Bassist - Kaveh Rastegar - News

A bit of what happened a month ago

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700

I have a new blister on my middle finger. I've been out of town for a month. But before that it was crazy. Rewind to a week or so before a month ago.
In the middle of March Kneebody scheduled days in the studio to record two albums. We had a very limited amount of time to do both. The first album was our new collaboration with Daedelus. Ben won a Chamber Music of America Grant for the band that enabled us to record music that Ben and the other members of the band wrote for a Daedelus collaboration. The music came out great and I'm really excited to hear what Daedelus is able to do with all of it. After that, we recorded the new Kneebody album. It all happened so fast but I think that it sounded fantastic at the time. I can't wait to hear it all again.

The next day after we did all the recording, we played three nights at the Blue Whale in LA. Those shows were so much fun. It was a big release to just get to play after having spent such a concentrated time in the studio together. On one of those days I went into the studio with drummer Matt Chamberlain to record bass and drums with producer Eric Rosse for a great young artist named Matt Hires. The songs sounded great. It was awesome working with Eric and Matt who is one of my favorite musicians ever was awesome.

The next day I flew to Italy.

I spent three weeks in Italy working on music with my boss out there. It was fantastic.

Then I flew to New York..

to be continued....

Lately.

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Things have been very busy lately. Right now I'm sitting in an airport in Bologna writing this. Not very much sleep. All is well though. Kneebody had a great week last week. We set some time aside to record a couple of albums. One was a project with Daedelus. The other was our new album. We did them back to back over four days at Sunset Sound in LA. Then we had a three night run of shows at the Blue Whale. So much fun playing with the guys. There is a Europe run coming up as well as another residency in April in New York. I also did some recording last week with Matt Chamberlain and producer Eric Rosse for an artist named Matt Hires.

LA TIMES review

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

In December we played at the Little Temple for Timothy Young's CD release. He just finished a great album called "Gravitational Lensing" that I co produced featuring tim on guitars, Nate Wood on drums and me on bass. Greg Burk from the LA Times was there and wrote this great piece.

Bruno Mars "Doo Wops and Hooligans" is Nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Just heard that Bruno Mars album "Doo Wops and Hooligans" has been nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year. I am psyched to be a part of that album, co writing the track "The Other Side".

Downbeat Readers Poll

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I'm honored to learn that I have been mentioned in the Downbeat Readers Poll in the category for Electric Bass in the December issue. It is such an honor and very humbling and undeserved. Also, great to hear that Kneebody is in the list for Jazz Group and Adam Benjamin is on for Electric Keyboard.

Ligabue, Laura Pausini currently Number 1 and 2 on the Italian Charts

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I recently learned that two albums I am a part of are currently number one and two on the Italian charts at the moment. The first is by my boss and friend Luciano Ligabue. It's the recording of the concert we played this summer at Campovolo. Also, number two (and number one currently in Argentinia and Latin American Billboard charts) "Inedito" by Laura Pausini. I played on the song "Inedito" with Gianna Nannini as well as the song "Ognuno ha la sua matita". Both were produced by Corrado Rustici.

Recording lately

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Been recording with Matt Chamberlain for his new record "Company 23" that is coming out soon. Been recording and producing my friend Mike Prasad's album. Michael Urbano and Timothy Young will be a part of that album. Co produced Timothy Young's CD "Gravitational Lensing" (with Nate Wood on drums). Recently recorded and wrote with Australian singer Kimbra. Recorded recently with singer Curtis Stigers for producer Larry Klein. Recording with De La Soul.

Kneebody Blue Whale Videos!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Kneebody recently played a sold out 3 night run of shows at the Blue Whale in LA. These shows were so much fun. Night 3 of the residency was documented by Alex Chaloff. We sifted through the amazing footage that he shot that night and all of the clips are now viewable on youtube. Here's a link to all of them. Also here's a clip of us playing my song Victory Lap:

studiooooooooo

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Been in the studio a bunch lately. Working on stuff for Matt Chamberlain's new album. He wrote some gritty music. Super fun. Also was in the studio with De La Soul. They are some of my favorite artists ever. I've been a fan of theirs since '88. It was an honor to work with them. Looks like there will be more coming up soon. Aso been working with an amazing singer named Kimbra. Aslo producing music by my old friend Mike Prasad. We hope to finish songs that we started earlier this month in Berkeley. There will be tracks soon....

Kneebody LA and EUROPE shows!

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Hello hello hello,

I'm writing because Kneebody has a rare 3 night run coming up in LA starting tomorrow night. We'll also be going toEurope and will have more shows throughout the rest of the year. Here's the info:

-LOS ANGELES:

3 NIGHT RESIDENCY AT BLUE WHALE

OCTOBER 14th, 15th, 16th

8pm to 12am (two sets)

Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152000901555907

Online Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/201128

MINORS ALLOWED W/GUARDIAN

-EUROPE: OCTOBER TOUR

26TH - PRAGUE, CZ - JAZZ DOCK

27TH - DRESDEN, GERMANY - JAZZ CLUB TONNE

28TH - MUNICH, GERMANY - UNTERFART

29TH - GENEVA, CH - AMR