“I’m the first bass player to ever MD a stadium tour like this. “Kendrick and his manager Dave Free are one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with,” Russell told Bass Player. “The bass player has to lock in with every part, so we know when the drums aren’t quite right, or if something’s off with the keys. The guitarist will usually go off and do their thing, but the bass player is at the center of everything. It’s all about making their vision come to life.”Were the demands of the Usher gig very different?