GUITARIST.COMPOSER.PRODUCER.TEACHER
Jesse Baskin
About Me
Jesse Baskin is a New York City based freelance guitarist, composer, producer, and music teacher.
listen
The Dropbacks
Founded by Jesse in 2025, The Dropbacks are a Brooklyn-based, instrumental soul and funk band blending vintage grooves with a modern sensibility.
Drawing from the deep-pocket rhythms of The Meters, the soulful organ sounds of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and the twang of classic surf music, the band crafts infectious instrumentals built for both the dance floor and laid-back listening.
As of now, Jesse also mixes and produces all of their releases.
“thinking out loud” – sam padrul, david blazer
Guitar
“when will love come my way” -Wilsn
Co-Write, Fuzz Guitar
“The moon to me” – Jesse Baskin (feat. kim foxen)
Co-Write, Guitars, Bass, Production, Mix
“just friends” – sam padrul, adelide
Guitar
“clsoer to you” – Madelyn Gardner
Co-Write, Instrumental Mix, Production, Guitar, Bass, Synths
“Madelyn” – real intentions
Composition, Mix, Production, Guitar
“season of change” – real intentions
Composition, Mix, Production, Recording, Guitar
“In due time” – real intentions
Composition, Mix, Production, Guitar
“Figure Me out” – madelyn gardner
Co-Write, Production, Mix, Guitar, Bass, Keys
teaching
I teach students of all ages and styles, covering a wide range of topics including learning your favorite songs, guitar proficiency, scales, chords, songwriting, music theory, and music production. You can either come to my Williamsburg studio, or I can come to you for in-home lessons.
In 2019, after reflecting on why I initially started playing music, I remembered the joy it brought me. I continued playing because of the alternate perspective on life and problem-solving that learning music and guitar provided. This reflection inspired me to give back and show others the transformative power of music in their lives, leading me to teaching.
Ensuring that students have fun while learning is a top priority for me. It is the most effective way for students to progress and gain that unique perspective on life and learning that the arts provide. The skills acquired through music education extend beyond the realm of music, offering students invaluable life and career skills.
To schedule your first lesson, please email me at jessebaskin91@gmail.com!
Testimonials
“I started lessons with Jesse about ten months ago with very minimal experience and have learned so much in such a short amount of time! He is a great teacher for beginners. He is kind, patient and has the wonderful ability to break down music theory concepts easily while also making lessons super fun! My weekly lessons with Jesse have made me a more confident and motivated guitar player. Anyone would be lucky to learn with him!“
– Meghan, 26
“After learning guitar on my own for about a year I took 8 lessons with Jesse to improve on some of my guitar skills. During our lessons we talked extensively about music theory, scales, and barre chords but we also enjoyed jamming and listening to music together. I really enjoyed all the lessons I took and I improved a lot of my electric guitar skills and my barre chord technique. I’m looking forward to taking more lessons soon.”
Eli, 17
“Jesse Baskin is one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I am a retired professor. He is attentive,
carefully observing what I am doing. He sees a problem I am having and comes up with a solution or
more than one solution. He paces the various exercises during the class so that what could become
tediously repetitive doesn’t. His attitude says this can be fun and it is. I look forward to our weekly
classes.”
– Patricia, 79
“Jesse is a fantastic guitar teacher! He combines his deep knowledge of music theory with a positive, patient approach that makes learning both enjoyable and effective. Each lesson is well-organized and tailored to my interests and abilities, helping me to consistently improve and stay motivated. I especially appreciate that he’s able to explain the “why” behind everything we do. I highly recommend Jesse as a music teacher for anyone at any skill level!”
– Yuri, 27
“Jesse is a great guitar teacher, we’ve have only been working together for a few months, but the progress I have made is a 100 times better than learning on my own. He is very patient, always has good tips and corrections for me and helps me stay motivated. I never have any issues scheduling my lessons with Jesse. He explains theory really well and we always have great conversations.”
– Mariia, 32
watch
“Hard Slurpee” – 711
Licensed with Music + Strategy
“Game day delivery” – UPS
Licensed with Amber Music
“Flakey with nic & hailey” – podcast theme
Composition, Mix, Production, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar
“GAA Sounds of Summer” – Gaelic athletic association
Licensed with Avant Music Port
“friday night i’m in love” (numbers documentary)
1 of 2 scenes I scored working with MusicSupervisor.com. I also placed other cues in the documentary with their library.
“marketplace” – facebook
Licensed with Chapter Advertisements
LIBRARY TRACK EXAMPLES
Projects
Real Intentions
Founded by Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer, and producer Jesse Baskin in 2020, Real Intentions is a retro-influenced project devoted to creating funk and soul music with melodic and rhythmic purpose.
The isolation that musicians faced during 2020 was an unforgiving blow to artists around the globe. Like many others, to keep sane Jesse Baskin began to collaborate with friends remotely. What started as condensed informal demos, written as a means to bring music back into their lives, turned into 5 fully fledged songs. Jesse’s deep admiration for funk and soul inspired music blended effortlessly with Real Intentions’ co-collaborators–from meaningful lyrics and vocals supplied by powerhouse singers, to soulful trumpet and punchy saxophone playing, and a tight rhythm section providing a backbone of catchy parts.
Real Intentions debut EP featured collaborators include: singer/songwriter, Sharisse Francisco, singer/songwriter’s Kim Foxen and Mel Johnston, keys player Patrick Carr, pianist’s Harry Foster and Eric Lanes, bassist Ronald Lanzilotta, trombonist Chris Ott, trumpeter Kai Sandoval, drummer Kenny Shaw, and Saxophonist Jared Yee.
Represented on the Real Intentions EP cover created by Carles Garcia O’Dowd, the project features collaborators from Across the US–from Brooklyn to San Diego. While recording remotely and digitally was ideal for a pandemic climate, Jesse brought in musician, producer and engineer Billy Aukstik to mix the EP at his very own Hivemind Studios on an analog console to bring the songs to life. The Real Intentions EP final touches were mastered by JJ Golden of Golden Mastering in Ventura, CA, whose previous experience working with Daptone Records, Jungle Fire, Evolfo, among others.
Real Intentions released “In Due Time”, a new single on 9/8/22, and have more new music set to be released later this year.
Projects
The Kenmore Quartet
Since 2016, The Kenmore Quartet has provided first-class music and entertainment to a variety of clients and events. Our mission is simple: to provide the perfect music to enhance the ambiance of your unique event with excellent customer service.
Available in all group sizes, from solo, duo, to however many players you need, The Kenmore Quartet is a band that specializes in providing music for holiday events, parties, restaurants, functions, weddings, and affairs of the like. We work with you every step of the way—from booking, to your guests’ final departure.
Projects
The New Review
Jesse served as founder, manager, booking agent, and main composer for original eight-piece funk and soul band, The New Review. During its six-year lifespan, The New Review released one full-length album and three singles.
Jesse was the sole arranger and composer of music on the self titled album, and he wrote lyrics and vocal melodies on three of the songs. With The New Review, Jesse entertained large, vibrant, and receptive crowds at festivals, such as Friendly Gathering 2017, University of New Hampshire’s Solarfest 2017, Burlington, Vermont Mardi Gras Festival at the famous, Nectars, Jazz Festival 2018 at Skinny Pancake in Burlington, Waking Windows Festival 2018 in Winooski VT, and Arthop Festival 2018 at Artsriot in Burlington.
The band, known for their high-energy performances, also played packed and sold-out shows at Boston’s Brighton Music Hall and Burlington’s Nectars, and toured around northeastern United States.
about me
Jesse Baskin is a freelance guitarist, composer, band leader and private music teacher based out of his hometown of New York City. As a native New Yorker, the hustle and multiculturalism of the city have influenced his strong work ethic as a musician, self starter, as well as his appreciation of and familiarity with a wide variety of music genres. In his work as a guitarist, Jesse has made a lively addition hired by original artists for live gigs and recording sessions, film composers, and cover bands in a wide variety of styles.
Most recently, he is focusing on his new funk and soul project “The Dropbacks” who debuted their first single in May 2026. “Long Night”, their second release which came out in July of the same year, was included on Tidal’s “Out There: Best New Jazz” playlist as part of their Spotlight Program.
Founded by Jesse in 2025, The Dropbacks are a Brooklyn-based, instrumental soul and funk band blending vintage grooves with a modern sensibility.
Drawing from the deep-pocket rhythms of The Meters, the soulful organ sounds of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and the twang of classic surf music, the band crafts infectious instrumentals built for both the dance floor and laid-back listening.
As of now, Jesse also mixes and produces all of their releases.
He served as founder, manager, booking agent, and main composer for original eight-piece funk and soul band, The New Review. During its six-year lifespan, The New Review released one full-length album and three singles. Jesse was the sole arranger and composer of music on the self titled album, and he wrote lyrics and vocal melodies on several of the songs.
With The New Review, Jesse entertained large, vibrant, and receptive crowds at festivals, such as Friendly Gathering 2017, University of New Hampshire’s Solarfest 2017, Burlington, Vermont Mardi Gras Festival at the famous, Nectars, Jazz Festival 2018 at Skinny Pancake in Burlington, Waking Windows Festival 2018 in Winooski VT, and Arthop Festival 2018 at Artsriot in Burlington. The band, known for their high-energy performances, also played packed and sold-out shows at Boston’s Brighton Music Hall and Burlington’s Nectars, and toured around northeastern United States.
In his experience as a composer, Jesse has created original music for advertisements, film, as well as library, and multi-media projects such as podcast themes. He has worked with music house’s and libraries from the UK all the way to the US, and has won bids for companies like 7-Eleven, UPS, Meta, and The Gaelic Athletic Association to name a few.
Jesse graduated Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music in 2015 with a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production, and as a guitar principal.
Contact Me
Get In Touch
