James Owston

With a technical fluidity on his instrument, and strong connection to various forms of improvised music, James Owston is a bassist who stretches stylistic boundaries and pushes the instrument to its limit, drawing on many influences to develop a sound that is stylish, virtuosic and captivating. “His tone big and resonant, his time keeping immaculate and his solos highly dexterous and consistently engaging” (The Jazz Mann). His extensive performance CV shows collaborations with notable artists such as Paul Dunmall, Jay Phelps, Alex Clarke, Mark Lockett, Neil Yates, John Turville, Roger Manins, Emily Masser, Xhosa Cole and many more.

With firm roots in bebop and the jazz tradition, James is heavily influenced by Ray Brown, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Charlie Haden, and other pioneering bassists, as well as modern masters including Larry Grenadier and Robert Landferman. He draws inspiration from modern/contemporary music and concepts, as well as his experience on the free improv scene, in his approach to improvising and writing music. In 2018, James was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician Award, performing at the Queen-Elizabeth Hall with Gwilym Simcock and Asaf Sirkis.