Meet Professor John | Bassist, Producer, and Solo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Professor John and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Professor, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be remembered as a dedicated and versatile musician who exemplifies creativity and hard work through different projects and different mediums whether it be recorded music, live performance, or visuals and videos. I also want to be remembered as a kind and dependable person who treats everyone with respect.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an independent bassist, producer, and solo artist who has a unique sound that I call bass-centric experimental jazz funk. The combination of live bass guitar, authentic instrumentation, and electronic production sets Professor John’s music and performances apart from similar artists. My electric bass guitar performance has been compared to the playing of Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and Stanley Clarke, yet John’s background in hip-hop and R&B production makes for a one of a kind performance.

I have released two solo albums, Freshman Orientation (April 2016) and Sophomore Sizzler (June 2022) which were both featured in Bass Musician Magazine. I am very proud of both of the albums, and I love that you can see my growth as a bassist and musician from the first album to the second album.

I am committed to producing creative content over a variety of mediums and platforms for all kinds of people to enjoy the music I hear in my head.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Unfortunately with balancing my work and my music, I do not have a lot of expendable time to explore the city! I would definitely go check out some of the incredible local music at the many breweries around the metro area such as Steady Hand, From the Earth, and StillFire Brewery and one of my favorite local venues, Smith’s Olde Bar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While there are many people, groups, and books that have helped me succeed over my years of being a musician, I would not be where I am today without the support of my family. From my parents purchasing my first bass guitar, my brother’s love of live music, and my sisters’, niece’s, and nephew’s support of coming to live performances, listening to my albums, and watching my YouTube videos, I would not be where I am today as a musician or as a person without their support in my life. RIP Mom and Dad.

Website: http://www.professorjohnmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professor_john/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/profjohnatl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorJohnMusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ProfessorJohnFunk

Image Credits
Arcane Visual Photography