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John Pursel, Electric Bass |
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As a bassist John, just out of high school, was soon in demand on the Las Vegas lounge scene of the early 1980’s. John received a scholarship to the music program at University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV), where he chose to major in Music Composition and enjoyed playing trombone in 1st and 2nd chairs in the top two bands, as well as the bass chair in the 3rd band. It was during the first semester that John was introduced to the double bass. Between semesters at UNLV, John toured hotels with local bands during the summer months in and out of Las Vegas. Upon excelling at three semesters of the music composition degree, John eventually dropped the UNLV jazz program in favor of touring with the world-famous Platters. Returning to Las Vegas, a local lounge performer, Sonny Turner, hired John for the bass chair. After a few years of playing and touring the casino circuit of Nevada and Atlantic City, John relocated to San Jose and returned to school to pursue an Associate Degree in Electronics. While attaining the degree, John continued to play in the local South Bay music scene. In 1992, John began playing for the Foothill College and San Jose State jazz programs, again on trombone, acoustic, and electric bass, with a desire to meet local musicians. Since coming to the Bay Area, John has again regained his Vegas popularity as a local “gun for hire” and a regular staff member of the prestigious Stanford Jazz Workshop. Although he still plays trombone, John has spent the past decade primarily on bass. However, not one to be intimidated, John plays several types of bass: Double Bass; 4 String Fretted/Fretless; 5 String Acoustic; and 5, 6, 7 and 8 String Electric. [Editor's note: We frequently need to check John's fingers to make sure they are all still attached as he frequently changes instruments during Full Spectrum Jazz performances!] With the influences of James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorious, Rocco Prestia, Marcus Miller, Antony Jackson, Bootsy Collins, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, John Pattittucci, Christian McBride, Victor Whooten, Victor Bailey, Mathew Garisson, Mike Pope, Mike "Flea" Balzary, and Sting, John has developed a progressive and somewhat innovative style of playing electric bass. John’s latest endeavors include the Monica’s Random Jazz, Pacific Standard Time, Gumbo, Lara Price, Full Spectrum Jazz Band, Silicon Vibe, Cristine Marie, Stanford Jazz Workshop, and a few others around the Bay Area as well as on call for projects occurring in the Las Vegas lounge scene. Whether the style requires acoustic bass or electric in the styles of Rock, Funk, Jazz, Bop, Hip-Hop, Fusion, Latin, Afro-Cuban, World, Country, or Disco, John cops the groove. You can send email to: John Pursel
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At an early age John showed an unusual
interest in music. As a child in
diapers John rocked back and forth to the sound of the washing machine, rocked
and sang himself to sleep, crawled to the piano and banged out simple melodies.
He later taught himself guitar listening to John Denver and Jim Croce. His
formal music education began in 5th grade where he started playing
trombone. Becoming bored with the
redundant unison lines, he watched the trumpet fingerings as he progressed on
trombone and, after some more self-learning, John acquired a basic understanding
of the brass valve combinations. Upon
entering junior high school, John played all the brass instruments but continued
to focus on the trombone. He was
voted Drum Major for his high school marching band and by his senior year he
began arranging for and playing electric bass in the high school's pop choir
band.