Background, professional training and performance history
Private and group instructor Josh Britton began playing the acoustic string bass in the 5th grade and the electric bass in the 10th grade while attending public schools in Springfield, Oregon. Soon after high school he made the decision to focus on music as a career and attended classes at Lane Community College. Josh anchored the bass chairs of the Lane Jazz Band and Chamber Orchestra for many years in the 1990s. In 2000 he auditioned and enrolled in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Oregon's School of Music, where he was awarded a small scholarship to attend classes. He played in many collegiate award winning groups during this time including the UO Jazz Ensemble, the UO's top Jazz Small Group, the Oregon Jazz Collective, the University Symphony, and many recital and experimental groups.
Josh has performed in many notable professional groups including the Scandals, the Lucky Seven, Coastal Steamer, the Dan Cavanaugh Trio, the Seven Minus, and the Tim McLaughlin quartet and duo. Currently Josh can be seen performing in the groups Montage, the Brett Estep Group, the Dead Americans, the blues/rock powerhouse What Your Momma Warned You About, and the all original jazz group the Cubist Quartet. He also enjoys playing guitar, drums, piano, and outdoor activities such as running, snowboarding, exploring, canoeing, and fishing. Josh has been an instructor at The Shedd for 6 years.
Artist statement and teaching philosophy
“I tailor lessons to the wants and needs of the student's specific interests. I strongly believe that a student will remain more enthusiastic toward their own musical goals if they pursue the music that they want to play, not the musical agenda a teacher wants them to pursue. I welcome students of all ages and abilities. My specialties are Jazz/Improvisational, Classical, and Rock styles and am versatile enough to teach other styles as well.”
Instruments & classes taught
Josh teaches acoustic & electric bass.