Chris Adriaanse is a versatile upright and electric bassist and educator based in Toronto. For nearly 20 years he has been a busy session player, using his interest in learning to perform different idioms authentically to his advantage. He has backed up so many indie artists, song writers, jazz artists, country artists, working bands, world and roots music artists in clubs, recording sessions, tours and private events. He also loves teaching music lessons to people of all ages and experience levels out of his studio in Parkdale. To see what he’s been up to recently, follow on Instagram.
Chris has always had a profound interest in the learning process and believes that the best part of playing music is sharing it with others. For this reason, he knew from the start that teaching would be an essential part of his career. Chris currently teaches private lessons in various styles on guitar, electric bass, acoustic bass, music theory, and both idiomatic and non-idiomatic improvisation.
His teaching approach is straightforward and student focused. He focuses on learning to listen to music actively and intelligently, emphasizing the need for patience and realistic goals. His aim is to help students gain music literacy and proficiency step by step. He currently teaches in Toronto at his studio in Parkdale and online. Learn more
Chris was enrolled for piano lessons as a young child, but didn’t like it and quit. It wasn’t until band class in grade 7, where he played trombone, that his interest in music was awakened. He asked for a guitar, and his parents were happy to encourage him onward. They signed him up for guitar lessons with a local teacher in Barrie, Ontario.
In addition to learning rock riffs from tabs, his teacher encouraged him to try classical guitar for added challenge and to learn to read music. Chris studied the style and completed RCM tests through high school. Meanwhile, he was playing classic rock and other popular music with his friends, learning how to play by ear and communicate musically through different means.
It wasn’t until later that he realized the Beatles and Zeppelin were deeply influenced by blues musicians such as Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, as well as their predecessors like W.C. Handy and Robert Johnson. The blues influence became the common thread in all the music he loved.
Over time, Chris ended up backing some great blues artists. Through teaching, he learned to play many styles of blues and fingerstyle rag guitar, blending those influences into his own versatile style.
While in high school, Chris was exposed to jazz as part of band class. He was hooked and felt compelled to figure out what was going on. He began playing bass guitar and later double bass, both in class and with friends. This sparked a deep dive into the history of jazz, fueling his passion for the genre.
This love for jazz led him to pursue music studies at York University from 2008 to 2012. Chris diligently immersed himself in the language of jazz music, obsessively learning American Songbook standards and jazz originals with his peers. He drew inspiration from the musicians he admired in Toronto venues and from his teachers.
One pivotal experience was his participation in the “Free Improvisation and Musicianship” course led by Casey Sokol. This course resonated with his interest in non-idiomatic improvisation, experimental composition, and free jazz. It opened doors to new musical adventures.
Chris’s journey extended beyond Canada, touring through Europe with Lila Ensemble — a dance and music improvisation group. He also became a regular in Toronto’s experimental music scene, collaborating in creative groups at venues like the Tranzac and Somewhere There.
To this day, Chris continues his study of jazz and remains an in-demand bassist in Toronto’s vibrant jazz community.
Chris wandered into Grossman's Tavern one Saturday afternoon to hear The Happy Pals Traditional New Orleans jazz band, which has been playing there since the 70s, and was ecstatic to learn that people still play ‘pre-bebop’ styles of jazz.
After a trip to New Orleans, Chris took a big step and bought an old plywood Kay bass, strung it up with gut strings, and began learning how to play in the early style of the double bass. Chris is now one of the few bassists in the world that uses (arguably defunct) techniques like slapping, bowing, and projecting a big acoustic volume — relying on simple ideas and playing with the ‘old’ time feels. This is a departure from modern walking bass styles like Ray Brown’s, leaning more towards the sound of Pops Foster.
He can be heard with many early jazz, swing, gypsy jazz, ragtime, and, of course, New Orleans Jazz and RnB groups around Toronto. He regularly performs with Nathan Beja, the Cecil Street Syncopators, The West End Riverboat Band, The Happy Pals, and more.
Around 2015, Chris started Astrosurf with Tzevi Sherman as a way to explore early rock ’n’ roll styles through the surf rock genre. The group initially played covers like Walk Don’t Run, drawing inspiration from artists like Dick Dale, Les Paul, and other early electric guitar pioneers.
Their experimental approach led to writing originals and adapting music from outside the genre in a surf rock style. They even performed the entire New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
Over time, Astrosurf has grown into an eclectic group where almost anything goes—as long as there’s a twangy guitar. The band has released three records and frequently performs at venues like the Cameron House.
One night, Chris wandered into the Silver Dollar on the final night of the legendary weekly bluegrass residency, High Lonesome Wednesday, which ran for 20 years and featured some of Canada’s top roots musicians. He immediately recognized the same things he loved about jazz: a shared musical language, improvisation, impressive musicianship, group interaction, and — most excitingly — a whole history and repertoire he knew nothing about.
Inspired, Chris dove into bluegrass, listening to countless records and learning the 5-string banjo in Scruggs style. He spent countless hours at jams and shows, absorbing the feel and technique of the genre.
Today, Chris can often be heard on bass or banjo, playing alongside some of Toronto’s finest bluegrass and old-time musicians, blending his love of improvisation with the rich traditions of the music.
click on album title to listen on Bandcamp