Josh Feinberg

Raised in New York City, Josh started his musical career in high school playing in youth symphonies and jazz clubs. He has studied with many of the greatest jazz musicians alive including Paul Bley, Joe Morris, Bob Moses, Drew Gress, Dan Weiss, Bob Bowen, Jacob Sacks, Jerry Bergonzi, and Dominique Eade. Josh has also performed in masterclasses with Kenny Wheeler and Dave Holland.

His experience with Indian music gives him a fresh approach to the bass and a unique approach to teaching music and improvisation.Josh lives and teaches in Portland.

Recently, he has written a sitar method book  for the Hal Leonard Corporation- the worlds largest music publisher. The book is geared towards helping beginner and intermediate students learn Hindustani music on either sitar, or the instrument of their choosing. In addition to extensive compositions and exercises, the book includes an audio CD to aid in the learning process. Josh’s book is due for publication in April 2013 and will be available for purchase throughout the world.

Teaching Experience

Josh has a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, and 12+ years of teaching experience. Josh has dedicated his life to music and would like nothing more than to pass his knowledge on to anyone willing to learn. Whether you’re interested in classical performance, jazz, or folk, Josh has the skills and experience to help you improve your playing.

Teaching Philosophy

Josh enjoys working with students on the technical aspects of playing the bass, and  its role in different forms of music. He also works with his students to help them build the skills they’ll need to be an active and integral part of any group. Josh tailors his teaching to the specific needs of his students.

Josh Feinberg is fast becoming known as one of the most innovative, creative and versatile bassists on the west coast. He’s performed throughout the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany and venues such as Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Portland’s St. John’s Cathedral, Jimmy Mak’s, Boston’s Ryles Jazz Club, Queens College’s LeFrak Hall among others. Since moving to Portland in 2008, Josh has played with Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale, jazz mandolinist Don Stiernberg, Italian classical mandolinist Carlo Aonzo, blues and slide guitarist Mary Flower, Peter Ostroushko, Heather Masse of the Wailin Jennys, Brian Oberlin, Pete Krebs and cello-bop pioneer Gideon Freudmann.

Josh also co-leads a boundary-bending duo with Brian Oberlin called Bass+Mandolin (www.bassmandolin.com) which is quickly gaining recognition. Bass+Mandolin performs traditional and original compositions inspired by bluegrass, Americana, folk and classical music. In addition to touring widely throughout the northwest since their inception in 2009, Bass+Mandolin has released their debut CD entitled ‘Onward’ and toured Germany and the Netherlands.

Josh can be seen regularly with groups as diverse as Sorta Bison Quartet (modern jazz), Wayward Vessel (alternative folk/bluegrass), the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra (principal bass), the Willamette Falls Symphony (principal bass), Peter ‘Spud’ Siegel (swing, Irish), and Dave Langenes (swing) among others.

In addition to his work in classical Indian music, Josh has explored the possibilities of the sitar through collaborations outside of traditional Hindustani music. Some of his most noteworthy projects have included a collaborations with legendary tap dancer Savion Glover, acclaimed saxophonist Patrick Lamb, and recording on jazz drummer Richie Barshay’s album Homework (which included pianist Herbie Handcock as a special guest). Recently, Josh recorded on cellist Gideon Freudmann’s new album Rain Monsters, which was featured on a 2012 episode of the Showtime drama Weeds. Josh was also the featured soloist in a series of concerts with the Seattle Coral Company performing Eric Whitacre’s piece Winter, which was composed for choir, orchestra, sitar solo and tanpura accompaniment.