10 Questions With Aneesa Strings

Aneesa Strings has been serious about bass since her earliest days. The Oakland native began playing professionally at the age of 13, when she recorded her first jazz album and began gigging. From there, she received a degree in Jazz Studies from USC before going on to Michigan State University, where she earned a Master’s in Jazz Studies. She released her debut solo album A Shift in Paradigm in 2014, following it up with her acclaimed sophomore effort, Ways, in 2019. 

Doubling on upright and electric bass, Strings began gaining viral attention on TikTok and Instagram, as her soulful voice and deep pocket playing earned her fans from all over the world. She’s now continually touring with artists such as Duckworth, Jose James, Kandace Springs, and her own group, as the venues and crowd sizes keep growing. She recently performed at both the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival and the 70th Newport Jazz Festival, where she was introduced by one of her biggest fans, Christian McBride. Currently in between performance dates and composing a slew of new music, Strings took a break to answer our 10 Questions.

1. What music have you been listening to lately?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Nina Simone and Nat King Cole — the great singing pianists of their respective eras. There’s something very special about finding “new” songs from your favorite artists.

2. What have you been working on in your personal practice?

Lately it’s all been about practicing endurance on both instruments. I’m also trying to improve my soloing skills on electric bass.

3. What was the first concert you ever attended?

My first concert was Bobby Blue Bland when I was ten years old. I’ve been obsessed with the blues for as long as I can remember.

4. What’s the best concert you’ve ever attended?

This feels like a trick question! Right now, what keeps coming to mind is when I saw Anita Baker at North Sea in 2019. It was incredible to hear her sing some of my favorite songs ever, live, and sounding better than the record at 60! Truly inspiring.

5. If you could have lunch with any bass player today, alive or dead, who would it be?

It would absolutely have to be James Jamerson. I need to know all the Motown stories and understand the concept behind what he was doing. Hands down, my favorite electric bassist.

6. If you could sub for any bass player in any band, who would it be?

I would have to say Paul Chambers in Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue band. Cannonball, Trane, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb, and Miles? Sign me up!

7. What was your first bass?

It’s the same bass I’m playing now, a maple upright bass that was rented-to-own.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given about playing bass? 

My teacher Rodney Whitaker gave me the best advice I’d ever gotten on bass. I was asking him for help in thumb position on upright, telling him I felt that was my biggest weakness. He said, “That’s all right — I can help you master the upper register. But you’ll make all your money down low in the cash register.”

9. What are four items that you absolutely need to have on the road with you?

I have to have my shades, my scarf, my makeup, and my vocal steamer.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?

I love cooking and talking and hosting and decor, so I would probably be a homemaker or a teacher.

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