Eberhard Weber

Eberhard Weber is a German double bassist and composer. As a bass player, he is known for his highly distinctive tone and phrasing. Weber's compositions blend chamber jazz, European classical music, minimalism and ambient music, and are regarded as characteristic examples of the ECM Records sound.

Early life Weber was born on January 22, 1940, in Stuttgart Germany. His father was a music teacher which meant that Weber received classical music training growing up, beginning on the cello at 6 years old. He began to play the double bass in high school when he was 16 years old. His music teacher wanted someone to play the bass and Weber volunteered.

Early on in Weber's musical journey, he met pianist Wolfgang Dauner with whom he would work for many years throughout his career. They met while both were playing at the Düsseldorf Amateur Jazz Festival.

Post-stroke career Weber was awarded the Albert Mangelsdorff-Preis in November 2009. A box set of his 1970s works was released by ECM Records the same month.

Weber's latest albums, Résumé (2012) and Encore (2015) comprise solos from his performances worldwide with The Jan Garbarek Group, overdubbed with keyboards/treatments by Weber, saxophone by Garbarek, and flügelhorn by Ack Van Rooyen.

His autobiography, Résumé, was published in 2015. An English translation by Heidi Kirk - Eberhard Weber: A German Jazz Story - was published in October 2021.

Influence In 2021, the 13-minute recording Eberhard by the late Lyle Mays was posthumously released, revised from a 2009 composition debuted at Lawrence University and written as a tribute to Weber's influential compositional style. It was awarded a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 2022.

Discography As leader The Colours of Chloë (ECM, 1974) – rec. 1973 Yellow Fields (ECM, 1976) – rec. 1975 The Following Morning (ECM, 1976) Silent Feet (ECM, 1978) – rec. 1977 Fluid Rustle (ECM, 1979) Little Movements (ECM, 1980) Later That Evening (ECM, 1982) Chorus (ECM, 1985) – rec. 1984 Orchestra (ECM, 1988) Pendulum (ECM, 1993) Endless Days (ECM, 2001) – rec. 2000 Stages of a Long Journey (ECM, 2007) – live rec. 2005 Résumé (ECM, 2012) – live rec. 1990–2007 Encore (ECM, 2015) – live rec. 1990–2007 Hommage à Eberhard Weber (ECM, 2015) – live Once Upon a Time (Live in Avignon) (ECM, 2021) – live rec. 1994

Compilations Works (ECM, 1985) Rarum: Selected Recordings (ECM, 2004) Colours (ECM, 2010) – reissue compiling Yellow Fields, Silent Feet and Little Movements

Collaboration With Benny Bailey, Siggi Schwab and Lala Kovacev Islands (Enja, 1977)

As sideman With Gary Burton Ring (ECM, 1974) Passengers (ECM, 1976)

With Kate Bush The Dreaming (EMI, 1982) Hounds of Love (EMI, 1985) The Sensual World (EMI, 1989) Aerial (EMI, 2005)

With Wolfgang Dauner Dream Talk (CBS, 1964) Free Action (SABA, 1967) The Oimels (MPS, 1969) Output (ECM, 1970)

With Jan Garbarek Photo with Blue Sky, White Cloud, Wires, Windows and a Red Roof (ECM, 1979) – rec. 1978 Paths, Prints (ECM, 1982) – rec. 1981 Wayfarer (ECM, 1983) It's OK to Listen to the Gray Voice (ECM, 1985) – rec. 1984 All Those Born with Wings (ECM, 1987) – rec. 1986 Legend of the Seven Dreams (ECM, 1988) I Took Up the Runes (ECM, 1990) Twelve Moons (ECM, 1993) – rec. 1992 Visible World (ECM, 1996) – rec. 1995 Rites (ECM, 1998)

With Michael Naura Call (MPS, 1971) Vanessa (ECM, 1975) – rec. 1974

With Baden Powell Poema en Guitar (SABA, 1968) Solitude on Guitar (MPS, 1971) – rec. 1970

With Ralph Towner Solstice (ECM, 1975) – rec. 1974 Sound and Shadows (ECM, 1977)

With others See "External links" below for a complete discography Hampton Hawes, Hamps' Piano (SABA, 1967) Joe Pass, Intercontinental (MPS, 1970) Mal Waldron, The Call (JAPO, 1971) Ernest Ranglin, Ranglypso (MPS, 1976) Stephane Grappelli, Afternoon in Paris (1971) The Singers Unlimited with Art Van Damme, Invitation (MPS, 1974) Pat Metheny, Watercolors (ECM, 1977) Manfred Schoof Orchestra, Reflections (Mood, 1984) United Jazz + Rock Ensemble, The Break Even Point and United Live Opus Sechs (Mood, 1984) Graeme Revell, Body of Evidence: Motion Picture Soundtrack (Milan, 1993)