Reviewing Joel Quarrington’s debut recital for the International Society of Bassists’ Oklahoma City convention in June of 2007, England’s Double Bassist magazine declared, “his performance was mesmerizing – his trademark bel canto playing style brought an otherworldly quality to Bottesini’s Elegy in D…impeccable articulation, a rich tonal palette, absolute control and crystalline clarity.” Reviews such as this have solidified his reputation as one of today’s leading double bassists.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Joel Quarrington began playing the double bass at the age of eleven and was trained in Toronto, Rome, Vienna and Prague. He received the Eaton Award (1975) from the University of Toronto as the outstanding graduating performer, and top awards in the Canadian Broadcasting Music Competition (1976), the Isle of Man (1978) and the Geneva International Competitions (1978).

For over thirty years, Joel Quarrington has served as the Principal Double Bassist of many ensembles, including the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.

Joel Quarrington is an enthusiastic advocate of the historical practice of tuning the bass in fifths (CGDA, an octave lower than the cello), rather than the customary fourths. He believes fifths tuning leads to clearer and more accurate performance in all ranges of the bass, as well as greater tonal richness.

He launches today on the Analekta label a recital devoted to this undeservedly ill-liked instrument. To listen…

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