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Photo credit: O. Girard
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Among contemporary bassists whose careers illuminate the depth and versatility of the instrument, Antonella Mazza stands out as a powerful example. An Italian bassist and double bassist with roots in both classical training and jazz improvisation, Mazza has built a life in music defined by adaptability, groove sensitivity, and stylistic openness. From Italian television stages to Parisian jazz clubs, from pop sessions to Hendrix-inspired projects, she has navigated the demanding world of the modern musician with both technical mastery and expressive intuition. Her journey mirrors the essence of what it means to be a bass player today anchoring the music while remaining endlessly flexible, responsive, and creative.
In the world of music, the bass player often stands just outside the spotlight—but never outside the sound. The bass is the quiet architect of a song’s structure, the pulse that shapes emotion, movement, and energy. For many musicians, becoming a bassist is less about seeking attention and more about anchoring the music from within. And for those who choose the path of the session player, this calling becomes both a craft and a constant exercise in adaptability.
To be a bass player is to master the art of support. Unlike instruments that command melodic attention, the bass works in the intersection of rhythm and harmony. It glues the drums to the chord changes, gives weight to the groove, and dictates the emotional contour of the music without ever needing to shout. As a bassist, one learns to listen—deeply. Small choices carry huge consequences: a slightly delayed note can make a line feel relaxed; a sharper attack can push a chorus into overdrive. The nuance is subtle, but its impact is immense.
Session work elevates this role into something even more versatile. A session bassist must step into any musical situation—jazz club, pop studio, funk gig, orchestral pit—and instantly understand what the song needs. There is rarely time for long rehearsals or explanations. One must read the room, scan the chart, understand the artist’s personality, adapt to the drummer’s feel, decode the producer’s language, and deliver a performance that sounds as if it took weeks to prepare. This is the paradox of the session musician: the more invisible your personal style becomes, the more indispensable your presence is.
Taste is a session bassist’s greatest asset. Producers often say, “Play less,” and the experienced player knows that restraint is not emptiness—it is intention. Leaving space becomes a creative choice. Great session bassists understand how to lift a singer, stabilize a shaky groove, or make a bland progression suddenly feel alive. Their job is not to impress but to elevate.
Another part of the profession is emotional flexibility. Session bassists routinely work with different artists, different egos, and different expectations. Some demand precision; others want spontaneity. Some sessions last ten minutes; others last twelve hours. Through it all, the bassist must remain calm, focused, and adaptable. The reward isn’t fame, but the satisfaction of shaping music in countless forms—even if the audience never knows their name.
Despite the challenges, being a bass player and session musician is a path of profound creativity. It fosters discipline, curiosity, teamwork, and humility. It invites the player to explore cultures, genres, and human stories through sound. For many, this behind-the-scenes artistry is not a compromise—it is a calling. The groove becomes a signature, the reliability becomes a reputation, and the music becomes a lifelong companion.
In the end, the session bassist is both foundation and catalyst: steady enough to support, flexible enough to transform, and skilled enough to make every song feel complete. The world may not always see the bassist in the spotlight, but it always feels their presence—because when the bass speaks, the entire band listens.
ABOUT ANTONELLA MAZZA
Antonella Mazza is an Italian electric- and double-bass player known for her versatility across jazz, pop, rock, and funk. Originally from Calabria, she trained in classical double bass at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan and later deepened her jazz studies at the Civica Scuola di Jazz. Her dual foundation in classical rigor and jazz improvisation has shaped her fluid, expressive approach to both instruments.
Throughout her career, Mazza has performed extensively as a session musician and live bassist, collaborating with well-known Italian artists and appearing on national television. She has participated in major jazz festivals, performed with numerous ensembles, and eventually relocated to Paris, where she continues to perform, record, and teach. Her endorsements with Markbass and Warwick reflect her reputation in the professional bass community.
Mazza is also recognized for her musical philosophy: she embraces stylistic openness rather than specialization, seeing value in mastering multiple genres. She often discusses the complementary roles of electric bass and double bass, treating each as a unique voice within her artistic identity. In recent years, she has been featured in international bass media for her work in an all-female Hendrix tribute project, exploring Jimi Hendrix’s harmonic world in depth.
Beyond her musicianship, Mazza has spoken candidly about balancing motherhood with an active career. She highlights the challenges of touring, recording, and teaching while raising a child, offering a perspective that resonates with many women in the music world. Her story combines technical mastery, creative exploration, and personal resilience, making her a notable figure in contemporary bass playing.
INTERVIEW WITH ANTONELLA MAZZA AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: Your musical journey spans classical double bass, jazz studies, and electric bass. What first drew you to the low end, and how has your relationship with the instrument evolved over time?
Antonella: What first drew me to the low end was a kind of instinctive attraction, a feeling more than a choice. What an incredible journey we’re talking about! Thirty-five years swimming in the world of low frequencies is a true privilege. The journey started by accident, almost like in a movie: I was living in a small village in southern Italy, with very few opportunities, when I met a couple of guys playing Beatles music. At the time, I was around 13, playing a little guitar, and I had never seen a bass before. But one of the guys had one and he lent it to me… but just for rehearsal!
The first time I felt the vibration of the bass, it was as if the sound didn’t just travel through the room, but through my entire body. I felt a grounding energy, something ancient and essential, and I knew immediately that this was my voice.
Over time, my relationship with the instrument has evolved the same way a person grows through different seasons of life. Classical double bass gave me discipline, structure, and the ability to listen deeply. Jazz opened the door to freedom, the courage to improvise, to take risks, to trust the moment. The electric bass added a new dimension of expression, a more contemporary pulse that allowed me to explore colors and grooves I hadn’t imagined before. Today, the low end for me is not just a register, it’s a space of connection. It links the body with the mind, tradition with innovation. It’s where I feel most honest, most grounded, and most alive.
Guitar Thrills: As a session musician, you adapt to many different styles. How do you prepare—mentally and musically—when you’re stepping into a new project with little rehearsal time?
Antonella: When I step into a new project with very little rehearsal time, my preparation begins long before I touch the instrument. I approach the music with curiosity, almost like meeting a new person: I listen first, I observe its character, its energy, its unspoken intentions. I focus on understanding the core identity of the project as quickly as possible. I immerse myself in references, rhythms, and textures. I look for the musical “center”, the groove, the harmonic language, the emotional temperature. Once I connect with that, the rest falls into place more naturally. As a session musician, adaptability is really about trust: trusting your ears, your experience, and the chemistry that happens in the moment. Even with minimal rehearsal, if you show up open, grounded, well prepared! and fully engaged, the music will tell you what it needs and your job is simply to listen and give it life.
Guitar Thrills: You’ve worked across jazz, pop, rock, and experimental music. What do you enjoy most about moving between genres, and what challenges does that versatility bring?
Antonella: What I enjoy most about moving between genres is the sense of limitless discovery. Every style has its own universe, its language, its emotional palette, its way of breathing. When I step from jazz into pop, or from rock into something experimental, it feels like opening a new door and finding a different version of myself inside. Each genre teaches me something: jazz sharpens my intuition, pop refines my clarity, rock reconnects me with raw energy, funk makes me dance and experimental music reminds me to stay fearless. At the same time, versatility does come with challenges. Switching between styles means constantly resetting your mindset, the articulation changes, the sound changes, the role of the instrument changes. You must be sensitive enough to blend in yet grounded enough to retain your identity. It’s a delicate balance: being a chameleon without becoming invisible. But ultimately, this movement between worlds keeps me inspired. It prevents me from settling into habits and pushes me to grow, to listen deeper, and to stay in love with the process of making music. Versatility isn’t just a skill it’s a way of staying alive artistically.
Guitar Thrills: Many bass players talk about the importance of ‘serving the song.’ What does that phrase mean to you, and how do you balance subtle support with personal expression?
Antonella: For me, “serving the song” means recognizing that the music has its own soul, its own pulse, its own story! And that my role is to help reveal it, not to overshadow it. The bass sits close to the emotional foundation of a piece, so I try to listen to what the song is asking for: sometimes strength, sometimes space, sometimes just a quiet heartbeat holding everything together. Balancing subtle support with personal expression is an ongoing dance. I think of it as speaking with intention. Even when I play something very simple, I try to put my whole voice into the sound, the touch, the dynamics, the phrasing. Expression doesn’t always come from complexity; it often comes from honesty. Simplicity isn’t stupidity! When the moment calls for more presence, I let my creativity rise, but always in dialogue with the music, never in competition with it. Serving the song means staying connected to its essence, respecting his nature, it’s about humility, sensitivity, and the joy of contributing to something larger than yourself.
Guitar Thrills: How has living and working in Paris influenced your sound, your artistic opportunities, and your perspective as an Italian musician abroad?
Antonella: Living and working in Paris has been a profound part of my artistic journey. I arrived here after 20 years of “Italian career”, full of tours, tv shows, recordings, friends! And restarted everything from zero, making new friends, new contacts, learning a new language (still with my Italian accent!). Paris has a very particular vibration, a blend of elegance and chaos, tradition and bold experimentation and that energy naturally seeps into the way you play and listen. It’s a crossroad for a lot of different cultures, a place where poetry and intensity coexist. Being in such an international environment has also opened doors to collaborations I might never have encountered elsewhere. You meet musicians from every corner of the world, each bringing their own culture, rhythm, and approach. Those exchanges broaden your ears and challenge you to evolve. They remind you that music is a language without borders.
As an Italian musician abroad, Paris has given me a new perspective on my roots. Distance has made me appreciate the warmth, lyricism, and melodic instinct that come from my culture, while also encouraging me to integrate them into a more global sound. In many ways, living here has been a journey of transformation: I arrived with one identity, and the city helped me shape a fuller, more open version of myself as a person and as an artist.
Guitar Thrills: The bass and drums relationship is central to every ensemble. What do you look for in a drummer, and how do you build musical chemistry quickly in a session?
Antonella: The connection between bass and drums is almost alchemical it’s where the heartbeat of the music is created. When I play with a drummer, the first thing I look for is listening. Not just technical precision, but the ability to truly respond, to breathe together within the music, to shape the groove together. I pay close attention to the drummer’s touch, their dynamics, the way they feel the beat. From there, it becomes a conversation: I adjust to their flow, they respond to mine, and together we create a foundation, a solid base for the other musicians counting on us. It’s that magical moment when two people lock in, and the groove becomes bigger than either of them, a pulse that carries the whole ensemble forward. Drum and bass it’s like a love story! It can be heaven...but hell too!
Guitar Thrills: You’ve participated in all-female projects, including Hendrix-inspired work. What does it mean to you to reinterpret such iconic music through your own lens?
Antonella: Reinterpreting Hendrix’s music is an incredible challenge and a huge source of inspiration for any bassist. His songs are structurally rich but also full of open spaces for interpretation, the grooves, the syncopations, and the harmonic choices are often complex. For a bassist, it’s about understanding not just the notes, but the function of each line: how it supports the melody, interacts with the drums, and drives the energy of the song. When I approached Hendrix’s repertoire, I studied the original bass parts carefully from Billy Cox’s fluid, soulful approach to Noel Redding’s jazz-oriented style and then I looked for ways to bring my own phrasing, tone, and articulation into the mix. It’s a balance between respecting the groove and feeling free to explore harmonic substitutions, rhythmic variations, or dynamic shifts that highlight the conversation between the bass, drums, and guitar. When I play those lines, I feel the weight of history, but also the freedom to reshape it to bring softness, strength, intuition, and a different kind of fire. It becomes a conversation across generations and identities. My goal as a bassist is to maintain the drive and intensity of the original while finding my own voice within the framework keeping the music alive, fluid, and responsive in a modern context.
Guitar Thrills: Teaching is also a significant part of your career. What core principles do you try to impart to younger bassists who want to enter the world of professional music?
Antonella: I’ve been teaching since long time and sincerely it was an incredible way for me to keep on learning and staying updated! I was recently teaching a masterclass at Berklee college in Boston, and I was overwhelmed by the curiosity new generation has concerning how to make a life doing what you love the most! Music! Today all new musicians can have skills and the approach to learning has drastically changed thanks to online lessons, YouTube tutorial etc. but thing they can’t find online is experience, personal suggestions, human real support! Sharing my personal experiences with new generation is a source of energy. When teaching younger bassists, I focus on a few core principles that I believe are essential for entering the professional world.
First is listening.
Playing bass is as much about hearing and responding as it is about technique. Understanding how your part interacts with the drums, the harmony, and the overall texture of the music is crucial. Second is versatility. I encourage students to explore different styles because each teaches unique skills: timing, phrasing, groove, and melodic awareness. Being adaptable not only opens more opportunities, it deepens your musical intuition.
Third, I emphasize discipline and curiosity. Technical mastery is important, but it’s equally important to stay curious, to study recordings, analyze arrangements, and develop your ear and imagination. Finally, I remind students that professionalism isn’t just about playing well, it’s about reliability, communication, and empathy. Music is collaborative, and the ability to contribute thoughtfully to any situation often makes as much difference as your technical skill. I try to instill the idea that being a great bassist means a lot of responsibilities in a band!
Guitar Thrills: The life of a touring and recording musician can be demanding. How have you balanced motherhood with the realities of travel, rehearsals, and studio deadlines?
Antonella: Balancing motherhood with the demands of a professional music career has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. I remember when I was pregnant, the first thing I did was search online for “how to tour with a baby” and I found nothing! I had no examples, no guidelines.
Being a single mum and a bass player in a foreign country… well, it was a real challenge! More difficult than playing Donna Lee’s theme on upright bass! I realized that, in a certain sense, I was exploring something completely new! I traveled with my baby, my bass, scores, and milk all in the same bag, sleeping whenever possible, warming bottles in hotel rooms, and often skipping the well-deserved relaxation after a concert. My son is 15 today, and when I look back, I ask myself: “How did I do it? How did I get here alone, with no help?” The answer is… I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I belong to X generation! Ahah Touring, rehearsals, and studio deadlines are already intense for any musician, and adding the responsibilities of parenthood adds another layer of complexity. There are moments when I feel torn between two worlds, the immediacy and intensity of music-making, and the constant, gentle demands of caring for a child. As a woman in the music industry, these challenges can feel even more pronounced. There are days when sacrifices must be made, but there are also moments of profound joy when I realize that being a parent has fundamentally enriched my artistry. Motherhood has taught me patience, empathy, and organization! I listen differently now, I behave better with my colleagues, I play with greater intention, I’m grateful for every note, every stage, every single moment and I value moments of genuine connection in rehearsal and performance more than ever. Being a mother and a professional artist at the same time is challenging, yes, but it has also made my life and my music infinitely richer. My son is the best groove I’ve ever played.
Guitar Thrills: Looking ahead, what new musical directions or personal milestones do you hope to explore in the next stage of your career?
Antonella: After more than 35 years of bass I’m still excited to jump into new musical adventures and see where curiosity takes me. For this next stage, it’s all about staying bold, taking risks, and making music that feels alive, playful, and true to the moment.
On a personal level, I want to keep living my dreams without ever giving up. The life of a musician can be unpredictable, long travels, tight deadlines, unexpected challenges but those are the moments that make the journey magical. Following your instincts, trusting your passion, and refusing to let doubts stop you is what keeps the music and the soul alive. Ultimately, this next chapter is about curiosity, freedom, and joy of a 50 year old bass player. I try to image myself in 20 years, maybe sitting in a jam session, playing an F blues or still on a big stage dancing to the groove! Who knows! I belong to a generation without many examples to follow! That’s the only time I feel the difference of the fact of being a WOMAN bass player! I don’t really know where I’m going...I’m just following the groove!
Conclusion
Whether on the concert stage, in the studio, or guiding the next generation of players, Mazza reminds us that the bass is more than an instrument; it is a voice of grounding, empathy, and transformation. Through her work, the role of the bassist becomes not just essential, but beautifully expressive. Antonella Mazza’s path reflects the modern bassist’s reality: fluid, curious, unbound by genre, and driven by an instinct to elevate the music rather than dominate it. Her story carries the quiet bravery of those who hold a band together from the shadows—artists whose strength comes not from volume, but from intention.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
