Jess Block's Profile

Background:

My name is Jess Block. I'm from Long Island, New York. I started playing the bass at age 10. My primary teachers in grade school were Emil Botti, Eugene Levinson, Joel Braun and Ron Castillo. I earned a degree from Juilliard Pre-College in 2009. I attended Manhattan School of Music for my Bachelors where I studied with Tim Cobb. I went to San Francisco Conservatory of Music for my Masters and studied with Scott Pingel. I participated in several summer music festivals such as the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association, the Benefic Chamber Music Camp, the Pierre Monteux Summer Music Festival, the National Guitar Workshop and the New York State Summer School for the Arts. I am currently based in the New York City area where I am a freelance musician, private teacher and instrument technician. Some of the groups I have played with include the Monterey Symphony, the Center Symphony, the Regina Opera, the Doansburg Chamber Ensemble, the Long Island Festival Orchestra and the Video Game Orchestra. I perform primarily now as a classical bassist. However I also play jazz and bass guitar. I have played multiple gigs in the SF Bay area and in the NYC area with my jazz trio and various rock groups. I also regularly play off-broadway musicals on both the stand up and electric bass.