# Joe Dart

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**Joe Dart** (born April 18, 1991)[1][2] is an American bassist. He is best known as a founding member of [Vulfpeck](/source/Vulfpeck) and [The Fearless Flyers](/source/The_Fearless_Flyers). He also tours and records with [Theo Katzman](/source/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*](/source/Bass_Guitar_(magazine)) magazine's readers poll in 2019.[3]

## Early life

Dart grew up in [Harbor Springs, Michigan](/source/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](/source/Israel_Baker) was a professional violinist, and his mother exposed him to a variety of live performances.[3][4][5] He briefly played the trombone.[4] At age eight he started to play bass guitar. His first instrument was a [Samick](/source/Samick) bass, followed by a [Fender Jazz Bass](/source/Fender_Jazz_Bass) at age twelve.[3][6] His early music teachers were semi-retired seasoned bassists and exposed him to their musical influences.[3][4] Early on he was fascinated by the instrument's melodic role and gravitated to [funk](/source/Funk).[7][8] He names bassist [Flea](/source/Flea_(musician)) of the [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/source/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers) as his major early influence. At age fourteen he attended Flea's [Silverlake Conservatory](/source/Silverlake_Conservatory_of_Music) for a week.[6] He played in school bands and in a [Phish](/source/Phish)-inspired jam band called Something Different in the Homemade Jam.[2][9][7]

## Career

In 2009, Dart attended the [University of Michigan School of Music](/source/University_of_Michigan_School_of_Music). He had a reputation as a bassist and quickly integrated into the university's music scene.[2][6] In 2010, he toured with the electro-rock band [My Dear Disco](/source/My_Dear_Disco) (aka Ella Riot) and recorded on the band's *[Love Child](/source/Love_Child_(Ella_Riot_EP))* EP.[4][3] He performed in the jazz-funk band Groove Spoon (the college band of [Jack Stratton](/source/Jack_Stratton_(musician))).[6][10] The band released an EP titled *Live From the Dude* in 2010.[11] There, he also met [Theo Katzman](/source/Theo_Katzman) and [Woody Goss](/source/Woody_Goss), and along with Stratton the quartet recorded several instrumental songs for a friend's thesis project.[3][10] In 2011, one of the songs, titled "Beastly", was released on YouTube.[12] The release was noted by *No Treble*, an online magazine for bass players, for its bass performance.[12] The track's reception became an impetus for the group's subsequent recording career as [Vulfpeck](/source/Vulfpeck).[13]

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](/source/Celtic_fusion) band The Olllam and singer-songwriters [Theo Katzman](/source/Theo_Katzman) and [Joey Dosik](/source/Joey_Dosik).[14][15][4] He is a member of the instrumental funk band [The Fearless Flyers](/source/The_Fearless_Flyers) (founded in 2018) and has recorded two albums and four extended plays with the group.[16] In 2023, Dart released a set of seven instructional videos on bass playing, approach and technique.[17]

## Influences

Dart names bassist [Flea](/source/Flea_(musician)) of the [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/source/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](/source/Rocco_Prestia), [Verdine White](/source/Verdine_White), [Pino Palladino](/source/Pino_Palladino), [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards),[a] [Stuart Zender](/source/Stuart_Zender), [Bootsy Collins](/source/Bootsy_Collins), [Victor Wooten](/source/Victor_Wooten), [John Entwistle](/source/John_Entwistle), [James Jamerson](/source/James_Jamerson), [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder). He was drawn to the late 1960s and early 1970s funk and disco, and the 1990s funk-disco revival.[3][6][18] His favorite basslines appear in: [Sly and the Family Stone](/source/Sly_and_the_Family_Stone)'s "[If You Want Me to Stay](/source/If_You_Want_Me_to_Stay)", [Tower of Power](/source/Tower_of_Power)'s "[What Is Hip?](/source/Tower_of_Power_(album))", and [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/source/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers)'s "[If You Have to Ask](/source/If_You_Have_to_Ask)".[8]

## Equipment

Early on Dart played a [Fender Jazz Bass](/source/Fender_Jazz_Bass) with [Seymour Duncan](/source/Seymour_Duncan) Antiquity II pickups and [Rotosound](/source/Rotosound) Swing Bass 66 roundwound strings.[6] In 2019, he switched to playing his signature bass, released by [Music Man](/source/Music_Man_(company)) 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.[19][b]

Other instruments that he has recorded with include:[20]

- [Carlo Robelli](/source/Carlo_Robelli) bass with Music Man pickups
- [Fender Precision Junior](/source/Fender_Precision_Bass) bass
- [Squier](/source/Squier#Squier_Guitars_brand_(1982–present)) Classic Vibe Precision bass
- [Music Man StingRay](/source/Music_Man_StingRay) bass[3]
- [Music Man Sterling](/source/Music_Man_(company)#Instruments) bass[21]

His strings include: [Rotosound](/source/Rotosound) Swing Bass 66 roundwounds, [Thomastik-Infeld](/source/Thomastik-Infeld) flatwounds, La Bella flatwounds. His rig includes: [Markbass](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markbass) Little Mark Tube 800 amplifier, Markbass Standard 104HR speakers, Radial Engineering ProDI [direct box](/source/DI_unit).[20]

## 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.[22][23] In 2019 he was voted the coolest new bassist in [*Bass Guitar*](/source/Bass_Guitar_(magazine)) magazine's readers poll.[3] In 2021 he was voted number two on [*MusicRadar*](/source/Future_plc#Brands)'s list of the greatest bassists of the 21st century.[24]

## Discography

See also: [Vulfpeck discography](/source/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

1. Dart: "My favorite bass tone is Bernard Edwards' on the [Chic](/source/Chic_(band)) records (...) My favorite pure-tone player is Pino."[20]

1. Sterling versions of the Joe Dart I, Joe Dart II, and Joe Dart III have also been issued.[25]

## References

1. Ming Lee Newcomb (April 18, 2023). ["Celebrate Joe Dart's Birthday With...."](https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/joe-dart-birthday/). liveforlivemusic.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260131073219/https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/joe-dart-birthday/) January 31, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Danny Hazan (May 18, 2015). ["Can't Fake the Funk"](https://medium.com/@DeeHaze24/can-t-fake-the-funk-b9bddcdfaf80). Medium. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030327/https://medium.com/@DeeHaze24/can-t-fake-the-funk-b9bddcdfaf80) November 7, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. [Joel McIver](/source/Joel_McIver) (July 2019). ["Hey Joe – interview"](https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-the-one-thing-you-absolutely-cant-skip-on-is-developing-great-time). *[Bass Guitar](/source/Bass_Guitar_(magazine))*. No. 170. pp. 18–21. [Archived](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) July 9, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. – via musicradar.com.

1. [Leo Sidran](/source/Leo_Sidran) (December 6, 2018). [*The Third Story Podcast – Episode 115: Joe Dart*](https://www.third-story.com/listen/joedart). third-story.com. pp. 13:25–14:45, 18:05–27:30, 38:00–38:30, 41:00–41:40 (excluding advertisement durations). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190914035429/https://www.third-story.com/listen/joedart) September 14, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Scott Bernstein (May 23, 2023). [*The JamBase Podcast – Season 2, Episode 2: Joe Dart & Cory Wong*](https://www.jambase.com/article/joe-dart-cory-wong-vulfpeck-fearless-flyers-jambase-podcast). jambase.com. pp. 33:00–36:00. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230608043442/https://www.jambase.com/article/joe-dart-cory-wong-vulfpeck-fearless-flyers-jambase-podcast) June 8, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 1, 2026.

1. Wolfgang Kehle (February 2018). ["Joe Dart: Bassist bei Vulfpeck"](https://www.gitarrebass.de/stories/joe-dart-bassist-bei-vulfpeck/) (in German). [Gitarre & Bass](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gitarre_%26_Bass). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190719191139/https://www.gitarrebass.de/stories/joe-dart-bassist-bei-vulfpeck/) July 19, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Mitch Joel (August 3, 2017). [*Groove – Episode #32: Joe Dart*](https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/08/03/groove-episode-32-joe-dart/). notreble.com. pp. 8:35–9:15, 10:45–14:10. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180201150557/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/08/03/groove-episode-32-joe-dart/) February 1, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Scott Devine (January 21, 2026). [*Joe Dart Breaks Down His Favorite Bass Lines*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FGgw-rl5Xw) (Video). Scott's Bass Lessons. pp. 23:10–23:20. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260310060304/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FGgw-rl5Xw) March 10, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. – via YouTube.

1. ["In the Homemade Jam"](https://www.northernexpress.com/news/music/article-2465-in-the-homemade-jam/). northernexpress.com. May 17, 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250222154227/https://www.northernexpress.com/news/music/article-2465-in-the-homemade-jam/) February 22, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Allegra Rosenberg (November 9, 2017). [*Interview w/ Joe Dart*](https://liveforlivemusic.com/media/joe-dart-video-interview-2017/) (video). Allegra - stopitsgingertime channel on YouTube. pp. 4:40–6:10. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240727013040/https://liveforlivemusic.com/media/joe-dart-video-interview-2017/) July 27, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. – via liveforlivemusic.com.

1. ["Live From the Dude (11.8.09) by Groove Spoon"](https://groovespoon.bandcamp.com/album/live-from-the-dude-11809). *bandcamp.com*. January 1, 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240407161742/https://groovespoon.bandcamp.com/album/live-from-the-dude-11809) April 7, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Corey Brown (June 20, 2011). ["Vulfpeck: 'Beastly' Live in Studio"](https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/06/20/vulfpeck-beastly-live-in-studio/). notreble.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241105200948/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/06/20/vulfpeck-beastly-live-in-studio/) November 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Tim Specce (January 12, 2014). ["Vulfpeck Keep It Beastly"](http://www.jambands.com/features/2014/01/12/vulfpeck-keep-it-beastly). jambands.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160819030132/http://www.jambands.com/features/2014/01/12/vulfpeck-keep-it-beastly) August 19, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Jon D'Auria (April 7, 2020). ["Bass Magazine Lockdown Check-In with Joe Dart"](https://bassmagazine.com/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-joe-dart/). bassmagazine.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260530144435/https://bassmagazine.com/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-joe-dart/) May 30, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. James Fleming (August 18, 2018). ["Sligo Jazz Project 2018: Days 1-2"](https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sligo-jazz-project-2018-days-1-2-liane-carroll-by-james-fleming). allaboutjazz.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210918164848/https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sligo-jazz-project-2018-days-1-2-liane-carroll-by-james-fleming) September 18, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Andrew O'Brien (February 26, 2024). ["How The Fearless Flyers Found Creativity In Specificity"](https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/the-fearless-flyers-iv-vulfpeck-interview-2024/). liveforlivemusic.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240524212619/https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/the-fearless-flyers-iv-vulfpeck-interview-2024/) May 24, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Jonathan Horsley (March 24, 2023). ["Joe Dart teaching slap bass is the coolest music lesson...."](https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-teaches-slap-bass-vulfpeck). musicradar.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260207103140/https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-dart-teaches-slap-bass-vulfpeck) February 7, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Scott Devine (September 3, 2025). [*Joe Dart and the Incredible Bass Lines of Vulfpeck*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N7Ohqd09U) (Video). Scott's Bass Lessons. pp. 20:35–23:10, 57:00–57:15. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250918100825/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N7Ohqd09U) September 18, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. – via YouTube.

1. Signature bass: *Matt Owen (May 12, 2021). ["Ernie Ball Music Man joins forces with Joe Dart...."](https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-bass-guitars). guitarworld.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210619060939/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-bass-guitars) June 19, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. *Jackson Maxwell (April 26, 2022). ["Ernie Ball Music Man expands its line of Joe Dart signature..."](https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-ii-bass). guitarworld.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260124112417/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-ii-bass) January 24, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. *["Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces Joe Dart III Signature Bass"](https://www.premierguitar.com/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-iii). Premier Guitar. January 18, 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250123221058/https://www.premierguitar.com/ernie-ball-music-man-joe-dart-iii) January 23, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. *["Sterling by Music Man Releases New Joe Dart Vision Bass"](https://bassmagazine.com/sterling-by-music-man-releases-new-joe-dart-vision-bass/). bassmagazine.com. May 1, 2026. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260530144525/https://bassmagazine.com/sterling-by-music-man-releases-new-joe-dart-vision-bass/) May 30, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Jon D'Auria (January 8, 2020). ["Vulfpeck's Joe Dart: 'We intentionally keep things on edge and in the moment'"](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/vulfpecks-joe-dart-we-intentionally-keep-things-on-edge-and-in-the-moment). [Bass Player (magazine)](/source/Bass_Player_(magazine)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210304092627/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/vulfpecks-joe-dart-we-intentionally-keep-things-on-edge-and-in-the-moment) March 4, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026. – via guitarworld.com.

1. Corey Brown (August 27, 2014). ["Vulfpeck: 1612"](https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/08/27/vulfpeck-1612/). notreble.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160916200703/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/08/27/vulfpeck-1612/) September 16, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. ["No Treble: 2013 Reader Favorites"](http://www.notreble.com/top-ten/best-of-2013/2013-reader-favorites/). notreble.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140103221635/https://www.notreble.com/top-ten/best-of-2013/2013-reader-favorites/) January 3, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Corey Brown (January 1, 2018). ["2017 Reader Favorites – #1: Joe Dart"](https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2018/01/01/2017-reader-favorites-1-joe-dart/). notreble.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011423/https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2018/01/01/2017-reader-favorites-1-joe-dart/) January 5, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. Joel McIver (May 27, 2021). ["The greatest bassists of the 21st century, ranked by you!"](https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-greatest-bassists-of-the-21st-century-ranked). musicradar.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210527092137/https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-greatest-bassists-of-the-21st-century-ranked) May 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

1. ["Joe Dart and Sterling by Music Man Introduce the Joe Dart Artist Series"](https://www.premierguitar.com/news/sterling-by-music-man-joe-dart-series). premierguitar.com. April 2, 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250402204419/https://www.premierguitar.com/news/sterling-by-music-man-joe-dart-series) April 2, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 30, 2026.

## External links

- [Joe Dart](https://www.facebook.com/joedartbass) on Facebook
- [Eight Take-Aways from Joe Dart's Berklee Clinic](https://freebasstranscriptions.com/how-joe-dart-got-his-groove/) at freebasstranscriptions.com

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joe Dart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Dart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Dart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.