One of the best clinics I saw this summer was with Oteil Burbridge and his longtime musical companion Jimmy Herring. Oteil is a master musician and one of easiest guys to work with. From his work with The Aquarium Rescue Unit to his current position in the Allman Brothers Band, Oteil is as versatile as they get.  I recently caught up with Oteil at an Allman Brothers/Widespread Panic show in Hartford.  The show was great and Oteil really gave everyone a lesson on how to lay down the groove with a four string P-Bass and a pick.

Describe your first experience playing music.

That’s heard to recall because it was so early. I remember my first snare drum, a Christmas present. My mom and dad said I was beating on everything so they got me a drum. I was five. My memory is really bad so going that far back is pretty vague. Its something can’t remember not doing.

What has been your most significant musical experience?

All of them have been so valuable. Any time that I get to play with my brother Kofi is a peak experience because he’s so musical in so many ways and to such an extreme degree. Playing with Col. Bruce Hampton totally changed me forever. It was my first “born again” experience. Playing with the Allman Brothers has been so influencial because I now think that they might have been the first true Fusion group to start from rock and go towards jazz succesfully. Jazz Rock Fusion artists rarely had vocals except for occasionally like with Allan Holdsworth, Tony Williams Lifetime, Brand X or Andre Cecarelli. Now I just to work with great singers. that’s what gets me off the most, especially gospel and blues.

What is the best advice on pursuing a career in music you were ever given?

Don’t!

Just kidding, but seriously, making a career out of it can really take the fun out of it. You really have to be realistic about it. I think the best “career” advice I was ever given was a comment that Col. Bruce made once. He said, “99 percent of success is just showing up.” What he meant was that so many musicians show up late, drunk, not at all, or are hard to work with. If you are an amazing player, what does it matter if you are late, absent, too inebriated or difficult to work with? Its the basics that really matter. I want longevity so I have to take care of my body, mind and spirit to have that to its fullest, not just practice. But the best advice I could give is to not let anything come between you and the joy of music. When its not joyful anymore, you’re robbing yourself, and everyone else.

What is your favorite sound?

My fiance laughing. Babies laughing. Motorcycles engines.

Name some of your biggest non-musical influences.

Everything should theoretically influence your music. I’m aiming for my music to reflect my life. Sunrises and sunsets, being in love, friends, family, politics, religion, motorcycles, books, comedians, animals, plants, nature, etc.

What was the most memorable concert you ever attended?

Sun Ra and Bobby Blue Bland, both for obvious reasons. I saw Jaco in his prime when I was seventeen and that made me decide to take the chance on pursuing music as a career. I would give anything to have seen Charlie Christian, Blind Willie Johnson, Rev. James Cleveland, Bob Marley and Howlin’ Wolf live. Fortunately there is great video of Howlin’ Wolf, James Cleveland and Bob Marley.

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 5 songs that appear

I do Pandora internet radio now and its programmed to two stations; Bobby Blue Bland and Rev. James Cleveland. I lost all my itunes when my last computer crashed but it would have bounced between Charlie Christian, James Brown, Ralph Stanley, The Meters, Miles, George Jones, Mahalia Jackson, Weather Report, Blind Willie Johnson, Stravinsky, Ravi Shankar and tons of Bob Marley. Family Man might be my all time favorite bassist by the way.

Check out Oteil’s website at myspace.com/oteilburbridge