about
Double bassist and composer Eva Kess, born in Berlin-Schöneberg, began her musical career as a child in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where she trained as a ballet and tap dancer. Upon returning to Europe, she continued as a classical pianist and dancer in Bern, and at the age of 17, discovered the double bass. Now residing in Bern, Eva Kess is an active performer who has played concerts in cities such as Bern, Basel, Zürich, Geneva, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, Zagreb, and Rio de Janeiro.
Eva expanded her horizons by composing for larger ensembles in the Composition and Theory master’s program at the University of Arts in Bern. She studied composition with Guillermo Klein, Django Bates, Bert Joris, Martin Streule, Frank Sikora, and Klaus Wagenleiter. Eva also studied jazz double bass in Bern with Patrice Moret and at the Music Academy of Basel with Bänz Oester, Larry Grenadier, Jorge Rossy, and Julio Baretto. She prepared at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern with Thomas Dürst. Her education is further enriched by countless masterclasses.
The Friedl Wald Scholarship enabled her to immerse herself in the music scene of New York City, and to take lessons with Larry Grenadier and Matt Penman. Eva Kess has recorded several albums featuring her music and has gained national as well as international recognition.
news
Amazing news! On June 28 I’m going to play a concert with with Mageshen Naidoo (guitar), Kyle du Preez (trombone) and Sphelelo Mazibuko (drums) at the Makhanda Jazz Festival, followed by a research / exploratory stay in South Africa supported by Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, the Swiss Arts Council.
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We’ve been to the recording studio with my 14-piece ensemble „Inter-Musical Love Letter“. The CD is a co-production with Radio SRF 2 Kultur and has been supported by Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, Stadt Bern, Kanton Bern, … There’s international press and attention from around the globe. Our next concert is going to take place Dec 14, 2023 at the Mehrspur Festival in Zürich, Switzerland.
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I am feeling super happy, surprised, and excited that my project Sternschnuppen – Falling Stars had been thriving against all odds in the year 2020. The journalists of the Portland (Oregon) based jazz magazine Cadence have chosen Sternschnuppen – Falling Stars to be one of the 10 best albums of the year 2020! Furthermore, UK Vibes announced it to be amongst the best 20 albums of the year and Radio France Musique made a beautiful radio broadcast. Therefore you can find a new press section located at the bottom of the page right under the social media symbols. And more good news are about to follow, let’s keep the spirits high!
You’re invited to check out our current CD release tour in 2020/21 with *Sternschnuppen – Falling Stars* in Basel – Bern – Winterthur – Berlin, an interview on RTS in the radio broadcast l’écho du pavane.
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My CDs are now available in the bookstore „Bider & Tanner“ in Basel, Switzerland.
Inter-Musical Love Letter (UNIT, 2022)
Inter-Musical Love Letter
“Inter-Musical Love Letter” is the name of the new project by composer Eva Kess (Eva Kesselring). A “Letter” intended to spread a message and build bridges. A counterpoint to current events in the region, in the country, in Europe, in the world. Love as the strongest unifying force. Music as a magical, uplifting experience that has a positive impact. The “Letter” being written at a time when bizarre oddities seem to have become normal and social grievances are coming to light even more clearly than before.
«Beyond Third Stream, Eva Kess takes you on a musical journey not confined by stylistic labels. Well-crafted orchestrations and elegant performances will warm your heart as each piece transports you to a different soundscape.»
– Rafael Piccolotto de Lima 2021
The Inter-Musical Love Letter is going to be released on the label UNIT Records on February 3rd 2022. A Co-Production with the Swiss Cultural Radio SRF 2, recorded at the Hardstudios 24-27 November 2021.
Eva Kess – composition
Mirjam Hässig – Voice
Domenic Landolf – Tenor Saxophone & Alto Flute
Marco Karrer – Soprano & Alto Saxophon
Daniel Woodtli – Trompet & Flugelhorn
Felix Grandjean – Trompete & Flugelhorn
Julia Rüffert – Trombone
Vincent Brunel – Violin I
Susanna Andres – Violin II & Voice
Tatiana Zubova – Viola
Alejandro Olóriz Soria – Violoncello & Voice
Jonathan Salvi – Vibraphone
Cyprien Rochat – Guitar & Rap
Loïc Baillod – Double Bass
Felix Wolf – Drums
Lisa Laser – Graphic Design
Moritz Wetter – Sound Engineer
Michael Brändli – Mastering Engineer
Sternschnuppen – Falling Stars
Sternschnuppen – falling stars has been released on the label Neuklang. U.S. street date: August 28, 2020. A Co-Production with the Swiss Cultural Radio SRF 2, recorded at the Hardstudios.
Vincent Millioud – Violin 1
Susanna Andres – Violin 2
Nao Rohr – Viola
Ambrosius Huber – Violoncello
Simon Schwaninger – Piano
Philipp Leibundgut – Drums
Eva Kess – Double Bass & Composition
Moritz Wetter – Sound Engineer
Nitcha Fame Tothong – Graphic Design
«With these Falling Stars no wish remains unfulfilled.»
– Jazzthing 2020
«Eva Kess’s music seems to effortlessly find the balance between disparate worlds. Floating etheral harmonies mingle with understated driving rhythmic grooves, simplicity and virtuosity converse with one another, and throughout one is left feeling that this music is a very cohesive whole, the result of a very clear vision and sharp focus.»
– Jeremy Harman, Sirius Quartet 2020
more music
Bassexperiment
2019, Unit Records
Bassexperiment has been released on January 18th 2019 and made it on January 22nd 2019 on place 26 of Best New Music on iTunes US.
Eva Kess – double bass & voice
Benjamin Scheurer – Graphic Design
„Congratulations! It’s quiet an accomplishment to record a completely improvised project playing and singing! Nice playing and you have a beautiful voice. It complemented your playing very nicely.“ – NY Bassist Jay Anderson
Flying Curly
2017, Unit Records
A Co-production with Swiss Cultural Radio SRF 2. Flying Curly has been among the top 50 jazz records on iTunes U.S. and made it on rank 11 of the Jazz pre-orders on iTunes Germany.
Felipe Duarte – Guitar
Gregor Ftičar – Piano
Peter Kronreif – Drums
Eva Kess – Double Bass & Composition
Andy Neresheimer – Sound Engineer
George Ambrose Baake – Photographer
Benjamin Scheurer – Graphic Designer
Wondering What Is Coming
2010
Wondering what is coming is the name of her first album. Eva wrote all the songs and produced the CD on her own.
Simon Spiess – Tenor Saxophone
Johannes Maikranz – Guitar
Niculin Christen – Piano
Severin Rauch – Drums
Eva Kess – Double Bass & Compostion
Palma Fiacco – Photographer
Benjamin Scheurer – Graphic Designer
„Eva Kess writes music that slowly reveals itself with it´s own logic, adventurous music in the real sense of the word without cliches, long forms that evolve dealing with sound rhythm, form, melody and harmony. New ideas with the timeless elements.
Proving once again that you can always find new esthetic paths with the creative use of grooves, counterpoint, orchestration and development of ideas.
Passionate music, full of life, honest music that will take you to new landscapes, strong motives that Eva’s tunes provide.“ – Jorge Rossy
videos
live
– upcoming concerts 2023
June 28 – with Mageshen Naidoo, Kyle du Preez, Sphelelo Mazibuko @ Makhanda Jazzfestival, Southafrica
June 29 – with Babalwa Mentjies @ Makhanda Jazzfestival, Southafrica
June 30 – with Natalie Rugan @ Makhanda Jazzfestival, Southafrica
Two events at the WITS University in Johannesburg:
– Wednesday 19 July 1:15pm a lunch hour concert with my music played by senior students Sibonelo Kodisang ts, Adam George p, Donovan de Aguiar dr, and me on bass. It’s at Seabrooke Hall.
– Thursday 20 July, lunch time, a masterclass about jazz composition
26 July at 5:30pm with vocalist Natalie Rungan, Neil Gonçalvez p, Thabo Sikhakane tp, Bruce Baker dr @ University Kwazulu-Natal in Durban, SA
Inter-Musical Love Letter
Dec 10 – Zingghaus – Köniz
Dec 14 – Mehrspur Festival – Zürich
past gigs
Kunstfabrik Schlot – Berlin (D), Delphi Theater – Berlin (D), BeJazz Club – Bern (CH), Stadttheater Bern – Bern (CH), Bird’s Eye Jazz Club – Basel (CH), Off Beat Festival, Bar du Nord – Basel (CH), Kloster Dornach (CH), 1st International Jazz Day Festival – Zürich (ZH), Swan Bar & Le Petit Ailleurs – Paris (F), B.P. Club – Zagreb (HR), w/ Itiberê Zwarg – Rio de Janeiro (BR)
contact
Eva Kess
downloads
donation
Do you feel like supporting the artist? Any donation is very welcome.
IBAN: CH18 8080 8009 0098 1868 7
