Taken from "Musical Instruments Magazine"

June 2001

Steve presented himself accompanied by Mauro Aimetti, a very active and appreciated bass player. Mauro, member of The Memphis Hearts (Walter Calloni on drums and Bernardo Lanzetti, vocals) has also played with Giulio Capiozzo, the late drummer of The Area. Thanks to this friendship and to the esteem that link Mauro Aimetti and Steve Washington, we had the chance to meet and admire Steve Washington shortly before he dashed to Paris from where the new tour of The Texas began.
After having played some very fast and funky pieces with Mauro, Steve entered into the always undervalued field of the rudiments.
Finished the workshop, we finally had the chance to host Steve at our table and exchange a few words with him.

SM: So Steve. Tell us a little about your flying visit to Italy.

Steve Washington: It's all Mauro and Fabio Fazio's fault. You know, I consider Mauro one of the best bass players that I've ever met. His way of playing the fretless bass drives me crazy. There's an excellent interaction between the two of us. You see, I had just finished recording To Be Frank, the new record by Nik Kershaw. With The Texas we had a few days free before leaving on our tour and we had this invitation from Fabio Fazio in Milan for RAI TV. Mauro and I decided to take advantage of it immediately to do something together. Mauro got busy and so here we are today playing here. This evening we're playing at a concert in Como and tomorrow evening we're in Milan.

SM: Do you mean that everything happened just like that, for the enjoyment of playing with a particular bass player?

SW: Yes. You see, for me the interaction between bass player and drummer is very important. It's really difficult to find another bass player with whom I feel so at ease with as I do with Mauro and so we took advantage of this occasion. We organised a couple of concerts and, thanks to Sergio Fanton (of Notak Music Solutions, NdA), this workshop. In three days I will be in Paris to begin another adventure.

SM: With The Texas.

SW: Yes, with The Texas. I'm very happy to play with them. We have a lot of fun playing together. And on this tour we're going to play so much!

SM: That's what you like the most.

SW: Sure! It's true that you also work for money, but you know, perhaps I've been particularly lucky. I've always had a great relationship with the artists I've worked with. So for me it's always pleasant what I do. And I love playing more than any other thing. Or almost! (and he breaks out in laughter).

SM: Let's go back to the interaction between bass and drums…

SW: As a drummer what I've always done with the bass player is to build a good groove. Normally one listens and hopes that everything goes in the right way. I preferred to do something more. I learned to play the bass. In fact, I can say that I am a good bass player. Like that, instead of having to imagine what a bass player experiences, I exactly know it. I experimented it myself and this helps me to enter the groove better.

SM: Perhaps it's time that also bass players studied the drums.

SW: Exactly. Instead of always complaining that you speed up or slow down (and he breaks out in laughter again). Anyway, I feel very well with Mauro. He always listens to me when I play and he also follows me in the most detailed tones. We have no problem playing a pattern together but he also knows how to create his own. He has very good taste and this is very important for a musician, especially when he must improvise.

SM: Will you return to Italy soon?

SW: I should return for Nik Kershaw's next tour and I hope to have other opportunities to play with Mauro again soon.