{{short description|American bassist (born 1991)}} {{use American English|date=May 2026}} {{use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Joe Dart |background = person |image = Joe Dart-at-crystal-ballroom-may-26-2017.jpg |image_size = |caption = Dart performing in 2017 |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1991|4|18}} |origin = Harbor Springs, Michigan, U.S. |instrument = Bass guitar |genre = {{hlist|Funk|jazz funk|rock|R&B|pop|Irish fusion}} |occupation = Musician |years_active = 2010–present |label = |current_member_of = {{hlist|Vulfpeck|The Fearless Flyers|The Olllam}} |past_member_of = {{hlist|Ella Riot|Something Different in the Homemade Jam}} }}
'''Joe Dart''' (born April 18, 1991)<ref name="jd-birthday-livemusic" /><ref name="jd-medium-2015" /> is an American bassist. He is best known as a founding member of Vulfpeck and The Fearless Flyers. He also tours and records with Theo Katzman and the Irish-fusion band The Olllam. His background spans several genres including funk, rock, jazz and R&B. He was voted the coolest new bassist in ''Bass Guitar'' magazine's readers poll in 2019.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" />
==Early life== Dart grew up in Harbor Springs, Michigan. He was raised in a musical family and had access to musical instruments in his childhood home. His maternal grandfather Israel Baker was a professional violinist, and his mother exposed him to a variety of live performances.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /><ref name="jd-third story-2018" /><ref name="jd-jambase-pod-2023" /> He briefly played the trombone.<ref name="jd-third story-2018" /> At age eight he started to play bass guitar. His first instrument was a Samick bass, followed by a Fender Jazz Bass at age twelve.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /><ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /> His early music teachers were semi-retired seasoned bassists and exposed him to their musical influences.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /><ref name="jd-third story-2018" /> Early on he was fascinated by the instrument's melodic role and gravitated to funk.<ref name="jd-notreble-pod-2017" /><ref name="jd-scotts-jan2026" /> He names bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers as his major early influence. At age fourteen he attended Flea's Silverlake Conservatory for a week.<ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /> He played in school bands and in a Phish-inspired jam band called Something Different in the Homemade Jam.<ref name="jd-medium-2015" /><ref name="jd-northernexpress-2006" /><ref name="jd-notreble-pod-2017" />
==Career== In 2009, Dart attended the University of Michigan School of Music. He had a reputation as a bassist and quickly integrated into the university's music scene.<ref name="jd-medium-2015" /><ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /> In 2010, he toured with the electro-rock band My Dear Disco (aka Ella Riot) and recorded on the band's ''Love Child'' EP.<ref name="jd-third story-2018" /><ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /> He performed in the jazz-funk band Groove Spoon (the college band of Jack Stratton).<ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /><ref name="jd-allegra-interview" /> The band released an EP titled ''Live From the Dude'' in 2010.<ref name="jd-live from dude-2010" /> There, he also met Theo Katzman and Woody Goss, and along with Stratton the quartet recorded several instrumental songs for a friend's thesis project.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /><ref name="jd-allegra-interview" /> In 2011, one of the songs, titled "Beastly", was released on YouTube.<ref name="jd-notreble-jun2011" /> The release was noted by ''No Treble'', an online magazine for bass players, for its bass performance.<ref name="jd-notreble-jun2011" /> The track's reception became an impetus for the group's subsequent recording career as Vulfpeck.<ref name="jd-jambands-2014" />
Dart has recorded six albums and four extended plays with Vulfpeck and has toured in the United States, Europe and Japan. He also performs and records with the Irish-fusion band The Olllam and singer-songwriters Theo Katzman and Joey Dosik.<ref name="jd-bassmagazine-2020" /><ref name="jd-aaj-2018" /><ref name="jd-third story-2018" /> He is a member of the instrumental funk band The Fearless Flyers (founded in 2018) and has recorded two albums and four extended plays with the group.<ref name="jd-live-feb2024" /> In 2023, Dart released a set of seven instructional videos on bass playing, approach and technique.<ref name="jd-conservatory-2023" />
==Influences== Dart names bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers as his primary influence. He credits Flea for being musically present and visible as a bass player when Dart was growing up. Through influences present in Flea's work, Dart discovered other bassists who influenced him. Dart's influences include Rocco Prestia, Verdine White, Pino Palladino, Bernard Edwards,{{efn|name=edwards-pino}} Stuart Zender, Bootsy Collins, Victor Wooten, John Entwistle, James Jamerson, Stevie Wonder. He was drawn to the late 1960s and early 1970s funk and disco, and the 1990s funk-disco revival.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /><ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /><ref name="jd-scotts-sep2025" /> His favorite basslines appear in: Sly and the Family Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay", Tower of Power's "What Is Hip?", and Red Hot Chili Peppers's "If You Have to Ask".<ref name="jd-scotts-jan2026" />
== Equipment == Early on Dart played a Fender Jazz Bass with Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups and Rotosound Swing Bass 66 roundwound strings.<ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018" /> In 2019, he switched to playing his signature bass, released by Music Man guitar company. As of 2026 five signature models have been released: the Ernie Ball Joe Dart Bass, the Joe Dart Jr., Joe Dart II, Joe Dart III, and the Sterling Joe Dart Vision.<ref name="jd-signature bass" />{{efn|Sterling versions of the Joe Dart I, Joe Dart II, and Joe Dart III have also been issued.<ref name="jd-sterling bass I, II, III" />}}
Other instruments that he has recorded with include:<ref name="jd-bassplayer-2020" /> *Carlo Robelli bass with Music Man pickups *Fender Precision Junior bass *Squier Classic Vibe Precision bass *Music Man StingRay bass<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /> *Music Man Sterling bass<ref name="jd-notreble-aug2014" />
His strings include: Rotosound Swing Bass 66 roundwounds, Thomastik-Infeld flatwounds, La Bella flatwounds. His rig includes: Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 amplifier, Markbass Standard 104HR speakers, Radial Engineering ProDI direct box.<ref name="jd-bassplayer-2020" />
==Recognition== In 2013 Dart was ranked ''No Treble'' magazine's 5th favorite bassist (an online magazine for bass players), and in 2017 he was ranked 1st.<ref name="jd-notreble-5-2013" /><ref name="jd-notreble-1-2017" /> In 2019 he was voted the coolest new bassist in ''Bass Guitar'' magazine's readers poll.<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019" /> In 2021 he was voted number two on ''MusicRadar'''s list of the greatest bassists of the 21st century.<ref name="jd-top10-musicradar2021" />
==Discography== {{See also|Vulfpeck discography}}
'''The Fearless Flyers''' *''The Fearless Flyers'' (2018) *''The Fearless Flyers II'' (2019) *''Tailwinds'' (2020) *''Flyers Live at Madison Square Garden (2021)'' *''The Fearless Flyers III'' (2022) *''The Fearless Flyers IV'' (2024) *''The Fearless Flyers V'' (2025) *''Live in Italy'' (2025)
'''The Olllam''' *''The Olllam'' (2012) *''Elllegy'' (2022)
== Notes == {{notelist|refs= {{efn|name=edwards-pino|Dart: "My favorite bass tone is Bernard Edwards' on the Chic records (...) My favorite pure-tone player is Pino."<ref name="jd-bassplayer-2020" />}} }}
== References == <references>
<ref name="jd-birthday-livemusic">{{cite web|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/joe-dart-birthday/|title=Celebrate Joe Dart's Birthday With....|author=Ming Lee Newcomb|publisher=liveforlivemusic.com|date=April 18, 2023|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131073219/https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/joe-dart-birthday/|archive-date=January 31, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-allegra-interview">{{cite AV media|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/media/joe-dart-video-interview-2017/|title=Interview w/ Joe Dart|author=Allegra Rosenberg|publisher=Allegra - stopitsgingertime channel on YouTube|type=video|time=4:40–6:10|date=November 9, 2017 |via=liveforlivemusic.com|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727013040/https://liveforlivemusic.com/media/joe-dart-video-interview-2017/|archive-date=July 27, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-bassguitar-2019">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-the-one-thing-you-absolutely-cant-skip-on-is-developing-great-time|title=Hey Joe – interview|author=Joel McIver|magazine=Bass Guitar|via=musicradar.com|issue=170|pages=18–21|date=July 2019|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709212059/https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-the-one-thing-you-absolutely-cant-skip-on-is-developing-great-time|archive-date=July 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-third story-2018">{{cite podcast|url=https://www.third-story.com/listen/joedart|title=The Third Story Podcast – Episode 115: Joe Dart|host=Leo Sidran|publisher=third-story.com|time=13:25–14:45, 18:05–27:30, 38:00–38:30, 41:00–41:40 (excluding advertisement durations)|date=December 6, 2018|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914035429/https://www.third-story.com/listen/joedart|archive-date=September 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-gitarre-bass-2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.gitarrebass.de/stories/joe-dart-bassist-bei-vulfpeck/|title=Joe Dart: Bassist bei Vulfpeck|author=Wolfgang Kehle|publisher=Gitarre & Bass|date=February 2018|language=de|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719191139/https://www.gitarrebass.de/stories/joe-dart-bassist-bei-vulfpeck/|archive-date=July 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-top10-musicradar2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-greatest-bassists-of-the-21st-century-ranked|title=The greatest bassists of the 21st century, ranked by you!|author=Joel McIver|publisher=musicradar.com|date=May 27, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527092137/https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-greatest-bassists-of-the-21st-century-ranked|archive-date=May 27, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-notreble-5-2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.notreble.com/top-ten/best-of-2013/2013-reader-favorites/|title=No Treble: 2013 Reader Favorites|publisher=notreble.com|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103221635/https://www.notreble.com/top-ten/best-of-2013/2013-reader-favorites/|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-notreble-1-2017">{{cite web|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2018/01/01/2017-reader-favorites-1-joe-dart/|title=2017 Reader Favorites – #1: Joe Dart|author=Corey Brown|publisher=notreble.com|date=January 1, 2018|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011423/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2018/01/01/2017-reader-favorites-1-joe-dart/|archive-date=January 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-notreble-jun2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/06/20/vulfpeck-beastly-live-in-studio/|title=Vulfpeck: 'Beastly' Live in Studio|author=Corey Brown|publisher=notreble.com|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105200948/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/06/20/vulfpeck-beastly-live-in-studio/|archive-date=November 5, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-jambands-2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.jambands.com/features/2014/01/12/vulfpeck-keep-it-beastly|title=Vulfpeck Keep It Beastly|author=Tim Specce|publisher=jambands.com|date=January 12, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819030132/http://www.jambands.com/features/2014/01/12/vulfpeck-keep-it-beastly|archive-date=August 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-northernexpress-2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.northernexpress.com/news/music/article-2465-in-the-homemade-jam/|title=In the Homemade Jam|publisher=northernexpress.com|date=May 17, 2006|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222154227/https://www.northernexpress.com/news/music/article-2465-in-the-homemade-jam/|archive-date=February 22, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-notreble-pod-2017">{{cite podcast|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/08/03/groove-episode-32-joe-dart/|title=Groove – Episode #32: Joe Dart|host=Mitch Joel|publisher=notreble.com|time=8:35–9:15, 10:45–14:10|date=August 3, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201150557/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/08/03/groove-episode-32-joe-dart/|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-medium-2015">{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@DeeHaze24/can-t-fake-the-funk-b9bddcdfaf80|title=Can't Fake the Funk|author=Danny Hazan|publisher=Medium|date=May 18, 2015|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030327/https://medium.com/@DeeHaze24/can-t-fake-the-funk-b9bddcdfaf80|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-bassplayer-2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/vulfpecks-joe-dart-we-intentionally-keep-things-on-edge-and-in-the-moment|title=Vulfpeck's Joe Dart: 'We intentionally keep things on edge and in the moment'|author=Jon D'Auria|publisher=Bass Player (magazine)|date=January 8, 2020|via=guitarworld.com|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304092627/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/vulfpecks-joe-dart-we-intentionally-keep-things-on-edge-and-in-the-moment|archive-date=March 4, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-notreble-aug2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/08/27/vulfpeck-1612/|title=Vulfpeck: 1612|author=Corey Brown|publisher=notreble.com|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916200703/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/08/27/vulfpeck-1612/|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-live from dude-2010">{{Cite web|url=https://groovespoon.bandcamp.com/album/live-from-the-dude-11809|title=Live From the Dude (11.8.09) by Groove Spoon|website=bandcamp.com|date=January 1, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407161742/https://groovespoon.bandcamp.com/album/live-from-the-dude-11809|archive-date=April 7, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-bassmagazine-2020">{{cite web|url=https://bassmagazine.com/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-joe-dart/ |title=Bass Magazine Lockdown Check-In with Joe Dart|author=Jon D'Auria|publisher=bassmagazine.com|date=April 7, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260530144435/https://bassmagazine.com/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-joe-dart/|archive-date=May 30, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-aaj-2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sligo-jazz-project-2018-days-1-2-liane-carroll-by-james-fleming|title=Sligo Jazz Project 2018: Days 1-2|author=James Fleming|publisher=allaboutjazz.com|date=August 18, 2018|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918164848/https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sligo-jazz-project-2018-days-1-2-liane-carroll-by-james-fleming|archive-date=September 18, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-live-feb2024">{{cite web|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/the-fearless-flyers-iv-vulfpeck-interview-2024/|title=How The Fearless Flyers Found Creativity In Specificity|author=Andrew O'Brien|publisher=liveforlivemusic.com|date=February 26, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524212619/https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/the-fearless-flyers-iv-vulfpeck-interview-2024/|archive-date=May 24, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-signature bass">Signature bass: *{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-bass-guitars|title=Ernie Ball Music Man joins forces with Joe Dart....|author=Matt Owen|publisher=guitarworld.com|date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619060939/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-bass-guitars|archive-date=June 19, 2021|url-status=live}} *{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-ii-bass|title=Ernie Ball Music Man expands its line of Joe Dart signature...|author=Jackson Maxwell|publisher=guitarworld.com|date=April 26, 2022|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260124112417/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-ii-bass|archive-date=January 24, 2026|url-status=live}} *{{cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-iii|title=Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces Joe Dart III Signature Bass|publisher=Premier Guitar|date=January 18, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123221058/https://www.premierguitar.com/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-iii|archive-date=January 23, 2025|url-status=live}} *{{cite web|url=https://bassmagazine.com/sterling-by-music-man-releases-new-joe-dart-vision-bass/|title=Sterling by Music Man Releases New Joe Dart Vision Bass|publisher=bassmagazine.com|date=May 1, 2026|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260530144525/https://bassmagazine.com/sterling-by-music-man-releases-new-joe-dart-vision-bass/|archive-date=May 30, 2026|url-status=live}} </ref>
<ref name="jd-sterling bass I, II, III">{{cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/news/sterling-by-music-man-joe-dart-series|title=Joe Dart and Sterling by Music Man Introduce the Joe Dart Artist Series|publisher=premierguitar.com|date=April 2, 2025|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402204419/https://www.premierguitar.com/news/sterling-by-music-man-joe-dart-series|archive-date=April 2, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-conservatory-2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-teaches-slap-bass-vulfpeck|title=Joe Dart teaching slap bass is the coolest music lesson....|author=Jonathan Horsley|publisher=musicradar.com|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207103140/https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-teaches-slap-bass-vulfpeck|archive-date=February 7, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-scotts-sep2025">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N7Ohqd09U|title=Joe Dart and the Incredible Bass Lines of Vulfpeck|author=Scott Devine|publisher=Scott's Bass Lessons|date=September 3, 2025|type=Video|time=20:35–23:10, 57:00–57:15|via=YouTube|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918100825/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N7Ohqd09U|archive-date=September 18, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-scotts-jan2026">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FGgw-rl5Xw|title=Joe Dart Breaks Down His Favorite Bass Lines|author=Scott Devine|publisher=Scott's Bass Lessons|date=January 21, 2026|type=Video|time=23:10–23:20|via=YouTube|access-date=May 30, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260310060304/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FGgw-rl5Xw|archive-date=March 10, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="jd-jambase-pod-2023">{{cite podcast|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/joe-dart-cory-wong-vulfpeck-fearless-flyers-jambase-podcast|title=The JamBase Podcast – Season 2, Episode 2: Joe Dart & Cory Wong|host=Scott Bernstein|publisher=jambase.com|time=33:00–36:00|date=May 23, 2023|access-date=June 1, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608043442/https://www.jambase.com/article/joe-dart-cory-wong-vulfpeck-fearless-flyers-jambase-podcast|archive-date=June 8, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
</references>
== External links == *{{facebook|joedartbass}} *[https://freebasstranscriptions.com/how-joe-dart-got-his-groove/ Eight Take-Aways from Joe Dart's Berklee Clinic] at freebasstranscriptions.com
{{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dart, Joe}} Category:American male bass guitarists Category:American funk bass guitarists Category:American session musicians Category:Musicians from Michigan Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:21st-century American bass guitarists Category:Living people Category:1991 births