Friday, October 5, 2007

I'm Smitten with Tal Wilkenfeld

Female bass players are hot. I don't why. They just are. Australian immigrant Tal Wilkenfeld, however, is amazing in more ways than one. Not only is she beautiful, but she's a total badass. Wilkenfeld has been blowing up in the New York jazz scene, and the list of musicians she's played with reads like a who's-who. Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, The Allman Brothers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Geoff Keezer, Seamus Blake, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Susan Tedeschi, and Eric Krasno are just a few of the names on her resume. And get this: she's 21 years old and has been playing the bass for only 4 years. You've got to be kidding me, right? Granted, she played guitar before switching to bass, but it's still ridonkulous. And Tal, if you happen to read this, please marry me, because you're awesome.

Peep this video of her jamming at some bass clinic in 2006, where she just so happens to be wearing the same Superman shirt as in the picture above. The drummer tries to be a little too fancy for my taste, but check out the groove they get into about 1:45 in. Nasty.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Damn! So, since the video was from last year, does that mean she had only been playing for 3 years at the time?

Brian said...

Um, yeah, I guess that's right. She learns fast.

Anonymous said...

Showboating drummer is trying so damn hard that they never settle. What groove? Clearly both have chops, but he outright ignores his fundamental job -- tempo. Jackass fills and all kinds of travel mean nothing if you can't keep a damn beat. She should have stood up and smacked him over the head with her bass.

Brian said...

About 1:45 in like I said, they get into a sick groove, but unfortunately it only lasts for a couple bars. I totally agree the the drummer was waaaaay overplaying.