California music accessories brand Gruv Gear is proud to feature Bassist Rufus Philpot. Rufus is part of a family of prominent world-class musicians that heartily endorse Gruv Gear products.
Rufus was also invited to join the faculty of the world renowned Drummers / Bass Collective. In addition to teaching advanced classes with Tania Maria drummer Kim Plainfield, he performed regular seminar concerts with his own trio, JVR-featuring Spyro Gyra & Michel Camilo drummer Joel Rosenblatt.
In 2004, Rufus moved to Los Angeles, touring the U.S. with British Acid Jazz group Down to the Bone (acting as Musical Director), playing in a trio with Kirk Civington;s CPT Kirk, touring with Lao Tizer-and playing locally with such virtuosi as Scott Henderson, Steve Weingart, Tony Macalpine, Brandon Fields, Joel Taylor, and Mitch Forman.
In 2006, Rufus and Virgil Donati were asked to headline the International Bass N Drum Day in Stockholm, Sweden here they closed the entire weekend, and other notable performers included Meshuggah and Etienne M’Bappe of the Zawinul Syndicate.
2007 saw Rufus touring with his own Band, K.P.H. featuring Greg Howe on guitar and Will kennedy on the drums. September of 2007 saw Bass Player publishing the Jaco Pastorius Memorial Issue-and inside was a two page Masterclass feature with Rufus! Rufus was also featured in Bass Player Magazine’s June 2005 Issue and also the August edition (full page Ibanez feature) in both Bass Player and Bass Guitar magazine. Plus shows in Los Angeles with Scott Henderson, Scott Kinsey, Mitch Forman, Will Kennedy, Kirk Covington and continuing Masterclass work at M.I. and L.A.M.A.
He has been featured in the September and October 2008 issues of Bass Player. Rufus continues to perform Masterclasses at Los Angeles Music Academy, Musician’s Institute, L.A. and recently recorded tracks for Derek Sherinian’s (Dream Theater, Billy Idol) solo c.d. alongside Allan Holdsworth and Simon Phillips.
In 2009 Rufus performed at the Bass Player Live event in Hollywood, where he was a featured Masterclass Clinician & featured Rufus giving performances with the CPT Kirk Trio, feat. Kirk Covington from Tribal Tech.. He also performed with a new trio with Scott Henderson and drummer Andy Sinise. In 2010 Rufus was a Musical Director/Band Leader for acid jazz group Down to the Bone while continuing to play with Kirk Covington trio, Scott Henderson, Tizer (feat. Karen Briggs & Chieli Minucci) and many more!
Rufus has performed /recorded with such artists as: Allan Holdsworth, Tony MacAlpine, Scott Henderson, Jeff Golub, Greg Howe, Mitch Forman, Steve Weingart,Jeff Babko, Gary Husband, Joel Rosenblatt, Chad Wackerman, Virgil Donati, Simon Phillips, Gary Novak, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Al Di Meola, Scott Kinsey, Kirk Covington, Bill Evans, Chieli Minucci, Jerry Goodman and David Gilmore, Down to the Bone.
He is a full endorsing artist with Ibanez basses, Gallien Krueger Amplification, La Bella strings, Seymour Duncan pickups, and Gruv Gear.
About Gruv Gear:
Gruv Gear exists to bring innovative and well-thought out products to creative professionals and beyond, including career musicians, DJs, photographers, filmmakers, mobile producers and more. The company is on- track not only to become a premium lifestyle accessories brand in the Music/DJ and Photo Industries, which is a small fraction of its potential market, but also expand to a broader range of industries that will increase its global footprint exponentially. To date, Gruv Gear products are sold in 5 continents and shipped directly to adoring fans worldwide.