MTD Kingston Players

Max Bennett - Legendary solo artist and session bassist

Max has toured and performed in concert with Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. His many years of working in the studios have given him the opportunity to exercise his affinity for jazz, blues, rock and latin music and to combine those elements into his music. The list of outstanding artists with whom Max has recorded includes Quincy Jones, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Frank Zappa, Celine Dion, Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Ray Charles, Michael Franks, Frank Sinatra, Michel LeGrand, Phil Spector and countless others.

Also he has performed with such jazz greats as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, The Crusaders and many more. He then created a new concept of jazz in the world renowned L.A. Express which included Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and John Guerin, under the leadership of Tom Scott. Max then formed his own group “Freeway” and currently heads his most recent band “Private Reserve.”

Links: www.maxbennett.com

Peter Sonntag - Final Virus

Peter Sonntag has been called the Leonardo da Vinci of the bass, and a review of his long musical career definitely supports that title! He first hit the world music scene in the late 70's with both amazing technique and original compostions. Ultimately, Peter founded the band Final Virus, which quickly became an iconic band with fans all over the world.

Although Peter could play any basses that he wants, he has chosen MTD Kingston!

Links: www.final-virus.de/

Emerson Cardenas - The Salvador Santana Band

Emerson is an amazingly versatile bassist who has dedicated himself to the infinite study of music. Currently touring and recording with The Salvador Santana Band, Emerson lays it down on his MTD Kingston Z 4-string with the burled maple finish.

Links: Myspace.com/emcardenas and www.salvadorsantanaband.com

Emanuel J. Cole - Stacy Mitchart

Emanuel J. Cole was born on December 19, 1980 to notarized bass player J. Bobby Cole (original bass player and road manager for B. B. King) and Betty S. Cole. While growing up Emanuel was influenced by many great musicians as he followed his father around. He had the pleasure of sitting in jam sessions and rehearsals with such greats as Bobby Blue Bland, B. B. King, D'Harvey and many others. Emanuel currently tours and records with the Stacy Mitchart band. He plays a variety of fretted and fretless MTD Kingston Z basses.

Links: www.stacymitchhart.com and www.myspace.com/stacymitchhart

Perry Richardson - Craig Morgan

Perry is the dynamic bassist who plays with Country Music super star Craig Morgan. Not only does Perry lay down a bass foundation big enough to build a church on, but he also sings back-up for Craig. Some of you might recognize Perry from his work with the American Music Awarding winning band Firehouse.

Perry currently plays a Kingston Z 5-string with a Tobacco Sunburst finish and a Kingston ZX.

Links: www.craigmorgan.com/ and www.myspace.com/craigmorgan

Seth Klebe - Various Artists, Session Player

Seth is an 18-year-old bass player who is considered by many to be a bass prodigy. He plays all around the Bay Area and has opened for the San Francisco Jazz All Stars. His resume also contains playing with various popular combos as well as commanding solo performances. Seth is always playing, always practicing, and always performing to be able to maintain a professional level and attitude. Seth's first solo album is titled "Windswept" and it is currently available on iTunes. He is also touring with his Jazz combo called Quintessential.

Links: www.myspace.com/bassistsethk

Craig Murray - Crash the Machine, Educator, Composer, Producer

To say that Craig Murray is busy is a serious understatement. In addition to playing bass for Crash the Machine, Craig also teaches music at Rio Linda High School in Northern California, passing his extensive knowledge to a new generation of musicians. In addition, he is a student himself, starting his Doctorate in Music Composition. Craig earned a B.S. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Music from the Union Institute & University, an M.A. in Music Composition from California State University Chico, and he is credentialed to teach music in the state of California.

Links: www.crashthemachine.com and www.myspace.com/crashthemachine

Marty Wilhite

Marty Wilhite - Session Bassist, Producer, Music Director

Marty has been working in Branson, MO for 23 years and is one of the most respected musicians in the nation. He has performed with and/or done sessions for Loretta Lynn, Tony Orlando, Andy Williams, Jim Stafford, Marie Osmond, Jimmy Osmond, The Osmond Brothers, the Broadway production of "Peter Pan" starring Cathy Rigby, Bobby Vinton, among many others. Currently he performs at the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre with Collin Raye, Debbie Boone, T.G. Shepard, Country Tonite and many others. Combine that with his full calendar of recording sessions and you can see why Marty is one of the most sought after bassists on the scene today.

Edwin Carranza - Session Bassist

Edwin Carranza is one of the young lions in the Southern California music scene. His resume includes performances and collaborations with Rickey Minor, the Quincy Jones Tribute band, Switchfoot, Ozomati, Lee Ritenour and many more. Besides keeping a full session schedule, Edwin is also a student at the California State University, Northridge, where he is seeking a Jazz Studies Electric Bass/Double Bass Performance Major. The future is very bright for this young bass player!

Drew Kerwin - Tara Lea, Session Bassist

Drew began touring most of the US and shooting a music video with death metal act Ominous before joining the international act, Malamor. Currently, Drew is working with Tara Lea, a very successful singer/songwriter. Drew has a funky pocket and dynamic groove, bringing unique funk inspired bass lines and various different techniques to express himself through music. Drew is always looking to learn and enjoy new musical experiences and is always up for a session whenever he is needed and is currently playing on a Kingston Z4 with some personal upgrades and a 5-string MTD made by the man himself, Michael Tobias. (Photo by Rob Kerwin)

Links: www.myspace.com/drewkerwin and www.myspace.com/taraleamusic

Trip Brown - Chronic Stew

Trip Brown is a veteran bassist with an impressive list of credits. He recently emailed us this great testimonial: "I just want to let you know that after 40+ years of playing bass, I've recently purchased an MTD Kingston Heir and I'm totally blown away. Wow! It's the bass that I've been looking for most of my career. The neck size and shape is incredible and the body weight and design make it the best bass that I could ask for. The zero fret set-up is very cool. The plethora of tones available make this bass perfect for every song and every style of music that I play. Audience members that've heard me play in the last few months have commented on the exceptional tone I've got and the great looks of the bass. Even fellow musicians are raving about this bass."

Thanks, Trip!

Links: www.myspace.com/chronicstew

Suzanne Sterne - Ruby Bullet

Technical, powerful, creative and aggressive, Suzanne Sterne has upped the ante for the future of female rock bassists. At just 5' tall the petite phenom is a serious talent, wrangling an army of 5-string basses with ease and carving out an unconventional niche as frontwoman of avant progressive rock band Ruby Bullet.

Sterne's musical training began in childhood; when she discovered the bass at 16 she was already a working musician. Experience playing myriad genres from classical to jazz to world culminated in her unique style, which she brought to New York the following year. She worked off and on as a session bassist which always took second place to her artistic pursuits. As half of Ruby Bullet (with drummer Pete Vassil) Sterne's abilities are literally center stage. She can be found simultaneously performing bass, vocals and foot pedals/percussion during the band's energy charged live shows. Her mixed meter compositions are at once organic, complex and refreshing and the musical multi-tasker records "everything but the drums" in Vassil's Gain Studios. Ruby Bullet released their second EP "Splitting Heirs" in 2009.

Suzanne Sterne has tried nearly every bass on the market in her quest for a quality instrument with comfort and playability. Once she found MTD she never looked back. She currently owns several MTD Kingston fretted and fretless 5-strings. Her main bass is a one-of-a-kind prototype model (pictured).

Links: www.rubybullet.com and www.myspace.com/rubybullet

Patrick Audain - Various Artists, Session Player

Patrick is an 18-year-old up and coming bassist from the D.C. Metro area. He has shared the stage with prominent gospel artist such as Duawne Starling, Butch Heyward, and Doobie Powell. Currently studying at Berklee College of Music, he plays with various talented artists in the Boston area. Patrick uses a modified Z6 and an American Saratoga 5 string.

Bryce Carroll-Coe - BUMP

Detroit favorite BUMP's bass player, Bryce Carroll-Coe, has had a sudden and brief ascention to "bass player". Being a lifelong lead-guitarist he searched for the perfect tool to help him along. MTD's Kingston Series was a clear choice for a touring and recording band such as BUMP."We're constantly going. BUMP's schedule is non-stop between touring the country, recording new material and other media projects. I needed to not only learn how to play bass (really well because of the quality of players in BUMP) but, find a bass that would make that transition from guitar to bass easier. MTD's Kingston gave me a great feel, wide variety of tones and serious durability. I immediately noticed the consistency and equality of frequencies. I knew I needed a 5-string due to the complexity and diversity of BUMP's music and good string tension is something I felt was very important to the quality of tone.
MTD has given me all the things I needed from the first touch."

Links: www.bumpmusic.net

Kris Osward - Dan Bauer Band

Kris Osward began playing string bass in his elementary school orchestra, and by age 14 he formed his first band playing the electric bass. After receiving his A.A. degree in music, Kris moved to Hollywood and graduated from the Bass Institute of Technology in 1983. He toured professionally across the United States and throughout Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia.

Kris is an accomplished and versatile musician with over 25 years of experience as a professional bassist and vocalist. He has performed, toured and recorded with some of the best musicians in the business, including The Drifters, The Coasters, The Shirelles, The New Christy Minstrels, Tony Miles, Rhythm Coalition, John Lee Hooker, Joe Craven, and with members of Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station.

For over a decade, Kris has been touring throughout the Western United States with the Dan Bauer Band. When Kris is not touring, he is a private bass, guitar and vocal instructor and performs with other artists.

Kris is delighted with the playability and amazing tone of “Roxy”, his MTD Kingston Z-6 Six-String Bass, and uses it as his primary bass on stage and in the studio.

Mick Donner - The Treblemakers

If you are a pro bassist, or even just a fan of the instrument, then you probably have heard of Mick Donner. Mick has been a musical mercenary most of his life. He did his first road work at 13 years of age with a country band and grew up in an amazing musical atmosphere. By the time he was a senior in High School he had already met Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich. He toured for many years but came off the road to apprentice with master guitar builder, Lyle Haldy. Soon, Mick had his own repair and building shop until he got hired into the musical instrument industry.

Over the years he has worked for Washburn, Gibson, Peavey, Parker and Dean, and he is
currently an independent consultant in the music products industry.

Mick comments, "I get to count guys like Mike Tobias, Stu Spector, Bill Bartolini, Rob Turner, Ken Parker, Nick Epifani and Sheldon Dingwall among my good friends.A lot of incredible bass players always seem happy to see me."

Mick lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with his Wife, Mary and his two boys, Artie and Harry.

He is currently playing with The Treblemakers and with his Church.

Links:

www.facebook.com/pages/THE-TREBLEMAKERS/109905599040930?ref=nf