Alex Bershadsky plays the bass as an instrument of melody, rather than one of accompaniment alone. And his gifts for songwriting and musicianship are equally matched by his virtuosic technique and fret(less) board prowess.

Bershadsky is not your average bassist. He melds jazz, fusion, and electronic rhythms seamlessly, creating a sound that draws the listener in. Speaking of his album Junk in an interview with Acid Jazz Magazine, Bershadsky said, “I believe that to truly appreciate this album, you must immerse yourself in it, just as you immerse yourself in a book.”

Bershadsky was born in Latvia, but grew up in Israel where he learned from Israeli upright bass player Egon Kerten. He went on to tour Europe and the U.S. in the 90s with his bands RTZ and Zonzee. Zonzee released two albums: Time Flies in 1999, and Buzz in 2005, which featured legendary guitarist Mike Stern. In 2007 Bershadsky released his first solo album entitled Junk. He’s now working on his second album, and in an interview with Bass Player Magazine, he described the record as “…different; it’s coming from somewhere else, somewhere deeper. A place of appreciation.”

If this is your first introduction to Alex Bershadsky’s music, we recommend you get to know him better. Check the songs and links below.

Alex Bershadsky – “Day Dreaming Drugs the Pain of Living”

Alex Bershadsky – “That’s the Way It Is”

Learn more about Alex Bershadsky here.