On Saturday, February 14th, 2026, the "Expansive Breadth of Electric Bass Guitar in Action" series presents its 2nd of 4 events at the Spacebar (2590 N High St, Columbus, Ohio: https://www.facebook.com/spacebarcolumbus, https://www.spacebarcolumbus.com), beginning at 4:30 PM. This special Valentine's Day concert is subtitled, Matinee de Bass and features central Ohio bassists Roger Hines (Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Louie Bellson, Count Basie Orchestra: https://rogerhinesbass.com), Matt Paetsch (əkoostik hookah, Wally Mitchell, Matt Adams QT, Jen Miller: http://www.ekoostik.com, http://www.facebook.com/matt.paetsch), Myke Rock (Jamal Thomas - SOS Band, Maceo Parker -, Bobby Messano Band, Dirty Red Sunshine), and drummer Brandon Pettiford (Austin and the Syd Experience, Pett Crow, Sean Carney Band: https://soundcloud.com/brandon-pettiford-867083167) on the Music Go Round -Columbus- Stage (http://www.musicgoround.com/locations/columbus-oh). Phil Maneri (Drumzand Wires, The Alsatian Queen: https://maneri.net) opens the show. Undercurrents (http://www.undercurrents.com, Gabor Klein) is a co-sponsor of the series.
The project reimagines popular and off-the-beaten-path songs by replacing traditional instrumental and vocal parts with bass interpretations, highlighting the instrument’s versatility.
There is a $10.00 entry fee. Please view biographical information on these artists and Ohio Arts Council statement, below.
- Ray Charles: Hines joined Ray Charles in 1980, touring the world and recording exclusively with him for six years. Their association continued until Charles's death in 2004, including work on various projects such as famous Diet Pepsi commercials and the albums Spirit of Christmas and Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.
- Diane Schuur: He served as the musical director and bassist for Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Diane Schuur from 1988 through 2004.
- Other Collaborations: Throughout his career, he has performed with iconic artists including Etta Jones, Louie Bellson, Rosemary Clooney, Eddie Daniels, and the Count Basie Orchestra.
- Venues: His performances have reached prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the White House.
- Discography: Hines has recorded with artists like Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Ernie Krivda, and Gene Walker, as well as with his own group, Nova Madrugada.
- Current Role: He is a music faculty member at Capital University (2006–present).
- Previous Tenure: He taught bass at The Ohio State University School of Music for 12 years.
- Academic Background: He is a graduate of The Ohio State University.
Matt Paetsch is a prominent bassist based in Columbus, Ohio, recognized for his versatility across jazz, rock, and theatrical music. As of early 2026, he remains a key figure in the Central Ohio music scene.
Current Bands & Performances
əkoostik hookah: Paetsch has been the official bassist for this iconic Ohio jam band since early 2018.
Wally Mitchel Jazztet: He is a frequent performer with this long-standing jazz ensemble.
Other Collaborations: He has performed and recorded with the Matt Adams Quartet, the Jen Miller and the Flytown Band, and the Ransome Band.
Religious & Community Groups: He plays every Sunday with the St. John’s Exalt Team and has performed with the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Academic & Professional Roles
Kenyon College: Paetsch serves as an adjunct instructor of music, where he is the Guitar Coordinator and teaches double bass and bass guitar.
Music Educator: Since 1998, he has taught piano, guitar, and bass privately.Theater: In 2006, he won an award for Best Musical Direction from the Ohio Theatrical Society for The Last Five Years.
Background & Education
Education: He earned a degree in Bass Performance (Jazz Studies) from The Ohio State University in 2001.Awards: He was a recipient of the Eugene C. DeAngelo Scholarship for bassists during his time at OSU.
Visit the links for more:
http://www.facebook.com/matt.paetsch - http://ekoostik.com - http://www.ekoostik.com/video
- Screaming Urge: Myke Rock was the original and permanent bassist for this punk/rock band in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers: He has performed and toured with this blues band, including a European tour in 2016 and subsequent tours.
- Bobby Messano Band: Rock is the bassist for this national act, performing frequently throughout the US and Europe, and recorded all bass tracks on the new, full-length album, Still Life, with the recording artists in Wisconsin in late 2024.
- Other Collaborations: His career also includes playing with Willie Phoenix, Belgian-based Jamal Thomas (of the SOS Band and Maceo Parker), Cat String Theory, and The Mustangs.
- Solo Work and Projects: He had a solo "Beatles on Bass" show and has been involved in creating and curating various music showcase series and online radio stations.
- Session/Live Work: He has sat in with various other groups for specific events, such as Cherry Blonde.
Current Activity
- Myke Rock remains an active musician. He currently hosts a weekly open jam session at Traditions Tavern in Columbus and continues to perform in various bands, including as equity member in Dirty Red Sunshine, and tours periodically in Europe, and has upcoming performances on December 21, 2025 at Winter Blues Jam 2026 at De Mooie Molen in Roeselare, Belgium, and on January 2, 2026, with Rock 'n' Roy at Club B52 in Ichtegem, Belgium.
- Current Bands: He is the drummer for the funk rock ensemble Austin and the Syd Experience and performs with the Sean Carney Band, among other collaborations. He has also toured with artist Erin Coburn.
- Early Career: Brandon began playing drums at age seven for his church praise band. In his teens, he co-founded the successful blues band Pett Crow, which won the Great Midwest Battle of the Bands title multiple times.
- Style and Skills: He is known for his rhythmic prowess and ability to add a solid "heartbeat" to a band's sound. His playing is influenced by a range of music, from blues to psychedelic soul and hard rock.
- Other Roles: In addition to being a musician, he is also a certified audio engineer.
Phil Maneri
- "The Alsatian Queen": A multi-disciplinary film and stage presentation about the 160-plus-year history of his double bass.
- Morgan, MacDonell & Maneri: An acoustic group performing well-known songs from artists like The Beatles and Johnny Cash at local venues such as Natalie's Grandview.
- Improvisational Projects: He frequently performs improvisational music, often in collaboration with harpist Trista Hill, at various events and venues like the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Arts Festival.
- "Phil Maneri Presents Kaleidoscope": A monthly art series he initiated in 2021 that features real-time improvisation among musicians, dancers, and visual artists.
The Ohio Arts Council, Artist Opportunities, Professional Artist Grant supports this artist in producing a series of four performances in central Ohio from January 30th through March 14th, 2026, featuring Columbus-based bass guitarists showcasing the full musical range of the instrument. The project reimagines popular and off-the-beaten-path songs by replacing traditional instrumental and vocal parts with bass interpretations, highlighting the instrument’s versatility. http://www.oac.ohio.gov @ohioartscouncil #artsohio #ArtsOhio #ohioartscouncil