DOMINIQUE DI PIAZZA
Genres: Post-Fusion Contemporary, Classic Fusion • France

Dominique is a unique bass virtuoso who has performed and recorded with John McLaughlin, Michel Petrucciani, Bireli Lagrene, Didier Lockwood, Gil Evans, Jean-Marie Ecay and many others. Dominique Di Piazza was born in Lyon, France, with Sicilian ancestry and a gypsy stepfather. He started playing electric bass in 1979. After some time, he freed himself from the pervasive influence of Jaco Pastorius by creating his own style. Self-taught, he added an extra high string to his 4-string bass and created a technique of using the right-hand thumb, index and middle fingers. This unique approach enabled a virtuosity and style quite unusual in the bass world. The track “Marie” from the John McLaughlin album Qué Alegría, is a great example. This right hand style gave birth to the “four-finger picking” technique later popularized in Europe and the US by new-generation bassists including Matthew Garrison, Adam Nitti and Hadrien Feraud. Dominique’s great knowledge read more...