The upright bass is often viewed primarily as a supporting instrument, but local jazz musician Walter Savage has won a reputation for bringing it to the spotlight. Whether he’s playing a gig at a renowned Bay Area jazz institution like Yoshi’s or entertaining the masses at Enrico’s in North Beach, Savage lets the bass shine through as a leading force.
Savage’s love affair with music began early on. “You know my background in music is like a lot of black people in America,” Savage says. “My dad was a preacher. I was forced … to do [music] in the church, you know? I’ve always been interested in music. I can’t remember not singing. Everybody in my family loved to sing.”
Stationed throughout the Pacific during the 1960s, Savage got turned onto the bass after a musician visiting his military base showed him a few jazz chords. At first, he thought the instrument would be easy to master. Now, over forty years later, Savage says he’s still exploring his instrument’s possibilities. “It’s like the more you learn, the more you know you need to learn,” he says.
That thirst for knowledge has led Savage to record two albums featuring his own compositions and vocals. While his music writing and singing talents have garnered praise from jazz fans, Savage’s chief interest these days is showcasing the bass as a solo instrument — as Spark witnesses when Savage headlines at Yoshi’s Jazz House with drummer Eddie Marshall and pianist Alan Steiger.
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