JP Viret

A top bassist from France, Jean-Philippe (or JP) Viret has played with Europe’s top jazz musicians in addition to many from the United States. He began studying classical bass at the Conservatory of Bordeaux and played jazz early on with the Emmanuel Bex trio. One of his first major musical jobs was as a member of the Stephane Grappelli Trio, a position that he held on and off during 1989-97, Grappelli’s last years. Viret has also worked with such notable players as Lee Konitz, Joe Magnarelli, Benny Wallace, Peter King, Christian Escoude, Kenny Wheeler, Rene Urtreger, McCoy Tyner, Walter Bishop, Dave Liebman, Andy Sheppard, Daniel Humair, Richard Galliano’s Tangaria Quartet, Bill Carrothers, Aldo Romano, Birelli Lagrene, Didier Lockwood, Martin Taylor and the Orchestra of Contrabasses. In addition, Viret has for many years led a trio with pianist Edouard Ferlet and drummer Antoine Banville with which he recorded two CDs for the Sketch label and most recently L’Indincible for Discograph. A versatile bassist who can swing standards or improvise freely, JP Viret is a name that deserves to be much better known outside of France.