Welcome to BassGirls Sylvia, where are you based? Nigtevecht, Holland

When did you first take a bass in your hands? 1985

What attracted you to playing bass? The possibility to play many different styles of music

Did you play any other instrument before you started playing bass? Yes, I'm professional classical oboe-player

Can you remember the first song you ever learned on bass? A Day Of Wine And Roses

What was your very first public performance? Modern classical piece for 8 basses.

What’s your current band? Alice in Dixieland (women's swingband), Fuego Latino (tango), Nigunim (klezmer), Wiener Tradition (operetta-ensemble), Trio Doriacci (popular classical music), Swing Sister Swing (Nat King Cole-trio)

What’s your main bass? Mirecourt 1950

What strings to you like best? Pirastro flexicor

What is your backline bass amp setup? Underwood

Fingers, plectrum or both? Fingers and bow

What type of music do you play? Swing, modern jazz, tango, klezmer, all classical types of music

Who do you listen to when you’re not playing? Ray Brown

Have you recorded/released any CDs? Yes, with all my bands and other freelance-bands

What was your best gig/venue ever? Impossible to answer!

What’s your favourite album/CD? Errol Garner - Concert By The Sea

Do you own any other instruments? Yes, oboe, cor anglais and grandpiano

Do you sing? Yes, but not lead-voice

Did you ever perform onstage without your bass? No

What’s your opinion on basses with more than 4 strings? A lot of more possibilities

What do you feel is the bass-players function in a band? The basic groove and timing on which everyone can do his/her thing.

Do you come from a musical family? My father was an organ-player, my mother plays the piano and my two sisters, my brother and I had all piano-lessons. My youngest sister is a professional classical singer now.

Do you see the bass as a solo instrument? A bass can play everything, even in the same piece. It depends on the type of music and the other players.

Apart from your own projects, have you played recording sessions with other artistes? Yes, all kinds of artistes, most of the time as a classical double-bass player.

Have you ever been to Ireland? No, the nearest place was Edinbrough, playing at the jazz festival. It's still in my mind to go there once. I heard for such a long time from many people that it's a beautiful country.

What other instrument would you like to play? Maybe tuba, because of the old-fashioned jazz I play sometimes or electric bass (I tried a few times). But from my experience, playing more instruments in a professional way is impossible. You have to choose one (or maybe two) in particular.

What CD are you listening to most these days? Last week I listened to a CD of tango-bandoneonist Alfredo Marcucci, because I played with him this week in Holland.

Do you have a pet? No time for a pet: We both (my friend and I) are (free-lance) musicians and we live in the countryside so there are a lot of animals living around us.

Do you write/compose? Yes, I studied composing/arranging at the Conservatory in both jazz as modern classical style.

Do you have a day-job or do you play professionally? I play and compose professionally. Because I do a lot of different things and play many styles, it's a busy job.

Can you give one piece of “golden” advice to someone who has just bought their first bass? Have fun and start playing in a band as quick as possible.

Have you any “bassist” jokes to share? A bassist goes to the doctor. This doctor tells her that she only has three months to live. She asks "On what?"

What are your ambitions? Play with a lot of people, in different situations and music. Have fun together and let grow something special and beautiful.

thanks to Sylvia for being part of BassGirls.Com
text and images are copyright of Sylvia Maessen and BassGirls.Com