Inside the Mind of Chris Tordini: Upright Bass vs. Electric and Prioritizing Opportunities

We sit down with highly in-demand bassist Chris Tordini to discuss his unique approach to the instrument, from his early days playing South Jersey bookstores to holding down the bass chair on Broadway. Chris shares the story of how he unexpectedly came to author two instructional books for Mel Bay, and why his early background in piano helped him seamlessly transition between guitar, electric bass, and upright bass. We talk about his formative years building a DIY jazz scene in South Jersey, how he navigates the New York gig economy using his trusty "two out of three" rule, and the realities of playing eight shows a week on Broadway's Hadestown. Chris also shares his strategies for staying grounded when playing with intense drummers—drawing inspiration from veteran bassist Drew Gress—and recounts a disastrous 2022 European tour featuring a flip-phone-wielding bandleader that taught him the ultimate lesson in trusting his gut. Note: Please go find and enjoy the music of Timo Vollbrecht, Marko Churnchetz, Alec Goldfarb, Chris Speed and Angelika Niescier. A few clips of their music were reposted in this episode. Birch Grove Media does not claim ownership of these performances or musical works, and is not monetizing this episode. This is shared purely for educational and archival appreciation.Chapter Timestamps:00:00 - Intro: Sweating with certain drummers00:25 - Writing two upright bass books for Mel Bay06:00 - Translating technique between electric and upright bass11:06 - Taking the "rock route" to the upright bass13:08 - Growing up and gigging in the South Jersey music scene18:25 - How to prioritize gigs: The "Two out of Three" rule24:41 - Practicing quarter tones, polyrhythms, and meditative focus28:01 - Keeping calm while playing with intense, complex drummers29:56 - Finding inspiration in Drew Gress's relaxed playing at the Village Vanguard32:00 - Knowing when to step out and when to be the glue36:44 - Taking over the bass chair on Broadway's Hadestown42:32 - The mental challenges of playing repetitive shows eight times a week47:55 - Exploring groove-based improvisation and extreme math jazz51:04 - Storytime: The worst tourBIRCH GROVE MEDIAWeb: birchgrove.ioFollow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMediaGet the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.