Will Amend
Will Amend began playing the upright bass at age nine and then added electric bass at thirteen. A native Oregonian, he grew up in Salem and studied with Kevin Dietz during high school. From there he accepted a full scholarship to Mt. Hood Community College to play for the well known vocal jazz ensemble Genesis under the direction of Dave Barduhn. During those two years Will also studied classically under Larry Zgonc.
After Mt. Hood, Will transfered to Portland State University as a classical performance major and was a part of the symphony, jazz band, jazz choir and various small ensembles. He studied classical under Ken Baldwin of the Oregon Symphony and jazz with Genn Moore of "Oregon". Also during this time Will spent three months in the tiny town of Montbeliard in eastern France and studied bass at the local conservatory with Giovanni Rubino.
Upon returning to Portland Will began playing with a number of different groups and building a reputation as someone able to play a wide array of styles and genres. Over the years he has played with Darrel Grant, Barbara Lush, Michael Allen Harrison, Nancy King, Carmen Bradford, Raina Rose, Scott Fisher, Garett Brennan and the EBGB's, Richard Sales, The Border Patrol BIg Band and The Albina St. Band. His recording credits include albums with Raina Rose, Scott Fisher, Echo Helstrom, The Echo Jazz Trio, Garett Brennan, Barbara Lush, The Online Romance, Buoy LaRue, Whirled News and others.
Teaching credits include private tutoring at Beacock's Music in Vancouver WA and privately since 2004, 3 years adjunct staff at George Fox University, principle bass instructor at the Soundsation Jazz Camp since 2003 and he is now the bass instructor at Western Oregon University.
Will currently plays around the Northwest and beyond with Echo Helstrom, the Echo Jazz Trio, Garett Brennan, Whirled News, Stephanie Schneiderman, and Buoy LaRue and has played in the pit for a number of productions at Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theater, Broadway Rose, Lakewood, Pixie Dust Productions and Profile Theater.
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