Planet Bass – The Wanda Ortiz Interview October 2004

What inspired you to first pick up a bass and what were your first attempts at playing it like?

Since I was little, I have always loved music so I was very much looking forward to the day when I would get an opportunity to play an instrument. When I was 9 years old the school I was attending had a music program where, one day, we could all sign up to choose the instrument we wanted to study. At that point, my only exposure to music was from children’s songs I would hear in school (by people like Shel Silverstein for example).  My parents didn’t really listen to a lot of music at home so whatever music the school had was it for me.  Anyway, for whatever reason (I can’t remember), I was late to music class on “instrument day”. By the time I got there, every school instrument had been checked out except for one: a junior sized double bass. I had nothing else to choose from.  It was then that I decided to play bass.

I was pretty small back then and the instrument was a bit awkward but I thought I got around it alright. I don’t remember having a lot of problems with it.  The teacher called me “mighty mouse”.

Who were your early influences and what did you learn from them?

My early influences were my first music teachers Cynthia Endriss and Kim Brencik. They taught me the basics. Later on, I would get exposed to bass players like Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, and Chris Squire and learn that the bass was capable of so much more than just the standard “meat and potatoes” parts. Strangely enough, even though I started on upright bass, I didn’t get much exposure to upright bass players until I studied bass in college.

Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?

I took lessons on upright bass but I’m self taught on electric bass.

What’s the most important bit of advice you were given by another musician?

Well, there are actually a couple things:

I used to play on some pretty bad (cheap) basses until I attended a master class with Francois Rabbath. I was playing this really big Czech bass that was in really bad shape at the time. Mr. Rabbath took one look at that bass and told me that if I wanted to continue playing, I would need to get something better. Well, he’s a world-renowned bass player who I’ve admired for a long time so I decided this was serious and got a new bass. Playing was so much easier after that.

I’ve read some interviews with Steve Harris and he stresses the importance of playing a bass line that makes the music as a whole sound good. I keep this in mind whenever and wherever I’m playing.  If there are grace notes in an orchestral piece, I’ll play them and see how they sound with the group of musicians I’m playing with. If they don’t sound good for whatever reason, out they go. This same idea also helps me avoid the temptation to over play when there is no music to read.

What’s the most important bit of advice you could give to new bassists?

Don’t worry about being competitive or comparing yourself with other bass players. Just concentrate on your own playing and improve at your own pace. You’ll enjoy the bass a lot more that way.

Where do you stand on the old fingers vs. plectrums debate and why

These are just different playing techniques.  I have always preferred to play with my fingers because that was how I learned to play but I don’t see anything wrong with using a pick if that’s what makes the music sound best.

Do you play 4, 5 or 6 string basses mainly? Fretted or unfretted?

4 string basses. Since I play both upright bass and electric bass, I get to play both unfretted and fretted basses.

How would you define your style of playing?

I think my playing is a hybrid of styles of bass players I like.

Tell us a little about the artists you have worked with, and how/if you adapted to playing with each of them?

I did a CD not that long ago with Uriah Heep’s former singer Steve Fontaine. The project was called Heartache City and featured a guitarist with some really amazing chops. Both he and Steve liked to be a little over the top as far as their parts were concerned so it took a lot of thought on my part to come up with bass lines that were interesting yet complimented the music. I had to keep it simple on quite a few numbers otherwise it just would have been too much.

One of my busiest projects is The Iron Maidens, an all-girl tribute to Iron Maiden. Since we play cover songs, all I have to do is learn my parts off of CDs. The girls are all great musicians so there is very little adjusting that needs to be done. On occasion it will take a little time to get in sync on a song here or there but it always works out in the end. Much of Iron Maiden’s music is intricate with exposed bass lines so you need to always be cognizant of what everyone else is doing.

Who was the most inspirational and in what way?

Stylistically, David Walter for upright bass and Steve Harris for electric bass.

Do you warm up before a gig and if so how?

It depends. If I’m playing upright bass, I like to warm up for at least 20 minutes. It seems to take that long just to get the instrument to sound good. I usually just play a scale or two and then a piece that I’m working on for fun. I typically don’t warm up on the electric bass unless I am uncertain of a part and then I’ll run it before the show.

Do you have any other last minute rituals or habits before a gig?

I tune.

What do you drink onstage?

Water.

Have you ever played while drunk or under the influence of drugs?

No.

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had onstage, and how did you cope with it?

At one venue, there was a bar table that was connected to the stage. Well, I thought it would be fun to run out there on top of that table while playing…unfortunately, it was wet so I slipped and fell off right into some guy’s lap. It was pretty embarrassing. I just climbed back up on stage as quickly as I could and only missed a few notes. I was still playing while in that guy’s lap. I hope he’s okay.

What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had in the studio, and how did you cope with it?

It happened while the girls and I were recording our full-length tribute CD to Iron Maiden. Before recording, I would listen to the originals first on the studio speakers and found that I had learned and had been playing one song all wrong.  I had to relearn it all right then and there and then record it the same day.

What’s been your proudest playing moment?

Playing well during my juries in college so I could get my performance degree. Many people don’t realize how hard it is to be a music major. In addition to all your coursework, you need to set aside ample time for practice. I had to work too so this was hard for me but it was worth the struggle because I learned a lot.

What’s been the most fun playing moment, and why?

I don’t think I have only one “ most fun playing moment”. I have the most fun playing anything fun and challenging which I try to do as often as possible.

What’s been the least fun playing moment, and why?

Playing boring bass lines in an orchestra.  I’ve had a lot of those “least fun playing moments”.  Have you ever played Debussy’s “Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun”?  It’s a great tune to listen to but a total sleeper to play. There are way too many whole notes. It’s not so bad when the bass parts aren’t that fun in a rock song because you typically only have to suffer through it for about 3 to 5 minutes.  In an orchestral piece, you are stuck for what seems like an eternity and you find yourself turning the page during rests to see how much longer there is to go.

What equipment do you use live and in the studio and why?

G&L basses, Rotosound strings, and SWR amps and speaker cabs. G&L was the last company Leo Fender owned before he passed away. I had always liked Fender basses but I was curious about this new company so I decided to check out their basses and liked the way they fit and played. Rotosound strings are very reliable and sound great. I don’t think I’ve ever broken one of their strings.  As for SWR amps and speaker cabs, well, they have a big warm sound that I really like. It’s a little bit of a challenge to get the right sound with SWR when playing with The Iron Maidens so I may be looking at getting some new gear. I’m still going to keep what I have though.

Are you fairly flexible about the equipment you use or must you always play with the same gear?

I like using my own gear when I can because I know how it works. For out of town shows when I have to use backline, I’ll take anything as long as it works.

What one piece of equipment would you advise all bass players to own?

A back-up bass.

Do you read music?

Yes.

Do you play any other instruments, and how well?

I played clarinet for a while until I broke it twirling it around.  I also mess around on piano and guitar sometimes but I’m not very good.  I’ll only play bass in public.

Do you write or co-write songs and if so do you write on the bass?

Only when the opportunity arises while playing with an original project. Most people want you to play songs that are already written. When I do write, I write mostly on bass. Sometimes I’ll come up with a nice vocal line or guitar riff but it doesn’t happen very often. I only have fragments of ideas at this point because I haven’t played with many groups where I get to write anything.

Do you ever play cover versions, and if so how do you learn the originals note for note or do you improvise you own parts?

With The Iron Maidens I learn the originals note for note. It’s expected because we’re a tribute band.

Do you sing? Do you feel it is important?

Only back-up vocals on occasion. I think singing helps you develop your ear. I had to learn how to sight sing in college and I didn’t like it but it helped me with bass. When you’re singing, there are no frets to look at so you have to know what’s going on in your head. If you know what’s going on in your head, then you know what the music is supposed to sound like on your bass.

If you could nominate one song that you’ve recorded to sum up your playing style and feel which one would it be?

I’ve played too many different styles for one song to represent them all.

What have you been doing recently?

I’m keeping busy playing with The Iron Maidens and an original band (Field of Vision). I also do freelance work whenever I can with orchestras and chamber groups in Southern California.

Do you have a personal or band website? Or would you like to recommend any other useful websites?

www.theironmaidens.com

www.glguitars.com

www.rotosound.com