Bio

Al Udell is a veteran bassist who just recently moved from Yellowknife, NWT to North Saanich, BC (southern Vancouver Island). Before Yellowknife, he played in many bands in Saskatoon and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Born in Saskatoon, Al started playing piano at a young age and switched to 4-string electric bass in high school. Mostly self-taught, Al developed his chops by listening to his favourite bands and checking out local acts. His technique is influenced by many great bassists including Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Victor Wooten, Stanley Clark, Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins, and Louis Johnson.

Al’s band experience spans many popular Saskatchewan-based acts including GBU, Wildfire, Muffin Hedz, Restless, Critical Mess, Lost Highway, Sam Hell, Naked Finnegan, and Kentucky Fryed. In 1991, Al was the recipient of the Gold Fever talent award and was presented a Professional Musicians College (PMC) scholarship from the Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association (SRIA) at the Saskatchewan Music Awards for his bass work on a self-titled Critical Mess album.

In Yellowknife, Al played and recorded with a number of popular bands including Jet 30, Starz of Track and Field, Anodyne, Maggie Skeeter, Rough Touch, Leslie Bader Band, Jessie James Gon (Diga), Wake Up Hazel, Bossmare, and Funk69.

Al’s bass skills are widely sought and his playing versatility blends well with his skills as a writer, arranger, and contributor. He has developed a style that is instantly recognizable and is often relied on to provide solos and dominant melodic dance grooves; adding a unique touch to any composition whether rock, funk, country or blues based.

Al is experimenting as a solo artist and loop performer and plans to release a solo album soon.

Al currently uses Carvin 4 and 6-string basses, Trace Elliot and Gallien-Krueger amps, Rotosound strings, a variety of rack-mount effects and loop gear, and many of his favourite foot stomp effects and pedals. Al uses Pro Tools and Ableton Live software for recording and music creation.