Dave LaRue is the bass player with the virtuoso pop group, Flying Colors. He is also a long-time member of the instrumental groups Steve Morse Band and Dixie Dregs. LaRue is also the go-to guy for many leading guitarists, having worked with Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Vinnie Moore, The Hellecasters, Pat Travers, Steve Lukather, Mike Stern, Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, Albert Lee, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, Rik Emmett, Ace Frehley, and Steve Vai. His technical prowess is formidable among other jazz-fusionists, but his unique talent is to project his virtuosity with remarkable soul and feel. Education is a big part of Dave’s career, beginning with an instructional column for Bass Player magazine (for whom he also served as a member of the Advisory Board). LaRue also does clinics internationally for Music Man and was an adjunct professor at Stetson University in Florida. In 2012, while not holding down the fort for Flying Colors, Dave will be recording his second solo CD, writing a new bass method book, and creating a follow-up instructional video to Essentials (Alfred Music). - Facebook © 2013 https://www.facebook.com/davelarue/info
He is a bassist's bassist, having provided the low end for the likes of Dixie Dreggs, Steve Morse, Joe Satriani, Jordan Rudess, Planet X, etc..., etc... as well as making his bass stand out as a lead instrument on many occasions - Dave LaRue has always been a top player in the progressive rock, fusion, & jazz/rock worlds and his solo album Hub City Kid exposes the bassist's broad spectrum of musical might. The tunage on the album is quite diverse from track to track - you have elements of blatant fusion ("Fools Paradise" & the title track), smooth jazz/rock with both "Glass" & "Young Circle," avant-garde metal on "Police Work," which sounds like something off a Derek Sherinian album, moments of improvisation frenzies on "Chubby Red," and hard rock with "Mechanics & Carpentry" and "Fools Paradise." LaRue also takes it completely solo on three tunes with just him and a bass on the slap frenzy of "Bombast," the fretless dominated ballad "Juanita," and the speed induced "First Tomorrow." Guests on the album include Mike Stern, T Lavitz, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Snitzer, Van Romaine, Glenn Alexander, and Tom Cohen among others, where everybody on the record is given breathing room to stand out, whether it be guitar, piano, synth, or sax, but LaRue's playing always sticks out. Hub City Kid offers up all of the sides of expression that LaRue has always brought to the table on whatever endeavor he has been involved with, highly recommended for those who love their jazz/fusion on the edgier side. © Tommy Hash **** August 2nd 2010 © http://www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=1740 N.B: Review refers to the bonus CD issue
Reviewer MJ Brady had this to say about Dave LaRue's first solo CD, "Dave Larue has steadily been getting his notoriety as a bassist of the highest degree by making his musical acquaintances with some of today's most respected musicians. Steve Morse, John Petrucci, Vinnie Moore and Planet X have all summoned his talents to complete their projects. Many know of LaRue's exploits with the Steve Morse Band, where he has been allowed ample freedom to play his bass in a way that is part virtuoso, and part team player.. Now, about Hub City Kid, Surprisingly, this CD is not anything like any of the heavy fusion bands above; perhaps as a means to reveal his independent creativity, he opted for a more jazz tinged style of fusion. In many ways this CD reminds me stylistically of what John Patitucci had done on some of his earlier solo albums. This CD is full of punchy bass grooves, catchy melodies, and stellar playing. Some of the songs feature his slap-funk technique; others are much more toned down, and mellow." Dave said, "Hub City Kid came out in the early 90's, and it features a lot of things I have been doing in several bands, a variety of styles that kind of exemplify what I like to play and the player I have become, through whatever reason, but I also like to do a lot of things and the record encompasses a lot of styles in one disc - that's basically where it came from. I just wanted to do what I liked playing and that was a lot of different things. I used a lot of the players I have played with in the past, Glenn Alexander, the guitarist I have been playing with for years, he did most of the guitar tracks, Van Romaine on drums, and I was also working with T. Lavitz and Rod Morganstein, so I was fortunate to get those guys to play, and then I got Mike Stern to do a couple of tracks and it all came together pretty organically in that time period."
Dave LaRue is widely acknowledged as one of today's greatest electric bassists. He received the "Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of Bass Guitar". He has been nominated for Two Grammy's as a member of the Dixie Dregs, in 1992 for "Bring 'Em Back Alive", and in 1994 for "Full Circle". Dave finished in the top 10 in the "Best Overall" category in the Bass Player magazine Readers Poll in 1993, '94, '95 and '96. He finished third in the "Best Rock Bassist" category in Guitar Player magazine in 1994. Since 1988 he has been touring and recording as a member of the Dixie Dregs and the Steve Morse Band. He's worked and recorded with musicians of the calibre of Joe Satriani, G3, John Petrucci, Vinnie Moore, Planet X, Steve Lukather, Mike Stern, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Albert Lee, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, Rik Emmett, Deep Purple, Bruce Hornsby, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil and Ace Frehley [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 94.8 Mb]
TRACKS / COMPOSERS / MUSICIANS
1. Hub City Kid - Mike Santiago (6:10)
Dave LaRue Bass, Keyboards
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Van Romaine Drums, Elect. Percussion
T Lavitz Keyboards
Tom Cohen Percussion
2. Glass - Mike Santiago (6:28)
Dave LaRue Bass, Keyboards
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Van Romaine Drums, Elect. Percussion
Tom Cohen Percussion
Mike Weaver Keyboards
Andy Snitzer Sax
3. Chubby Red - Dave LaRue (4:50)
Dave LaRue Bass
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Van Romaine Drums
T Lavitz Piano, Keyboards
Andy Snitzer Sax
Rich Posmontier Percussion
4. Police Work - John Ferenzik (3:43)
Dave LaRue Bass
Mike Stern Guitar
Van Romaine Drums, Elect. Percussion
Tom Cohen Electronic Percussion
5. Juanita - Dave LaRue (2:42)
Dave LaRue Basses
6. Young Circle - T Lavitz (4:55)
Dave LaRue Bass
T Lavitz Piano, Keyboards
Mike Stern Guitar
Rod Morgenstein Drums
7. Fool's Paradise - Mike Santiago, Dave LaRue (7:30)
Dave LaRue Bass
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Van Romaine Drums, Elect. Percussion
Tom Cohen Percussion
Rich Posmontier Percussion
8. Mechanics and Carpentry - Glenn Alexander (5:12)
Dave LaRue Bass
Glenn Alexander Guitar
Van Romaine Drums, Elect. Percussion
The Court Tavern Crowd
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