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Bass Guitarist

Cliff Wootton

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About Cliff

Enjoy playing a wide variety of styles. Jazz, CCM, World Music, Covers and Function Band stuff. Regular 'first call' church musician.
Bass Guitarist
Crowborough
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Started playing bass in 1970. Was in several bands in the Hastings music scene during the 1970's. After moving away, most of my playing was in church bands. In recent years I have mixed in some Jazz and World Music gigs. Currently playing in several contemporary worship outfits, Jazz & covers bands and occasionally with a Ceilidh band for celtic and barn dance gigs. I get a lot of calls to step in and play for special events. Lately, I have been playing in a progressive rock band who compose music for use in theatrical presentations. I most enjoy playing upbeat material with a somewhat 80's feel. I especially like African styles fused with Latin Jazz and try and use that in church contexts when I can. Nouveau Flamenco, C&W, Popular Classical and Gospel are also great to play. My main instrument for the last couple of years is a five string Steinberg Synapse bass. I like this instrument because it is very versatile and the graphite neck is ultra stable. For more mellow and reflective material I play a small body Alembic strung with very light gauge strings which is set up with an ultra low and fast action. When I need double bass sounds for Jazz or synth sounds for pop covers and prog rock, I use a Roland V-Bass 99 driven from a custom made bass. I have large and small bass rigs so I can cover most kinds of gigs. My playing style is very mobile. Some would say I play a lot of notes but that comes from my influences (Paul McCartney, Stanley Clarke, Verdine White etc.). I have a very good ear for learning new material and I can hit the ground running when I get a call to parachute in at short notice. Would be very interested to try and fuse Baroque Classical styles with contemporary gospel and Latin Jazz.

Musicianship
Genres:
Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Traditional church music, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Musical theatre, Opera, Renaissance, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, 1970s era music, 1960s era music, 1950s era music, 1940s era music, 1930s era music, 1920s era music, Folk, Bluegrass, Ceillidh, Country, Traditional English folk, Rockabilly, Folk rock, Irish rock, Traditional Scottish folk, Traditional Irish folk, Jazz, Blues, Cabaret, Dixieland, Latin jazz, Jazz fusion, Gypsy jazz, Ragtime, Swing, Gospel, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Avant garde, Experimental, Pop, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Americana, Covers, Disco, Funk, Funk rock, R&B, Motown, Karaoke, Soul, Tribute, Vintage, Top 40, Rock, Alternative rock, Classic rock, Britpop, Pop rock, World music, African music, Afrobeat, Bossa nova, Caribbean music, Calypso, Brazilian music, Cuban music, Flamenco, Latin, Polka, Merengue, Reggae, Salsa, Skiffle, Ska, Samba, Tango, Scottish music, Spanish music, Argentinian, Arabic
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Church service, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party
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Other skills:
Fluent improviser, Perfect pitch, Community music worker, Instrumental teaching
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Cliff's Song list

Very familiar with the standard songbook as used for function bands. Covers band material from 50's through to 90's and some more popular material released since then. Up to date with the latest CCM material from Songs of Fellowship, Integrity, Kingsway, Spring Harvest, Hillsongs, Bethel, Worship Central and other contemporary Christian composers. Have played many of the Roger Jones musicals in an orchestral context. Would like to play material like Acoustic Alchemy, Latin Jazz, African Jit Soweto style, Nouveu Flamenco, New Country with Christian lyrical content fused with any/all of those styles.