Mark Van Ziegler

Bassist: Upright + Electric

Mark Van Ziegler on SoundBetter

Well rounded and experienced Upright and Electric Bassist with a stylistically versatile and engaging approach. Veteran of a dozen Broadway tours and off-Broadway shows. Co-creator of "You All Everybody", a tribute band to the television show LOST that sings about polar bears.

I've been playing upright and electric bass professionallly for many years, and have been dialing in my home recording setup over time, as well. Whether it's music coming out of jazz, folk, latin/Brazilian, classical, or pop/rock roots, I've got you covered. As a "groove first" bassist, my goal is to nail the feel of your tunes and add interest while not getting in the way.
I've been a part of numerous Broadway tours and off-Broadway productions and thrive in stylistically diverse situations. My interest and skills in home recording and remote collaboration make me an ideal candidate to deliver great bass tracks with a quick turnaround.
If I'm the right fit, I'd be happy to add vocals, guitar, and mandolin to any tracks you may need, too.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Interview with Mark Van Ziegler

  1. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  2. A: Paul Simon is one of my all time favorite musicians and I was so lucky to see his final concert. So, I guess he's not doing much live anymore, but in my fantasy world we get to at least hang out.

  3. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  4. A: I like to think I always bring a groove and a feel that helps acheive the desired energy of the song. I'm always thinking of how to best serve the composition and the front person.

  5. Q: What's your typical work process?

  6. A: I love it when a songwriter comes to me - and often my other collaborators at the same time - and we figure out how to expand on a demo. They may or may not know what they want, but the magic in those first few listens is really fun ... once I get past the frightening part!

  7. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  8. A: I've started building my setup to be as portable as possible (I'm still a touring musician for much of a "normal" year), without sacrificing quality. The UA interface has really been a game changer in that department. I'm really set up for fantastic bass tracks now, but I've also been getting great results from my Shure mics and the fantastic UA plugins and Unison preamps when working with mandolin and guitar. I've also started recording a podcast with a remote co-host with my SM7B and love the results I'm getting.

  9. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  10. A: Recently I've been working with a lot of singer-songwriters, in particular ones who want different basses on their EP or album. I love getting adventurous with sounds and helping clients get what they want, while being open for a collaborative two-way musical conversation.

Terms Of Service

Typical turn-around is 4 days. Price includes 1 major revision, and 2 minor revisions thereafter. Additional cost for expedited turn-around of 1-2 days.

GenresSounds Like
  • John Stirratt
  • Reid Anderson
  • Bruce Thomas
Gear Highlights
  • 1950's "Morelli" double bass
  • 1978 Fender Precision Bass
  • Xotic Jazz Bass
  • Lakland Darryl Jones 5-string
  • Fender fretless jazz bass
  • Kala U-Bass
  • Eastman Mandolin
  • UA Apollo Twin X
  • Shure KSM44
  • Shure SM7B
  • Aston Spirit
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