What is "session musician"

n. (context music English) A professional musician employed by other musicians or singers, either to play live or to make recordings

Session musicians, also called studio musicians, are professional instrumental performers who can be hired to play at live performances or in recording sessions. Many session musicians specialize in playing rhythm section instruments such as electric guitar, piano, electric bass, double bass, or drum kit. Some session musicians "double" on multiple instruments, such as electric bass and double bass or keyboards and guitar, a skill that enables them to play in a wider range of musical styles. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble with the singers/soloists that they are accompanying and they often do not achieve individual fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders. However, some backing bands of session musicians have become well known (e.g., The Wrecking Crew).

The term is applied to performers working in many musical styles, ranging from rock to country music. Versatility is one of the most important skills of session musicians, as they may have to perform songs or tunes from a range of different styles in a range of different settings. Session musicians are expected to learn parts rapidly and they are often skilled in both sight reading and improvising chords or a bassline (depending on their instrument) from a lead sheet or chord chart (or, in country music, a song chart in the Nashville number system). Session players can often play in a range of musical styles. Thus, if a record producer needs to record the basslines for a group of songs in a range of styles (rock, R&B, country, jazz, etc.), she can do so by hiring a single session bassist.

Session musicians are used in any situation where professional musical skills are needed on a short-term basis. Typically session musicians are used by recording studios to provide backing tracks for other musicians for recording sessions and live performances; recording for advertising, film and television; or theatrical productions. Some session musicians have formed a rhythm section that was repeatedly used for recordings. In the 2000s, the terms "session musician" and "studio musician" are synonymous, though in past decades the latter term more typically described musicians who were associated with a particular record company, recording studio or entertainment agency.