Jas Stade
Jas Stade (pronounced “jazz”) is a guitarist, composer, and educator from Oakland. Raised in a family of musicians and educators, Jas became involved in the Bay Area DIY scene as a teenager and has been obsessed with music ever since. She gigs with Oakland art rock trio, Gumby’s Junk as well as her solo guitar project and various other local bands. Jas studied with Celtic guitarist Bill Coulter and classical guitarist Chris Mallet, earning a BM from UC Santa Cruz. As part of CalArts’ Performer-Composer MFA program, she studied with guitarist Miroslav Tadic. She has played with Yale School of Music guitar professor Ben Verdery & worked with guitarists Andrew York and Alex DeGrassi at their Mendocino Guitar Workshop.
Jas has been a music educator for over 10 years, teaching students ranging from the ages of 6 to 96. As a teacher, Jas not only guides students in developing technical ability and skilled ear, but also cultivating creative expression and enthusiasm for music!
Alive or Dead, What Musician would you do anything to see?
I’d give anything to see Black Midi again, they just disbanded, and those were some of the most imaginative and astounding concerts I’ve ever been to!
Greatest Musical Influence?
My bandmates, music teachers and mentors over the years, as well as everyone in the local music scene.
Any hidden talents besides music?
Exploring nature, collecting tchotkes, and field recording.
What did you want to be while you were growing up?
A music video director!
If you could have any ‘Super Power’, which one would it be?
Instantaneous food creation of any food in the world.
If you could master any other instrument which would it be?
Drums!
Have you had what people would consider your “15 Minutes of Fame”, and if so when/what was that?
My band Gumby’s Junk played Mosswood Meltdown in 2024, which was an amazingly surreal experience playing a larger stage in my hometown and being backstage with John Waters and the B52s. The biggest moment for me was having the singer from Bratmobile call us “Mrs. Bungle”, a reference to Mr. Bungle, one of my favorite bands.
It’s your last meal: What would it be?
A small dish from every country in the world (I’m a slow eater).
You are sent to a deserted island, and you only have one album to listen to: Which is it?
A compilation of all of my friends’ bands and music
If you could leave one lesson with your students what would it be?
