Tim Lefebvre: Tone, Trust, and the Art of Fitting In

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with bassist Tim Lefebvre for a conversation about groove, adaptability, tone, and what it really means to serve the music. Tim has built one of the most distinctive and wide-ranging careers in modern bass playing, with credits spanning jazz, rock, pop, experimental music, and singer-songwriter projects. From David Bowie’s Blackstar to Tedeschi Trucks Band, Wayne Krantz, and countless sessions in between, Tim has become one of those rare players whose sound is unmistakable yet fits almost anywhere.

We begin by talking about his 2026 so far, which includes recording work, short touring runs, a date with Nate Smith and Jason Lindner, upcoming shows in Italy with Tiziano Ferro, and a tour with Melissa Etheridge. From there, we get into one of the central tensions of a working musician’s life: how to bring your own identity to a project while still honoring the artist, the songs, and the original recordings. Tim has strong instincts here, and he speaks with great clarity about choosing simplicity, resisting overplaying, and understanding what the music actually needs.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing Tim talk about some of the landmark experiences in his career. We discuss the Bryan Adams tour, the joy of playing huge songs in front of large crowds, and then spend time on David Bowie’s Blackstar, including how Tim approached the sessions, how much of the rhythmic language was already implied in Bowie’s demos, and how some of the bass textures on songs like “Lazarus” emerged naturally in the room. Tim also reflects on the creative freedom and trust inside Tedeschi Trucks Band, and what it felt like to be part of a band that could take real improvisational chances in front of thousands of people.

Along the way, we talk gear, compression, pedals, picks, strings, remote recording, favorite drummers, the differences between New York and Los Angeles, sobriety, and some of the bass players who shaped his ear early on, including James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Darryl Jones, Marcus Miller, Victor Bailey, Jaco Pastorius, and Tony Levin. This is a conversation about craft, but also about judgment, restraint, and learning to make the right choice in the moment.

Key Takeaways

• Tim Lefebvre talks about balancing personal identity with the responsibility of serving the artist, the arrangement, and the song.
• He shares stories from the making of David Bowie’s Blackstar, including how parts of “Lazarus” developed in the studio.
• Tim reflects on the musical and emotional intensity of playing with Tedeschi Trucks Band and the freedom that the group allowed onstage.
• He discusses his early path from saxophone to bass, his father’s influence, and learning on real gigs at a young age.
• The conversation explores how bass playing varies with the drummer and what Tim listens for when locking in with someone new.
• Tim also gets into gear, including pick playing, flats versus rounds, bass compression, distortion, reverb, and how pedals can shape creative ideas.
• We talk openly about sobriety, professional growth, and how life experience changes the way a musician shows up on and off the bandstand.

Music from the Episode

• Anyhow - Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Shake Loose - Donny McCaslin
• It's No Fun Not to Like Pop - Krantz/Carlock/Lefebvre
• Hanging On - Knower
• Blackstar - David Bowie

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast where I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, and creative people for thoughtful conversations about craft, collaboration, career, and the experiences that shape a life in music. It is a show about process, perspective, and the human side of making art.

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contact@thebandwichtapes.com