afford them. In the past there were times I could barely feed my fa...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:18:00 PST

Still taking the Red Pill

While patiently awaiting my silver American Airlines Chariot to arrive and return me to my lovely home and wonderful partner, I am pleasantly reminded of the perfection of the universe. I found a good...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:32:00 PST

What it is to burn pt.2

So the other day I wrote that I was becoming ok with not being in the place I wanted to be with regard to music. Scratch all that. It's in my fucking BLOOD. I can't get it out, and I don't want to. I ...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:59:00 PST

Small Treats

I just scored 4 tickets to see the POLICE in Oakland! I'm not usually such a fucking PUNTER, and since I've seen so many, I rarely get juiced over concerts, but fer fuckssakes, it's the POLICE. There'...
Posted by Rich Kaz on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:50:00 PST