Combo Time!

This is something I’m really hoping to do more often, as I miss it a lot. I played a LOT of jazz early in my career and, despite the recent Superband gigs, I don’t get to do it much anymore as I’ve fallen into the cover band scene since moving to the Midwest. This is from a recent show with some amazing musicians I’ve worked with separately over the years, finally all in one place at the same time! Let me know what you think in the comments!

Jason Goldsmith- Sax

Chris Mell- Drums

Dave Sturino- Keys

Ben Titus- Bass

Big Band Jazz!

On August 7, 2025, I got the opportunity to sit in with the MKE All Star Superband for the first time in about a year. This is always a great way to keep up my reading chops since as a middle and high school teacher, I don’t get to read complicated stuff for bass as often.

Also- This may well be the first time I’ve played upright with a big band jazz ensemble (albeit electric upright) since college or shortly therafter. Definitely nerve wracking, but since I’ve been playing so much upright with Milwaukee Alpenblaser, I felt confident enough to give it a go. I’m spotting some opportunities for growth as I watch the videos, for better or worse…

I hope you enjoy!

Ben

Playing a little bit of Bavarian Folk Music?

Yeah, this has been a newer project. Milwaukee Alpenblaser is a 7-Piece ensemble that plays traditional Bavarian folk music at local Biergartens, Oktoberfests, and more. If you’re wondering what the difference is between traditional Bavarian music and the more ‘mainstream’ German music you’d hear with a larger group, well… I’ve been told by some of my German-speaking students that Bavaria is, essentially, ‘The Texas’ of Germany. So, take that for what it’s worth….

Also- while not visible in this shot, the @accugroove ‘Wedgie’ Cabinet and @mesaengineering TT-800+ head are a wonderful combo for this stuff! The bass is a Yamaha SLB-200, with strings of course provided by @ghsstrings . @rattlesnakecables finishes out the signal chain- great stuff!

#bavarianfolkmusic #alpenbläser

Rest In Peace, Ozzy.

The world just suffered a major loss of an icon, Ozzy Osbourne. One of my groups, Big Spoon, performs No More Tears regularly, so this seems apropos.

Performed live at Bastille Days 2025 with Big Spoon.

Bass- Skjold Design Guitars Drakkar 6

Strings- GHS Bassics

Cables- Rattlesnake Cable Company

Great Gig In The Sky- Pink Floyd

From the Big Spoon (www.bigspoonband.com) livestream of Dark Side Of The Moon on March 1, 2023. The female vocalist solo is instead performed on bass, utilizing a Line 6 Helix and Boss RC-300 Looper.

Gear List-

-Bass- Skjold Design Guitars custom Drakkar 6

-Strings- GHS Strings Bassics

-Effects- Line 6 Helix Floor, Gamechanger Audio Plus Pedal, Boss RC-300 Loop Station

Time- Pink Floyd

From @Bigspoonrocks’ livestream of Dark Side Of The Moon on March 1, 2023. The typical David Gilmore solo is instead performed on bass, utilizing a Line 6 Helix and Boss RC-300 Looper to live-loop the bass parts during the run up to the solo.

Gear List-

-Bass- Skjold Design Guitars custom Drakkar 6

-Strings- GHS Strings Bassics

-Effects- Line 6 Helix Floor, Gamechanger Audio Plus Pedal, Boss RC-300 Loop Station

Dark Side of the Spoon- DSoTM 50th Anniversary Live Stream

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Dark Side of the Moon, Big Spoon performed the album in its entirety live and streamed it on March 1, 2023. No overdubs, no redos, all live! Check it out!

Pump Up The Jam- by Technotronic, performed by Big Spoon

Milwaukee-based band Big Spoon (www.bigspoonband.com) performs their cover of Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam".