Bass Class with Dane Alderson

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Yellowjackets bassist Dane Alderson will share his insights into:

• Improving your time and rhythmic feel
• Grooving and locking in with drummers
• Improvisation
• Various techniques & styles and how to practice them effectively
• Learning and memorising music

ABOUT DANE ALDERSON

Dane Alderson was introduced to the language of music by his father (a jazz drummer) at an early age. His first musical love was the drums, but by the age of 13 he had switched his attention to the electric bass. A fan of rock, blues & jazz, he began sitting in and performing regularly with local musicians & bands around his hometown of Perth, Western Australia.

In 2001, at the age of 18, backed by James Muller and Scott Lambie, he achieved 3rd place at the National Australian Jazz Bass Awards, held at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, where he also performed with the critically acclaimed jazz/fusion band 'K' featuring Andrew Fisenden, Grant Windsor & Graeme Blevins. In 2002, he won the James Morrison Scholarship, and also completed his Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) degree at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he studied with some of Australia's finest musicians including Graeme Lyall, Ray Walker, Chris Tarr and Paul Pooley. He was also a member of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra Composers Ensemble for two years, under the direction of Graeme Lyall. 

Dane performs regularly throughout Europe & Australia with James Morrison's group 'On The Edge'. He was also featured on James' album 'On The Edge' which was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House. Dane was one of the founding members of the award winning & internationally acclaimed Perth group 'Void' which consists of Tom O'Halloran on keys, Troy Roberts on sax & Andrew Fisenden on drums. The band has toured throughout the United States & Europe and released the self titled studio album 'Void' in '06.

In August 2010, Dane was the solo support act for one of the most innovative & highly respected electric bassists of our time, Victor Wooten, during his Masterclass tour of Australia. Dane has also toured extensively throughout Asia with the Melbourne based fusion group 'Logic' featuring Ben Vanderwal on drums, Glenn Cannon on guitar and Tim Wilson on sax.

With various bands and ensembles, Dane has performed at many festivals such as: the Hong Kong Jazz Festival, the Jarasum Jazz Festival, the Java Jazz Festival, the Beishan Jazz Festival, Melbourne International festival, the Burghausen Jazz Festival, the Aalen Jazz Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, the Beijing Jazz Festival, the Fremantle International Jazz Festival, the Joy of Jazz Festival Johannesburg and many more.

He performs regularly with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra and highly acclaimed musicians such as Stanley Jordan, Jamie Oehlers, Joe Chindamo, Matthew Jodrell, Ben Vanderwal, Tim Jago, Paul Bollenback, John Beasley, Mike Stern, John D'Earth, Carter Beauford, Butch Taylor, Robert Jospe, Randy Johnson, Kate Ceberano, Emma Pask, Jeremy Gregory, Dave Samuels, Victor Wooten, Michael Manring, Simon Stockhausen and James Muller.

As of April 2015, Dane has been touring, performing and recording with the internationally renowned and multiple Grammy Award winning jazz/fusion band ‘The Yellowjackets’ featuring Bob Mintzer on sax, Russell Ferrante on piano and Will Kennedy on the drums. The band currently has an extensive national & international touring schedule and has just released their latest album ‘Cohearance’ on the Mack Avenue label.