The driving, pulsing low end; the soaring, delicate melodies from his 6 string bass; the reverence of understatement balanced with the desire to rock; the ridiculous dance moves...This is James Kurasch.
From fusion to folk, art rock to arena rock, James takes bass playing to a level only few have reached through the history of the instrument. Weaving his way through Joel's melodies, James augments the energy of the songs with both his bass lines and his harmonies.
James began his performing career on Euphonium for 12 years, performing in the NY All-state band 3 years in a row. After picking up the electric bass, James started learning jazz and funk in order to play with his high school's jazz group. From that point on, James' musical horizons grew exponentially. He has been in countless bands since (The Metropolitans, Cazart, Juice Box, Lyzzyrd, The Prizefighters, etc.) and has played everything from original neo-swing tunes to funk-rock to Metallica covers. James played with anyone, anywhere for the love of music and love of the bass.
James studied under bass legends Bill Staebell (Auracle) and Jeff Mangone (Principal bassist, Pittsburgh Orchestra), as well as taking Jazz improvisation classes under Nathan Davis and advanced music theory courses. This training provided James with the technical prowess, the mental theory, and the open ear needed to compose and perform incredible music.
James also uses his Mechanical Engineering degree to help him create new instruments (doubleneck guitar/bass) and sounds (squawk box, with Woody Schaeffer) to make further the musical innovations.
In late 2007, James and Joel crossed paths for the first time, when Joel opened for James' band The Metropolitans in the worst venue either of them have ever played at. Shortly thereafter, the two started playing gigs together, and found that their styles perfectly complimented each other; if Joel was the Paul Simon of the group, James was the Art Garfunkel.
Joel and James continue to make waves in the local music scene on a weekly basis, and search for the other missing members of their ultimate musical project. Until that time, Joel knows that James is right beside him in his search for the Return of the Melody...
