Barre Phillips

Biography

Barre Phillips (1934–2024) was an American double bassist from San Francisco who became a central figure in free jazz and European free improvisation. After work with *Eric Dolphy*, *Jimmy Giuffre* and *Archie Shepp* in the 1960s, he settled in France and recorded 'Journal Violone', generally credited as the first solo double bass album, and the pioneering bass duets of 'Music from Two Basses' with *Dave Holland*. A long association with #ECM# ran from 'Mountainscapes' to the solo farewell 'End to End'. He died in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in December 2024.