The Jamie Hunting Experience is what this article should be called, but since my editor rarely puts my headlines in I figured I would start my article by saying just that.  Or maybe "Experience Jamie Hunting"  because that is precisely how I felt after interviewing Union's bassist.  He's more like a musical adventure, rather than a rock bassist.  Of course Jamie can hold down a nasty groove, being that he is a true-to-the-cause Rock player, but that's not all.  The list of instruments he plays seems endless; from banjo and pipe organ, to upright and 12-string bass, he experiences it all.  Jamie Hunting reminds us that playing bass is fun, even if it is your main source of income.

From touring with Eddie Money and David Lee Roth to his current vehicle of rock expression in Union, Jamie just can't quit playing.  He's like an addict, only his addiction is music and not just Rock and Roll.  Where can you find this player?  Basically, anywhere there's a gig; Las Vegas, Hollywood, Miami or jamming with musicians around his home base of Pasadena.

From what he tells me his home sounds like a mystical music shop, where he can play whatever instrument suites his fancy at any particular moment.  In between chatting about music he plays a few chords on a vintage organ and hums out a Jim Morrison tinged vocal (a nice musical break for this tired journalist) then tells me about his days living with music.

For fun Jamie also tours with "The Lads" (a Beatles band) that includes drummer Ron Wikso, and sometimes Greg Bissonette (when he's not doing clinics and promoting his CD, on which Jamie also played).

Coming from a musical family Jamie didn't have to travel far to experience music.  His first instrument was actually a baritone ukulele (of all things), then guitar.  But finally two ladies encouraged Jamie, in the most respectful way: "I was raised by the Nuns in grammar school," he tells me, "Some of them were very nice.  In third grade I used to carry Sister Nicky's guitar to (guitar) mass; that was my first big gig. . .  carrying her guitar.  She was a real young, vivacious Nun right out of Berkley.  I sat right in the front.  Well, she wore nice skirts - not to be disrespectful, but I had the hots for her because she played guitar.  There was another Sister, Dorothy, and they just tickled the strings and I loved it.  My folks finally brought me a  guitar so I didn't have to keep breaking into  my brother's room to play his.  So I put it to use, instead of sitting in the church pews I was playing, it was a lot more fun - kind of a primitive form of being on stage."

Jamie found his groove where there was "a lot of spirit going' on."  "Back when I was very young and in church there was an upright bass player," he recalls.  "But when he switched to electric my ears just lit up because it sounded really, really cool in this huge cathedral."

Then it was time to find his own bass, or make good with what he had available at home: "I started going to music stores and playing all the basses.  I hit every music store on Colorado Boulevard.  I'm from Pasadena and I used to take the bus down there and play all the basses until they kicked me out.  I finally saved enough bread to buy one.    CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE