Kaveh Rastegar

{{Infobox person

| name = Kaveh Rastegar

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|11|17}}

| birth_place = Montreal, Canada

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Musician
bassist
producer}}

| years_active = 1994–present

| website = {{URL|http://kavehrastegar.com}}

}}

Kaveh Rastegar is a Persian-American record producer, composer, and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work with John Legend, Sia, Bruno Mars, and Sting and Kneebody. He has two Grammy nominations.{{Cite news |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=2010-02-18 |title=Tinges of Electro-Pop and Some Ives, Too |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/arts/music/19knee.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=2015-12-16 |title=Jazz Intuition, American Roots and Double Hybrids |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/arts/music/jazz-intuition-american-roots-and-double-hybrids.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=2012-06-13 |title=Jazz Acts, Blowing Superhot and Cool |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/arts/music/vision-festival-experimental-jazz-at-roulette.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

For over twenty years, Kaveh Rastegar has been an integral part of a broad range of musical projects collaborating as a producer, songwriter, or a bass player. He is well known as the founding member of Grammy nominated group Kneebody and for many years.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Chris |date=2012-12-02 |title=Review: Kneebody continues to stretch at the Blue Whale |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-dec-02-la-et-ms-review-kneebody-blue-whale-20121201-story.html |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He's also been bassist with John Legend (appearing alongside him in the musical La La Land). He's recorded with artists such as Bruce Springsteen (also appearing in his 2019 film "Western Stars"), Ringo Starr, Shania Twain, and Beck and in films such as Daddy's Home, The Big Sick and Walk Hard. He also served as musical director with Sia, appearing with her on Saturday Night Live. As a songwriter he has written with artists such as Bruno Mars, De La Soul, Ciara, Cee-Lo Green, Meshell Ndegeocello and Kimbra. Rastegar has written, produced and released his own albums as an artist including "Light of Love" (2018) and "Haunted This Way" (2019).{{Cite web |last=D'Auria |first=Jon |date=2020-04-08 |title=Bass Magazine Lockdown Check-In With Kaveh Rastegar |url=https://bassmagazine.com/bass-magazine-lockdown-check-in-with-kaveh-rastegar/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Bass Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jazz |first=All About |date=2019-09-05 |title=Kaveh Rastegar: Light of Love album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/light-of-love-kaveh-rastegar-ropeadope-review-by-luca-muchetti/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=All About Jazz |language=en}} In 2020, Rastegar played bass alongside Sting in his musical The Last Ship.

Rastegar co-wrote "Collide", a record by Tiana Major9 and Earthgang for the iconic film “Queen and Slim”. “Collide”, an uplifting anthem celebrating Black Love was nominated for a Grammy in the category for “Best R&B Song”.{{Cite web |title=Kaveh Rastegar {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/kaveh-rastegar/5700 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=grammy.com}}{{Cite web |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=2021-03-15 |title=03-15-2021 Daily Edition |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/dailyedition/2021-03-15/4149930/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Rastegar has worked with Sabrina Claudio on projects including “Truth Is”, “No Rain No Flowers”, “Christmas Blues” with features by The Weeknd and Alicia Keys, and "Based On A Feeling". Rastegar is currently collaborating with a number of upcoming and established artists from his studio.

Early life and education

Rastegar was born in Montreal and grew up in Denver, Colorado. He is an alumni of University of Rochester.{{Cite web |last=Giordano |first=Anthony |date=2019-05-20 |title=Up close with Kaveh Rastegar ’01E |url=https://www.rochester.edu/adv/alumni-news-media/2019/05/20/up-close-with-kaveh-rastegar-01e/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Alumni News |language=en-US}}

Personal life

He is married and has three children.

Discography

1999 – Dispenza – Four Songs (EP) - Bass/Writer/Producer
2000 – Old Sol – EP - Bass
2002 – Wendel – Wendel - Bass/Writer
2002 – Dakah – Unfinished Symphony - Bass
2002 – Shane Endsley – 2nd Guess - Bass/Writer/Producer
2002 – Michael Andrews – Cypher soundtrack - Bass
2002 – Michael Andrews – Orange County soundtrack - Bass
2002 – Baba Alade – Unified and One - Bass
2003 – Dakah – Live at California Plaza 07/05/03 - Bass
2003 – Pan Dulce – Pan Dulce - Bass
2003 – Dj Haul e Mason – Cell: Eight - Bass
2003 – Arik Marshall – Fantaseality - Bass
2003 – Kneebody – Live Fall 2003 - Bass/Writer
2004 – Dakah – Live in Los Angeles 07/02/04 - Bass
2004 – Dakah – Live in San Francisco 07/31/04 - Bass
2004 – Thruster – Thruster! - Bass/Writer
2004 – Thruster – Live in Seattle 04/02/2004 - Bass/Writer
2004 – Casey Black – Vacations - Bass
2004 – Click Boom – The Freak Went Suite - Bass
2004 – Keven Brennan – God Is a Mighty Gourd - Bass
2004 – Keaton Simons – Currently (EP) - Bass
2004 – Michael Andrews – Wonderfalls soundtrack - Bass
2005 – Kneebody – Kneebody - Bass/Writer
2005 – Dj Haul – Half Baked Goods - Bass
2005 – Branden Harper – Tangents - Bass
2005 – Keaton Simons – Exes and Whys - Bass
2005 – Celeste Prince – Lady Sings - Bass
2005 – Christopher Wong – Journey from the Fall soundtrack - Bass
2005 – Uri Caine & Nate Wood – Shelf Life soundtrack - Bass
2006 – Kneebody – Live Volume One - Bass
2006 – Michael Hernandez – Anonyme - Bass
2006 – John Stowers – Everything You Do - Bass
2006 – Anna Dagmar – EP - Bass
2006 – Rosey – The Old Fashioned Way - Bass
2006 – Jurassic 5 – Feedback - Bass
2007 – Kneebody – Low Electrical Worker - Bass/Writer
2007 – Thruster – Green Heat - Bass/Writer
2007 – John Rogers – Satori - Bass
2007 – Tony Scott – A Jazz Life - Bass
2007 – Colin Hay – Are You Looking at Me? - Bass
2008 – Kneebody – Live Volume 2: Italy - Bass
2008 – Kneebody & Theo Bleckmann – 12 Songs by Charles Ives - Bass/Arranger
2008 – Chewy Puma – Macabre Cadabre - Bass/Vocals/Writer
2008 – Allensworth – Broken Leaves - Bass
2008 – Raya Yarbrough – Raya Yarbrough - Bass
2008 – The Ditty Bops – Summer Rains - Bass
2008 – Richard Stekol – The Point of Stars - Bass
2009 – Erica Mou – Bacio Ancora Le Ferite - Bass
2009 – Anna Dagmar – Let the Waves Come in Threes - Bass
2009 – Colin Hay – American Sunshine - Bass
2009 – Chali 2Na – Fish Outta Water - Bass
2009 – John Gold – A Flower in Your Head - Bass
2009 – Tony Monroe – Tony Monroe – EP - Bass
2009 – Jesca Hoop – Hunting My Dress - Bass
2009 – Luciano Ligabue – Sette notti in Arena - Bass
2010 – Bruno Mars – It's Better if You Don't Understand EP - Bass/Writer
2010 – Bruno Mars – Doo Wops and Hooligans - Bass/Writer
2010 – Kneebody – You Can Have Your Moment - Bass/Writer
2010 – CeeLo Green – The Ladykiller - Bass
2010 – Luciano Ligabue – Arrivederci, mostro! - Bass
2010 – Luciano Ligabue – Arrivederci, mostro! Tutte le facce del mostro - Bass
2011 – Giusy Ferreri – Il Mio Universo - Bass
2011 – Colin Hay – Gathering Mercury - Bass
2011 – Kelly Price – Kelly - Bass
2011 – Michelle Shaprow – Purple Skies - Bass
2011 – Timothy Young – Gravitational Lensing - Bass/Writer/Producer
2011 – Anthony Hamilton – Back to Love - Bass
2011 – Laura Pausini – Inedito - Bass
2011 – Luciano Ligabue – Campovolo 2.011 - Bass
2011 – Kneebody – Live Volume 3: Paris - Bass
2011 – Noemi – RossoNoemi - Bass
2012 – Kimbra – Vows - Bass
2012 – Thinking Plague – Decline and Fall - Bass
2012 – Sophie B. Hawkins – The Crossing - Bass
2012 – Matt Chamberlain – Company 23 - Bass
2012 – Curtis Stigers – Let's Go Out Tonight - Bass
2012 – Michael Lington – Pure - Bass
2013 – Nick Mancini – Storyteller - Bass
2013 – Cristiano De Andre – Come in Cielo Cosi in Guerra - Bass
2013 – Che Prasad – Shiva Me Timbers - Bass
2013 – Kelly Segal and Adam Levy – Little March - Bass
2013 – Kneebody – The Line - Bass/Writer
2013 – Matt Hires – The World Won't Last Forever, But Tonight We Can Pretend - Bass
2013 – Latryx – The Second Album - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2013 – Ligabue – Mondovisione - Bass
2014 – Meshell Ndegeocello – Comet Come to Me - Bass/Writer
2014 – Kimbra – The Golden Echo - Bass/Writer
2014 – Beck – Songreader - Bass
2014 – Rebecca Pidgeon – Bad Poetry - Bass
2014 – Minnie Driver – Ask Me To Dance - Bass
2015 – Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor "Marvin Gaye" single - Bass
2015 – Flo Rida Ft. Fitz – "That's What I Like" single - Bass
2015 – Mikie Lee Prasad – Nowhere Special - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2015 – CeeLo Green – Heart Blanche - Bass/Writer
2015 – Kneebody + Daedelus – Kneedelus - Bass
2015 – John Legend – Under The Stars - Bass
2016 – Benji Hughes – Songs in the Key of Animals - Bass
2016 – De La Soul – And the Anonymous Nobody - Bass/Writer/Producer
2017 – Bob Reynolds – Guitar Band - Bass
2017 – Shania Twain – Now - Bass
2017 – Kneebody – Anti-Hero - Bass/Guitar/Writer
2017 – The Big Sick soundtrack - Bass
2017 – Ledisi – Let Love Rule - Bass
2018 – Kaveh Rastegar – Light of Love- Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals/Writer/Producer
2018 – Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism - Bass
2018 – Sabrina Claudio – "All to Me" single - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2018 – Sabrina Claudio – No Rain No Flowers- Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2018 – Marc Lavoine – Je Reviens a Toi - Bass
2018 – Mel Parsons – Glass Heart- Bass
2018 – Elizabeth Goodfellow – Silly Sun- Bass
2018 – Simone White – Tiny Drop - Bass
2018 – Marsha Ambrosius – Nyla - Bass/Writer
2018 – Kneebody + Inara George – "How High" single - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2018 – Mike Love – "Reason For The Season" single - Bass
2019 – Ringo Starr – "What's My Name" - Bass
2019 – Bruce Springsteen – "Western Stars – Songs From The Film" - Bass
2019 – Sabrina Claudio – "Truth Is" - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2019 – Cinematic Orchestra – "To Believe" - Bass
2019 – The O'Jays – "The Last Word" - Bass
2019 – Kneebody – "By Fire" EP - Bass/Writer
2019 – Rebecca Pigeon – "Sudden Exposure to Therapy/Light" - Bass
2019 – Queen and Slim – "Motion Picture Soundtrack" - Bass/Writer
2019 – Tiana Major9 & Earthgang "Collide"- single - Bass/Writer
2019 – Dawn Richard – "New Breed" Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2019 – Kneebody – "Chapters" - Bass/Writer
2019 – Ciara – "Beauty Marks" - Bass/Writer
2019 – Mike Love – 12 Sides of Summer - Bass
2019 – Kaveh Rastegar – "Haunted This Way" - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals/Writer/Producer
2020 – Alain Clark – "Sunday Afternoon" - Bass
2020 – Becca Stevens – "Wonderbloom" - Bass/Writer
2020 – Adam Levy, Tamir Barzilay, Kaveh Rastegar – "California Special" - Bass
2020 – Tiana Major9 - "Think About You" single - Bass/Writer
2020 - Madeleine Peyroux - "American" single - Bass
2020 - Kai - "Fade Away" single - Bass/Guitar/Writer
2020 - Sabrina Claudio - "Christmas Blues" - Producer/Writer
2021 - Valerie June - "The Moon And Stars" - Bass
2021 - Ringo Starr - "Zoom In" EP - Bass
2021 - Manolo Ramos - "Amor y Punto" - Writer
2021 - Colin Hay - "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" - Bass
2021 - Cynthia Erivo - "Ch.1 Vs.1" - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2022 - Rick Ross - "Richer Than Ever' - Writer
2022 - Gavin Haley - "Body Language' Single - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2022 - Gavin Haley - "I Hate You Don't Leave Me" - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2022 - Gaby Moreno - "Alegoria" Writer
2022 - John Legend - "Through The Night" Target Exclusive Single - Writer
2022 - Sabrina Claudio - "Based On A Feeling" - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2022 - Jex Nwalor - "Come Back" Single - Bass/Writer/Producer
2022 - Chris Pierce - "45 Jukebox" Single - Bass
2022 - Matt Nathanson - "Boston Accent" - Bass
2022 - Toni Romiti - "The Old Me" Single - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2022 - Rini - "Haunt Me" Single - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2023 - Nabate Isles - "En Motion" - Bass
2023 - Sabrina Claudio - "Archives And Lullabies" - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2023 - Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds - "Better" - Bass/Guitar/Writer/Producer
2023 - Dorian Holley, Nayanna Holley - "I Can't Find My Way Home" Single - Bass/Producer
2023 - Rosemarie - "Rock, Paper, Scissors" EP - - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2023 - Keturah - "Kwanumkwanu" Single - Bass
2023 - Keturah - "All The Way From Africa" - Bass/Writer
2023 - Rum Gold - "Forget Me" Single - Writer
2023 - Njomza - "Stages" - Bass/Guitar/Producer/Writer
2023 - Percy Howard - "The Stars & The Well" - Bass
2023 - Sabrina Claudio - "Modo Avíon" Single - Bass/Guitar/Keyboards/Writer/Producer
2023 - Chris Pierce - "Home" Single - Bass/Writer
2023 - Travis Scott - "Utopia" - Bass
2023 - Téo - "Luna" - Bass/Writer
2023 - Chris Pierce - "Let All Who Will" - Bass/Writer
2023 - Nabate Isles - "En Motion" - Bass
2023 - Dorian Holley and Nayanna Holley - "DNA" - Producer, Arranger, Bass, additional guitar
2024 - Jose James - "Saturday Night (Need You Now)" Single - co Producer/co Writer
2024 - Nikka Costa - "Keep It High" Single - Bass/Guitars/co Producer/co Writer
2024 - Sonny Singh - "Pavan Guru" Single - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Harmonium/Producer/co Writer
2024 - Fana Hues - "Gone Again" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/Producer/co Writer
2024 - Nikka Costa - "Dirty Disco" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/co Producer/co Writer
2024 - Rini - "Your Ecstacy" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/co Producer/co Writer
2024 - John Legend - "My Favorite Dream" - Bass
2024 - Sonny Singh - "Sage Warrior" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/Executive Producer/co Writer
2024 - Joan As Policewoman - "Lemons, Limes and Orchids" - co Writer
2024 - Elaine - "Going Nowhere Slowly" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/co Producer/co Writer
2024 - Jake and Abe - "Finally" - Bass
2024 - Sam Barsh Trio - "Old Tools New Rules" - Bass
2025 - Valerie June - "Joy, Joy" Single - Bass
2025 - Wafia - "Promised Land" - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/co Producer/co Writer
2025 - You're Cordially Invited - "Soundtrack" - Bass
2025 - Tatiana Marie Clark - "Just One of Those Days" single - Bass/Guitars/Keyboards/Strings/Drum Programming/co Producer/co Writer

References

External links

[http://www.kavehrastegar.com Official website]
[http://www.ligachannel.com/node/1918 Blogging about Luciano Ligabue]
[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kaveh-rastegar-mn0000201967#credits Kaveh Rastegar's AllMusic Page]

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:American jazz bass guitarists

Category:American male bass guitarists

Category:American jazz composers

Category:American male jazz composers

Category:Musicians from Denver

Category:Eastman School of Music alumni

Category:American people of Iranian descent

Category:Canadian people of Iranian descent

Category:Guitarists from Los Angeles

Category:Guitarists from Colorado

Category:Jazz musicians from California

Category:Jazz musicians from Colorado

Category:21st-century American bass guitarists

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:Kneebody members