Friendship, the love of beautiful songs, and my 2019 release ‘Under Paris Skies’ grew into this unusual quintet. One of my favourite albums is ‘Super Bass’ with three bassists (Ray Brown, John Clayton, and Christian McBride) and I adore the sound of such sonorous instruments playing together. All of the musicians in my quintet influenced my journey as a vocalist and artist, so I’m delighted to share the stage and make beautiful music together.
An Introduction
Vocalist Hetty Kate
No matter what kind of music you’re playing, the bass enhances the sound and makes it more beautiful and full.
The Quintet : Bass² is a distinctive jazz ensemble with two guitars and two double basses, founded by jazz vocalist Hetty Kate. The combination of more than one double bass in a jazz setting is unusual, yet echoes the spirit of classic albums such as 'Super Bass,' 'Two Bass Hit,' and 'We Three.'
Similarly to the guitar, the double bass's beautiful timbre occupies a distinct sonic space, offering a beautiful counterpoint to the human voice. And indeed, what could be better than one bass?
Undoubtedly for Hetty, the answer is two!
Hetty Kate has always enjoyed singing with guitar and bass, and has released many albums in this combo. Not particularly interested in recreating a 'gypsy' or 'manouche' sound, Hetty is drawn to artists like Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessell, and Grant Green.
This ensemble's mastery of their instruments is deeply enriched by their personal appreciation for freedom, joy, and curiosity, both in life and in music. This infuses the quintet with delight and embues the music with an atmosphere of fun and playfulness.
(To discover the story behind this project, and learn about the musicians involved please visit our 'About' page).
In 2019 we were invited to be a part of the Phoenix Central Park 'Live Recording' Series in their impressive gallery space. Hetty flew to Sydney with bassists Ben Robertson and Ben Hanlon, and was joined by local Sydney guitarists Sam Rollings and Carl Dewhurst.
