Johnny Shooshami

John here, bassist, family man, and working-class stiff. I currently play with SICMaN of VA (originals) and JiveHammer (classic rock covers). Sometimes I play with my old friends 54 Steps (classic rock covers and originals). On occasion I play "one shot projects" that could be anything. I'll play with anyone if the opportunity and time allows. My musical interests are all over the map, ranging from Classic Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, Funk, Jazz, Reggae and Avant-Garde styles. I tend to listen to things that aren't mainstream, and I'm a sucker for a "ridiculous hook".------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------I started my musical quest at 17 on guitar, playing punk and "thrash metal". I even have some documentation from all those years ago, which may show up here from time to time. I never really "got" the guitar, though, and quit playing music entirely for about five years until I came back in earnest. That's also when I started playing bass.------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------I took up the bass in 1999 while living in Culpeper VA, basically as a way to jam with some folks. The bass turned out to be the "missing link" of my artistic development and my musical "voice" I've been playing in bands since then, performing many different styles of music.------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------My approach to playing cover tunes is to try to perform the various styles as authentically as possible. I consider myself a student of music and I have a deep respect for the music I play, even if I don't necessarily like all of it.--------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------On originals I try to harness the perfect line I can play for the song whether it's one note or all over the place. I'm not an overly technical player; I just try to convey the proper feel and notes.------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------I'm also into home recording and composing, although I have very little time for it. I usually don't write "songs", but "sonic soundscapes": Background music for movies that don't exist. My approach is improvisational composition. I'll start with a muse; it could be a word or phrase, a bassline, a chord or a sound. After that the parts start to write themselves, using me as the vehicle. I'm somewhat of a minimalist, and I like lots of "space" within my parts. I'm not out to impress anyone with blazing technique. What I lack in chops I try to make up for in orchestration. I just try to entertain myself, and if anyone else likes it, it becomes "art".------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------I really love improvisational music, and would love to play jazz and groove with some folks to build up my knowledge and understanding. I've been taking online courses from Berklee College of Music, and I'll slowly work towards a degree in order to make music my business, perhaps getting into teaching and performing full time. One thing I've discovered is the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know s!%!!!------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------Thanks for stopping by! Reagle Beagle, Va Beach, July 10, 2009 with SICMaN of VA...Very first gig with the band-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- And... With 2012 New Years Eve 2007 My son's very first public performance. He trips up a bit on the second tune, but recovers nicely! Joseph Matthew Litz, 7 years old.