We recently connected with Eddie Ness and have shared our conversation below.

Eddie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

From a very young age, I’ve always surrounded by a highly musical environment. I have my dad to thank for that. As a lifelong piano player, composer, and avid listener, my dad provided an incredibly rich musical foundation for me. He first taught me how to play piano when I was very young, and always encouraged me to take musical inspiration from every place I can find it. We listened to everything from Beethoven to Pink Floyd, Earth Wind and Fire to Pat Metheny and Miles Davis. It helped make me into a better-rounded musician. My dad also suggested I should start playing the bass, since my brother had recently started playing guitar at that point. My mom, though not musically inclined, has always been incredibly supportive of me and my musical journey. It was her idea to send me to Victor Wooten’s music theory camp in September of 2019, an experience that forever changed my musical trajectory. From there, I was inspired to apply to music school. I auditioned for CU Boulder’s Thompson Jazz Studies program in February 2020, and was accepted with a 100% tuition scholarship. I have my parents to thank for it all.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Music is a language I’ve always loved and understood, and I’ve been an avid listener and player for my entire life. I’ve played many instruments throughout my life, including piano, alto saxophone, drumset, electric bass, and acoustic upright bass. Though I consider myself a bassist first and foremost, my experience with other instruments has given me a diverse palette to inspire my compositions, arrangements, and improvisations. Similarly, though my area of expertise and study is in Jazz (I’ll finish my degree this December), I have extensive playing experience and a wide knowledge of multiple other genres. Over the past four years, I’ve played multiple hundreds of paid gigs for public and private events, many of them with some of the best musicians in Colorado. I believe myself to be a unique musician with the experience, talent, and work ethic most people don’t have. I’m most proud of my instrumental/improvisational ability, as well as my ability as a composer and arranger.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Ideally, I’d someday run my own lessons studio and have a regularly-performing group that I lead, featuring my own compositions and arrangements. I’ve spent a long time as a sideman and a student, but I’d love to be a bandleader. Another goal that’s driving me is to release a record under my own name. I feel like that’s the most important next step at this time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Throughout my musical career, I’ve dealt with injuries and mental illness that have considerably hindered my ability to perform the way I want to. Specifically, I have developed some arthritis in my left pinky that prevents me from playing upright bass as often as I’d like to. This, combined with worsening depression, anxiety, and feelings of imposter syndrome has caused me to burn out and consider quitting multiple times in the past few years. However, with the help of taking extended breaks from playing, and therapy, I keep coming back. There’s nothing else I’d rather be than a musician.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddienessmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eddieness9269/videos

Image Credits

Jack Sasson, Kat Ellis, Brooke Buchan