Skip Ward
Skip Ward, Grammy Award Winning Bassist, Guitarist, Ukulele-ist (is that a word), Lap Steel, Tuba, Penny Whistle and Teacher... can also get around on piano, and sings background vox. ...OK, Skip Ward, Musician.
Skip Ward is a classically-trained jazz musician with a penchant for rock n' roll. And fusion, blues and bluegrass. In fact, Skip can play in just about anything with a rhythm section, and has had experience in too many genres and styles to count. He plays four, five and six string electric and acoustic fretted and fretless basses, and has a special love for the upright.
Though Skip was born and raised in the thriving metropolis of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, he now lives in New York City. He says he prefers the quietness of the Big Apple. He has studied with Anthony Knight of the Cleveland Orchestra and Frank DiLaberto of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also had the privilege of studying with the great Jaco Pastorius, and surviving to tell the tale. Whether it's live or in the studio, Skip's bottom end truly is a very heavy thing. Artists he has played/recorded with include: Tony Trischka, Steve Martin, Rosanne Cash, Trey Anastasio, Bela Fleck, Gordon Stone (Phish), Phoebe Snow, Marc Cohn, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Cyndi Lauper, Cassandra Wilson, David Sancious (Sting, Eric Clapton), Dominic Miller, Manolo Badrena, Jim White, Tandy, The Wild Colonials, Angela McCluskey, David Benoit, Carrie Rodriguez, Melissa Manchester, Shannon McNally, Michael Daves, Steve Holley (Paul McCartney, Ian Hunter), Demolition String Band (featuring Boo Reiners), Brendan O'Shea, Mark Geary, Ana Egge, Darren Lyons Group, The Alabama Folk School, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tom Pierson Big Band, Canton Symphony, Akron Symphony, the Ohio Ballet. For a complete list of artists, call Skip and be prepared to listen for a while. If you watch TV, you may have seen him on David Letterman, SNL or the The Ellen Degeneres Show. You'll hear Skip on many soundtracks, and he has been on national tour with a number of major theatrical productions. Bright Star: A New Musical, Hands On A Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet, High School Musical, Shakespeare In The Park (NYC), Jesus Christ Superstar, Song & Dance, Cats, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line and West Side Story are just a few of the shows he has worked on. He also has lots of experience writing (he's a member of BMI) and playing advertising jingles, and plays regularly in Ireland.