Chris Maresh has obliterated the myth that says “Those who can’t do, teach.” Chris not only teaches master classes at the Austin MediaTech Institute but is a Grammy-nominated bass player who has appeared on more than 200 albums.
Chris began his professional music career in Austin in 1984 after receiving a BM in Applied Double Bass Performance with an Emphasis in Jazz Performance from the University of Texas in Austin. He has since been named Bassist of the Year three times (2002, 2005, 2006) at the Austin Chronicle Music Awards at the SXSW Festival and in 2011 was chosen to be Fender’s poster bassist in the 60th Anniversary promotional video for the Fender Precision Bass.
Chris has performed and recorded with artists and organizations including the Austin Symphony, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Pinetop Perkins, Mitch Watkins, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball, Michael McDonald, Monte Montgomery, Ferenc Illenyi and Ellis Marsalis. He also spent 10 years performing with 1978 Tornado Eric Johnson. His composition “Rain,” with Alien Love Child was nominated at the 44th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 2002.
He has appeared on Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival DVD and Eric Johnson’s Live at the Grove DVD. Recordings for movie soundtracks include Spy Kids 2, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Michael, Happy Texas and Sliding Doors.
He has released two solo albums of original compositions, Tomorrow (2002) and Side Street (2004). In 2014, he appeared with Eric Johnson and Mike Stern on the Eclectic album.
In a 2020 interview with bassist Roscoe Beck, Chris described his technique: “I try to get in the flow of the beat. I try to be relaxed about it. If I find myself in a place where there’s a groove in my head, I relax and stick to it. It’s essential for a bass player to lock in the groove. It has to feel good.”
Although he has a deep assortment of new and vintage basses at his disposal, he has recently been seen with a Modern Vintage MVJ466 in Piano Black finish.
Between tours, Chris lives in Austin and works as a session bass player, participating on major recording projects. He is also a guest lecturer at Austin MediaTech Institute and appears on the music scene in and around Austin.
