Chris Tordini: The Bass Player’s Life — Service, Stability, and the Long Game

About this episode

Chris Tordini discusses building a sustainable life in music through collaboration and stability.

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with bassist Chris Tordini for a thoughtful conversation about what it really looks like to build a sustainable life in music. Chris has quietly become one of the most respected bassists on the scene, known for his deep musicality, versatility, and the kind of collaborative spirit that keeps musicians coming back to work with him. We talk about his current role holding down a full-time Broadway chair with Hadestown , and how that kind of musical stability fits into a career that has largely been built around creative projects and collaboration. Chris shares what it’s like stepping into that world—where consistency, preparation, and reliability are everything—and how it contrasts with the improvisational spaces he often inhabits as a jazz and creative musician. Along the way, we trace Chris’s musical path—from early choir singing and piano lessons to discovering both electric and upright bass. His story is a great reminder that a meaningful career in music isn’t always about chasing the spotlight. Often it’s about serving the music, supporting the composer’s vision, and learning to leave ego at the door. We also spend time talking…

People in this episode

Host: Brad Williams

Guest: Chris Tordini

Topics covered

• bassist life
• musical stability
• collaboration
• creative projects
• career in music

Keywords

• bassist
• musical career
• collaboration
• Broadway
• improvisation
• music industry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hadestown

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