Rich Brown – 6-string electric bass, 4-string semi-acoustic fretless bass

Rich Brown bought his first six-string bass in 1999. “Everyone made fun of me” he recalls with a characteristically warm smile. Since then he’s established a reputation as first-call player for the leaders of an impressive variety of adventurous projects, from Steve Coleman to Rudresh Mahanthappa to James ‘Blood’ Ulmer. Over the past two years, whenever time allows, he’s been paying regular visits to the studio of his friend, the guitarist and producer Elmer Ferrer. Away from the pressures of the commercial industry, Rich seized the opportunity to explore and expand the vocabulary of his instrument. NYAEBA took shape: written and performed entirely on the bass guitar, it’s the story of an imagined griot who journeys around the world and returns to relate his tales in song. Rich drew inspiration from the many remarkable musicians he’s supported as a bassist, or encountered in the richly multicultural music scene in his adopted hometown of Toronto. Throughout the album, the commitment to melody and story ensures that the technique, though prodigious, never overshadows the tale.

Each tune was built up with multiple tracks in the studio, with no looping or sequencing involved. The sonic versatility on display is astounding, but the album retains the organic, intimate feel of a performance. The Zulu word Ukudlala means ‘to play’ – the track begins with the naked sound of the bass guitar performing a percussive, kalimba-like melody before building up into layers of harmony. The Sum of Our Tears is a deeply personal statement about being lost in the isolation of depression, that develops into an uplifting melody reassuring us that we are not alone. On Heart of a Lonely Woman, Rich creates astonishing vocalized tones that recall the duduk of Djivan Gasparian (with a sly quote from Ornette Coleman) while on Nyaeba he conjures up an entire bata drum ensemble and even the voice of the mysterious griot himself, entirely from his instrument. An international mix of South Africa and Brazil provided the inspiration for the dense, grooving harmony of Sowetoiera, while Turiyasangitananda is named for Alice Coltrane, whose recorded voice can be heard introducing the piece. “It’s an ode to Alice, named after her – it means ‘The Transcendental Lord’s Highest Song of Bliss,’ so it’s also a personal thank you for the inner peace that meditation has brought to me and my music.”

This album will no doubt sit comfortably among the essential solo bass albums of all time, showcasing what’s possible on the instrument. With a focus on texture, movement and melody, and a striking range of voices, this is definitely not your average electric bass album. 

richbrown-whirlwind.bandcamp.com 

whirlwindrecordings.com

Release Date: Friday, September 26th 2025 on Whirlwind Recordings.