Session Musician

Session Musician is an instrumental or vocal performer who are available to work with
others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent
members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists
or bandleaders.

The term is applied not only to those working in contemporary musical styles such as rock,
jazz, country, R&B and pop but also classical music. Versatility is one of the most
important skills of session musicians as they may have to perform in a range of different
settings. Session musicians are expected to learn parts rapidly and be skilled in both sight
reading and ear training.

Session musicians are used in any situation where musical skills are needed on a short-term
basis. Typically session musicians are used by recording studios to provide backing tracks
for other musicians in recording studios and live performances; recording for advertising,
film, television or theatrical productions.

The terms "session musician" and "studio musician" are now synonymous, though in past
decades the latter term more typically described musicians who were associated with a
particular record company or recording studio.