Meet Lyman Medeiros

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyman Medeiros.

Lyman, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Hawaii and raised in Indianapolis and developed a love for music quite early on. I didn’t grow up with my father around but I knew he played the bass so I wanted to play the bass as well. I bought my first electric bass at age 13 and immediately formed a garage band with friends of mine and continued to play in punk and alternative bands through high school.

I enrolled at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana to study music. A few weeks into my first semester myself and two other bass students drove an hour and a half to see legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown perform. We were disappointed the club was 21+ but thankfully the maitre ‘d let us sit in the back because that night changed my life. Ray played the upright bass and while watching him play, I decided that is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And it is all I’ve done since. I studied classical bass at Ball State then went to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan for a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance.

While at Western, I auditioned and was accepted to the Henry Mancini Institute, a summer music performance program held at UCLA. While there, I studied with many industry professionals and decided to move to Los Angeles after I graduated.

Upon moving to L.A. in 2000, I started going out to local jam sessions trying to meet as many musicians and creative people as possible. Things started happening quickly for me. In 2001 I auditioned for jazz vocalist and Warner Recording Artist Steve Tyrell and have been touring with him ever since. I have since toured with vocal phenom Michael Buble and jazz legend Dianne Schuur. I work around Southern California playing for various clubs and events as well.

I began teaching at Musicians Institute in 2014. M.I. is in Hollywood and is geared towards college students interested in studying pop, rock, jazz and other modern music styles. In 2018 I started teaching at Fullerton College in Orange County as well. I love teaching and curating the potential in students is a joy for me.

I also lead a band called Black Market Reverie. The band’s sound is a mixture of jazz, Americana and old French songs. I sing as well as play bass along with my bandmate and co-leader vocalist Renee Myara.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The career of a performing musician is never an easy road. Much like acting or dancing or writing, self-doubt and financially instability are constant issues. But I must admit, I have been quite fortunate with the opportunities I have been presented with along the way and have take full advantage of that.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a bass player, I look to be the musical foundation in any of my performance settings. The great bassist Larry Grenadier once said “our job as a bass player is to make everybody else sound good” and I could not agree more. I have played with many, many singers throughout my career so that seems to be a specialty of mine.

I like to think my work as an artist sets me apart from others. While I am happy to adapt to any musical setting while playing bass as a sideman when I am leading my own projects I have a very clear and specific vision of how I want it to sound.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
When I was young, my passion for music was my only motivation. I used to say to myself in college “if I could just earn a living playing the bass I would be happy.” It seemed like a very lofty goal to a kid in Indiana.

After I moved to L.A. and I achieved that in my mid-20s, I began to realize I wanted to be more successful than where I was at. But my career goals have always been creative (obviously, I did not become a jazz bassist to be rich). Performing with musicians playing at a very high creative level, reaching people with my own music… these are the goals I set for myself these days.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allmylinks.com/bigfunky
• Email: lyman_medeiros@hotmail.com
• Instagram: bigfunky1
• Facebook: BlackMarketReverie
• Other: blackmarketreverie.com

Image Credit:
Nina Ragonese, Mehdi Hassine, Andre Cruz

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