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Craig Akin

Warm and familiar, you know this tune by heart. Yet with twists in tempo, his story marches to its own beat. Meet Craig Akin, a versatile bassist whose 25 years of experience have afforded him the skills to play myriad styles of music with ease. Born into a musical family in the buckle of the Bible Belt and now attuned to the rhythms of the New York skyline, he’s a quick study whose talents have taken him across the globe.


Whether he’s playing his upright or electric bass, on stage or in the studio… jazz, pop, folk or rock, Craig Akin is comfortable and creative, and he consistently delivers the goods. With a degree in music education and formative years spent cutting his teeth in Kansas City’s jazz & blues scene, he can now be found playing and recording with many notable East Coast artists. Craig Akin has performed over 5,000 shows, contributed to more than 100 albums and recently added a home recording studio to his artistic arsenal. He welcomes collaboration and new music ventures, be they shows, tours or recording.

Gear

1890 Tyrolean flatback, 1960 German Juzek, 2004 Shen SB-100, Eastman carved, 1942 Kay S-9 w/ removable neck, Lemur Flyaway travel case, Spirocore and Velvet strings, full circle pickup, Lifeline pickup. Acoustic Image, GK amps, Schroeder cab, and Hartke 210 cabs. Fender fretless P bass, '73 P bass, '67 Harmony H-22 hollowbody electric, '10 Jazz active deluxe 5 string.


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Take Five With...

Take Five With Craig Akin

Read "Take Five With Craig  Akin" reviewed by Craig Akin


Meet Craig Akin: Craig Akin is an in-demand upright and electric bassist living in New York City. Between 1997 and 2007, he averaged 270 gigs a year in his musical hometown of Kansas City. There he developed his rhythm and tone while playing or recording with nearly everyone on the jazz and blues scene. Craig has also performed with emerging pop and indie songwriters as well as legendary jazz artists including Tim Hagans, Pete Christlieb, Frank Mantooth, John ...

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"Craig's time is so solid, I have relied on him in the studio and live shows for years. His ideas are always inspiring me and the rest of the band through his patience and refreshing playfulness." Brandon Draper, drummer, composer, producer, educator Kansas City, MO 

“Craig is a true professional, always prepared, always engaged, a stellar musician, and genuinely great guy.” Little Embers New York, NY 

"I'm very happy to have gigged and recorded with Craig Akin. His sound is fat and warm, and it's a pleasure to play a solo when you have him in the rhythm section. He made my compositions sound great. My next project in New York will have him on bass again, that's for sure." Martin Schulte, guitarist, composer Cologne, Germany 

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