Matt Petruska profile picture

Matt Petruska

About Me

I live in Santa Rosa California with my wife Jennifer, my daughter Haley, and my son Trae. I have been playing the electric bass for over twenty years and I am very influenced by Deep Funk and many forms of Improvisational Music. My passion for the bass stems back to the first moment that I really listened to John Paul Jones playing The Lemon Song. I was hooked and soon found myself in jam sessions with high school friends.In the 1980’s I played with Minneapolis Jam Bands Third Stone and the Madcaps. I love to improvise live and I am always seeking opportunities to reinvent a song.In 1993, I moved to Northern California with high school friends Dave Ready and Mike Doying and together we founded the original funk band People Tree. The band was too much fun but, we got caught up with the responsibilities of our careers and family. This resulted in putting my music on the backburner for eight years while Haley and Trae were young.I started to play again in 2003 with Barrelhouse. In 2007, I founded The Fortunate Sons which focuses on improvisational New Orleans Funk, Rock, and Blues. With The Fortunate Sons, I feel that I have found a group of amazing musicians that I really enjoy gigging with.The Uptown Rulers is a new project that was put together in 2008. The band focues on Deep Funk, New Orleans Funk, and Hammond driven Soul Jazz. This band intends on writing music and developing a unique style based upon our influences.I am very influenced by the music of New Orleans. The syncopated second line rhythms have an infectious groove and feature two of my favorite bass players, George Porter Jr. and Reggie Scanlan. I am also very influenced by the soul music of the 1960’s and strive to emulate bass legends Duck Dunn, Fred Thomas, and James Jamerson.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 05/10/2007
Band Website: www.FortunateSons.Net
Band Members: The Uptown Rulers are: Tim Mckee (Guitar) Jeff Stevenson (Keyboards) Sean England (Drummer) Matt Petruska (Bass)The Uptown Rulers were founded in 2008 and focuses on Deep Funk and NOLA Funk!The Fortunate Sons are: Richard Brucker (Guitar and Vocals) Mike Watermann (Drums) Jeff Stevenson (Keyboards) Matt Petruska (Bass) Multiple Sax Players including: Al Garth, Ari Camorota, Ron Hawkins, and Jane ForsgreenThe Fortunate Sons are my main group that focuses on improvisational Rock, Blues, Soul, and Funk.The Zinful Minds are: Carl Dreyer (Guitar) Rob Cunningham (Guitar) Jeff Stevenson (Keyboards) Val Fuentes (Drums) Mike Pritchard (Percussion) Matt Petruska (Bass) Ari Camorota or Ron Hawkins (Sax)The Zinful Minds are a collective group of friends that gig on occasion playing Funk, Rock, and Jazz.
Influences: New School Deep Funk: New Mastersounds, Robert Walters, Bamboos, Speedometer, Mighty Imperials, Calypso Kings, Poets of Rhythm, Diplomats of Sound, Lefties Soul Connection, Martin Medeski and Wood, Sugarman Three, Dap Kings, Will Benard, Charlie Hunter, Leslie Overdrive, Link Quartet, James Taylor Quartet, Budos Band, Cadillac Jones, Brekestra, Daktaris, Killer Meters, Reverend Cleatus and the Soul Saviors, Marva Whitney, Godfathers of Groove, The Stylistics, Quantic, Soulive, Lettuce, Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson, The Yards, Link Quartet, and Dayton Sidewinders.Old School Deep Funk: Meters, The JB’s, James Brown, Tower of Power, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Mcgriff, Jack Mcduff, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, and Booker T. and the MG’s.New Orleans Funk, Blues, R&B: Professor Longhair, Meters, Galactic, Dr. John, Jon Cleary, Eddie Bo, Dumpstaphunk, Neville Brothers, New Orleans Social Club, Wild Tchoupitoulas, Wild Magnolias, Henry Butler, James Booker, Stanton Moore, Papa Mali, Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kermitt Ruffins, Papa Grows Funk, Joe Crowan Organ Combo, Lee Dorsey, and The Gaturs.Favorite Bass Players:The Groove Masters: George Porter Jr, James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Duck Dunn, John Paul Jones, Rocco Prestia, Bobby Vega, Robert Mercurrio, Chris Wood, Aston Family Man Barrett, Robbie Shakesspeare, and Bootsy Collins.The Jazz Cats: Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Paul Chambers, and Charles Mingus,The Fast and the Furious: FLEA, Jaco Pastorius, Anthony Jackson, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, John Patitucci, John Entwisile, Stuart Hamm, and Chris SquireOther Big Influences Afro Beat, Classic Blues from the (‘50’s and 60’s), Classic soul (60’s), Roots Reggae, Jazz (50’s & 60’s), Classic Rock (60’s and 70’s), and Jam Band.
Sounds Like: A bit of my favorite influences and hopefully.....me
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Kenny G

Pat Metheny on Kenny G Question: Pat, could you tell us your opinion about Kenny G - it appears you were quoted as being less than enthusiastic about him and his music. I would say that most of the se...
Posted by on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:09:00 GMT

Explaining Jazz Bass

Yogi Berra Explains Jazz Bass I have undergone brief periods in my life in which I played bass. I suffered a minor relapse just this year. But I have friends who are real bass players, and one of them...
Posted by on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:59:00 GMT