George Kramarski
About
I’m a professional bassist, composer and music educator based in New York City, with a career that has taken me across stages, studios, and classrooms in the U.S. and Latin America. I hold a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from NYU and a Bachelor’s in Performance with a minor in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music.
Over the years, I’ve worked with artists in jazz, fusion, R&B, Latin, and contemporary scenes. But as much as I love performing, teaching has become just as important to me. I teach because I genuinely enjoy sharing what I’ve learned through experience, not just the technical side of playing bass, but also the creative and personal side of being a musician. My goal is always to help students grow, stay inspired, and find their own voice.
Teaching Style
My lessons are designed to be practical, personalized, and musically enriching. I tailor each session to the student’s goals, whether that’s learning foundational technique, exploring different genres, improvising, or getting ready for an audition.
Each lesson usually includes a mix of hands-on playing, listening, and guided exploration. Depending on your level and interests, we might work through groove exercises, dissect bass lines, develop rhythmic awareness, practice ear training, or break down harmonic concepts you can actually apply. I like to assign creative challenges that stretch your skills and unlock new ideas.
One key part of my approach is listening. I often share playlists and curated recordings that align with what we’re working on. The more you listen, the faster your instincts develop. I’ve found that curiosity is one of the most powerful forces in learning, and I try to feed that through both what we play and what we explore outside of class.
Topics we can cover:
● Groove, tone, sound, and time feel
● Rhythmic awareness and feel across different styles
● Building bass lines across genres (jazz, funk, R&B, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, etc.)
● Technique (slap, fingerstyle, palm muting, etc.)
● Learning songs by ear and developing listening skills
● Harmony, theory, and improvisation
● How to record yourself and build solid practice habits
I’m also developing a structured course focused on jazz fundamentals, bass technique, and theory from the bassist’s perspective. Working 1-on-1 with me is a great way to preview and personalize that material before it launches.
Lessons can happen weekly or biweekly based on your schedule. My goal is always to meet you where you are, challenge you just enough, and help you stay inspired every step of the way.
Credentials & Affiliations
Master of Music - Jazz Studies, New York University
Bachelor of Music - Bass Performance, Berklee College of Music
Bio
He has performed as a lead bassist at internationally recognized venues and festivals, including The Blue Note (NY), Nublu, Williamsburg Music Center, Rockwood Music Hall, and 54 Below, as well as the Panama Jazz Festival (2019), Festival Chile Jazz por la Paz (2019), and Villa Jazz Festival (2022). His work has also been featured in UNESCO-sponsored events, including the Women Power Series (2020), where he arranged and performed a tribute to Colombian folkloric icon and Latin Grammy winner Petrona Martínez, and International Jazz Day (2021), where he took part in a performance honoring Grammy-winning Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez.
George’s debut album as a bandleader, Songs of Tides and Feathers, was released in spring 2025. A deeply personal collection of original compositions and jazz tributes, the project draws on his Colombian roots and artistic background, blending them with elements of the jazz tradition and a strong sense of collective improvisation. The album highlights his global influences, narrative sensibility, and evolving compositional voice, while offering a space for cultural exchange through music.
In 2024, George was selected through a competitive audition to represent New York University in the Promising Artists of the 21st Century program, a cultural exchange initiative organized by the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano and supported by the U.S. State Department. The program brings talented young American musicians to Costa Rica for a week of performances, cultural immersion, and collaboration with local communities. During the tour, George performed at venues across the country, including a featured appearance at the U.S. Embassy’s Fourth of July Gala in San José, and co-led masterclasses at national music schools and community centers.