Drei Haberer ohne Kontrabass

Three people without double bass A band that acts as a musical problem-solving

Musicians are often faced with multi-layered challenges – some of which are purely practical in nature: Where does a band position itself? What is their field of activity? And above all: How do you find the right cast to bring your own compositions to life?

Those who come from a classical jazz education often have the typical sound of a jazz formation in their ears when writing: grand pianos, drums, perhaps a saxophone as a melody instrument – and of course a double bass. Actually, it should be possible at every music school to put together exactly this line-up.

But when Paul, Alex and Marius meet at the ArtEZ Conservatory in Arnhem, the Netherlands, this instrument is not available to them. Paul – born in Graz – studies jazz violin for one year in the Erasmus programme. Marius comes from Essen and studies drums. Alex, raised in Gummersbach, is a pianist. The three of them understand each other straight away, musically and humanly, and found a trio. Only: There are no double bass players at the university.

What to do? The trio decides to see the problem not as an obstacle, but as a creative task. Because at its core, the bass provides the depth and foundation in the sound image – and that is exactly what can be produced differently.

Paul uses an effect pedal that transposes his violin two octaves downwards. Alex contributes the low frequencies with the Moog synthesizer. They share the bass function flexibly. This not only elegantly solves the casting problem – it also creates an unmistakable sound that sounds both familiar and new. And by the way, there is a clear unique selling point: In which band does the violin take over the bass?

Complex problems are not always easy to answer – nor do they have to. But sometimes the solution is closer than expected. Perhaps innovation arises precisely when you are forced to question existing patterns – and shape something new from the given means.