Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Wesselkamper.
Hi Chad, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I arrived in Houston in 2016 to attend the Shepherd School of music at Rice University where I studied double bass with Timothy Pitts and Paul Ellison. While growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio I dreamed of performing in a major Orchestra which is why I chose to attend Rice as they have the best program in the country for orchestral performance. Just before attending college I had traveled all over the United States as well as Europe with the National Youth Orchestra performing at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney concert Hall, Millennium Park, the Concertgebouw, Smetana Hall, and more. I even got to perform as principal bass under Valery Gergiev alongside Dennis Matsuev, Emmanuel Ax, and Gil Shaham.
In my first year of college, while constantly practicing my classical repertoire, I would ride the metro rail every Monday night from my dorm to Wheeler Street where I would get off and walk to Cafe 4212 for the jazz jam. This was my inception into the music scene of Houston. All of the musicians welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to learn, grow, and perform. As time went on I began to get more deeply involved in the music community while still pursuing my classical studies at Rice. I was able to gig with many different musicians throughout the city. This helped me to learn more about Houston and what it has to offer. In my sophomore year, I had the great opportunity of performing at the Aspen Music Festival as well as performing with the New World Orchestra in Miami, Florida.
During the first semester of my junior year, I studied abroad at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam which is still one of the great highlights of my life. While in Amsterdam I was exposed to classical greats and I was also able to see so many of my favorite artists including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Lionel Loueke, Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Dave Holland, Marcus Gilmore, Talib Kweli, and so many more. These experiences had a tremendous impact on me and it helped me learn more about myself showing me where my musical passions lie.
When I returned from Amsterdam I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in jazz–inspired music while still focusing on my classical foundation. Throughout this time I got even deeper into the Houston music scene, formed bands, and created new relationships. In a synchronistic way this is when I met my business and musical partner, Armen Movsesyan, who co-founded the Houston Ensemble with me. The Houston Ensemble is a band as well as a thriving podcast. Before I graduated from Rice in 2020, I had plans of attending the Manhattan school of music to study with the great jazz bassist Buster Williams, however, due to COVID-19, this was hindered, and I am grateful for the divine planning as I look back. If not for this global setback, I don’t think that I would’ve been able to interview and become friends with people like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Troy Roberts, Dan Wilson, President David Leebron, Professor Jeffrey Kripal, Dr. James Tour, Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Mary Bowden, Dr. Rick Strassman, Randall Carlson, and all the other amazing people that I have had on my podcast.
Today I am residing in East Downtown Houston performing everyday, writing music, producing my show, and traveling around the country. I recently had the honor of performing at the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival. Just before that, I was a featured artist at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival where I played with classical greats namely Jon Kimura Parker, Aloysia Friedman, and Jens Lindemann.
As I move forward, I plan on releasing a second solo album, growing my podcast, and investing more in the city of Houston. I have learned so much in my time here, and I plan to continually take advantage of all that this great city and state has to offer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Fortunately, it has been a very pleasant and smooth ride here in Houston. I try to always look at setbacks as a test as well as a learning opportunity. A quote that stands out to me goes something like this, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or heading into another one.” When Texas had its great freeze, I was living in a skeleton of a home in the Third Ward of Houston. I remember walking into our kitchen after multiple days of staying somewhere else, and the water in our kitchen sink was still a solidified block of ice. You could see our breaths ghost out of our mouths even with the shabby heaters on. We didn’t have water in our home for two months and had to walk to Chevron on Old Spanish Trail every day in order to use the bathroom, get drinking water, and sometimes even brush our teeth. Regardless of all of this, it made me extremely grateful for what I have, and this was an invaluable exercise for my consciousness treating adversity as a test rather than feeling sorry for myself. I always perform better in life when someone or something ignites a fire beneath me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is in the upright bass and electric bass. As I mentioned before, I went to Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music to study orchestral performance, and I simultaneously grew my electric bass playing skills. I think that my classical foundation plays an important role in my development as a musician. Whether it’s intonation, theory, or general technique, studying at one of the great music schools definitely bolstered my playing.
On a creative note, I bring a unique perspective to my music as well as my business. No one sees the world in the same way, and I realized that I perceive the world in an even more unorthodox way than most. My perspective is influenced by reality-bending, spiritual experiences that I’ve had, the knowledge that I’ve deliberately seeked out, and all the amazing people that I have gotten to know. I actually try to lean into my unorthodox outlook because it reminds me to keep an extremely open and flexible mind, always questioning the world that is presented to me. This inspires many of my creative ideas, whether it is music, a discussion, or an upcoming project.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Firstly, I would tell anyone to lead with love and kindness. This doesn’t necessarily mean acquiescing to everything or everyone but having the golden rule in the back of your mind. Secondly, you have to make a true effort in ideas that you want to see grow. As someone told me, “The first step is getting off the couch.” You are able to manifest anything you want in life as long as you take the steps in that direction. The gifts of life won’t be given to you without any work put forth. Lastly, you must follow your heart. Everyone knows the truth deep inside. It usually beckons us when we aren’t on the right path manifesting as cognitive dissonance, depression, or lack of growth. Never do anything because it is simply the status quo. The sugary nirvana that comes with drinking the Kool-Aid is only a short-lived high that never leads anywhere worthwhile. More likely than not, if something is the status quo, whether an ideology, top-down command, or cultural fad, it probably isn’t going to benefit you. This is one reason why I started my podcast. I want to build a freedom of thought platform that champions critical thought in all aspects of life. Sometimes this gets you in trouble, but as long as you lead with love, you’re on the right path.
Contact Info:
- Website: chadwesselkamper.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaman_wesselkamper/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charles.wesselkamperchad/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxojtlVfn5G1kcdpcsH0dyQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Qd64c1OYHyglzSCphKXJF?si=Y-X4BFCLTUKmRk3N9S4ZcQ
Image Credits
Ayaan Ahsan
