Podcast
Worship Bass Coffee
Hosted by Worship Bass Coffee · EN
Worship, Bass, Coffee is the podcast for worship musicians, bass players, and creatives who serve the Church and love a great cup of coffee.
Hosted by a Nashville-based worship bassist Jay Szalay, this show features real conversations about worship music, bass gear, playing techniques, faith, creativity, and serving in ministry.
Hear from special guests—both well-known and behind-the-scenes—as we talk tone, gear, grooves, and what it means to lead with humility and heart.
Whether you’re on stage every Sunday or just love the worship music world, this podcast is brewed just for you.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Overdrive Episode with Scott Beavers
2w ago01:52:13Tap to summarizeIn Episode 23 of the Worship, Bass, Coffee podcast, Jay and Josh are joined by Scott Beavers for a full-on conversation all about overdrive. From first pedals and favorite tones to the philosophy behind using drive in a worship setting, the guys dive deep into the sounds, stories, and experimentation that shape a bassist’s tone. They talk through the history of overdrive, pedals they loved and regretted selling, why some drives disappear in a live mix, and the difference between an “always on” tone and a drive that creates a big musical moment. The conversation also covers working with front-of-house engineers, retaining low end in a mix, and why overdrive is often more about creating a feeling than simply adding an effect. Along the way, there is plenty of pedal nerding featuring favorites from Darkglass Electronics, JHS Pedals, Electro-Harmonix, and more. Whether you are brand new to overdrive or have spent years chasing the perfect bass tone, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and practical insight for bass players looking to better understand how drive can shape their sound. So grab your favorite coffee and hang out with us for another episode of the Worship Bass Coffee podcast.
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A Conversation with Jordan Ray Landers (Backburner Noise) – Part 2
May 401:26:17Tap to summarizeJosh and Jay continue their conversation with Jordan Ray Landers of Backburner Noise in Part 2 of this two-part series.In this episode, Jordan dives deeper into his approach to preparing for worship—focusing on intentional listening, understanding the heart behind the lyrics, and grounding everything in Scripture. Rather than relying on charts, he shares how internalizing songs and connecting them to the message transforms not just how you play, but how you lead.The conversation also explores life on the road, from unforgettable venues like Red Rocks to the reality that sometimes the most meaningful moments happen offstage. Jordan opens up about mindset, handling mistakes, and why preparation—both spiritually and practically—changes everything.To wrap it up, Jordan gives a full breakdown of his basses, pedalboard, and the story behind Backburner Noise, including the creation of Big Booty Judy and what’s coming next. It’s a deep dive into tone, creativity, and building tools that actually serve bass players in real-world settings.Whether you’re a worship bassist, gear enthusiast, or just love honest conversations about music and calling, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.Now grab your favorite cup of coffee and come hang with us.
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A Conversation with Jordan Ray Landers (Backburner Noise) – Part 1
Apr 2001:17:57Tap to summarizeJosh and Jay sit down with Jordan Ray Landers of Backburner Noise for Part 1 of this special two-part conversation.In this episode, Jordan shares his journey from growing up in Dallas to life on the road as a touring bassist, giving an inside look at the realities of the “weekend warrior” touring schedule and how he balances music, marriage, and calling. The conversation dives deep into his early musical influences—from Christian rock to heavy bands—and how those shaped his unique approach to bass playing today.Jordan also unpacks his philosophy on worship bass, emphasizing intentionality, listening, and creativity without distraction. From building tones and crafting parts to knowing when to hold back, this episode is packed with practical insight for bassists looking to grow musically while serving the bigger picture of worship.This is just Part 1—stay tuned for Part 2. In the meantime, grab your favorite cup of coffee and hang with us.
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Faithfully Serving Your Family and Church - Miguel Jimenez
Apr 601:21:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with Miguel Jimenez—a faithful member of the community and a full-time tile installer from Wisconsin—to talk about balancing work, family, and serving on a worship team. Miguel shares his journey into music starting with orchestra and eventually finding his place on bass through his church, along with the influence of early worship music like Hillsong United. The conversation dives into real-life rhythms of being a husband and father (including raising children with special needs), the importance of communication at home, and how that directly impacts serving well on Sundays. Miguel also talks through his approach to preparing for services, learning songs, handling mistakes, and understanding the role of bass in supporting both rhythm and melody. From practical tips to heartfelt moments, this episode is a great reminder that we’re not there to serve ourselves, but to serve others and create space for God to move—so grab your favorite cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy the conversation.
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Leaving Home, Finding Purpose with Jordan Lavagnino
Mar 2301:59:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with his friend and guitarist Jordan Lavagnino to talk through his journey from growing up in a church plant in California to touring as a professional musician and eventually transitioning into full-time videography in Nashville. Jordan shares how early exposure to worship music and instruments shaped his love for guitar, his experience building a touring career (including playing alongside artists and working behind the scenes with major acts), and the lessons he learned about preparation, adaptability, and musicianship at a high level. The conversation dives into the realities of life on the road, the importance of being “bulletproof” with gear and preparation, and how those experiences now translate into serving on a worship team each week. Jordan also reflects on the balance between excellence and humility, the role of dynamics and listening in a band setting, and how ultimately, no matter the preparation, God can move beyond anything the team brings musically—so grab a cup of your favorite coffee and enjoy the conversation.
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The Road to Music Director with Nate Sousa
Mar 901:47:52Tap to summarizeIn Episode 18 of Worship, Bass, Coffee, Jay sits down with his friend and fellow musician Nate Sousa (aka “The Sooze”), the Music Director at The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Nate shares his journey from growing up in a musical family to becoming a multi-instrumentalist and seasoned worship music director.The conversation covers Nate’s early years playing drums, teaching himself guitar, and eventually discovering his passion for music directing while in college. He also talks about his time working alongside worship leader Aaron Blanton, the move from California to Tennessee, and how those experiences shaped his approach to worship ministry and music production.Jay and Nate dive into topics like preparing for Sundays, the role of an MD in supporting the worship leader and band, how musicians can serve the song rather than themselves, and the importance of dynamics and listening in a worship setting. They also discuss gear, tone, bass and guitar perspectives in worship music, and Nate’s work with Tone Junkie creating guitar presets.Along the way, the episode includes plenty of funny stories, gear talk, and practical advice for musicians who serve on worship teams—whether they play bass, guitar, or lead bands from the MD chair.It’s a relaxed, insightful conversation between friends about worship, musicianship, and the joy of serving together in church music.So grab your favorite cup of coffee, kick back, and enjoy the conversation.
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It’s the NAMM Gear Show! – with Josh Summers
Feb 2301:40:42Tap to summarizeJosh Summers is back in the Worship Bass Coffee Studio—and this time we’re doing a full NAMM 2026 gear roundup with honest takes, practical worship context, and plenty of laughs. We kick things off with the Walrus Audio Mantle, why the price shocked us at first, and why it makes more sense when you think of it as studio-grade gear you can throw on a pedalboard.From there we get into DI/preamp options like the Fodera x Trickfish preamp, the Laney Digbeth Nathan East preamp (with its clever dual-input switching and IR features), and talk about how some “practice/recording-ready” pieces are blurring the lines between studio and live rigs. We also hit newer releases like the JHS Morning Glory Clean, what it solves for bass players, and why hearing pedals in a mix matters more than solo demos.We wrap with Aguilar’s NAMM releases (including the new octave and compressor updates and the Tone Hammer 2x10 combo design), a look at Tech 21’s Geddy Lee chorus, the new programmable SansAmp Bass Driver, and some honorable mentions like tiny tuners, no-tangle IEM cables, Spector’s new NS-inspired models, and Ibanez’s Mode series. If you love gear, tone, and worship bass practicality—this episode is a blast.
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Behind the Bass: Samuel Rady on Maverick City and More
Feb 901:44:08Tap to summarizeEpisode 16 of Worship Bass Coffee features session and touring bassist Samuel Rady, a longtime “Insta-friend” of Jay’s whose playing you’ve probably heard even if you didn’t realize it. Sam shares his story of getting started on bass, landing early opportunities with Housefires, and how that path led into the rise of Maverick City Music—including what it was really like going from church gigs to arenas and huge stages. They talk about the reality of touring (the good, the hard, and the unexpected), the importance of the people you’re surrounded by, and what it takes to stay grounded as opportunities grow. Of course, they also go deep on the gear: Sam walks through his bass lineup (including a PJ Custom Shop, a ‘92 Thunderbird with Lollar pickups, a G3, a Mustang, a Coronado, and more), his live setup with the Quad Cortex, and his “absolute unit” studio board—plus why the Noble DI is still the one piece he can’t live without. The episode wraps with rapid fire favorites, coffee talk, and practical advice for worship bassists and aspiring touring musicians who want to grow the right way. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen.
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A Drummer’s Perspective on Worship with Jeremy Williams
Jan 2601:21:03Tap to summarizeEpisode 15 features the first non-bassist guest of 2026, and one of my best friends — drummer Jeremy Williams from The Bridge Church. In this episode, Jay and Jeremy talk about serving on worship teams from a drummer’s perspective and how real friendships off-stage directly impact chemistry, feel, and tightness on-stage.Jeremy shares his story of growing up in church with a worship-pastor dad, starting drums at a young age, and how those early experiences shaped his heart for worship. He also opens up about his current season of life as a husband and father balancing ministry with a demanding career that requires constant travel, and what intentional preparation looks like when time is limited.The conversation dives into practical worship topics including how drummers prepare without a kit at home, what drummers listen for from bass players, locking in with the kick, serving the song, building dynamics, tone in in-ears, and handling mistakes on Sunday mornings. They also talk about humility, patience, and why relationships within a worship team matter just as much as musical skill.Grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen.
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From Sessions to the Stage: A Conversation with Jacob Lowery
Jan 1201:49:58Tap to summarizeEpisode 14 kicks off 2026 with Nashville session bassist Jacob Lowery, whose résumé spans everyone from Reba McEntire and Michael McDonald to Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and more. Jacob and Jay talk about what a “normal” week in the studio really looks like, how inspiration (and learning songs) often beats practicing scales, and how relationships + being a great hang can open doors just as much as playing the right notes. Along the way, Jacob shares early influences from church and radio (a true Louisiana gumbo of styles), surreal career moments on massive stages, and the discipline of serving the song—knowing when to add a little “spice” and when to stay out of the way. They also dive into gear: Bluesman basses, strings, and Jacob’s signal chain (including his always-on approach to tasteful drive), plus his upcoming Bass Summit where he mentors players on sessions, charts, tone, and real-world etiquette (sometimes with a Bluesman bass giveaway!). Jay closes the episode with an invite to join the Worship Bass Coffee Bible reading plan, a Psalm reading and encouragement for anyone feeling under attack, and a reminder that this community is better together—so grab your favorite cup of coffee and listen in.
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