Contrabass' expressive timbres evoke the deepest emotions.

Contrabass solo improvisation can be called a musical genre. It was pioneered by the American jazz and avant-garde double bassist Barre Phillips (b. 1934), who celebrates his 90th birthday on 27 October this year. He was the first to release a solo improvisation album, 'Journal Violone', which was the creative impetus for a generation of improvising double bassists. Over the past half century, some 300 double bass players around the world have ventured into improvised solo recording. 

In this evening of closer jazz with double bassist Vytis Nivinskas, we will listen to some of the most characterful double bass solo recordings from the period 1969 to 2024, and talk about the most outstanding creators of double bass solo programmes who have ventured onto the stage and performed unaccompanied, improvised performances. The evening will also be illustrated with live improvisations on solo double bass.