Biography

I am a bass guitarist and the founder of the International Institute of Bassists (InstituteOfBass.com). I have been playing electric bass in all styles of music for 25 years with a primary emphasis on solo bass guitar and contemporary jazz. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I have provided instruction on electric bass guitar and acoustic upright bass locally and to thousands of bassists around the world through my online bass courses, live video bass lessons, and bass lessons by correspondence.

I am a former long-time student of legendary jazz improvisation instructor Charlie Banacos (New England Conservatory of Music, 1993-1999). I also studied bass and music performance under the guidance of Anthony Vitti while at Berklee College of Music in Boston before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

As a solo bassist, I have been arranging and performing contemporary music for unaccompanied electric bass guitar for many years by combining fingerstyle, slapping, tapping, and chordal techniques with altered tunings. I have also been featured in a number of ensembles including regional jazz duos, trios, quartets and quintets, fusion bands, rock bands, funk bands, big bands, R&B bands, country bands, musicals, choirs, churches, and orchestras.

In April, 1997, I founded the International Institute Of Bassists (IIB) at InstituteOfBass.com (formerly BASSically.net). In addition to teaching online through this web site, I have authored 4 online bass courses at the IIB including Sight Reading For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass (2012), Music Theory For Bass - Essential Concepts For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass (2011), Soloing Techniques For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass (2010) and Jazz Bass Lines - Contemporary Concepts For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass (2009). My next course, Contemporary Techniques For Bass Guitar, is currently in production and will be online in 2012.

As editor of the IIB and a freelance writer, I have written promotional press for dozens of leading music manufacturers including Zon Guitars, SWR Sound, Aguilar Amplification, D'Addario Strings, La Bella Strings, Markbass Amplification, Gallien-Krueger, Ibanez, Evidence Audio, and Line 6 as well as for bassists such as Michael Manring, Marcus Miller, John Patitucci, Brian Bromberg, Alain Caron, Stuart Hamm, Gary Willis, Jeff Berlin, Keith Horne, Mike Pope, Tom Kennedy, Todd Johnson, Norm Stockton, Adam Nitti, Matt Garrison, Trip Wamsley, Ray Riendeau, and Damian Erskine which has been featured in a variety of print and online resources including magazines, instructional books, DVDs, CDs, product brochures, and on artist/manufacturer web sites. I also assisted in the editing of the 28-page PDF booklet which appeared on the enhanced CD portion of Michael Manring's solo bass recording Soliloquy in 2005 and consisted of extended project notes on the recording process including the basses, tunings, recording equipment, and techniques utilized along with track notes detailing conceptual and technical aspects for each composition.





I endorse Carvin and Zon basses, SWR Sound, Aguilar Amplification, D'Addario Strings, Evidence Audio Cables, Bartolini Pickups & Electronics, and Comfort Strapp. In May 2002, I was profiled in Bass Player magazine, and since its opening in 2003, I have also been an instructor of jazz improvisation at MusicDojo.com.

"Awesome performance, Cliff! You play it much better than I do! You are making great strides as a player and it's a pleasure to hear the wonderful balance of chops, groove, and sensitivity in your music. Keep up the good work!"

Michael Manring - August 2001

Michael Manring
Marcus Miller
John Patitucci
Brian Bromberg
Alain Caron
Stuart Hamm
Gary Willis
Jaco Pastorius
Jeff Berlin
Stanley Clarke
Victor Wooten
Rocco Prestia
Billy Sheehan
Ray Brown
Ron Carter
Dave Holland
Paul Chambers
Gary Karr

Michael Manring - "Purple Haze"
Michael Manring - "Funk & Disorderly"
Michael Manring - "Sugar"
Michael Manring - "No Wontons For Elvis"
Michael Manring - "500 Miles High"
Michael Manring - "Red Right Returning"
Michael Manring - "Monkey Businessman"
Michael Manring - "Unusual Weather"
Michael Manring - "Geometry"
Michael Manring - "Blue Orleans"
Marcus Miller - "Mr. Pastorius"
Marcus Miller - "Intro Duction"
John Patitucci - "Backwoods"
John Patitucci - "Our Family"
Alain Caron - "Wake Up Call"
Stuart Hamm - "Quahogs Anyone?"
Stuart Hamm - "Country Music"
Stuart Hamm - "Linus & Lucy"
Stuart Hamm - "Terminal Beach"
Stuart Hamm - "Star Spangled Banner"
Stuart Hamm - "Flow My Tears"
Stuart Hamm - "Moonlight Sonata"
Stuart Hamm - "Prelude In C"
Brian Bromberg - "My Bass"
Brian Bromberg - "BASSically Speaking"
Brian Bromberg - "Come Together"
Brian Bromberg - "All Blues"
Brian Bromberg - "Slang"
Jaco Pastorius - "Donna Lee"
Jaco Pastorius - "Portrait Of Tracy"
Jaco Pastorius - "Teen Town"
Victor Wooten - "Latin Groove"
Victor Wooten - "Amazing Grace"
Victor Wooten - "Classical Thump"
Victor Wooten - "Me & My Bass Guitar"
Victor Wooten - "You Can't Hold No Groove"
Victor Wooten - "Overjoyed"
Billy Sheehan - "NV4 3345"
Ray Riendeau - "Penny Lane"
Dave Holland - "Mr. P.C."
Dave Holland - "Homecoming"
J.S. Bach - "Cello Suite No. 1 - Prelude In G Major"

Michael Manring - Drastic Measures
Michael Manring - Thonk
Michael Manring - The Book Of Flame
Michael Manring - Soliloquy
Marcus Miller - The Sun Don't Lie
Marcus Miller - Tales
Marcus Miller - M2
Marcus Miller - The Ozell Tapes
Marcus Miller - Silver Rain
Marcus Miller - Marcus
Marcus Miller - Thunder
John Patitucci - John Patitucci
John Patitucci - Now
Alain Caron - Le Band
Alain Caron - Rhythm 'n Jazz
Alain Caron - Play
Alain Caron - Sep7entrion
Stuart Hamm - Radio Free Albemuth
Stuart Hamm - Kings Of Sleep
Stuart Hamm - The Urge
Stuart Hamm - Outbound
Brian Bromberg - Brian Bromberg
Brian Bromberg - Wood
Brian Bromberg - Jaco
Brian Bromberg - Choices
Brian Bromberg - Metal
Brian Bromberg - It Is What It Is
Brian Bromberg - Plays Jimi Hendrix
Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius
Jeff Berlin - Lumpy Jazz
Jeff Berlin - High Standards
Stanley Clarke - Live 1976-1977
Victor Wooten - A Show Of Hands
Billy Sheehan - The Talas Years
Ray Riendeau - Enlightenment
Jonas Hellborg - The Silent Life
Ray Brown - Bass Face
Ray Brown - Don't Get Sassy
Ray Brown - Seven Steps To Heaven
Ray Brown - SuperBass
Ray Brown - SuperBass 2
Ron Carter - Jazz, My Romance
Dave Holland - Ones All