Member Since: 3/20/2006
Band Website: edocastro.com
Band Members:
Influences: I guess I'm old school but occasionally I get into the newer stuff. Mostly I'm into the following: Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, Maroon 5, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Mingus, Charlie Haden, King Crimson, Stevie Wonder, David Sylvian, Dead Can Dance, Riyuichi Sakamoto, Brian Eno, Public Image, Golden Paliminos, Sting, The Clash, The Cure, (17 Seconds only), Bowie, Beatles, Stones, Neil Young, Eric Satie, Ravel, Copeland, Jonatha Brooke,John Taylor, XTC, TOOL, Funkadelics, James Brown, Prince, The Zombies, Carole King, Laura Nyro....are you getting the picture?
Sounds Like: I'd like to think I sound like my mentors, Mark Egan, Jaco, etc. But I don't think I do.
I do think I have a sound. Here's a little story about that. When I released my first CD entitled "Edo" my good friend from Chicago, Guitarist Stu Greenspan bought several copies to give to some friends. So he meets up with Chicago percussion great Paul Cotton, whom I've played with years ago. (10 or 14 years). Anyway Stu puts the CD on and says to Paul, "Guess who this is?" And Paul without dropping a beat says "that's Edo."The Universe often tells you what you need to know. Sometimes through your friends, sometimes in your dreams or just by some coincedence some writing on the wall. At times it's what you need or want to hear and sometimes it's the hard line. The Truth will make you strong, right?I've been a fan of multi-stringed basses, but I must admit, I've reached my zenith at 7 Strings. I used to play Chapman stick but got tired of playing upside/reverse sideways handstands through 2 amps. I tried 9 but got exhausted trying to remember where the F*** I am on the fingerboard. Too much brain time during jam time doesn't work.I am a big Conklin Bass Player. My main Conklin is my Zebra wood Fretted 7 String. I have also have a midi 6 , a 2nd 7 string Fretted and an 8 String Fretless Conklin bass. (This guy has got the coolest Jaco tone.)I decided I wanted to expand my palatte and started searching. About 3 years ago I found a great builder nobody knew about, Sebastien Aquilina.
Anyway I ended having him build me 2 Beautiful fretless 7 string basses. Each has it's own voice and color.This year after a long, long wait, Carey Nordstrand is going to hand to me my NX 7 string.
He builds his own proprietary pickups which sound out of this world. He's another talented builder to be reckoned with.
For me, that is what I love about my basses: Each has it's own distinct voice and sound.Ah but what about that "old school" sound? I found a Frankenstein Fender from Bass Northwest. It's a fretless Jazz bass with a Moses Neck, Bartolini PU and the Retro Pre-amp.
Oh my goodness this thing is scary close to Jaco's bass. You can hear it on my 2nd CD "Phoenix" track 4 "Blue Asia". I'm laying down the groove with that one. Oh yeah Mark Egan is playing 8 String fretless on that tune. OUCH!AccuGroove is the foundation of my sound. You can spend lots of money on a bass but if you're plugging into a "fluffy box" You're wasting your precious bass sound. Mark Wright has been a wonderful supporter of my music and he's a wonderful friend. Not to mention that his cabinets are the best hands down. Most of the other guys (amp cab makers) don't give a rats fart about you unless your ultra famous. Mark is the Salt of the earth. You see, it's us "small" guys that buy the gear. The famous dudes get the s*** for pratically nothing.I'm done, I'm stepping off the soap box.
Record Label: Passion Star Records.
Type of Label: Indie