Meet Jan Portisch | Bass Player, Composer, soon-to-be Music Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jan Portisch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For me it was the most logical thing to do. Music has always been a big part of my life. I started playing Piano when I was 5 and switched to Bass in Middle School. I joined my school’s Jazz Big Band and from that moment on it was clear that I want to do this for the rest of my life. Playing music with people, connecting with the audience and being able to share my emotions through my instrument as a career seemed like the best thing ever. I am lucky that my parents always supported my decision to pursue my artistic dreams. I am also very fortunate to grow up in Germany, a country that has many support systems for freelancing artists and musicians, a healthy music scene and many people that are interested in the arts.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love being a side person and the bass is the perfect instrument for that. Making music with other people is one of the greatest joys of my life and I was fortunate that I chose the bass (or the bass chose me?). It is used in a variety of genres and plays a huge role in making the music groove and comfortable for musicians and listeners. I never felt like being the front person of the bands I was in, but I greatly enjoy the responsibility being a bass player requires. I am an extremely curious person. I want to know how all the genres work, how the bass works in all of these genres and I am always looking on how to improve as a band member and musician. This curiosity allowed me to now be a really well rounded side person. I have experience in traditional and modern jazz, classical music, theater music, rock/pop, R&B, and am a really good side reader. In addition to this and maybe due to my german upbringing I take great pride in being reliable, on time and well prepared. All of these qualities make me a great addition to many musical situations.
I am also not afraid to fail. I believe that most growing happens when stepping out of the comfort zone and while I’ve made many mistakes I grew from every single one of them.
I am fortunate to have been given the chance to participate in Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute and Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice while now also being on track to getting a degree in Music Therapy. I always felt like using my artistic voice for more than pure entertainment, and working on this with the faculty in those programs has been very fulfilling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Boston. It is so multicultural and there are so many things I love doing that I loved doing at home. Hanging out with friends usually starts with coffee. I would either go to Farmer’s Horse Coffee or to Trident Cafe. Both have great ambience, aren’t to loud and just have good tasting coffee. After that either a small walk along commonwealth or the fens. For night time activities one of my favourite spots is the Lily Pad in Cambridge. The music is always great, the beer is cool and Cambridge in general has so much to offer. I am not a big club goer but I had some good times in Club Cafe and if it’s the vibe that would be my first call. Some beers at my home in Brookline and listening to some good music is my usual go to though.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize the endless support my family has ever given me. I am privileged to have had Piano and Bass lessons during my school years as well as my mother and father driving me to and from rehearsals. There are no musicians in my family but I was always encouraged to pursue my dreams, do what I like and find my meaning in this world. My aunt was and is always available for life advice and I am eternally grateful for her financial support. My father regularly checks in if I am doing okay and is a huge reason I am now able to continue my education in the United States. My Mother and Father raised me to the emotionally intelligent, independent and caring person I now am. There is no way to express the gratitude I feel for them in written text. My twin brother who I rarely saw eye to eye with when we were growing up, but who I am so proud of for doing what he does and even though we fought a lot, it made me who I am today!

Website: https://janpbass.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janpbass/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-portisch-aa3b0628b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.portisch.7/

Other: I have some music on Bandcamp. https://janpbass.bandcamp.com/album/trio-session-1

Image Credits
Hans Hendrik Wenzel
Kayla Meyer
Simon Bremen