Biography
Well-respected as both a composer and bassist, Rob Wasserman refined his technique beginning in the early 1980s through studies at San Francisco’s Conservatory of Music. Upright playing became his hallmark, positioning him as a sought-after session musician across the 1980s and 1990s alongside Rickie Lee Jones, Stephane Grappelli, and Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia. That eclectic approach earned widespread regard, first surfacing on his 1983 debut Solo, funded by an NEA Composer’s Fellowship. The album’s focused bass explorations prompted Downbeat to name Wasserman both Bassist and Composer of the Year while also crowning Solo Best Jazz Album of the Year. Duets arrived in 1988, pairing him with Bobby McFerrin, Lou Reed, and Aaron Neville; the project secured a Grammy and Billboard’s Best Vocal Album of the Year honor. Despite such acclaim, Wasserman maintained his exacting standards, waiting six years before issuing Trios in 1994. That collection included collaborations with Elvis Costello, Edie Brickell, and Neil Young, and it marked the final recording by blues master Willie Dixon. Rolling Stone praised the set, yet Wasserman’s lower profile during this period allowed him to reflect on his six-year tenure in Lou Reed’s band while deepening his work with Bob Weir. The pair had performed together since the late 1980s, often on the road with Ratdog, prompting the 1998 release Weir/Wasserman Live drawn from select concert recordings. Two years later Wasserman returned to solo work with Space Island, featuring drummer Stephen Perkins—formerly of Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros—and producer Dave Aron, whose credits include Prince and Snoop Doggy Dogg. That summer he embarked on his first headlining tour.
Albums
