Tal Wilkenfeld, an Australian bass guitarist, was born 2 December 1986. She has been performing with some of the most prominent artists in jazz and rock music. She has been a support musician for Jeff Beck and other musicians, and she also plays the lead role in her own bands. Her band members include Keith Carlock and John Beasley, as well as Jeff Watts and Jeff “Tain”. In a poll by readers of Bass Player magazine, Wilkenfeld was named “The Year’s most Exciting New Player”. Wilkenfeld started playing guitar at the age of fourteen. In 2002, Wilkenfeld dropped out of Sydney high school and decided that it wasn’t for her. She emigrated to America to study electric guitar. She switched to electric bass within a year. Wilkenfeld graduated in 2004 from Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music. After only a few months, Wilkenfeld accepted a Sadowsky Guitars endorsement. She then began to form a band and compose her own songs. At the age of 18, Wilkenfeld moved to New York City, where she made a name for herself in New York’s jazz clubs. Wilkenfeld, then 20, recorded her debut album Transformation as a guest of The Allman Brothers Band. Wilkenfeld produced, arranged, and played bass on seven complex tunes together with Wayne Krantz and Geoffrey Keezer. Wilkenfeld sent Chick Corea demos of Transformation when he found out that Chick was looking for a bassist to accompany him on a forthcoming tour. She was thrilled to be invited to join him on his Australian tour, beginning in 2007. She joined Jeff Beck, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Jason Rebello a few months later for Jeff Beck’s summer European tour. The group performed to an estimated 40,000 people at Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, Chicago, Illinois after they returned from Europe. Wilkenfeld was back with Jeff Beck and the rest of the band for a week-long stay at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London. Jeff Beck chose the legendary venue to record a new DVD/CD with Joss Stone, Eric Clapton and Imogen Heap. It was recorded and filmed and released as Live at Ronnie Scott’s. Wilkenfeld was also present on the same trip with Wayne Shorter and Corinne Bailey Rae, as well as Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. They were filming a session for the A
