Tal Wilkenfeld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tal Wilkenfeld
|
|
|---|---|
Wilkenfeld performing in 2008
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 2 December 1986 Bondi, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Rock, blues rock, folk, indie rock, funk, jazz, jazz fusion, folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, bandleader |
| Instruments | Bass, vocals |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | BMG |
Tal Wilkenfeld (born December 2, 1986) is an Australian bassist, singer, and songwriter. She is famous for playing with some of the biggest names in music, including Jeff Beck, Prince, Eric Clapton, and Herbie Hancock. She is also a successful solo artist who leads her own band.
In 2008, readers of Bass Player magazine voted her "The Year's Most Exciting New Player." She later won the magazine's "Young Gun Award" in 2013.
As a bandleader, Tal sings and plays both bass and guitar. In 2016, she opened for the legendary rock band the Who on their North American tour. Her first album as a singer, Love Remains, came out in 2019 and went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseeker charts. Music critics praised the album, and Rolling Stone magazine said it proved her amazing songwriting skills.
Contents
From Australia to the World Stage
A Musical Start
Tal Wilkenfeld was born in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia. She started playing guitar when she was 14 years old. Just two years later, she decided to leave high school and move to the United States to study music.
After a year of studying electric guitar, she switched to the electric bass. In 2004, she graduated from the Los Angeles College of Music. She then moved to New York City at age 18 and started playing in jazz clubs, ready to make her mark on the music world.
Getting Noticed
In 2006, while playing in a New York club, she met members of The Allman Brothers Band. They invited her to play with them on the big stage at the Beacon Theatre. This was a huge moment for her. She later sent a recording of that performance to rock legend Jeff Beck when she auditioned for his band.
That same year, she recorded her first album, Transformation, in just two days. She wrote, produced, and played bass on the album, showing her incredible talent.
Playing with Music Legends
Touring with Jeff Beck
After hearing her music, jazz great Chick Corea chose Tal to be the bassist for his 2007 Australian tour. A few months later, she joined Jeff Beck's band for a European tour. The group even performed at Eric Clapton's famous Crossroads Guitar Festival in front of 40,000 people.
Later that year, the band recorded a live DVD and CD called Live at Ronnie Scott's in London. During this trip, she also played with music icon Herbie Hancock.
Working with Prince
In 2008, Tal got a surprise phone call from Prince. He invited her to his home in Los Angeles for jam sessions. A few months later, Prince asked her to form a trio with him.
In 2010, she went to Prince's famous Paisley Park studio. There, she helped record the album Welcome 2 America. Prince gave her very little instruction, telling her to just "do your thing." The album was released in 2021, and Tal's bass playing is featured on most of the tracks.
More Famous Collaborations
Between 2009 and 2012, Tal's career continued to soar. She toured the world with Jeff Beck and played at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary concert. At that show, she shared the stage with stars like Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, Sting, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.
She also recorded with many other artists, including:
- Herbie Hancock on his album The Imagine Project
- Macy Gray on her album The Sellout
- Steven Tyler from Aerosmith
- Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones on Saturday Night Live
In recent years, she has played with Incubus, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, and the funk group Scary Pockets.
Solo Career and 'Love Remains'
While she was busy playing with other stars, Tal was also writing her own music. In 2016, she released her first single as a singer, "Corner Painter." She also opened for The Who on their North American tour, playing her own songs to huge crowds.
In 2019, she released her first vocal album, Love Remains. The album was a big success, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart. It showed the world that she was not only a world-class bassist but also a powerful singer and songwriter. She even performed songs from the album on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Personal Life
Tal practices meditation to help with her personal growth and creativity. She told Rolling Stone magazine, "I meditate every day, and I just want to continue to evolve as a person, and I hope that my music will reflect that."
She is also a big fan of stand-up comedy and has appeared on podcasts with famous comedians like Marc Maron and Bill Burr.
Equipment
Tal Wilkenfeld is known for playing Sadowsky electric basses. She also uses amplifiers and effect pedals from EBS Professional Bass Equipment.
Discography
As a Solo Artist
- Transformation (2007)
- Love Remains (2019)
Selected Work with Other Artists
- Live at Ronnie Scott's (2008) - with Jeff Beck
- Emotion & Commotion (2010) - with Jeff Beck
- The Imagine Project (2010) - with Herbie Hancock
- Ryan Adams (2014) - with Ryan Adams
- Toto XIV (2015) - with Toto
- Welcome 2 America (2021) - with Prince
See also
In Spanish: Tal Wilkenfeld para niños
