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Olivier Babaz Archives

Olivier Babaz and Patrick Graham: C.lymao
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz and Patrick Graham: C.lymao

Olivier Babaz just released a new album called “Fragments.” “C.lymao” features Babaz rocking the double bass and kalimba at the same time with percussionist Patrick Graham similarly managing several instruments.

Olivier Babaz Releases “Fragments”
New Albums

Olivier Babaz Releases “Fragments”

Olivier Babaz has just released a new album, which is the first record on his new label, Midnight Caffeine Music. “Fragments” marks the bassist’s fifth album and is filled out by percussionists Patrick Graham and Noam Guerrier Freud.

Akoz Duo: Kalimbaz
Bass Videos

Akoz Duo: Kalimbaz

WATCH: We’ve always been fans of Olivier Babaz, who incorporates kalimba and double bass to make incredible music. Akoz Duo is a duo project of Olivier’s, along with his wife Julie, who plays viola. Here’s their 2011 performance of “Kalimbaz.”

Olivier Babaz Launches Jazz Bowing Course on Discover Double Bass
News

Olivier Babaz Launches Jazz Bowing Course on Discover Double Bass

Olivier Babaz has released a new course on jazz bowing. While there are plenty of resources on arco playing, there aren’t many that focus on its use in jazz. Olivier created 61 video lessons on play bass lines, solos, and melodies with the bow.

Olivier Babaz: Boplicity
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: Boplicity

Many know Olivier Babaz for playing kalimba at the same time as bass, but he’s also incredible at jazz bowing. Here’s a great clip of him performing “Boplicity.” “It’s a follow up of [my] Swing feel & Baroque bow grip series with a classic Miles Davis & Gil Evans composition,” he writes.

Olivier Babaz: Cold & Bright
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: Cold & Bright

Bass and kalimba guru Olivier Babaz shared his latest video with us for his song “Cold & Bright”. Inspired by the first snow in his native Montreal, the track has Babaz wielding dual kalimbas to perform the melody while playing a bass line on his trusty upright.

Olivier Babaz: On The Sunny Side of the Street
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: On The Sunny Side of the Street

Get ready to chill out. Olivier Babaz offers up a nice relaxing arco version of the jazz standard “On The Sunny Sunny Side Of The Street” in this new video. Besides some nice phrasing, Babaz gets a big, warm tone that matches the song’s chill vibe.

Olivier Babaz: Paranoid Android for Bass and Kalimba
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: Paranoid Android for Bass and Kalimba

Olivier Babaz has done it again. The bass and kalimba king has transformed another rock gem onto the two instruments simultaneously. This time Babaz tackles Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android”, trading the song’s focus between each instrument while nimbly navigating them with his right hand. The result is an ethereal and intimate take on an already epic piece of music.

Olivier Babaz and Mark Nelson: L’appel Du Vide
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz and Mark Nelson: L’appel Du Vide

Bassist Olivier Babaz is back with another bass and kalimba video that will make you question what’s physically possible. “L’appel Du Vide” is a track from his latest album, Odd Light, and features drummer Mark Nelson. The song features several groove changes that Babaz and Nelson navigate magnificently. Hold on to your hats.

“Odd Light” Is Third Offering from Olivier Babaz’s Trio
New Albums

“Odd Light” Is Third Offering from Olivier Babaz’s Trio

French bass player and composer Olivier Babaz has released his third trio album, Odd Light, with guitarist Francois Jalbert and drummer Mark Nelson. The album, a follow up to Midnight Caffeine (2012) and Virages (2014), explores textures and architectures in a space where jazz, world music, folk and progressive rock intersect. A grant from the Montreal (Canada) Arts Council and...

Olivier Babaz: Minor Swing
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: Minor Swing

Bassist Olivier Babaz sent us this video of himself taking an arco solo over the gypsy jazz standard “Minor Swing”, and I had to watch a few times. Besides playing some great ideas, he gets a huge tone that will make your ears happy.

Olivier Babaz: Bass & Kalimba Cover of “Stairway to Heaven”
Bass Videos

Olivier Babaz: Bass & Kalimba Cover of “Stairway to Heaven”

Olivier Babaz has a specialty in performing double bass, kalimba, and shaker simultaneously to create a unique and beautiful texture. His latest video takes on the iconic Led Zeppelin song “Stairway to Heaven,” and it has to be seen to believed. Babaz starts the melody on the kalimba before switching to focus on bass during the breakdown, while his footshaker...