ARI SEDER

Guitarist/Bassist 

Ari Seder is one of Chicago’s most in-demand guitarists and bassists in  Chicago performing a variety of genres.  Ari’s musical journey has taken an unusual path, beginning with playing blues-rock on guitar, shifting to jazz, taking up the bass guitar and immersing himself in the Chicago blues scene in his 30s, and finally returning to guitar and merging his diverse musical experiences and interests. He counts Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Robben Ford, Otis Rush, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among his major influences along the way.

Ari has performed with artists including Los Lobos, Mary Wilson, Jimmy Johnson, Syleena Johnson, Toronzo Cannon, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Big Head Todd, Shemekia Copeland, Colin James, Billy Branch, John Primer, Guy King, Kelley Hunt, Dave Herrero, Jimmy Burns. Past performances include Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea, the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, Cognac Blues Passions, Ottawa Blues Fest, Efes Blues Festival, and the Chicago Blues and Jazz Festivals. Ari has recorded with Kenny Smith, Guy King, Omar Coleman, and Jimmy Burns, in addition to recording 3 albums of original music with his own trio.

“I started out playing rock and blues-rock, got turned on to jazz, and then rediscovered my love for the blues. I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in the rich oral tradition of Chicago blues -to learn by backing up many of Chicago’s finest.