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CHRIS MARESH
www.chrismaresh.com

BASS PLAYER

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Chris Maresh began his professional music career in Austin, Texas in 1984. He has explored many musical styles, and has performed: jazz, classical, rock, country, salsa, tango, and folk music. Currently Chris divides his time between recording, live performances, and touring. He has played venues ranging from small clubs to theatres and outdoor stadiums in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

GRAMMY NOMINATION: 2002 "Rain" (composer: Chris Maresh)
category: best performance of pop instrumental artist: Eric Johnson & Alien Love Child (Chris Maresh and Bill Maddox) on the album Live and Beyond

AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC AWARDS 2001, 2005, 2006
Bassist of the year: CHRIS MARESH

AUSTIN CHRONICLE MUSIC AWARDS 2002
Bassist of the year: CHRIS MARESH
Single of the year: "Rain" (composer: Chris Maresh)
Band of the year: Alien Love Child (Eric Johnson, Chris Maresh & Bill Maddox)

TOMORROW named in 2002 TOP TEN JAZZ ALBUMS by Austin's Jay Tractenberg

DISCOGRAPHY
* performed live with
1 electric bass
2 acoustic bass

ERIC JOHNSON * 1 Electric Guitar
Venus Isle Capital Records 1996
Live and Beyond Favored Nations 2000

ABRA MOORE *1,2 Contemporary Rock
Sing Rounder Records 1995
Strangest Places Arista Records 1997

MONTE MONTGOMERY *1 Acoustic Rock
First and Repair Heart Music 1998
Mirror Heart Music 1999
Lost and Found 1993
Wishing Well Antone's Records 2001

CHRIS SMITHER 1,2 Blues Singer/Songwriter
Drive Me Home Again Hightone Records 1999
Small Revelations Hightone Records 1997
Up on the Lowdown Hightone Records 1995

TISH HINOJOSA *1,2 Latin Songwriter
Fronteras Rounder Records 1995
Dreaming from the Labyrinth Warner Bros. 1996

STEPHEN BRUTON *1 Americana
Right on Time Dos Records 1995
Nothing But the Truth New West Records 1999

MITCH WATKINS *1,2 Jazz Guitar
Strings with Wings Enja Records 1992
Humhead Dos Records 1995

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO 2 Singer/Songwriter
With These Hands Ryko 1996

TONI PRICE 2 Blues
Lowdown and Up Antones Records 1999

RAY WILEY HUBBARD *2 Singer/Songwriter
Live at Cibolo Creek Misery Loves Company 1999

DARDEN SMITH *2 Singer/Songwriter
Sunflower Dualtone Records 2002

TONY CAMPISE *2 Jazz Saxophone
Ballads, Blues and Bebop Heart Records 1994
Ballads, Blues, Bebop and Beyond 1994

UNCLE FESTIVE *1 Instrumental Jazz
Drive Down the Sun Blue Moon Records 1992
BETO Y LOS FAIRLANES *1 Salsa
Salsified Dos Records 1994
TOMAS RAMIREZ *1 Latin Jazz
Téjazz Vireo Records 1995
EXTREME HEAT *1 Funk
Greatest Hits Volume 2 Fable Records 1992
Cool Extreme Records 1994
BETTY ELDERS *1 Singer/Songwriter
Peaceful Existence Flying Fish Records 1993
Crayons Flying Fish Records 1995
LISA TINGLE *1 Contemporary Rock
Black Pearl 1994
In the Water 1998
Paradise 2001
CLAY MOORE *2 Jazz Guitar
Meeting Standards Viewpoint Records 1999
To a Tee 2001
RAY McCARTY 1 Jazz Guitar
Mood Swing Viewpoint Records 1999
FLORAMAY HOLLIDAY *1 Country
LEEANN ATHERTON 1 Country
Only Glory Rainstorm Records 1995
TOMMY ELSKES 1 Singer/Songwriter
Bohemia 1999
RAM HERRERA 1 Conjunto
Insuperable 1993
TERRY BOWNESS *2 Jazz Piano
Terry Bowness Aardvark Records 1999
STORYVILLE *1 Rock
Bluest Eyes 1995
SISSY CIERO 1 Singer/Songwriter
Nectar 1999
MATEMATOOT 1 Free Jazz
Concepts of... 1999
SARAH ELIZABETH CAMPBELL 1 Folk
Running with You 1993
BROOKS BROTHERS 1 Southern Rock
Brooks Brothers Antones Records 1994
ERIC TAYLOR 1 Singer/Songwriter
Watermelon Eminent Records 1995

GINGER McKENZIE 1 Singer/Songwriter
Earthbound 1999
WILL TAYLOR *2 Jazz Violin
Reel Life 1996

MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

MICHAEL 1998
HAPPY TEXAS (with Abra Moore) 2000
SLIDING DOORS (with Abra Moore) 1999

PERFORMED WITH

BONNIE RAITT 1997
ELLIS MARSALIS 1998
JENNIFER WARNES 1997
KELLY WILLIS 2000-01
BOB MINTZER 1988
BOB BELDON 1997
DAN DEL SANTO 1986
AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 1985-89
RAGTIME BROADWAY MUSICAL 2000
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE 1987-89

ORIGINAL MUSIC

"Rain" 1
performed by Eric Johnson and Alien Love Child (Chris Maresh and Bill Maddox) on the album
Live and Beyond Favored Nations 2000
GRAMMY NOMINATION 2001 for best performance of a pop instrumental

TOMORROW 2 Stalmach Music Jazz
recorded by Chris Maresh Trio 2001
Melting Clock
Oceana
Rain
Girl in Blue
Adrift
Andrea
Midnight
Everything Has Changed
Pursuit
EQUIPMENT

Electric Bass
1966 Fender Jazz Bass
1964 Fender Precision Bass
2000 Fender Closet Classic Jazz Bass
1957 Fender Precision Bass
1996 G&L 5-string Bass
1997 G&L Precision Bass
1986 Stuart Specter Bass
1979 Music Man Bass
1987 Fender Jazz Bass (fretless)
1996 Stevens Bass
1973 Fender Jazz Bass
Acoustic Bass
1913 Lyon & Healy 3/4 acoustic bass (German)
Bass Organ Pedals
Roland
Amplification
Trace Elliott V-8 All Valve Amplifier
Trace Elliott AH 500 Amplifier
Trace Elliott SMX 200 Amplifier
Trace Elliott GPS 7 Amplifier
Ampeg B-15 1970 Amplifier

PRESS RELEASE
January 5, 2002


Grammy-nominated "Rain" - composer CHRIS MARESH

Grammy nominated song: "Rain"
category: best instrumental performance of a pop tune
performed by: Eric Johnson, Chris Maresh & Bill Maddox (Alien Love Child)
on the CD Live and Beyond, Favored Nations Records, 2000
composer: Chris MARESH

Austin's Grammy-nominated "Rain", performed by Eric Johnson, Chris Maresh and Bill Maddox (Alien Love Child), was written by Chris Maresh. An intensely melodic, lush instrumental, "Rain" has all the hallmarks of Maresh's writing: intrigue, memorable melodic phrasing, and powerful harmonic breadth. Maresh's new release, TOMORROW, features 10 original numbers, including the Grammy-nominated "Rain", in a piano trio format. Pianist Steven Snyder and drummer Brannen Temple join Maresh in performance of his first collection of jazz -- sultry, moving, beautifully melodic, infinitely listenable tunes.

CDs available at Waterloo and Tower Records in Austin, TX
also see: www.chrismaresh.com


BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE
June 2001

BASS NOTES

Chris Maresh
Blues & Beyond

Austin, Texas, is full of celebrated headlines and revered side players, but lots of "best-kept secrets" kick around the clubs and pubs, too. One such player -- who's about to change all that with his current gig - is Chris Maresh (pronounced Marsh), one-third of Eric Johnson's Alien Love Child power trio. In the 23 years he's been at it, Maresh has shared the stage and studio with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Chris Smither, Kelly Willis, Alejandro Escovedo, Sue Foley, and Monte Montgomery.

Back in '84, the San Antonio native packed his bass and bags and headed for U.T. Armed with a degree in Applied Double Bass with an emphasis in Jazz Performance ("I think I'm the only person to graduate in that program," he laughs), Maresh performed for a time with the Austin Symphony while gigging with local jazz combos and cover bands. After a casual meeting with producer/guitarist Stephen Bruton, Chris was invited to play on the first Storyville record, '94's Bluest Eyes [November]. He immediately entered Austin's upper echelon of players, which included guitarists David Grissom and David Holt, and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton. "I wanted to play more rock and pop, and that started when I did Bluest Eyes. I branched out into other styles and really got into the blues."

Maresh had another fateful meeting before that, in 1990 -- this time in a Texas music store. "Eric Johnson and I chatted for a moment. His Ah Via Musicom was out, and I was a fan. I didn't see or hear from him again for several years, but then he and drummer Billy Maddox discussed putting together a side project, and I guess Eric remembered me." Alien Love Child started gigging sporadically, and after going through some old tapes, Johnson decided he wanted to do a live record. Live and Beyond hit the streets late last year on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. Maresh's tactful work weaves around Johnson's distinctive harmonic guitar -- from lyrical and lithe lines on the spirited "Zenland" to firm upfront grooves on the jazzy shuffle "Rain". On "Shape I'm In" and the anthemic, bluesy "World of Trouble," he matches Johnson's intensity and pace note-for-note. "I love the power trio format. It gives you so much freedom to play bass lines and add harmony, especially when the guitarist is soloing or playing melodically. I enjoy soloing, too, but I get most of my satisfaction from trying to make a band sound great."

Chris leans toward classic instruments, and he tours with three Fenders -- a '64 Precision and '66 and '73 Jazz Basses -- all strung with Rotosounds. He also owns a handful of vintage Fender P's and J's, plus a defretted '62 Jazz reissue, a Music Man, a Spector neck-through, a G&L 5, and a 1913 Lyon & Healey upright. "I go for a pure sound and keep effects to a minimum. You have to be careful, because if the bass starts becoming unclear, the whole band sounds strange." Maresh plays through a Trace Elliot V8 all-tube amp, and his effects include an Ernie Ball volume pedal, T.C. Electronic stereo chorus/flanger, DOD delay, and an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. He hooks up everything with CTI Quad cable. "High-quality cable preserves your sound and makes a big difference. It really makes things sound deeper, and the thigh end sounds smoother."

Diane Gershuny

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.chrismaresh.com

Track List:
1. Melting Clock
2. Oceana
3. Tomorrow
4. Rain
5. Girl in Blue
6. Adrift
7. Andrea
8. Midnight
9. Everything Has Changed
10. Pursuit

Suggested CDs:

• Roy Dunlap Group
• Harry Smallenburg

Other Genres:

• JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo
• EASY LISTENING: Lounge
• TYPE: ACOUSTIC