Jazz Bassist & Composer, Christian de Mesones Dominates the Hybrid Genre World!

Interview By: Gina Sedman

Christian de Mesones is a bassist from Brooklyn with a wide range of experience in various musical genres. He has opened for many notable artists, including the legendary Roberta Flack and Chuck Brown, thanks to his multi-genre background. His latest single, "Hispanica," reached number one on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart. I recently had the opportunity to speak with him about his career journey, and he shared some interesting insights.

Tell me a little bit about your background. Where are you from and how did you get started in music? I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in a household filled with all genres of music, since my mother is Bulgarian, and my father was from Peru.  I became familiar with the music of my heritage while simultaneously being introduced to American music by my older siblings, and through radio, movies, television, etc. 

I gravitated towards Heavy Metal at an early age and joined lots of bands in my early years in Brooklyn.  When I attended Bass Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA (now Musicians Institute), I was exposed to or able to work with some legendary players, like Abe Laboriel, Louis Johnson, Tim Bogart, Howard Alden, Steve Morse, Pat Metheny, and the late Tommy Tedesco, Ray Brown, and Pat Martino.  All these experiences – the absorption of varied genres of music with Latin and European flavors, being introduced to things like the Motown sound, Philly Soul, and bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer - and then receiving technical training and being able to explore music theory, coupled with an immersion in the world of jazz, all played significant roles in my development as a musician.

However, it broadened my horizons even further and positively influenced my writing and playing styles.  After school, I was blessed enough to get a full-time job as a paid musician, living in Hawaii for a bit, and playing in a Top 40 hard rock cover band.  I moved to Richmond in the 90s, during which time I played in a variety of bands, became immersed in urban music and Smooth Jazz, and had the privilege of opening for greats like Roberta Flack and Chuck Brown.  Then, I relocated to the DC area, where I started my first Smooth Jazz project and eventually launched my solo career.

What would you say is positive about being a musician? Music is a universal language.  The melodies themselves convey a message or a feeling and can cross barriers of all kinds.  It’s a privilege to share such a gift with the world and to have a creative outlet that allows me to pay tribute to my ancestors, express love and friendship, convey happiness, or simply get the party started.  I can’t imagine a world without music, and it is such a core part of who I am as a person.  Music provides me with a fundamental and constant reason to accept new challenges.  It can help me focus, promote discipline, and create endless opportunities for fellowship and collaboration.  It keeps me driven.

What are some of the challenges you face being a musician? The industry has changed so much over the years, and it can be difficult and extremely costly to achieve your musical goals – especially if you’re seeking radio airplay.  The pandemic has made it more difficult to do just about everything but has been tremendously detrimental to the gigging musician.  And when I’m able to gig, I also have to be mindful about balancing my musical aspirations with my other responsibilities - a musician’s hours can be hectic.   I have a day job that requires me to be well-rested and healthy, and regular, quality time with my family is extremely important to me.

What type of music do you play? Although I currently identify as a smooth jazz bassist and composer, my music is a hybrid of genres.  It’s smooth jazz with world music, Latin, funk, soul, and/or rock influences, depending on the song.

Who are your band members and how did you meet? Although I do have a core group of musicians I utilize for the bulk of my performances, I don’t have a fixed band.  I play with various musicians based in the DMV and the size and composition of the band changes based upon the event.  My core musicians usually include Elliot Levine (keyboards), Mike Gamble (guitar), Carl Anderson (drums), Rob Maletick (saxophone), and Curtis McCain (percussion), all of whom I met at events or via various music endeavors when moved to the area from Richmond.

What have people who have heard your music say about your style that sets you apart from other musicians? People always say, “One thing you will never be at a Big New York show is Bored!”.  I’m constantly hearing how edgy and funky my music is for the smooth jazz genre, as well as how complex, exciting, and unique the songs are – both from listeners and the musicians I hire to play with me. 

Who is your independent favorite artist? I have many favorites, but right now, I’d have to pick The Jazz Holdouts, who have great songwriting, production, and an awesome overall sound, and Brendan Rothwell, who is a phenomenal instrumentalist who creates impressive contemporary jazz compositions with an R&B flavor and beautiful lead bass melodies.

Who are your musical influences? I’m of course heavily influenced by bass greats like Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke, and other music legends like Jeff Berlin and Pat Martino, but artists like Gene Simmons and KISS, Greg Lake, Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, The Scorpions, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Barbara Streisand, and Burt Bacharach have influenced aspects of my musical makeup from my showmanship to my composition style.  I was also influenced by bands like Santana, Weather Report, and Return to Forever because of their creativity and improvisational skills.

How do you prepare yourself mentally for public opinion (either positive or negative) when you’re preparing for a show? "I always strive to give my best possible performance, but sometimes I have to work under certain constraints which don't always result in a perfect outcome. For instance, due to timing, distance, or availability issues, I might not be able to have a full band rehearsal. However, I have to accept this reality and trust that my musicians have done their homework and that our inherent skills will create the cohesiveness and magic I aim to deliver.

Having been in this business for many years, I have had my fair share of performances that didn't meet my standards. But I take the lessons that come with those experiences and use them to improve. I am my harshest critic, and I have developed a thick skin, which is imperative in this field.

I understand that I can never please everyone, even when I believe I've given a stellar performance. However, the opinions and feedback of every person who has spent their hard-earned money to support me matter to me very much, whether positive or negative."

What advice would you give to new musicians entering this changing industry? It is advisable to find a mentor who has been working in the industry for a long time and has successfully navigated through the changes. This will help you avoid costly setbacks and pitfalls. Additionally, it is important to be both patient and persistent. Success is not something that comes overnight and it is unlikely to happen at all for those who aren't aggressively seeking it. Lastly, always remember to have fun and never sacrifice the music.

What is your instrument and how many other instruments do play? The bass guitar is my only instrument – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 15-string bass, to be precise!

How many singles/albums do you have out presently? My debut project, Groove Skool Band, has an album available titled Limited Edition, released in 2010, and my solo album, They Call Me Big New York was released in 2020.  I also have three singles out now (Sweetnight Instrumental, Sexy Beast, and Hispanic Instrumental), which will be on my next album scheduled for release in late 2022.

Tell me about your latest album/ song and what was your inspiration behind it.  Is it out now and where can people buy it? Hispanica (instrumental) is my latest single, and it reached number 1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart. It is a Latin-flavored contemporary jazz gem that prominently features legendary jazz pianist Bob James, and it has given me my greatest chart success to date. The track also landed solidly near or at the top of Mediabase, RadioWave, Smoothjazz.com, Groove Jazz, and Smooth Jazz Network charts, as well as a selection of independent radio airplay charts since its release. This song is an instrumental re-imagining of a track from my debut solo project, “They Call Me Big New York” and showcases Arch Thompson (flute), Bill McGee (trumpet), and Rob Maletick (saxophone), and highlights the talents of Curtis McCain (percussion), Mike Gamble (guitar), and Carl Anderson (drums). I wrote this song many years ago and have spent a lot of time improving and tweaking it, getting it to exactly what I wanted it to be – a perfect melding of genres I love.  It is available for streaming and purchase on all major music platforms and my website.

Do you have any upcoming shows? I do not have any shows scheduled.

How has COVID-19 positively affected you? The time at home due to the pandemic did allow me to push myself to learn new skills – recording at home being the most important of these.  I’ve also had the opportunity to study and practice – to strengthen my foundation and inspire me to write new music.

What advice would you like to give to an upcoming artist? Seek out a mentor – someone who has been in the industry for a long time and has successfully navigated the changes.  This can help avoid costly setbacks and pitfalls. Also, be patient but persistent. For most, success doesn’t happen overnight and doesn’t happen at all for those who aren’t aggressively seeking it. Lastly, always remember to have fun and don’t ever sacrifice the music.

Just for fun - *The Indie Post pointless question of the month*

How do you make your funky P Funk when you want to get funked up? The true defenders of the funk will argue that the genre can only be one way – with roots going back to artists like James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, Cameo, Dazz Band, etc., but the reality is that the funk genre has grown quite a bit and continues to morph as more players discover and incorporate its elements.  I appreciate the new funk pioneers – those creating groove-oriented music that this generation can relate to – artists such as Cory Wong, Snarky Puppy, and Robert Glasper...and dare I say myself!

END OF INTERVIEW