Aidan Plank

Double bassist, electric bassist, and composer Aidan Plank has established himself as one of the most accomplished and versatile bass players in the Midwest jazz scene over his 27-year career. His extensive experience spans the broad and diverse circumstances required of a professional jazz musician, from intimate club settings to major concert halls, from traditional jazz repertoire to cutting-edge contemporary compositions.

Since 2013, Plank has served as the bassist for the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, one of the region's most prestigious jazz ensembles. In this role, he has had the privilege of collaborating with an impressive roster of guest artists that reads like a who's who of contemporary jazz, including Gerald Clayton, Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, Michael Philip Mossman, Bobby Sanabria, Tierney Sutton, Regina Carter, Ken Peplowski, Bria Skonberg, and many others. These collaborations have provided him with invaluable experience working with diverse musical styles and approaches while contributing to performances that celebrate both jazz tradition and innovation.

Plank leads his own collaborative ensemble, Pulse, which features saxophonist Brad Wagner, pianist Anthony Fuoco, and drummer Dustin May. Pulse represents Plank's artistic vision as a leader, exploring new compositions by its members while working to cultivate a distinctive midwestern sound. The group draws particular influence from the music of Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden, two artists known for their ability to create expansive, atmospheric music that speaks to the American heartland experience.

As a jazz composer, Plank has contributed original works and arrangements that are performed by both the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Third Law Collective. The Third Law Collective, a composers collective in residency at The Bop Stop in Cleveland, focuses exclusively on new works by jazz composers, providing a platform for contemporary creative expression. The collective's collaboration with guest trumpeter Russ Johnson in spring 2024 demonstrates the high caliber of musicians attracted to these new music initiatives.

Plank's extensive collaboration credits reflect his status as a highly sought-after bassist capable of working across generations and styles. His work with legendary figures like Joe Lovano and Carmen Castaldi connects him to jazz tradition, while his collaborations with contemporary artists like Dominick Farinacci and Sean Jones demonstrate his relevance in today's jazz scene. His versatility is further evidenced by his work with the Cleveland Orchestra, bridging the gap between jazz and classical music.

Media recognition came through his feature on NPR's "Jazz Night in America" radio show on their May 16, 2019 broadcast titled "Cleveland's Joe Lovano Comes Home," highlighting his role in Cleveland's vibrant jazz community. His recorded work includes contributions to "Time to Mind the Mystics" by Dan Bruce's Beta Collective on Shifting Paradigm Records and "Off Brand" by Collage Project on Panoramic/New Focus Recordings.

Plank has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, The Knitting Factory and Spectrum in New York City, Elastic Arts in Chicago, and Blossom Music Center. These venues represent the full spectrum of American performance spaces, from intimate jazz clubs to major concert halls.

His commitment to education has been a significant aspect of his career. He served as an instructor at the Tri-C JazzFest Academy in Cleveland from 2015 to 2021 and as the jazz bass instructor at Kent State University from 2016 to 2024. He has served as an adjudicator at The Maple Rock Jazz Festival and The Lakeland Jazz Festival, and has offered masterclasses at the Chicago School of the Arts and Bowling Green State University. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Teaching Professor of Jazz Bass at Bowling Green State University's College of Musical Arts, where he continues to shape the next generation of jazz musicians.

Plank's educational background reflects both his musical dedication and intellectual curiosity. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Youngstown State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cleveland State University, demonstrating his broad academic interests. His bass studies with Dave Morgan of Youngstown State University and Kevin Switalski of the Cleveland Orchestra provided him with both jazz and classical foundations that inform his versatile approach to the instrument.