I am not a player. I used to play a little bit of piano and drums and could read music when I was young... which was years and years ago ! My dad used to be a jazz bass player in Switzerland.

I fell in love with bass playing when I heard Neil on "Come ANd Get It". I had never heard such a melodic and at the same time powerful but fine bass playing before. I started digging everything Neil did and the more I discovered the multiple faces of his talent the more I got addicted to his playing. Neil's an amazing musician and a fantastic guy. He can play everything. I had the chance to witness this when he invited me to attend a SAS gig in Geneva (w/Chris Thompson and the late Paul Young amongst others) and heard him play songs from ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Mike And The Mechanics or The Rolling Stones. Of course, he's not the only one like this but he's, to me, so different than the other players. I may be a bit subjective though because we became friends and meet once or twice a year.

Another bass player who kills me (another buddy as well...) is Neil Stubenhaus, the famous session musician. This guy is great too ! I saw him playing with Karizma in April (and will see him again on 26 October as Karizma - Michael Landau, Vinnie Colaiuta and David Garfield - will tour Europe in October) and Stubidoo is a killer !

Billy Sheehan is probably one of the very few "chops guys" that I really like because he plays with feeling and for the songs. His work with Mr. Big is fantastic and I really respect him. He knows when to get wild and when to play with finesse. And he's great to see live !

Barry Sparks..... I'm ashamed... I've never heard a single note played by him... Peter Bietenholz told me many times how brilliant this guy was but the bands he's been playing with are not always my cup of tea... but I will check him out.

Other bass players I dig.... Leland Sklar, Abraham Laboriel, Tommy Caradonna, Nathan East, Marcel Jacob (w/Talisman), Magnum's Wally Lowe, Pat Metheny's Steve Rodby, Pink Cream 69's Dennis Ward, Marco Mendoza, Tower of Power's Rocco Prestia, etc.

Cheers. Laurent