The Washington Post wrote “What sets [Clay] apart is elegant bowing…. His melodic lines have a cello-like glow and flexibility….”
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What you need to know about Aaron Clay
Aaron Clay distinguishes himself regularly as a uniquely versatile double bassist. He commands great respect as a performer in both the classical and jazz worlds of bass playing.
Mr. Clay grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia and began his musical training at the age of 10 when he taught himself to play jazz on the electric bass. He later pursued classical training on the upright double bass and, upon graduating from Fairmont Senior High School, attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he studied with Richard Manspeaker. In 1989, he was selected to join the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC where he served one enlistment and went on to audition successfully for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. He currently serves as Section Leader and Principal Bassist with the Marine Band and makes regular appearances at The White House performing in virtually every type of musical ensemble that is tasked, to include the Marine Orchestra, string ensembles, and jazz/pop combos. He also travels frequently with the Marine Band throughout the United States and abroad.
In addition to writing works for violin and double bass duo, Mr. Clay has developed a reputation as a fine composer of works for various ensembles from classical and jazz trios and quartets to those for string orchestra and full concert band. An invitation by the director of the Marine Band to write a work for wind ensemble led to Mr. Clay’s composition “e-volution,” which was premiered by the Marine Band in 2002. His next work, also premiered by the Marine Band, was entitled “Serial Number.”
Mr. Clay is also Principal Bassist of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra as well as the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and he performed in such jazz and pop groups as The Kenny Rittenhouse Quartet, The Peter Fraize Quartet, and First Light. Mr. Clay is always in great demand as a freelance musician and has appeared with such legendary performers as Aretha Franklin and Joe Williams. He is also active as a soloist, and following a performance with the Lawton Philharmonic, the Lawton Constitution raved “Clay’s graceful performance was thrilling to watch; his execution of the difficult piece resembled the elegant technique of a seasoned cellist.”
Mr. Clay grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia and began his musical training at the age of 10 when he taught himself to play jazz on the electric bass. He later pursued classical training on the upright double bass and, upon graduating from Fairmont Senior High School, attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he studied with Richard Manspeaker. In 1989, he was selected to join the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC where he served one enlistment and went on to audition successfully for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. He currently serves as Section Leader and Principal Bassist with the Marine Band and makes regular appearances at The White House performing in virtually every type of musical ensemble that is tasked, to include the Marine Orchestra, string ensembles, and jazz/pop combos. He also travels frequently with the Marine Band throughout the United States and abroad.
In addition to writing works for violin and double bass duo, Mr. Clay has developed a reputation as a fine composer of works for various ensembles from classical and jazz trios and quartets to those for string orchestra and full concert band. An invitation by the director of the Marine Band to write a work for wind ensemble led to Mr. Clay’s composition “e-volution,” which was premiered by the Marine Band in 2002. His next work, also premiered by the Marine Band, was entitled “Serial Number.”
Mr. Clay is also Principal Bassist of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra as well as the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and he performed in such jazz and pop groups as The Kenny Rittenhouse Quartet, The Peter Fraize Quartet, and First Light. Mr. Clay is always in great demand as a freelance musician and has appeared with such legendary performers as Aretha Franklin and Joe Williams. He is also active as a soloist, and following a performance with the Lawton Philharmonic, the Lawton Constitution raved “Clay’s graceful performance was thrilling to watch; his execution of the difficult piece resembled the elegant technique of a seasoned cellist.”