TC Electronic equipment:
RH450, 2x
RS210,
RS212
Dominique Di Piazza is an influential bass player who has not only played with a string of high profile musicians, but has influenced the bass playing scene by introducing his own unique techniques and playing styles.
Dominique grew up playing both guitar and bass but, after hearing the infamous Jaco Pastorius in 1979, he decided to focus strictly on the bass. He taught himself and soon developed a unique style of playing with a signature right hand approach. Instead of using the traditional two-fingered way his new technique used four fingers and many top bass players have now adopted it as their secondary playing technique. He has since refined the technique further and introduced a unique sound by using a pedal steel guitar pick on his thumb and index finger.
He pushed the boundaries even further by moving from a 4 to 5 string bass but introduced a high C string as the 5th string instead of the low B. This was uncommon but, again, it became something that many top players embraced. And, as if these innovations weren’t enough, Di Piazza also came up with a design for a special bridge to emulate the sound of a fretless bass.
Dominique’s playing style encompasses a number of genres which has, in turn, led him to playing and recording with plenty of top musicians including John Mc Laughlin trio with Trilok Gurtu, Denis Chambers and Birelli Lagrene in the Front Page power trio, Horacio "el negro" Hernandez, Didier Lockwood, Andre Ceccarelli, Gil Evans, Jean-Pierre Como, Stephane Huchard, and Gordon Beck.
After playing hundreds of gigs around the world and influencing a generation of players Di Piazza’s contribution to the world of bass playing cannot be overstated. Some of the numerous players around the bass playing world who have adopted these techniques include Matthew Garrison, Adam Nitti, and Hadrien Feraud.
John McLaughlin has said of Dominique: "His talent is immense, and I feel he is one of the most musical bass players in the world today." Recently McLaughlin asking Di Piazza to join him on his European tour and Di Piazza continues to release music as a trio with Brazilian guitarist, Nelson Veras and drummer Manhu Roche.
Dominique has recently begun playing 6 string F bass. He is present on the latest CD release from mandolinist U.Shrinivas together with Sivamani, Selvaganesh and Zakhir Hussain.
picture copyright: Denis Barbier
www:
www.dominiquedipiazza.comMySpace:
www.myspace.com/dominiquedipiazza
