Double-Bass phenomenon, multi-instrumentalist and online
sensation Adam Ben Ezra; a man seemingly on a mission to bring his instrument
from its status as a background note to the dominant front-presence it
deserves. For the past few years Adam has been pushing his craft in new,
exciting directions and carving out a unique spot for himself in today’s
international musical landscape, with both his virtuosity and musicianship
earning him great success along the way.
With more than ten million hits on YouTube and a strong
following on all social media platforms, it is clear Adam is a bonafide star in
the internet world. However, his success is certainly not limited to the web,
having performed around the globe in major international music festivals and
shared stages with some of the world’s fusion giants – including Pat Metheny,
Victor Wooten and Richard Bona – over the last few years. His work has been
shown at industry leading publications, such as BBC World Service, CBS News,
Time Magazine and The British Telegraph to name but a few. Jazz FM has defined
his appearance as ”a dazzling virtuosity and breath-taking athletic
performance”.
The term “multi-instrumentalist” is often overused but in
this case it couldn’t be more fitting; Adam began playing the violin at age
five and picked up the guitar at age nine. Over the years he has added the
Piano, Clarinet, Oud, Side Flute and even BeatBox to his arsenal, largely
teaching himself each time. However, it was an introduction to the Double-Bass
at age 16 that truly changed his life, when he instantly fell in love with the
instrument’s rich sound.
Drawing inspiration from heroes as diverse as Bach, Sting,
Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, Adam made a clear decision to make his
compositions current – no matter the tool used. He has consciously added new
colors to his palette, incorporating elements of Jazz, Latin and Mediterranean
music into his playing.
Whether he is playing original material or his wonderfully
crafted cover arrangements, ABE is a creative force of nature who can transform
a room full of strangers into lifelong fans in a moment. Regardless if he’s
performing solo, duo or as part of his Trio with guitar and percussion, no two
shows are alike as he expertly moves from one instrument to the next, sometimes
within the same song, without ever missing a beat. Using a smart combination of
effects and pedals, Adam regularly loops his notes in order to deliver an
authentic wall of sound, worthy of a small orchestra. With a rise in requests
for international appearances and a need to push his instrument further, Adam
commissioned a special one-of-a-kind 5 strings bass with an unusual removable
neck setup.
Both his Trio album (Can’t Stop Running, 2015) and latest
Solo album (Pin Drop, 2017) showcase not just a virtuoso performer but also a
sensitive composer with no musical boundaries, combining elements of jazz, rock
and world music to create a sweeping, fascinating and versatile sound.
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