Primary Instrument: Bass, electric
Damon Banks has performed with and/or recorded with some of the entertainment industry’s “brightest stars”, creative artists, innovative musicians and legends of the stage & screen. Many of these artists themselves are beyond category and transcend genre.
These artists include: Peter Gabriel, Caetano Veloso, Angelique Kidjo, Hassan Hakmoun, Souleymane Faye, Corin Curschellas, Arto Lindsay, Karsh Kale, MIDIval Punditz, Jamshied Sharifi, Eileen Ivers, George Benson, Chico Hamilton, Wadada Leo Smith, Hubert Laws, Marc Ribot, Greg Osby, Nat Adderley, Diedre Murray, George Howard, Loose Ends, Bobby Womack, The Neville Brothers, Miki Howard, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, KRS-ONE, Sekou Sundiata, DJ. SPOOKY, Ntozake Shange, Saul Williams, Francesca Harper, Roxane Butterfly, Akim Funk Buddha, Yungchen Llamo and Mamak Khadem.
His bass playing can be heard on these soundtracks: “Footsteps In Africa” (Kiahkeya films , Kathi Von Koerber ��” director) “Muppets from Space” (Henson/Sony, Tim Hill ��” director) “NBC Cosby Mysteries” (NBC)
Damon has written songs for George Benson (“That’s Right”- GRP) *This album was voted #1 Jazz album of 1996) and Miki Howard (“Three Wishes” ��” Peak / Concord) *This album earned a Grammy nomination.
…some television work:
“Woodstock ‘94” performing with Hassan Hakmoun and Peter Gabriel (all major networks worldwide) “New York Undercover” performing with Bobby Womack, Silk, Brownstone and Jon B. (FOX) “BET on Jazz” performing with Pheeroan Aklaff, Michael Cain and Peter Apfelbaum (BET) “The Today Show” (NBC) and “Good Morning America” (ABC) performing with The Boys Choir of Harlem He has performed on many international television broadcasts throughout the world, including Fuji -TV (Japan) and Globo TV (Brasil) Damon’s bass playing can be heard on numerous radio and television jingles.
In 2005, Damon received the Haldane Foundation grant for his Global Music education program. In 2009, he received the DCAC (Dutchess County Arts Council) grant for his multimedia theater piece entitled “Resistance: a Maroon story”.
Damon plays Fender basses, uses GK amplification, EMG pickups and GHS strings. He is a member of ASCAP and the American Federation of Musicians (Local 802)
Primary Instrument:
Bass, electric
Location:
Cold Spring, NY
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Current faculty member of Poughkeepsie Day School. Has
taught and conducted workshops at Interlochen School of the
Arts, Cal Arts, Medger Evers College, Bard College and St. Anns
School (Brooklyn, New York)
