On the 26th of April, consummate pro Rudi Creswick took BIMM students back to the ‘bass-ics’ in an eye-opening lecture demonstration. Showcasing the inveterate intricacies of bass playing at the
most rarefied level, Rudi eloquently displayed how players can artfully navigate the love triangle of the bass, drums and the rest of the band. A wizard conjuring his spells on the upright, synth and electric bass (including his preferred bass, an £150 dark horse off eBay) his performances prove
that the rigour of his technical brilliance is exceeded only in the elegance and inventiveness of his music.

Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the young Rudi was moulded by the influences of
bassists as stylistically diverse as Jacko Pastorius, Laura Leezy and James Jameson. The
the inspiration they offered bequeathed to him a unique and personalized sonic landscape,
where his musical genius could transcend the boundaries of genres that were
anyway invisible to his musical vision.

Now a seasoned pro musician mixing it with musical royalty the likes of Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei, Loyle Carner and many more, the command over a plethora of genres is what makes him truly unique. While the masterclass was replete with many technical subjects such as playing behind the beat, musical layering, walking basslines, visualization devices like Konnakol, chord shifts with alternating bass notes and much more, it was his genre-bending effort that struck me as being truly special. So why should every musician aim for the same?

1. More gigs
No surprises there! In the current musical market, it is important to diversify to reach fresh
audiences and venues breaking new ground in the industry. With social media inundating the online musical space, understanding different styles and upscaling to play them is becoming imperative today.

2. Enhanced skillset
As Rudi expounded in his masterclass, a musician becomes an artist when they can utilize the multifarious techniques learned over various styles and cross-pollinate to their own music. Having played styles like hip-hop and club music in his early career, he mastered techniques like palm muted picking, which serves him well in his playing to this day.

3. Broader musical circles
The ability to play a wide range of styles and genres will entail interactions with personnel in the industry at every level, including artists, managers, venue hosts, labels, and producers. This is one of the best ways to put your career on the speedway as such contacts lead to more gigs, collaborations, session work and media visibility.

Keen to lap up more of Rudi’s wisdom? Listen to the musician’s latest solo album here.

Aakash Binu is a writer who strives to tread the labyrinthine world of music and journalism through immersive research and composing. An avid reader of a plethora of disciplines, he finds inspiration in the mundane and the mesmeric to create succinct and informative articles.