Bass Playing Son Of Essex Jazz Legend
March 17, 2016Chris Wood – Bass Playing Son Of Essex Jazz Legend
Chris Wood was born in Essex, the son of trumpet playing jazz legend Victor Wood. Digby Fairweather described Vic as ‘pound for pound one of the U.K.’s greatest-ever jazz trumpeters’. A child star, Vic played the best music at the best venues with the best musicians, all his life, founding the Southend Modern Jazz Quintet in the 50s, who went on to play at London’s 100 Club and the Royal Albert Hall. Vic also played in the live orchestra for Joseph And The Technicolour Dream Coat on the West End. Vic Wood’s story is included in a current library exhibition about Essex based musicians.
Amongst his many acomplishments, Vic also married Doreen, and had two children, Kerry and Chris. His passion for music captured Chris’ imagination from a young age – he described remembering the exciting sites and smells of being in music venues when they were closed to the public, being taken there to set up with his Dad – and by the age of 11, Chris had taken to the bass guitar, and was mastering all the Madness albums he could get his hands on. By his mid teens, Chris was playing jazz-funk with his Dad’s band, and the music was well and truly in his veins.
Sadly, Victor passed away after a relatively short battle with cancer in 1999, leaving his musical legacy to Chris and the many musicians and students he had inspired in his life.
Chris got his first job as a young bassist for a company called ReadyTune, comprising mainly of studio work, and through this was recommended to work with Billy Ocean on a European tour. By the age of 19 Chris was Billy’s Musical Director, and has since had a colourful career working with A-List artists, emerging acts and songwriters. More recently, Chris has worked with household names such as Luke Friend, Birdy, Craig David’s producer Artful as well as numerous emerging acts.
Now living in Hampshire, Chris is a Director at Igloo Music UK, a company specialising in teaching music to enhance quality of life. The opportunity to learn from Chris’ wealth of experience is being offered on 1st April at the “21st Century Bassist – Bass Clinic” for bass players of all interests and levels. Chris will demonstrate a variety of technology available to bassists and take questions about being a working musician and life on the road.
Bass Clinic – 21st Century Bassist *pre booking essential*
6th May 7-8pm, North Boarhunt Social Club, Trampers Lane, North Boarhunt, PO17 6DD
https://igloomusic.co.uk/bass-guitar-lessons/bass-guitar-clinic-the-21st-century-bassist/
Categorised in: Bass guitar