Bassist Al Caldwell planned to be a music teacher until his college professor convinced him to travel and share his gifts. The result is impressive list of accomplishments spanning over 20 years.
Currently the Bassist for Singer Vanessa Williams, Al says “I’ve been around the world three times with various artists, played in front of royalty, and have been on several television programs including Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,”.
Caldwell also has written thousands of songs, produced dozens of recordings, and has helped develop several custom basses, including the Benevente 11-string Al Caldwell Signature Bass with midi.
As unique as his sound and contributions are now, as a young man in the late ’70s, Caldwell worked hard to sound like the top bassists of his day: Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham and by the time he was 23 he could emulate all of them. “I put in a lot of work to be called another man’s name,” he recalled.
Caldwell credits bass legend and father of the extended range bass Anthony Jackson, (Jackson conceived the first six-string bass in the late ’70s) with helping catalyze the search for his own voice. “Anthony suggested I stop trying to be the best bass player and start being myself.”
“Music is a language,” Caldwell emphasizes. “Emotionally challenge yourself to create something true and honest. What comes out of your mouth is honest.”
