Sylvain Gagnon

Considered one of the finest bass players of his generation from Montreal, Sylvain Gagnon is a virtuoso of both double bass and electric bass with extensive international touring and recording experience. His musical expertise spans a vast array of styles, including standard jazz, rock, funk, Latin, African music, and Carnatic (classical music from South India), performing in settings ranging from solo to big bands. Gagnon's formal training began in 1975 on electric bass, studying with Rene Worst and attending workshops with Charlie Haden. He later studied classical bass with Dennis James of the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra and attended the CIM in Paris. He further refined his craft through lessons with masters such as Don Thompson, John Patitucci, and Dave Holland. Throughout his career, Gagnon has recorded over 300 albums and contributed to more than 70 jingles and 15 movie soundtracks. He has collaborated with a prestigious roster of international musicians, including Joey Calderazzo, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Bob Mintzer, Eric Marienthal, James Morrison, Scott Hamilton, and Tiger Okoshi. In 1992, he received an honorific mention at the Jazz Alcan competition and was a frequent host of jam sessions at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, where he performed alongside legends like Joshua Redman, Benny Carter, and Michel Petrucciani. His quartet albums, 'Crépuscule' and 'Readers of the Lost Chart,' both received ADISQ nominations for Jazz Album of the Year. Since relocating to Hong Kong in 2000, Gagnon has become one of the most in-demand bassists in Asia. He has performed and recorded with numerous regional icons, including Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Sandy Lam, George Lam, and Bianca Wu. Notably, he participated in Jacky Cheung's 'Half Century World Tour,' performing 146 concerts for an audience of millions. He also regularly performs with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. In addition to his performance career, he founded Lost Chart Records and the World Chart label to promote high-quality jazz and world music projects.