ABOUT FRANC'S BASS PLAYING

'Generally regarded as one of the most talented bass players of his generation. An impressive performer with a highly inventive style, his playing puts him at the forefront of the modern Jazz scene' -Paul Carmichael, 606 Jazz Club, London, UK

'When everyone else realises how good O'Shea is, remember where you heard it first' -Steve Lawson, Bassist Magazine, UK

'If you happen to be a bass player, you might be tempted to think that there's something magical about the way Franc O'Shea handles the instrument- in fact anyone listening to his new CD 'Esprit' would be likely to come to the same conclusion. This is very much a showcase for Franc's superb playing. A virtuoso performance indeed' -Pete Martin, Jazz UK Magazine

'Brilliant vibrant bass playing' -Sarah Ward, Radio Presenter, Jazz FM, UK

'O'Shea displays complete artistic control of his tools both with a commanding sense of superb tone and technical facility. O'Shea's proficiency as a bassist deftly molds this journey into an impressive first rate recording. With this just his first outing, O'Shea has already established himself as a major player' Cliff Engel, BASSically.net, USA

'Blistering…grooves like mad' -Brian Blain, Musician Magazine, UK

'O'Shea is a muscular, technically adept player on electric bass. His technique and resourcefulness impress throughout' -Michael Kelly, Jazzwise Magazine, UK

'Bass player extraordinaire' -Matthew Clarke, New Insight Magazine, UK

'With his 1999 debut album 'Esprit', he proved that he could not only explore crossover territory without losing his jazz feel, but could also play the electric instrument with lightness and swing - John Fordham, Jazz UK magazine

'O'Shea just keeps one's eyes and ears popping. Try this' -Ken Egbert, Jazz Now Magazine, USA

'He does everything he wants, and more, with his played in fretless bass, audacious virtuosity' - Antonio Pamies, El Fingidor magazine, Spain

ABOUT FRANC'S COMPOSITIONS

'This is modern contemporary Jazz at its very, very best…more please!' -Sarah Ward, radio presenter, Jazz FM, UK

'Sinuous melody…dynamically rich…there's plenty here to stimulate both body and soul' -Michael Tucker, Jazz Journal International, UK & Canada

'The musical artistry of bassist Franc O'Shea is divine'-Ron Garant, Bassics Magazine, USA

'Melodic and sophisticated, often stunning' -Matthew Clarke, New Insight Magazine, UK

'Thank God for players like Franc O'Shea. 'Esprit' is a vibrant slice of fusion, blending styles and influences from all over the globe, where -despite his considerable technical abilities- the compositions take president over bass pyrotechnics' -Steve Lawson, Bassist Magazine, UK

'His compositions are very impressive covering a remarkable range of styles' -Dave Gelly, The Observer Newspaper, UK

'O'Shea is undoubtedly the kind of broadly skilled contemporary musician who doesn't neatly package his interests into convenient idiomatic bags. His compositions are mellow, melodic and reflect the best sides of jazz fusion' -John Fordham, Jazz UK Magazine

'Diverse, dynamic and rich. O'Shea's skills as a composer are second to none' -Cliff Engel, BASSically.net, USA

'Very ingenious in his compositions and with boundless swing in his playing, he likes sophisticated arrangements with very interesting lines...very appealing ballad (Pearl for Maria), which the bass dares to play without any accompaniment, proving that virtuosity is not necessarily opposed to good taste and sensitivity' - Antonio Pamies, El Fingidor magazine, Spain