Jeff Ganz

Biography

Born in Washington, D.C., Jeff Ganz became a New Yorker at age 13. A year later, he began performing professionally as a guitarist/vocalist in the Hendrix/Clapton tradition.

At 20, Jeff made the decision to master the bass, as it represented the ideal hybrid between harmony and rhythm, guitar and drums. He studied piano with his musical mentor Bob Weiner and upright bass with renowned bass experts Bill Pemberton, Clyde Lombardi, Homer Mensch, and Derek Jones, a virtuoso on both acoustic bass and bass guitar. To build a more solid foundation on the electric bass, he turned to the highly respected guitarist and film composer Ira Newborn and jazz giant Jeff Andrews. Jeff also studied drums with Gene Morvay, Ben Gramm, Tony Tedesco, Frank Bellucci, and Don Guinta.

Jeff's goal was simple: he wanted to be the first-call guy in every possible genre. He didn't stop with the traditional upright bass; he also mastered the fretted and fretless 4, 5, 8-string electric bass, as well as the fretted and fretless acoustic bass guitar and piccolo bass.

Jeff has always been driven to push the envelope beyond what everyone expects. Every great musician has their own sound, and Jeff is no exception. His signature style provides propulsive accompaniment on both bass and drums.

He names bassists Lee Dorman, Tommy Shannon, Mel Schacher, and George Mraz, vocalists Jack Bruce, Todd Rundgren, Felix Pappalardi, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, and drum icons Jo Jones, Carmine Appice, Mickey Sheen, and John Bonham as his earliest eclectic influences.

Jeff has toured and recorded with such legends as Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, John Lee Hooker, Gerry Mulligan, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Tito Puente, Chuck Berry, Joe Morello, Eddie Fisher, Melvin Van Peebles, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Dr. John, Larry Coryell, Eddie Money, Jim Dawson, Christine Lavin, Marilyn Michaels, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Jeff’s resume reads like a who's who of popular American music. He has occupied the bass chair on television, in concert and on CD for such artists as Rita Moreno, Howard Levy, Melanie, Al Cohn, Johnnie Johnson, The Village People, Billie Joe Royal, Marvin Hamlisch, Cleo Laine, Liza Minnelli, Clint Holmes, Andy Williams, Kenwood Dennard, and Ben Vereen, amongst many others.

Jeff's freelance credits include movie soundtracks, Broadway musicals and national television commercials. He appeared on Grammy-nominated recordings with Johnny Winter and John Lee Hooker, as well as the Tony Award-winning original cast album of Roger Miller's "Big River".

Based in the New York City area, Jeff is busy with various solo projects and continues to guest with internationally known acts.