Steve LaSpina profile picture

Steve LaSpina

About Me

Steve LaSpina has been a prominent bassist on the New York and national scene for over twenty years.During that time, he has played and recorded with many great musicians in jazz history. He was a regular band member, toured and recorded with saxophonists Benny Carter, Stan Getz and Phil Woods, vocalists Joe Williams and Mark Murphy, trumpeters Clark Terry, Chet Baker and Randy Brecker, and guitarist Pat Martino. He has spent the last decade traveling around the world and recording with the legendary guitarist Jim Hall, has appeared on six of his recordings, including These Rooms featuring Tom Harrell.LaSpina has appeared on many of the world’s foremost jazz festivals, including the North Sea and Umbia Jazz Festivals. He has been featured on a number of prominent jazz recordings such as the Return with Pat Martino. He ha also recorded several CD's and albums under his own name, including The Road Ahead featuring Jim McNeely on the Ram Record label and Distant Dreams on the SteepleChase label featuring Fred Hersch and Ben Monder.An respected teacher, LaSpina has been on the faulty at William Paterson University since 1999 and prior to that taught for seven years at New York University and The College of St. Rose. He is also a busy clinician, with presentations at The Berklee College of Music Skidmore Jazz Institute and annually at the William Paterson's Summer jazz Workshop.LaSpina also has a great dedication as a composer of both jazz and classical music. He has been featured as a guest composer by the Jazz Composers Collective of New York City, and was awarded a Jazz Fellowship by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for performance and composition. He has recorded over 75 original tunes on the Steeplechase and Ram record labels.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/4/2007
Band Website: http://www.stevelaspina.com
Band Members: Moments: Vic Juris ( Guitar) Dave Ballou ( Trumpet) Billy Drews ( Saxophone) Jeff Hirshfield (Drums) This recording is due to be released Feb 2008 Steeplechase label......Playroom: Billy Drews Tenor and Soprano Dave Ballou Trumpet Gray Versace Hamond B3 Organ and Piano Jeff Hirshfield Drums Steeplechase.........Remember When: Dave Ballou Trumpet Andrew Rathbun Tenor and Soprano Sax Vic Juris Guitar Jeff Hirshfield Drums Steeplechase.........The Bounce: Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Dave Ballou (trumpet) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Vic Juris (guitar) Steeplechase.........Distant Dream: Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Fred Hersch (piano) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Steve LaSpina (bass) Ben Monder (guitar) Steeplechase......The Road Ahead: Vic Juris - Guitar Jim McNeely - Piano Billy Drewes - Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, and Soprano Sax Jeff Hirshfield - Drums Ram Records Italy ..........When Children Smile: Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Dave Ballou (trumpet) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Vic Juris (guitar) Steeplechase.......Story Time: Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Vic Juris (guitar) Steeplechase.....When I'm Alone: Marc Copland (piano) Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Vic Juris (guitar) Steeplechase.....Eclispe: Marc Copland - Piano Billy Drewes - Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet Jeff Hirshfield - Drums Steeplechase.....New Horizon: Marc Copland (piano) Billy Drewes (tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) Jeff Hirshfield (drums) Steeplechase.....As a Co Leader ETC: Fred Hersch piano Steve LaSpina bass Jeff Hirshfield drums For Red Records Italy.............All Steeplechase recordings can be found on I-Tunes
Influences: I am always listening and learning, that is something that never ends. From the first moment my dad played me a Oscar Pettiford recording when I was 11 years I knew this music was special. My influences when talking about the bass are many. My earliest influences were Oscar Pettiford, Ray Brown, Milt Hinton, Scott Lafaro, Red Micthell, Ron Carter, Richard Davis, Paul Chambers, George Marz, Wilber Ware, Rufus Reid, Michael Moore, Sam Jones, Miroslav Vitous and Tommy Potter to name a few.
Sounds Like:
Record Label: Steeplechase
Type of Label: Indie

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