Eberhard Weber: A German Jazz Story

Eberhard Weber is a virtuoso who revolutionized jazz bass playing. He brought his instrument from the far corner of the stage into the spotlight - and turned it into a solo force. He began his career as a jazz bassist in the 1960s, and his band Colours with the saxophonist Charlie Mariano became one of the most successful jazz groups in Europe. His record Colours of Chloe (made for ECM) was a cult album in its time. Weber went on to perform with many the big stars of the international jazz scene, including Wolfgang Dauner, Gary Burton, Pat Metheney and Jan Garbarek. He was also a key member of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble. Playing the five-string instrument, both in acoustic and electric form, he also became a master of the solo recital, using electronics to accompany his own dexterous improvisations. Weber has not been able to play the bass since he suffered a stroke in April 2007 during a sound check with the Jan Garbarek Group at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. But he had already created an oeuvre that is second to none. The charismatic bassist made jazz history with his explorations, both in terms of his own instrument and with his range of creative musical companions. His remarkable ＂resume＂ is at the same time a humorous and exciting testimony to a vital period in German jazz history. This is the first English translation of the original autobiography published in German by Sagas in 2015.

Eberhard Weber (born in 1940) is a German double bassist and composer. Heidi Kirk studied Comparative Literature at Columbia University and taught English as a Foreign Language and English Literature in Shanghai. Since 2015 she has been living in Berlin, where she is active as a translator and author and gives historic tours of the city in English, German and French. Her translations include Carly by Annegert Fuchshuber, ’A Day in Shanghai - Thoughts of a Huating Road Dweller’ by Julia Dautel in Shanghai (Urban Public) Space and Hotel Reichshof Hamburg - A Legendary Hotel and its Story by Julia Dautel, Nicole Keller and Oliver Schumacher.