The BassPage

"The first website dedicated to the Filipino bassist!"


BASSIST OF THE MONTH
January, 2003

CARLOS BALCELLS
The Dawn


Note: We are featuring Caloy Balcells because The Dawn is currently promoting their latest album after several years of hybernation. Catch and witness the extra ordinary style of a Filipino Bass Player in thier gigs all over town. It is also Caloy's B-day on Jan 15!

Anybody who grew up with the music of the 80s surely remembers those bass grooves laid by Caloy Balcells of the Dawn. From the funky grooves of "alam ko, alam n'yo" to the anthemic "salamat" and "envelope ideas", the bass part was always important. Even with the captivating "give me the night", it was always caloy who made the song happen.

"Somehow, since I was a kid, I have always liked the low bass frequencies, thatis why probably I have been destined to be a bass player. As I recall, I would usually stay close to the bass baffle just to feel the rumble of the music in disco venues. I never really imagined that I would end up to be a musician, though I would always approach the bands playing whenever I would hear the music"

"As I remember, I grew up with the music of the 70s being played by my brother who was into rock music like the Doobie Brothers, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, Iron Butterfly, I would also listen to classical music that my Dad would play like Beethoveen, Mozart, Wagner, and the like."

Caloy has 3 bass guitars to his disposal: a Steinberger Headless, a Rickenbacker 4001 and a rare Ibanez Musician. He uses GHS light gauge bass strings a runs his line to a Korg A4 Bass Multi Effects. His musical influences includes Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, John Pattitucci, U2 Michael Manring and Stuart Hamm. he listens to all kinds of music especally jazz, rock, classical, latin and trance.



Catch Caloy Balcels on the web. Visit the Dawn website at www.thedawn.com.

Materials in this page was researched from www.thedawn.com. Credits are as indicated.

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