Session musician Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

The term Session musician describes a musician who is available for hire, as opposed to a musician who is either a permanent member of a musical outfit or has acquired fame in their own right. Generally it refers to a musician skilled in contemporary musical styles such as rock, jazz, country, pop, etc, although it can also be used to describe musicians from classical disciplines. "Studio musicians" are session musicians who do not work outside of the recording studio environment.

Session musicians are used in any situation where musical skills are needed on a "short-term" basis, although "short-term" can mean anything from a few hours to many months. Typical uses of a session musician are

• in a recording studio to provide backing for advertising, film and television music
• to provide musical or vocal backing for an established solo artist, both in the studio and in concerts and appearances
• to act as temporary replacements for permanent members of a band or ensemble
• to provide additional instruments or vocals when needed to a band or ensemble
• in the ensembles for theatrical productions

Apart from being competent at their instrument, skilled session musicians are also expected to be able to learn parts very rapidly, and to be able play music "at sight" (reading directly from the musical score).

Many session musicians are able to create long and successful careers. Although session musicians do not usually achieve popular celebrity (two notable exceptions include the members of the band Toto, formed by a group of regular studio musicians in Los Angeles, and Led Zeppelin, in which John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page were well known studio musicians prior to the band's formation), some go on to achieve considerable fame within the musical industry. Examples would include:

• (keyboardist) Greg Phillinganes who has worked with Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder,
• (drummer) Vinnie Colaiuta who has worked with Sting, Frank Zappa and Madonna
• (guitarist) the late Tommy Tedesco who was described by Guitar Player magazine as the most recorded guitarist in history, having played on thousands of recordings that include the musical themes for Bonanza and M*A*S*H*.

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