Contrabass Jazz

[rabbi]

Good day I hope you guys can help me.
Couple of years ago I heard a great jazz in the radio here in Iceland
and there was Contrabass the main instument, the jazz was very catchy
and full of joy, I liked it very much.
Now the problem is I have never found that jazz because I dont know the
bands names, I have bought many cd´s and also rented from the library,
but cant find anything like this ContrabassJazz.

If you could help me it would be great and sorry if the spelling is
wrong.
Merry Christmas from the Winter Wonderland
Rabbi in Iceland

[Jason G]

www.allmusic.com:

"Bassist Anthony Jackson stands as one of the masters of the instrument.The ubiquitous sideman's exhaustive discography spans many genres' of music.An academician,his tenacious research into the origins of the bass,lead to the invention of the six string contrabass,a couple of decades before five string basses became popular." - Ed Hogan

Start with the man himself on any of Michel Camilo's trio recordings. You'll get to hear him stretch out quite a bit, but more importantly, be introduced to some uplifting music.

[yardbird]

It's difficult to find out who you heard from your description. There is one band, however, that consists of contrabasses only, and that is L'Orchestre de contrabasses from France, They've made a number of good CDs. Also Renaud Carcia Fons from Spain is a fantastic bassplayer who made many records with the bass in front - he's a master both arco and pizzicato - kind of mix of jazz and ethnic music.

[Sand]

And then again it might have been Slam Stewart.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by yardbird
\Also Renaud Carcia Fons from Spain is a fantastic bassplayer who made many records with the bass in front - he's a master both arco and pizzicato - kind of mix of jazz and ethnic music.

Indeed, though I believe he may have born in France.

Here's his bio from the Enja website:

RENAUD
GARCIA-FONS

Renaud is of Spanish- French origin living and working out of Paris - one of those border crossing virtuosos equally at home with contemporary classical music, jazz and South West European folklore.

He is a student of the great bass player François Rabbath whose incredible bowing technique and Syrean-rooted compositions had a lasting impact on Renaud's unique musical conception that includes elements of flamenco, new musette, tango, Greek, Andalusian, African, Latin American, and Indian musics. An outstanding bassist himself and a miraculous con-arco player, Renaud has performed and/or recorded with such diverse colleagues as Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil, German reed player Michael Riessler, flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler, and French Orchestre de Contrebasses. His own African-Mediterranean-influenced quartet recording "Alboreá" (released in late 1995) earned high critical acclaim for the sheer virtuosity of the playing and its strong musical vision.

"Just when you're getting tired of too many similar-sounding albums, along comes one that makes you say, 'I've never heard anything like that before!' Renaud Garcia-Fons is a virtuoso bass player unlike any you'll hear in this country. A thirty-something Frenchman, he plays a five-string acoustic bass with a bow, making his sometimes cumbersome instrument sing with a sound nearly as light and agile as a violin. Garcia-Fons' technique is startling" (Boston Sunday Herald).

Renaud Garcia-Fons, sometimes called "The Paganini of double bass," was featured as an unaccompanied soloist at the 1996 Berlin Jazz Festival. We are proud to release Renaud's solo album "Légendes." With pizzicato, percussion and harmonics flying off Renaud's bow, this is an astonishing and literally unheard-of duo between a virtuoso and his huge instrument.