Larry Tuttle, electric bass
” My biggest influences were 20th Century classical composers and the British Progressive Rock bands in the 70s. When I was a kid I played in every orchestra under the sun – schools, all-city, music camps, youth symphony, you name it – and learned the orchestral repertoire from inside the bass section.”
Q: Who has inspired you musically?
A: “My biggest influences were 20th Century classical composers and the British Progressive Rock bands in the 70s. When I was a kid I played in every orchestra under the sun – schools, all-city, music camps, youth symphony, you name it – and learned the orchestral repertoire from inside the bass section. My favorites were Copland, Howard Hanson, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Hovhaness, etc. They were somehow more exciting and more interesting to me than the older composers. In the 70’s I discovered Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Gentle Giant, Genesis and all the British progressives, as well as the American fusion bands – Mahavishnu, Return To Forever, etc. I loved the innovation in the composing and the virtuosic playing in those bands.”
Q: Other groups that you perform with – present and past?
A: “In the early 80’s I had a rock group on Warner Brothers Records – first called Russia, then later called Force 10. We did two albums. Through the late 80’s and 90’s I played in a hybrid instrumental group called Freeway Philharmonic, comprised of Chapman Stick, viola, acoustic guitar and drums. I played the Stick. That was my favorite band ever. These days I play in the bass section of the San Fernando Valley Symphony, a composers collective called CELA and String Planet, a stripped-down duo version of Freeway Philharmonic with just Stick and viola.”
Q: Favorite horn groups?
A: “Chicago was certainly my favorite. Most of the horn bands were either jazzy or funk, but Chicago was rock – right up my alley. I still love that music today. The horn arrangements knock me out, and they managed to create a never-before-heard rock hybrid with kickass horns.”
Q: Other instruments played or activities?
A: “I play Chapman Stick, classical double bass and fretless bass as well as electric bass. The Stick is something of a specialty of mine. Not too many people play it. And I compose for orchestra, wind ensemble and chamber music.”
Q: Anything else musically to share?
A: “I won the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Audience of the Future Composition Competition with one of my orchestral works in 2014. Hearing the PSO play my piece counts as one of my biggest thrills ever. As far as history goes, back in Seattle in the 70’s I studied ear training with the great jazz bassist Gary Peacock. It was a life-changing experience – he was amazing. And I spent a summer playing principal bass in the World Youth Symphony at the National Music Camp in Interlochen – again, life-changing.”