Jazz |

Adam Ben Ezra: A Virtuoso Redefining Boundaries
Ben Ezra is one of those rare musicians who grants himself the luxury of offering us an album that is both captivating and immensely charming. His arrangements will bring a smile to your face and awaken a yearning for travel. For over a decade, the double bass phenomenon and multi-instrumentalist Adam Ben Ezra has been redefining his instrument, inspiring thousands of musicians across the globe with his virtuosity and singular approach. Teaming up with the renowned drummer Michael Olivera (Alfredo Rodriguez, Richard Bona), Ben Ezra embarks on a deeply personal creative journey with his latest album—a self-produced collection of ten original compositions that illuminate the boundless sonic versatility of his double bass.
Between jazz, world music, pop, and rock, each track on this album is a playground of textures and rhythms. Ben Ezra delights in deconstructing the very essence of sound, twisting and reshaping his bass into a myriad of unexpected dimensions. He toys with rhythm, conjuring sonic landscapes that invite us to follow him without hesitation. Undoubtedly, this is music destined for grand stages, a performance guaranteed to set audiences dancing from the first note to the last.
Drawing inspiration from such diverse figures as Bach, Jaco Pastorius, Bobby McFerrin, and Chick Corea, and weaving elements of jazz, funk, Latin, and Mediterranean influences into his artistry, Ben Ezra has firmly established himself on the international stage. A veritable internet sensation with over 20 million views on his videos, he has performed hundreds of concerts worldwide, sharing the bill with luminaries such as Snarky Puppy, Pat Metheny, and Victor Wooten.
Yet, to speak merely of influences would be to miss the essence of his craft. Far from simply echoing his predecessors, Ben Ezra has forged a style entirely his own, one so distinct that comparisons fall short. In today’s jazz landscape, few have so seamlessly transcended stylistic boundaries. Since settling in the serene countryside of southern Portugal in 2022, he has found new inspiration, crafting a series of minute-long solo double bass pieces, which he has shared online to engage fresh audiences. Filmed in their raw purity—without loops or overdubs—these performances push his instrument to its fullest expressive potential, utilizing extended techniques such as rhythmic accompaniment through percussive strikes on the double bass’s body.
Perhaps it is this sunlit atmosphere that imbues the album with a sense of an elsewhere, an idyllic escape. I often approach jazz albums infused with electronic elements with caution, as they frequently veer into the uninspired. Yet here, the opposite is true: there is a profound awareness of sound, space, and arrangement—a meticulous artistry that is nothing short of mesmerizing. It is entirely possible that this album will pave the way for a new direction in jazz. Indeed, jazz has long been a genre open to the world, evolving with each new influence, sometimes with dazzling success—this album being a prime example.
Forget artists like Ibrahim Maalouf, who long served as an accessible gateway to jazz for newcomers. Here, we stand before something grander, deeper—a work of far greater ambition and brilliance, one that undoubtedly earns its place among our collection of Indispensable Albums!
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, January 29th 2025
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