Bassist CHRIS MATHEOS grew up in Rochester NY. His musical influences drew from all styles of music:

TEACHERS: Chris' most influencial teachers are as follows:

1. JEFF BERLIN (jazz/fusion bass legend). Chris studied with Jeff in Los Angeles in 1994.

                                                                             Jeff helped fine tuned Chris' right hand technique.

2. JOHN DESERVIO (JD) (Bassist with The Black Label Society, Vinny Moore, etc).

                                                     Chris studied with John in Boston from 1989-91. John was

                                                     still a student when Chris started studied with him. Chris  

                                                      studied soloing & slap bass with JD.

3. ED LUCIE: (Berklee College of Music Professor). Chris studied with Ed his first year at

                                                     Berklee. Chris found Ed to be an excellent teacher of applied

                                                     music theory, etc.

4. BRUCE GERTZ: (Berklee College of Music Professor). Chris spent a semester studying

                                                      with Bruce in 1989. Bruce hipped Chris to playing Be-Bop

                                                       melody lines on the bass. Charlie Parokerology!!!

BASS INFLUENCES: Chris has always been a fan of all types of music. The following artists were huge influences on his bass playing.

1. PETE WAY: Bassist from the rock group UFO. Chris met Pete at the age of 17. UFO is Chris' favorite rock n roll band. Pete took the time to talk music and bass with Chris. Pete is Chris' biggest rock n roll influence as a performer. Pete is one of the nicest and most wonderful 'rockers' Chris has ever encountered.

2. BILLY SHEEHAN: Chris attended a Billy Sheehan bass clinic in 1986 for Kramer Basses. Billy is one of the worlds nicest guys and a most gifted bassist. Chris was watching close and was inspired to practice non stop afterwards.

3. BENNY RIVELT: Chris saw Benny play with Miles Davis in 1988. Chris was so amazed that he went home and practiced 3 days straight. Chris was found sleeping with a bass on his lap (still plugged in). Chris is a big electric Miles Davis fan.

4. JIMMY BLANTON: Duke Ellington bassist. The first exceptional soloist on bass. Chris spent hours studying Jimmy's bass work. Chris has a tribute to Jimmy Blanton on his 'Solo Bass & Duets" CD.

5. JACO: Chris went through a Jaco-ology stage. A local music store owner turned Chris on to Jaco's bass work (thanks JG). Chris could play Jaco's version of "Donna Lee" at the age of 18. That's a lot of practice hours. Jaco's percision fretless playing, free form concepts, and fingerstyle funk grooves, harmonix & bass chords,were a big influence on Chris.

6. MICHAEL SCHENKER: Lead guitarist Michael Schenker influenced Chris. Instrumental songwriting, harmonizing, and melodically. Chris is still a big Schenker fan today.

7. ULI JON ROTH: Chris' other shred rock influence. Specifically his solo works from the late 1970's. Chops, Modes, Scale Substitutions, etc.

8. J.S.BACH: Chris spent hours learning Bach's cello suites. The big influence being CHOPS, Speed, and Percision. Chris is often asked "what do i study to be able to play fast?" Chris always points young bassists to JS BACH. Chris was composing original classical influenced music at the age of 16.

9. BOBBY RADCLIFF: Chris has played bass for NYC Bluesman Bobby Radcliff for years. He considers Bobby to be a major influence (blues bass playing, vocal styles, and just as the walking human dictonary of blues history).

10. JEFF BERLIN: Chris spent crazy hours studying Jazz Bass Legend JEFF BERLIN. Chris seeked him out well in Los Angeles (1994) for lessons. Jeff had a major influence on Chris right hand technique. Jeff is an exceptional teacher and very generously shares his wealth of knowledge with upcoming bassists. Specifically his solo works, Bill Bruford Recordings, and Allan Holdsworth recordings.

 CHRIS' FAVORITE ALL TIME CD'S:

1. JACO PASTORIUS "Jaco Pastorius". CHRIS: "Jaco's first solo CD blew me away. The perfect fretless intonation, bass tone, chops, fingerstyle funk grooves, and quirky instrumentation/arranging. I still get shivers up my spine when i hear this CD."

2. DUKE ELLINGTON & JIMMY BLANTON " Duets". (reissued under many names). CHRIS: " The famous Chicago recording session from the 1940's with Duke on piano and Blanton on bass. Blanton is really blazing on this. It's interesting to hear Duke in a support role too. I love the musicianship, tunes, and vibe. Duke always seemeed to get great quality audio recordings when it comes to bass. His composing really knew how to feature the bass too. Way ahead of his time."

3. BILL EVANS "Live at the Village Vangard". Bassist: Scott LaFaro. CHRIS: "The Lafaro sessions are wonderful. Unique versions of the standards. Lafaro was so talented and Bill Evans knew how to back up a bassist. He often did not play when Lafaro soloed. Gotta love that as a bassist. Lafaro seems very influenced by Jimmy Blanton (who wouldn't be). I really enjoy how he took Blanton's influence and added to it. Very creative."

4. ULI JOHN ROTH "Electric Sun/Earthquake".  CHRIS: "An obscure album from the rock guitar player. Late 1970's. I love all the tunes even if Uli's vocals are hard to understand. What amazing guitar work on tunes like earthquake. His scale choices really blow me away in the end of the tune. Super high musical IQ here. The band is great too. Uli Ritgen was an amazing bassist. I ran my vinal of this one into the ground at a young age. I recently met Uli, and it was a thrill for me."

5. PAT METHENY "Bright Size Life". CHRIS: "Jaco Pastorius' bass work is some of his best here. But it's more than the bass. Metheny's songwriting and unique chord choices were my most important Piccolo Bass influence. Metheny uses many small chords without 5ths (R,3,7,  or R, 7, 10). I love those small chords on bass or Piccolo bass. I also had the pleasure of chatting with drummer Bob Moses for about fifteen munites at the 1990 Boston Globe Jazz Festival. Very interesting perception from Bob on this album and time period of his career. I also had the chance to ask Pat Metheny a rather stupid question in 1988. I asked him what it was like to have Jaco play on your first CD. I got a lecturing about how Jaco does not play for you, he takes the project over...WOW!"

6. MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP "MSG". CHRIS: "When it comes to hard rock and neo-classical guitar, this CD has always done it for me on many levels. The instrumentals are exceptional. Amazing guitar harmonies, riffs, and meldoic skills from Michael. Vocalist Gary Bardon is in his prime too. Feels like a Good Thing, is what i call a perfect rock song and Into The Arena is the perfect instrumental!! I have seen Michael live many times and recently met him. Fun..I grinded many practice hours away on this album. What a great way for a rookie bassist to get his speed and endurence together."

7. JIM HALL & RON CARTER "Alone Together". Chris: "I am jazz nerding it up here. I love this guitar & bass duet album. They are a great team. The tunes are great too. This is my favorite Ron Carter. I had the pleasure of watching a Ron Carter rehersal in 1989 at The Eastman School of Music. When I shook Ron's hand, my hand felt child sized!! And I have big hands!! What a class act Ron is."

8. BB KING "LA Midnight". Chris: "There was a vinal record store where I grew up. They had a 'five for a dollar' bin of old scratched up records. I used to go there and often buy albums with cool covers, with no clue about who the artist was. This is my middle school years. Occasionally i'd pick a great album. I purchased this quirky 1970's BB King album. Lucille (the guitar) infront of the Hollywood sign. It's gotta be cool, I thought to myself!! It really hooked me on Blues. It's a strange album mixing Jerry Jammont's bass work with Red Callender's Tuba. They actually alternate on some tracks in the same song. CRAZY!! I love Jerry's bass work and BB's vocals. He captures a lonely vibe in his guitar work as well. He says so much with so little."

9. BLACK SABBATH "Paranoid". Chris: "Yes, I think Geezer Butler is a bass playing machine. His ability to improvise under a guitar solo is excellent. It's almost a jazz mantallity approach to heavy metal. Very influencial style to me. Ozzy is a huge vocal influence on me too. Geezer's bass work & lyrics, power trio vibe, etc. I love the entire album, and it never gets old to me. hum.. Maybe i'm just old???"

10. THE DOORS "LA Woman". Chris: "To me it's a masterpiece! The Doors last album with Morrison. I like all Doors albums. This one stands out to me because the bass work is so great. Jerry's (Elvis' bassist) bass work is perfect. I think it freed up Manzarik to really jam to the max. John Densmore (drummer) just kicks severe ass on this album too. Strong creative songwriting, wacky lyrics, and some great blues!! Gotta love it. Morrison is a big vocal influence for me as well.PS-Morrison Hotel is a close second for me (Lonnie Mack on some of the bass work)."

11. LED ZEPPLIN "Physical Graphitti". John Paul Jones is a wonderful bassist/arranger/musician. I am a fan of all Zepplin. This album rises to the top for me. Complicated arrangments for the most part. Some 8 string bass work too from JP. The material is matured from earlier works. This CD really works for me on all levels."

12. BILLY COBHAM "Spectrum". This was the CD that really got me hip to jazz/fusion in my teens. I was in that middle school metal mania phase. Then a instructor passed me a copy of this cd (thanks GC). The double bass drum energy and powerful songwriting really rocked my music world. All instrumental paints a great picture mentally. NOTE: A real downer was meeting Billy Cobham. Drinking and very unfriendly. I guess they cant all be nice guys. Billy, sorry it was such a burdon to autograph an album for an inspired teenager. Anyway, what a jerk. But even jerks can make great music!! That meeting is one reason why I always take an extra munite for people at shows"

A FEW OTHER MENTIONS:

TOMMY SHANNON: Chris "I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan when i was 18. Tommy Shannon was stellar. Such a powerful driving force through the experienced use of sustain and pull offs. A very good bassist to study how to play in a power trio."

SANTANA: Chris: "My older sister gave me the first Santana album when I was about 16 years old. I learned every Dave Brown bass part. Then i purchased the Abraxis album and did the same. I saw Santana a few times live at the high school age. Alphonso Johnson & Wayne Shorter on one show. The ultimate Santana album for me was called Shango. A great mix of latin, African, Reggae, etc. I really love this album and the bass work of Dave Margen. Perfect!!"

CHARLIE PARKER: Chris: "I got on the Bird kick in high school. The chops and speed really knocked me out. I learned many of his sax solos on bass from sheet music. I'd analize the note choices and compare them to the chords. That's some left field choices when put on a bass guitar. Very interesting material. I have always been a fan of up tempo material. Bird might have had something to do with it."

STING: Chris: "I spent a lot of time studying Sting's bass work with The Police in my high school years. I never followed his solo career, but I really like his Police bass ideas. Reggae/Ska influenced parts, with clever rhythmic work. Oh yea, and the vocals are pretty bitchin' too!!!"

FRANK ZAPPA: Chris:"I am a fan of most of Zappa's work. I can take or leave some of the lyrics. Amused by the Huskies!!! Instrumentally he was very smart. Skilled arrangments and great bass playing from Arthur Barrell and Scott Thunes. I saw Zappa in 1988 on the last tour and really enjoyed it."

CRAIG S. SNYDER: Bandmate/guitar guru!! Known as The Allan Holdsworth of upstate New York. I was furtunate to meet Craig at the local music store in my teen years. He was the guitar teacher. Craig is a jazz fusion wizard and possesses music theory IQ off the charts. I always learn something from Craig. If its just a jam, studio sessions, etc. Craig is featured on my "universal Fusion" CD on many of the tracks.

ADVICE: Incase any young up and coming musicians actually read this!! Check out all types of music. The more versatile one is, the more successful one is. Keep an open mind. You can improve from almost anything. What to do, what not to do!!! I LOVE ALMOST ALL TYPES OF MUSIC. Jazz to Metal!! AS LONG AS IT HAS REAL INSTRUMENTS PLAYING IT!!!!!