Vail has been playing bass for a living since graduating high school in Seattle.
His first 'professional' gig was with 2 of his older brothers (musical family of 6 boys and mother, Dad was somewhat tone- deaf!) playing and singing Dixieland and Bluegrass songs. The bros both played banjo and one doubled on sax, the other trombone; they played to sold out crowds in Pioneer Square, Seattle for a number of years. Vail learned the number system and gained invaluable ear training from the fast paced leader (brother Gareth) who called out keys with hand signals and numbers for chord changes.
Tons of club gigs playing pop/ rock and R&B followed (many years worth of 5 nights a week, talk about second- hand smoke!) and led to a great opportunity in 1986 to play with Kenny G.
He moved down to Los Angeles shortly after to seek his 'fortune and fame'.
Vail has also enjoyed working with many other great musicians from Herbie Hancock to Stevie Nicks; George Benson to Michael Bolton and lots more.
Vail has just released his 4th solo CD, a Beatles tribute called 'Come Together' featuring an all star rhythm section.
Vail has expanded in 2010 to include a new home/ studio in Franklin, Tennessee. Country projects are coming in and Vail is looking to get back to vocals with his next country/ funk CD,in the works right now.
