(photo) Hanif Wondir (left center) and Seaside's Luis Olivo exchange lyrical science during Live from the BASSment’s three-year anniversary party at Cannery Row Brewing Co. in 2014.
Just after Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” peaks, it’s smoothly and unexpectedly rerouted onto a familiar side street, led by a couple notes of a chord progression that Erica Wobbles lets trickle out of his keytar with the velocity of cold maple syrup.
The trickle turns into stream, and the progression unravels completely into an instrumental version of The Doors’ staple “Riders on the Storm.”
The murmurs of excitement grow amongst the onlookers there to soak up the spontaneous band – also including Dani Paige Band guitarist Jesse DeCarlo and MC/DJ/producer Hanif Wondir – as it switches gears, landing in recognizable musical territory.
This was the scene one Tuesday a month at the Cannery Row Brewing Company since Live from the BASSment kicked off in January 2012. The open mic jam session – initially dubbed “an experiment of funk” – is the brainchild of Wondir, DeCarlo and drummer/sound tech Brian Conway, each of whom participate regularly.
From the beginning, Live from the BASSment has been all-inclusive.
“No ego,” Wondir says. “Just good fun music.”
After three years, BASSment makes its Bull and Bear Whiskey Bar & Taphouse debut tonight, where it will continue the first Thursday of every month on the back patio.
Along with its new digs, BASSment has evolved to maximize tightness without sacrificing the spontaneous jam element.
The regular cast of core players, including Wondir, Conway, bassist Rory Glass, Wobbles, pianist Michael Martinez, drummer Justin Horrell and occasionally Lillie Lemon on vocals, rehearse, exchange notes and even collaborate on songwriting. These sessions are no longer open format; the focus is on hip-hop, R&B and soul, with a welcome supply of experimentation – Wondir sites The Roots as a real-life example of BASSment in motion.
“We want to do something different,” he says. “Right now it seems like it’s a good time for it.”
Live from the BASSment 6-10pm Thursday, June 4. The Bull and Bear Whiskey Bar & Taphouse, 479 Alvarado St., Monterey. Sign-up encouraged at wondir1@gmail.com.www.facebook.com/events/1449366745374721 (Partial backline support only, so players are urged to share amps and other equipment.)
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