Jeff Campbell
Instrument: Double Bass
With the RPO since: 1994
Favorite time of year in Rochester: The months of May and September; not too cold, not too hot.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Drink or food you're most likely to order at Java's: a peanut butter cookie
When not performing with the RPO, you can find me ... teaching in the Jazz department at the Eastman School or working on the one-pipe steam heat system in my house.
First music-related memory: Taking a Woody Herman record to Nursery School.
I decided to be a professional musician when ... I played my first gig at 12 years old in the mountain town of Coleville, UT.
Favorite travel destination: New Zealand.
Influential teachers: Stephen Richins, John F. Clark, Robert Campbell
Favorite ice cream flavor: West India Licorice Mocha Delight
What are your other "hidden" talents: I enjoy working on my cars (most of the time). I also made the kitchen cabinets in our house.
Do you teach private students? Yes
What other orchestras have you performed with? Since I’m primarily a jazz musician, the RPO is the only orchestra I’ve ever played with.
Oddest RPO concert memory ... When we performed with Shakesperian actors from Geva Theatre and they ‘drew’ their swords on the cello section.
Favorite restaurant in town: I like the fish and chips at O’Malleys.
What types of music do you like to listen to? I like almost any kind of quality music.
Do you have a pet? I don’t have a pet, but I do have six children: Nelsen, Weston, Louisa, Gibby, Jack and Lydia
The RPO is essential to Rochester because ... It provides high quality musical opportunities for both listener and performer.
My favorite part of working in the RPO is ... My friends in the bass section.
If someone were visiting Rochester, what would you tell them to go see or do? The George Eastman House, the Frank Lloyd Wright house on East Blvd., the Park Avenue area and my favorite store – House Parts.
Biography
Jeff Campbell is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Eastman School of Music. He is widely recognized for his versatile skills as performer and teacher of double bass and is active as a musician with the RPO, Eastman Jazz Quartet and Trio East. He has performed with Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, Rich Perry and Harold Danko and released a new CD, West End Avenue, featuring John Hollenbeck. He is jazz editor for Bass World and serves as Jazz Program Director for Birch Creek Music Center in Door County, WI.
