Welcome

"When Craig comes into the studio I already know the bottom of the mix is going to kill.  His feeling and musicianship are unmatched in my book"


Jon Castelli, The Hit Lab

Los Angeles

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Craig Akin is an in-demand upright and electric bassist in New York City.  He has played and recorded with countless musicians of many different styles.  From jazz to pop, and folk to rock, Craig is comfortable and creative, and can deliver the goods like any veteran on his instrument.  He has performed well over 3,000 gigs and has now added home recording to his arsenal.  


To inquire about booking Craig for your next gig or recording click here.   

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Latest Video- Family Guy theme

Bass Buggie

Craig relies on the KC Strings Bass Buggie to transport his upright bass around NYC.   Click on the buggie to read more and order yours. 

Listen!


 

May 2012

 

Last months highlight was recording the music for a new documentary about the US south.  William Tatge composed the music and Christine Meisner made the film.  It is a 25 minute black and white series of shots from around the Mississippi delta.  The film will be debuted in Berlin on June 1 for the Berlin Documentary Forum.  We are looking forward to the challenge of performing it live and in synch with the film.   

This months highlights include a show with the Chris Crocco Fluid Trio.  Featuring Chris on guitar, myself on upright bass and Francisco Mela on drums.  Will be a pleasure keeping up with these two monsters.  The show will be streamed in real time here on May 11.  It will be some organic, authentic NY jazz. 

Also this month will be recording the new Phil Minissale record in Newtown, PA.  JIm Salamone with engineer the session.  We will do two days of recording at Cambridge Sound Studio, with a gig in between opening for Beaucoup Blue at Steel City Coffee House.  Always a good time.  

Thanks for reading, drop by next month.  

Craig

 

 

 


April 2012

 

I had a lot of fun last month but the highlight was SXSW in Austin with Hands Off My Sister. The country rock band had six gigs in the four days we were down there.  Met a lot of people, heard a lot of bands, and made a lot of memories.  Always a good time but if you plan to hang out on 6th street you better have ear plugs. 

This month has a shortage of gigs but a lot of recording.  And since recording is my favorite thing to do it will be a good month for me.  First I will be finishing up the new Marc Douglas Berardo record in Woodstock.  I'll be laying down both upright and electric bass for that.  We recorded the first half in Manhattan at the studio of Mark Dann.  So we will finish the record at his home studio outside of the city. 

Also I will be recording a couple times at City College with Robert Hill for part of a recording class.  That too will be on upright and electric.  And instead of getting a grade I'll be getting a paycheck.  Life is good.  

This month will also be the debut record of the Jammin Diva's.  They are an international folk band filled with vocal harmony.  I hold it together on upright.  Will be a fun challenge. 

My friend William Tatge will bring me and a couple others in to record his new music.  He was commisioned to write for a film festival in Berlin in which we will play at in June.  

My noteworthy gig this month will be the masters recital of Josh Kwassman.  We recorded his debut record of beautiful music recently and will get to show it off at NYU.  Good luck to him but I know it will be amazing.  He is also finishing up post-production on that record so I look forward to its release this summer.  

Thanks for reading, 

Craig

 

 

 

March 1

 

Thanks for checking in.  Feels like I just wrote for Feb and here we are in March.  

Anyway, last month I had the pleasure of recording upright and electric bass on part one of the new Marc Douglas Berardo record.  We spent an afternoon at Mark Dann's studio in Manhattan.   He's the mad scientist of recording, mixing, and mastering.  Always a good time.  Part two of the record will be next month at his Woodstock studio.  Really looking forward to hearing the final product on this recording.   

Another highlight from last month was playing to a packed house at Rockwood Music Hall stage 2 with Barnaby Bright.  They are always evolving into their own sound so I love to join when they ask.  I was supposed to play upright on the gig but there was no room for it.  Luckily I also had the electric there. 

This month I will be at Rockwood playing electric bass with the bands of Michele Riganese and Christine Hoberg.  Two very different songwriters with very different bands and I love them both. Also this month I'll return to Austin with Hands Off My Sister for SXSW, the world's largest music festival with over 2,000 bands and hundreds of venues.  We will play a handful of showcases and probably some impromptu shows on the street corners. Those, by the way, were the most fun we played last year.   Finally this month will be a short trip with Jon Paul to PA, DC, VA, and ending with a Jersey house concert backing up Abbie Gardner.   Needless to say I'm hoping for no snow during this fun month of adventures.  


Thanks for reading, 

Craig

 

 

February 2012

 

This month I look forward to recording with my friends Marc Douglas Berardo and Alastair Ottesen.   Alastair will bring in the full band to record live at Vanity Sound in Brooklyn.   Marc is based in Rhode Island but we will meet in Manhattan to overdub upright bass on his songs.  Two very different recording approaches and both fine with me.  I like it all when it comes to recording.   I find it very rewarding to lay down my part and then hear the final product.  

Speaking of recording, my latest bass video is up (down below on the left).  This time it's the theme to Family Guy.  A very swinging song that I've always loved and right now on youtube it's the only version with solo upright bass.  

A couple of shows this month that I'm very excited about are Barnaby Bright at Rockwood stage 2 and Jon Paul at the Living Room.   Barnaby Bright has a new record coming out this spring that will do great on the indie folk scene.  

Next month I look forward to South by Southwest in Austin with Hands Off My Sister.  

We'll be throwing down some alt country/southern rock at the worlds biggest music festival.  Also next month will be short tour with Jon Paul around PA, DC, and VA.  If you have not heard Jon Paul, check him out here.  Will be worth your time.  

Thanks for reading, 

Craig 

 

 

January 2012


Happy new year!  Hard to believe I know.   I'm excited for another great year of playing, rehearsing, and recording in NYC, and meeting new people from all over. 

Every year gets better and better.  I am playing and recording an equal amount of upright and electric bass in a variety of projects from modern jazz to indie pop to folk and country.  

Some records due out this year that I had the pleasure of recording on are an acoustic pop songwriter Michelle Riganese; indie folk duo Barnaby Bright; southern rock/alt country band Hands Off My Sister; modern jazz by Josh Kwassman and the Everywhere Band; and avant guard chamber ensemble Pookestra.   

I'm looking forward to some nice shows this month with Abbie Gardner, Jon Paul, Alastair Ottesen, Christine Hoberg, and others.  My schedule is always up to date on the calendar page so If you make it out to a show come up and say hello.  

On a different note, I'm selling the KC Strings Bass Buggie in New York and beyond. They are the best and safest way to transport a double bass.  To read more about and order click here.

Also on a different note, I have a studio apartment in Brooklyn available to rent for short stays. Great private place for a lot less than your average New York hotel!  Here is more info and pics.  

Thanks for reading, 

Craig