James Genus (born January 20, 1966) is an American jazz bassist. He plays both electric bass guitar and upright bass and currently plays in the Saturday Night Live Band. He also occasionally fills in for Mark Kelley of the hip hop band The Roots. Genus has performed as a session musician and sideman throughout his career, having worked with an extensive list of artists.

James Genus
Genus performing at the 51st Monterey Jazz Festival 19 September 2008
Genus performing at the 51st Monterey Jazz Festival 19 September 2008
Background information
Born (1966-01-20) 20 January 1966 (age 58)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Guitar, Bass guitar, upright bass
Years active1987–present
Member ofSaturday Night Live Band

Biography

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Genus with Oz Noy on guitar and Dave Weckl on drums.

Genus was born in Hampton, Virginia. He began on guitar at age six and switched to bass at 13. He studied at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1983 to 1987 and played for a summer at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Then he moved to New York City, where he quickly began working with many noted players on the city's jazz scene. He has played with Out of the Blue (1988–89), Horace Silver (1989), Roy Haynes and Don Pullen (1989–91), Nat Adderley (1990), Greg Osby and New York Voices (1990–91), Jon Faddis (1991), T.S. Monk (1991), Benny Golson (1991), Dave Kikoski (1991), Bob Berg (1991–96), Geoffrey Keezer (1992), Lee Konitz (1992), Michael Brecker (1992–96), Bob James (since 1994), Michel Camilo (since 1995), Elysian Fields (since 1995), Branford Marsalis (1996), Chick Corea (1996), Didier Lockwood (1996), Dave Douglas (1996), Uri Caine (1997), Global Theory (1997), Ravi Coltrane (2000), Bill Evans (2005), Herbie Hancock (2008), and Daft Punk (2013).

Discography

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As sideman

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With Nat Adderley

With Greg Osby

With The Brecker Brothers

With Gary Burton

With Uri Caine

With James Carter

With Dave Douglas

With Benny Golson

With Alex Han

  • Spirit (3 Deuces, 2017)

With Lee Konitz

With Geoff Keezer

With Pat Martino

With Steve Masakowski

With T. S. Monk

With Don Pullen

With Daft Punk

With James Williams

  • Up to The Minute Blues (DIW, 1994)

References

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