Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 52

AMANDA
Interview by Rául Amador

Amanda Ruzza
amandaruzza.com
facebook.com/amandaruzzamusic
Twitter @amandaruzza
Some of the band(s) I Play With:
Amanda Ruzza Group, Jill
Sobule, Lakecia Benjamin, Arturo
O’Farrill, Global Noize and Fred
Ho’s Eco-Music Big Band.
Gear I Use:
Ken Smith ‘BSR Elite’ 5 String
bass, Tobias Growler 5 string
bass with Nordstrand Pickups,
Mas Hino 5 string bass
Endorsed By:
Dunlop, Aguilar, Mogami,
Nodstrand Pickups, Pigtronix,
GruvGear and Exponential Audio
Reverb Plug Ins

What made you decide to play bass?
As a little kid, I always wanted to be a drummer,
but I couldn’t afford a drum set. When I had
the opportunity to learn music, I thought, “If I
can’t be a drummer, I might as well just be next
to the drummer.” So, I decided to try the bass.
After playing it for 15 minutes, I fell in love
with the instrument, and realized that that’s
what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, to
be a professional bassist.
How/Where did you learn to play?
While in São Paulo, Brazil, I mixed some selftaught studies and private lessons. Also, I was
very fortunate to have a chance to play in the
local scene, with more experienced players
right from the beginning. This taught me a
lot, especially from the groove perspective. I
moved to the USA to study at Berklee College
of Music, but only spent two semesters there. I
earned my music degree from The New School
for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York.
Who are your musical inspirations, both
male and female?
This list could be endless, but here are a few,
(in no particular order): Nico Assumpção,
Beethoven, Joe Henderson, Tom Jobim,
Hermeto Paschoal, Caetano Veloso, Arturo
O’Farrill, Miles Davis, Larry Graham, Luizão