Bio

Born in Washington, D.C., Jeff Ganz became a New Yorker at age 13. He began as many did with piano and clarinet lessons, later becoming self-taught on drums and guitar. Jeff's devotion and talent began to be rewarded at age 14, when he began performing professionally as a guitarist/vocalist in the Hendrix/Clapton tradition.

Driven by his love of music and the need to perform, he began a lifelong quest to lead the ultimate band. But at age 19, the reality of survival in the big city led Jeff on a detour from "stardom," and he began working countless club gigs and private parties throughout the NYC metropolitan area.

At 20, Jeff wanted a new musical challenge and made the decision to master the bass, feeling that it represented the ideal hybrid between harmony and rhythm, guitar and drums. Seeking professional guidance, he began studying upright bass with such prominent New York teachers as Bill Pemberton, Clyde Lombardi and Homer Mensch. To build a solid foundation on the electric bass, he turned to the respected guitarist/film composer Ira Newborn, and jazzman Jeff Andrews. Later, he studied drums with Gene Morvay, Ben Gramm, Tony Tedesco, Frank Bellucci and Don Giunta.

Jeff's goal was simple: he wanted to be the first-call guy in every possible musical genre. He didn't stop with the traditional upright bass; he also mastered the fretted and fretless 4, 5, 8, and 12-string electric bass, as well as the piccolo bass guitar.

Jeff has always been driven to push the envelope beyond the what everyone expects to hear, entering that highly creative zone that gives birth to something totally unique. Every great musician has their own sound, and can be identified within just a few notes. Jeff Ganz is no exception. His signature style provides propulsive accompaniment on both bass and drums.

He names bassists Mel Schacher and George Mraz, vocalists Jack Bruce and Bobby "Blue" Bland and drum icons Jo Jones and John Bonham as illustrations of his eclectic influences.

In addition to many years of bass utility work in the New York area, Jeff has toured and recorded with such legends as Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, John Lee Hooker, Gerry Mulligan, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Tito Puente, Chuck Berry, Joe Morello, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Dr. John and Larry Coryell.

Because his ability to provide the perfect accompaniment in any situation, his resume reads like a who's who of popular American music in the 20th century. Jeff has occupied the bass chair on television, in concert and on CD for such artists as Rita Moreno, Howard Levy, Melanie, Al Cohn, Johnnie Johnson, The Village People, Billie Joe Royal, Marvin Hamlisch, Liza Minnelli, Kenwood Dennard and Ben Vereen, amongst many others.

While building a thirty-plus year reputation as a first-call bassist, Jeff's freelance credits include movie soundtracks, Broadway musicals and national television commercials. He appeared on Grammy-nominated recordings with Johnny Winter and John Lee Hooker, as well as the Tony Award-winning original cast album of Roger Miller's "Big River".

Still based in the New York area, Jeff is busy with various solo projects, co-leads Wang Dang, is a member of TorQue, and continues to guest with internationally known acts.