For the past decade, double-bass phenomenon and multi-instrumentalist Adam Ben Ezra has been redefining the double-bass and inspiring thousands around the world with his musicianship and unique approach to the instrument. Joining forces with celebrated drummer Michael Olivera (Alfredo Rodriguez, Richard Bona), Ben Ezra’s upcoming release marks a personal creative departure; a self-produced collection of ten original pieces putting the versatile sound of his bass in the spotlight. 

Heavy Drops is set to release on February 28th.

Ben Ezra began playing music from the age of five, teaching himself a wide array of instruments before the introduction to the double bass at the age of 16 that changed his life, instantly falling in love with the instrument’s rich timbre.

Drawing inspiration from heroes as diverse as Bach, Jaco Pastorius, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, and incorporating elements of Jazz, Funk, Latin and Mediterranean music into his playing, Ben Ezra has gone on to enjoy a successful international career in music; a bonafide internet star with over 20 million views on his videos to date, he has performed hundreds of shows around the world and shared bills with the likes of Snarky Puppy, Pat Metheny, and Victor Wooten to name a few.

Relocating to the countryside of Southern Portugal in 2022, the newfound peace and picturesque setting spurred Ben Ezra into a period of creative composition, writing a large number of brief one minute pieces for solo bass which he used to reach new audiences online. Performing them to a camera with no looping or overdubs created an outlet for Ben Ezra to explore his instrument’s possibilities, using extended techniques such as self-accompaniment using the body of the bass as a percussioninstrument.

Teaming up with drummer Michael Olivera in Madrid, the pair felt an instant musical connection led by conversation, interaction, flow and groove. Recording the foundation of the record live across three days, Ben Ezra then overdubbed additional layers of bass, vocals, flute and synthesizers at his home studio to support the melodic content and enrich the sound.

From the Classical influenced melodic etude ‘Portrait of Natalie’, the flamenco melodies of ‘Taming The Bull’, the latin-infused title track, and deep jazz fusion pocket of ‘Hazy Steps’, the record captures Ben Ezra’s driven sense of curiosity, the broad scope of his creativity, and the seemingly boundless potential of an under-appreciated instrument. 

For more, visit: https://www.adambenezra.com