Jeff Wisotzkey

What type of music is your favorite to play?

Pop, blues, rock, country rock... really anything along these lines. I do love to play the blues (as long as the music gets folks up dancing). Good, electric blues with a groove. The majority of folks I have played to enjoy a good danceable tune. Much of the rock and classic rock I have played is founded in the blues. I find that a good song is a good song. If it gets people up to dance, I have done my job.

What do you bring to a band situation?

That's easy; I bring a good sense of humor, good work ethic and a desire to play well as a band. I will be a "full band member", not just a hired gun. If needed, I can handle some of the promotional duties like web site design and daily maintenence and demo recording edits and production (once we are finished in the studio).

Who impresses you the most on bass guitar?

Reggie Richards, the bass player I recently saw with BB King (we had front row seats and it was a thing of beauty watching and listening to him play. BB can ramble on telling stories. Reggie just played a beautiful walking bass line behind him. It never got stale and he never overpowered his boss…. As for the rest of the night, it was bass playing at its finest.

Can you sing?

I love to sing. Playing the bass and singing at the same time is a challenge for a lot of bass players, me included. I do have several songs I like to sing and I am always looking to add more. It is important to find songs that fit my vocals range and have bass lines that I can play while singing. Many vocalists are much better than I but I think it is important to change up the sound of the band through the course of the show, so I sing. My voice has a bit of a growl sound to it. I have performed Steppin' Stone, Sympathy for the Devil, Hoochie Coochie Man, Sky is Crying, Cocaine, Midnight Train, Texas Flood and more.

What makes a band successful?

The show!!.... Bands these days must have a show. The band must find a way to make their gig an "event". There are a lot of talented musicians out there. A band needs to be more than good music. The juke box or a DJ can play good music at a much cheaper price. A good live band has a good visual and musical package. This is a must in order to survive in this tight economy.

What About Your Gear?

The key for a good musician is to bring pro gear that works well and sounds good. I use mainly a Music Man Sting Ray 4 string bass. On occasion I will use a Fender Precision bass or one of several Schecters.  I also plays a Peavey Grind or an Ibanez Ergodyne bass for special occasions.

Amplifiers: Ampeg B2R amp through an Ampeg 410 cabinet; Carvin 1200 Watt Amp Head through a Carvin 410 and a Carvin 118; Peavey Combo 115.