Paul Kowert

Paul Kowert (born July 18, 1986) is an American bassist and composer. His styles include classical, bluegrass, and progressive bluegrass. He is a member of the progressive acoustic quintet Punch Brothers and a founding member of Hawktail, an acoustic supergroup composed of Kowert, fiddler Brittany Haas, guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie.

Biography Kowert grew up in Middleton, Wisconsin. He transitioned to playing bass from violin at age 9. He studied under Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music, graduating in 2009. While still pursuing his degree at Curtis, Kowert was recruited to join Punch Brothers. Bandmate Chris Thile said of Kowert's arrival, "that’s when the band really became a band." Inspired by mentor Edgar Meyer, Kowert plays in an unconventional tuning that combines orchestral tuning and solo tuning.

In addition to his Hachez bass, Kowert regularly plays a Shen SB-180 bass modified by luthier Arnold Schnitzer to include a removable neck. This modification, Kowert claims, has proven indispensable for the demands of touring, particularly with Punch Brothers. "The way we traveled on the Who's Feeling Young Now? tour," Kowert explains, "would not have been possible without this thing."

Discography With Punch Brothers Antifogmatic (2010) Who's Feeling Young Now? (2012) Ahoy! (2012) The Phosphorescent Blues (2015) All Ashore (2018) Hell on Church Street (2022)

With Mike Marshall's Big Trio Mike Marshall's Big Trio (2009)

With Haas Kowert Tice You Got This (2014)

With Hawktail Unless (2018) Formations (2020) Place Of Growth (2022)