Renaud Garcia-Fons (born 24 December 1962) is a French bassist and composer.
Garcia-Fons started his musical studies at an early age. At five years old, he picked up playing the piano, switched to classical guitar at eight, then turned to rock in his teens, and finally settled for the upright bass when he was 16. He received formal musical training at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied with François Rabbath, who taught him his distinctive arco technique.
Garcia-Fons is known for his melodic sense and his viola-like col arco sound; he is sometimes referred to as "the Paganini of double bass." Garcia-Fons has been deeply influenced by his mentor, the bassist François Rabbath.
He started playing jazz with the band led by trumpeter Roger Guérin and thereafter collaborated with many ensembles, including symphony orchestras, jazz groups, and a trio. In 1987-93, he was part of the French all-double bass ensemble 'L'Orchestre de Contrebasses'. He remained with them for six years, also appearing with the 'Orchestre National de Jazz' directed by Claude Barthélemy during some of this time. Enja Records released his debut solo album Légendes (1992). Alboreá (1995) was his next album, featuring his quartet, including Jean-Louis Matinier (accordion), Jacques Mahieux (drums), and Yves Torchinsky (bass).
Tap on any album for track list.
The fourth edition of the Dutch Double Bass Festival has been announced, and this year will feature some of the world’s best bassists on both double bass and electric bass.
Renaud Garcia-Fons never fails to amaze me. “Happy Alone” is a solo double bass piece that will be on his upcoming record “Cinematic Double Bass,” and it lives up to the album’s title.
The International Society of Bassists will be holding their biennial bass convention virtually this year from June 8th through the 12th. The bass-filled event will have over 150 concerts, lectures, and masterclasses for attendees.
Renaud Garcia-Fons recently shared this incredible video of a double bass/tabla duet he recorded with Prabhu Edouard. “This piece might not have seen the light of day in this form without this incredible and disastrous health crisis,” Renaud shared.
Paul Simon is currently on his farewell concert tour, which may be part of the reasoning for his new semi-retrospective album, In The Blue Light. The 10-song album features fresh perspectives on some of his lesser-known songs from his catalog with tracks taken from seven records. “This album consists of songs that I thought were almost right, or were odd...
