Tal Wilkenfeld

Top bassist on the reviving qualities of tea and a ghastly experience at 35,000ft

- David Mead

What was the first gig you played and how did it go?

“My first public gig to a real audience? The Allman Brothers. I sat in with them when I was 19 years old. A couple of the band members saw me playing in clubs in New York City, like jazz clubs. But, technically, my first gigs were playing to five or six people in little clubs when I moved to NYC [from Australia] at 18. I’d been playing bass for maybe a year and I was determined to study all the time by playing live – the best kind of study.”

Describe your current stage rig…

“In terms of basses, I have a 1969 P-Bass in Pelham Blue, that’s my main bass. Then I play a Harmony, I’ve no idea what year that is, and then I play a Sadowsky five-string with a high C. I have some guitars: an old Epiphone, an old Gibson and a baritone acoustic. There’s no make [on the baritone]; Jackson Browne put that instrument together, he kinda designed it. I have a couple of TC Electronic pedals, a delay and a reverb. I have an EBS OctaBass pedal that I guess I use a little bit… that’s really about it. I haven’t figured out what I’m playing through at the moment, amp-wise; there hasn’t been anything completely consistent. I was playing EBS stuff for a while and then I played Ampegs for a little while. I’m just sort of floating.”

What’s on your rider?

“Our rider usually has smoked salmon and avocados on it… It’s all healthy stuff. Apple cider vinegar, tea – I’m a big tea drinker. That’s about it. I generally try to make a smoothie backstage, too.”

What’s your tip for getting a good live sound?