Karyn K. Quinn
Karyn Quinn is a bassist in demand throughout the Midwest for her unique ability to supply just the right “bottom line,” harmonically and stylistically, for a wide range of musical experiences. Equally accomplished as a classical, pop, standards, musical theatre and jazz player, Karyn performs regularly with the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra, Safe Passage Jazz Quartet, Optimism Jazz Sextet, Viterbo University Conservatory for the Performing Arts and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
Karyn is also a sought-after freelance artist, accompanying luminaries the likes of Kurt Elling, Wycliffe Gordon, Byron Stripling, Delfeayo Marsalis, Eric Alexander and Tom Wopat, among many others in concert and in the recording studio.
Based in the Coulee Region of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Karyn is a celebrated educator, with emeritus educator status from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. At UWL, she directed the award-winning jazz ensembles, taught double bass/electric bass and created courses in jazz history, improvisation and music theory.
Karyn is an active clinician for school programs and music festivals from Kansas to the Dakotas and beyond. Recent workshop and faculty residencies include The Shell Lake Arts Center Summer Jazz Band Camps, South Dakota All-State Jazz Combo, the University of Kansas Summer Jazz Camps and the Shanghai (China) Jazz Education Festival and Competition.
A member of the International Society of Bassists, Karyn earned her M.M. in Bass Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado and a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship to study with bassist Rufus Reid and has also performed in master classes with Gary Karr.
Karyn can be heard on her trio album, “Great Days” (2012), and on The Jazz Minnesota Orchestra “Commission Project” (2018). Both albums are available on the Momentous Records Label. Her method books for beginning electric bass students, “Bass Sessions”, are published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company.
Karyn K. Quinn
Karyn has a 40- year career in the world of music!
She is in demand as a bassist throughout the Midwest and has performed in concerts with Kurt Elling, Wycliffe Gordon, Byron Stripling, Delfeayo Marsalis, Evan Christopher, and Eric Alexander among many others.
Karyn lives in La Crosse, WI and can be heard performing regularly with the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra, Safe Passage Jazz Quartet, The 3rd Relation Jazz Quartet and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. When not performing in those groups she is busy freelancing in the recording studio, musical theatre pit orchestras and with various bands.
Karyn has a M.M. Degree in Bass Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado and a B.S. in Music Education. She has been on the faculty at The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse for the past 27 years. In that position, she directed the award – winning jazz ensembles, taught both double bass and electric bass as well as courses in Jazz History, Improvisation and Music Theory.
Karyn was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship to study with bassist, Rufus Reid and has also performed in master classes for Gary Karr. Karyn is an active member of The International Society of Bassists and her method books for beginning electric bass students, Bass Sessions, are published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company.