About

Bass Player - Educator - Composer

I am an accomplished professional musician, composer, and lecturer, specialising in the electric bass and double bass. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of artists, delivering captivating performances and contributing to numerous recording projects. My musical endeavours have taken me to esteemed  events and venues both domestically and internationally, including festivals, concert halls, skyscrapers, world-famous ships and even aircraft carriers!

In addition to my performance work, I possess a profound passion for composition, with a particular emphasis on crafting music for bass guitar in art music settings. As an educator, I hold the position of Senior Lecturer in Developing the Musician at Solent University in Southampton. Furthermore, I am honoured to serve as Professor of Bass Guitar and Jazz at the prestigious Royal Marines School of Music and Royal Military School of Music (Alford Schools of Military Music). In the summer of 2023 I also became the Course Leader for ESTA's Certificate for Music Educators (CME) programme of professional development for anyone teaching music. As I host this online, you can join wherever you are in the world!

My academic journey encompasses a Bachelor's degree with Honours, and a Master's degree in Musicology. In addition, I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Composition. My commitment to the field of education has been acknowledged through my recognition as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

For a comprehensive overview of my professional achievements, a detailed list of appearances, a biographical summary, and information regarding my qualifications, please refer to the supplementary information provided below.

Royal Marines School of Music and Royal Military School of Music

• Professor of Bass Guitar and Jazz

• Leader of Rhythm Section and Improvisation Workshops

Solent University Southampton

• Senior Lecturer of Developing the Musician

• Head of Bass Guitar Instruction

• Module Leader for Theory & Listening

• Module Leader Individual Performance Year 2 and 3 

• Level 5 Leader for Popular Music Performance 

ESTA Education

• Course Leader: Certificate for Music Educators (CME)

A small selection of where I have been featured in or performed at:

A Selection of Artists that Greg has Performed / Recorded  with:

A Brief Biography

A concise version of my biography is highlighted in JESTA magazine - view it via this link https://www.flipsnack.com/estamagazine/jesta-winter-23.html

A Upon encountering a Double Bass for the first time while attending primary school in Poole (Dorset, UK), Greg was presented with the opportunity to pursue his musical education through peripatetic lessons. At the age of nine, he commenced his classical training on the Double Bass, initially playing a 1/4 size instrument before progressing to a 3/4 standard size concert bass as he matured. Under the guidance of esteemed Double Bassist Barry Glynn, Greg undertook examinations through the Royal Academy of Music, and performed with various classical groups including the Dorset and Wessex Youth Orchestras. Participating in these youth orchestras provided Greg with invaluable experience in ensemble playing, and the opportunity to collaborate with other young musicians. As a result of these formative experiences, Greg was able to perform the Double Bass in a range of productions, such as The “Buddy Holly” Musical (Tivoli Theatre), “Basso Profundo” at the Royal Festival Hall (London), and with the Big Little Theatre Company’s performance of “The Classics” at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens - all before his eighteenth birthday.

At the age of 13, Greg received his first electric bass guitar, which he now credits as being an indispensable gift that was critical to his continued musical development. Among his earliest electric bass gigs was a jazz-fusion band he played with while still in school. After completing his GCSEs, Greg attended Bournemouth College, earning a City and Guilds in Communication and Entertainment. During this period, he began playing with several amateur bands, developing a strong affinity for the “low end” of music. Following college, Greg’s musical interests shifted, leading him to play in several progressive rock bands, including Mind Switch - a rock covers band where he learned to play the bass parts for a range of songs from artists such as Iron Maiden and White Zombie.

A relocation to Manchester proved to be a major turning point in his life, almost leading him to abandon music altogether. However, a serendipitous phone call from local music shop Guitar Mania led to Greg joining a relatively new original progressive metal band, True Belief, which later changed its name to Empty Cage. After years of songwriting, numerous free promotion gigs, and recording demos, Lee Stoten of Dead Head Records and Lionel Hicks, a film and record producer, heard one of the band's demos (which had appeared on a CD on PowerPlay magazine) and signed them to a one-album recording and licensing deal. This led to Greg travelling to WinterLand studios in Minneapolis, USA, to record with Todd Fitzgerald, a highly respected engineer for artists such as Sting and Sheryl Crow. It was during his time in the USA that Greg first met American singer-songwriter Tamrah Aeryn, for whom he now occasionally performs during her visits to the UK.

Upon returning from the USA, Greg continued to pursue his musical education, completing a Masters in Music (MMus), a dual honours Bachelor of Arts degree (BA Hons), two teaching qualifications (PgCLTHE and PTLLS), a Higher Diploma in Popular Music Performance (HDip), a Diploma in Music (Dip.Mus), and earning the status of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy / Advance HE (SFHEA). In addition to his formal qualifications, Greg has attended numerous masterclasses with esteemed bass guitarists, such as Todd Johnson, Reggie Hamilton, Steve Lawson, Stu Hamm, Paul Turner, Julian Crampton, and Lorenzo Feliciati.

Presently, Greg showcases his musical talents in various ensembles, ranging from small Jazz groups to larger function bands. In addition, he regularly takes on a variety of dep, recording and session work, collaborating with a diverse group of multimedia composers and agencies. Notably, Greg is an esteemed music lecturer who takes pleasure in imparting knowledge to aspiring professional musicians. Greg's teaching posts include:  Professor of Bass Guitar and Jazz for the Royal Marines Band Service (since 2013): Professor of Bass Guitar at the Royal Military School of Music (since 2021) - both of which are now co-located at the Alford School of Music, Portsmouth. Furthermore, he has held the position of tenured Senior Lecturer of Developing the Musician at Solent University, Southampton (since 2016). In 2023, Greg also became the Course Leader for ESTA's Certificate for Music Educators (CME) programme of professional development for anyone teaching music.