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Lisa Maria Brigantino, at
what age did you first take a bass in your hands?
I first started playing upright bass when I
was 14. I was playing violin in the school orchestra and the bass player
had recently left the orchestra. The conductor asked if anyone was
interested in learning the bass and I raised my hand.
Where are you based?
I'm based in Brooklyn, New York.
What attracted you to playing bass?
It was bigger than I was!
Did you play any other instrument
before you started playing bass?
Yes, at that time I had already been playing ukelele, piano, violin and
some percussion.
Can you remember the first piece you
ever learned on bass? On upright
bass, it was "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's Messiah. On
electric bass, "Twist And Shout" - the Beatles' version.
What was your very first band?
A band in high school called "Feedback" and boy, did we ever...
What other bands were you a member
of? I played in a bunch of groups in
college and afterwards, ranging from original bands to cover bands - rock,
blues, jazz, etc.
Tell us about your current band?
I'm very proud to be a founding member of Lez Zeppelin. We're the world's
first all girl, all Led Zeppelin tribute band. However, in all honestly,
we really don't like to refer to ourselves as a "tribute band" because
we're much more than that. Because we're women, we can't do the standard
impersonation thing that so many tribute bands do. For us, it's all about
the music. And we play the heck out of it. The results have been amazing.
We're developing an enthusiastic fan base both nationally and
internationally. Many people first come to our shows because they're
intrigued with the idea of women playing this kind of heavy music and many
believe we can't do it. Then they hear a couple of songs and they're
totally blown away. The cool thing for me is that since I'm the "John Paul
Jones" of the group, I also get to play keyboards and mandolin in our
shows. The music is so dynamic and challenging. I never get tired of
playing it.
What is your ideal line-up for a
band? Drums, bass, guitar.
What’s your main bass?
My main bass is a pre CBS Fender Mustang. I love it because it has a
terrific sound and it's a short scale, so it's just my size. My treasure,
however, is my 1960's Ampeg cutaway with a violin scroll top that was
given to me by my cousin, Felix Pappalardi (legendary producer of Cream
and producer and bass player for Mountain). It was my very first electric
bass.
Do you think that the wood affects
the tone/sound/sustain of your bass?
Yes, I think wood affects the tone and sustain of any musical instrument.
Have you a preference for active or
passive electronics? I prefer
passive.
What type or brand of strings to you
like best? Ernie Ball Super Slinky
strings - roundwound.
How often would you change your
strings? About every 6 months.
What is your backline bass amp
setup? Lez Zeppelin is on the road
alot and although it would be great to have a more traditional Ampeg head
and cabinet, I don't want to worry about tubes and want a rig that stands
up to the rigors of being thrown around - that's why I use the Carvin Red
Line Series III 1000 Watt head and 4X10 speaker cabinet. It sounds great
and gives me all the power I need. I've had more than one sound person say
to me "that's a great bass sound - I didn't have to do anything to it out
in the house". And, the Carvin gear is built like a truck. Once, the bass
head fell right out of the back of our van onto the street and everyone
freaked out, except me. I calmly said, "Don't worry - it's a Carvin."
Fingers, pick or both?
I use a pick and my fingers - it depends on the song. I use really
heavy picks - Clayton 1.52mm
You say you have played double bass
in the past? yes, I started on
upright - and if I could fit one in my apartment, I'd buy one!
What type of music do you play?
Lots of Zeppelin! I also play just
about anything else I have the opportunity to. I've been the house band
bass player for many jams in New York City where I've had to play
everything from blues to rock to country to jazz standards. My original
songwriting combines elements of folk, rock, blues, country.
Who do you listen to when you’re not
playing? Zeppelin! I actually have a
very liberal palette when it comes to music. I listen to everything from
Bach and Bartok to Tony Bennett, Robert Johnson, Touch and Go, Hendrix,
Dinah Washington, The Roches...I'm really enjoying the recent Loretta Lynn
album produced by Jack White of the White Stripes.
Have you recorded/released any CDs?
I've done quite a bit of recording
and released my own CD of original music a few years back entitled "A
Brooklyn Night". I'm currently in pre-production for my next CD.
What was your best gig/venue ever?
Probably a recent gig with Lez
Zeppelin in Detroit, Michigan at a packed show at The Magic Bag. It was
such an incredible audience and vibe. We've also done some memorable shows
in Burlington, Vermont at The Higher Ground, The Middle East in Boston and
BB King's in New York City.
What was your worst moment onstage?
When my guitar strap fell off during
our first song at "The L Word" DVD release party in NYC. But I kept
playing...Or perhaps it was that moment in high school when I was playing
bass drum in our school marching band and I tripped in the middle of a
parade and fell with the drum strapped to my stomach and I couldn't get up
because it was too heavy. I looked like a beached whale. A couple of guys
had to step out of the crowd to help me up...(I can't believe I just
shared that story...) It's a good one - Ed.
Do you have a day-job outside of the
band? No.
Have you ever made the cover of a
magazine or been featured in print?
Among many other publications, Lez Zeppelin was featured in an article in
the June issue of Spin Magazine. We're also going to be appearing in an
upcoming issue of The London Times.
Do you play/own any other
instruments? I own several guitars
(both acoustic and electric), 3 mandolins, 2 violins, banjo, various
keyboards, cello , accordion, harmonicas, recorder, penny whistle,
percussion instruments, I'm sure there's more...
What other instrument would you most
like to play? Actually, I really
want to get a set of bagpipes but I'm not sure my neighbours would
appreciate it!
What was the best concert you were
ever at? Probably my first rock
concert - getting to see my cousin Felix perform with Mountain at Radio
City Music Hall in New York City.
Do you sing?
Yes, I do. I've been singing since I'm a
kid and I was a voice major in college.
Do you write/compose?
Yes. I'm a songwriter and composer and have received commissions to
compose for a variety of projects including dance, theatre, etc.
You come from a musical family Lisa?
Yes. My mother plays piano and
ukulele and sings and my relatives includes my cousin Felix Pappalardi
whom I've already mentioned as well as my cousin Michael Barbiero, an
amazing producer, engineer, mixer who has worked with everyone in the
business including Guns N' Roses, Counting Crows, Blues Traveler,
Metallica and many others. So many folks in my extended family are
musical. When I was a kid and we all got together, there were always sing-alongs
with 4 part harmony. I know that helped to develop my ear at a young age.
Are your siblings and/or parents
involved in music? Yes, my sister is
very musical. She sings, plays piano, ukelele, guitar, saxophone and
clarinet. She performs with me when I do my original music and as well as
other musical acts around the city. We were lucky that we were encouraged
to play and be involved in music from an early age. I know alot of people
aren't that fortunate.
Do you see the bass as a solo
instrument? Not entirely. I see it
taking solos within pieces, but as a stand alone solo instrument, no.
Have you played outside your own
country? Yes - Scotland, England and
Wales.
Have you ever been to
Ireland? Yes, and I loved it!
I got to spend time in Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and Howth. I even played
banjo at a sesiún at Ye Olde Dubliner in Dublin on a grey Easter Sunday
some years back. I'd return to Ireland in a heartbeat. It's a beautiful
country with the most wonderful people. In fact, I'm sure Lez Zeppelin
would love to do a show there! Actually, I used to play guitar and
mandolin at a regular Irish Music sesiún here in New York and have really
developed a love for traditional Celtic music.
If you could be taken to a concert
anywhere on earth tonight, who would you want to see live?
I wish I could get into those Cream reunion shows happening right now at
Madison Square Garden in NYC!
What CD are you listening to most
these days? Every album Zeppelin
ever recorded...And a home grown CD I picked up in Paris over the summer
of a group of street musicians playing in the style of Django Reinhardt
and Stephane Grappelli.
Do you have a pet?
Not right now, as we're touring alot, but I did have rabbits for a long
time. It seems hard to believe, but they are wonderfully affectionate
little animals and make great pets for an apartment as they don't really
make any noise and they can be litter box trained ( believe it or not).
Can you give one piece of advice to
someone who has just bought their first bass?
I'd suggest to them that they start out by
getting a handle on music theory. A bass player should have a good
understand of scales, modes, triads, etc. It will pay off in the long run
to have this foundation. To me, understanding the music theory of the
musical language is as important as understanding the grammar of the
written or spoken word.
What’s your opinion on basses with
more than 4 strings? I'm not crazy
about them. I've tried them and I think they probably work better for
playing jazz or fusion. Personally, I prefer the traditional 4 string
electric bass - especially for playing rock and blues.
What do you feel is the bass-players
function in a band? The bass player
provides a unique rhythmic and harmonic glue.
Did you ever have a famous person in
your audience? We keep thinking we
see Jimmy Page lurking around our shows, but we're not sure if it's him...
What are your ambitions, musically
and personally? To continue to learn
and grow as a musician and make a living playing/creating music.
Do you have a website? Yes, the Lez Zeppelin site is www.lezzeppelin.com.
My personal site is www.lisabrig.com
Have you any “bassist” jokes to
share? Three people die in a plane
crash and are waiting to enter heaven. St. Peter asks the first person,
"What did you do on Earth?" Person #1: I was a doctor. St. Peter.: Go
right through those pearly gates".
St. Peter asks the 2nd person.: "And what did you do on Earth?" Person #2:
"I was a school teacher". St. Peter says.: "Go right through those pearly
gates".
St. Peter asks the third person.: "And what did you do on Earth?" Person
#3: "I was a bass player". St. Peter says: "Go around the side, up the
freight elevator, through the kitchen".
Thanks Lisa. See our Links page for
Lisa's websites - Ed.
thanks to Lisa for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright
of Lisa Brigantino and
BassGirls.Com
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