It all started when Justin came home from school one day in 2000 and asked if he could switch from trumpet to bass guitar. He had been playing trumpet for 5 years. I surprised him with a Slammer Hammer for Christmas and bass lessons. By June of 2001, he wanted a better bass guitar and we went to the 1/2 price sale at the music store and he got his Schecter Custom 4 string. He fell in love with it and to this day it is his Number One bass. He continued with his lessons and then his world changed.

His bass teacher gave him the tape of Bass Day 98 with Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey to watch over the weekend. He then realized what a bass guitar could really do and that changed the way that he played his bass. He continued with his lessons and jammed on the side with friends, including the one with the "ankle bracelet" that could only jam at his house. He mowed lawns and works that summer to get himself his SWR amp that to this day weighs more than he does. For Christmas of 2003, he received a 5 string Schecter which he likes but not as much as his 4 string.

Around this time, he founded and started to run the Watertown Activity Council through the Cornell Cooperative Extension. It was a group made up of youth and adults to find fun inexpensive things for the youth of Watertown to do. He racked his brain and tried to think of something to do that would join his love of music and his leadership qualities. That is how the 1st Battle of the Bands became a reality. He signed up 8 bands from the area, from a couple that were know around the area to some that were put together just for this event and made $1500.00 for the council to fund the next one. 6 months later, the next one was a reality and Justin got up there and played "Amazing Grace" Wooten style. He had all the bass players coming up to him that night asking how he got those sounds out of his bass. His reply"you just have to learn what your instrument can do!" And there was another $1500.00 to fund the next one.

His band, Justin on bass and Hannah playing a grand piano won 1st place that night. He went on to plan and have one more before he had to leave for college. Around this time, I was trying to find Victor playing in concert so that Justin could see him live. The closest I could get was Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in Ithaca so that was his birthday present--- 4th row tickets--. As the concert was a couple of months after his birthday, I got him the "Live at the Quick" DVD to watch until he could see them live. That is when he went out and bought himself a banjo.

Then the concert came!!! I don't know who enjoyed it the most, myself or Justin. It just blew both of us away. It was amazing to get to actually get to meet the band after and talk to them. This just fueled Justin to practice and play more!!!!! The following January, Victor's band was playing at the Egg in Albany and we got tickets for my birthday this time! It was awesome, just blew us away. The snow storm coming home was awesome also!!! Justin got to talk to everyone in the band and learn a bit about Victor's Bass Camp that he has in Tennessee. Then college came and he met Chris. They are now jamming away every week. We have since seen Bela Fleck and the Flecktones at the Palace in Albany and the Victor Wooten Band at the Egg again. Justin is going to college for pharmacy and plans on making enough money so that he can do his music to his heart's content. He will get far!!!!!

Love,

Justin's Mom

Addendum: Justin is currently working on a new project, Sound Economy.  Check them out!