Biography

Jean-Baptiste first studied double bass with his father, Bernard Salles, at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental in Pau, France. He continued his training with Jean-Michel Hequet, before later going on to study with Thomas Martin, Giuseppe Ettorre, Thierry Barbé, and Antonio Garcia Araque. He began teaching in 2003, and in 2018 was appointed as a professor at the Conservatoire de Pau. He is also a member of the Orchestre de Pau Pays de Béarn. Since August 2020 he has been the director of the international double bass summer camp, Rencontres de la Contrebasse en Roussillon, in Perpignan.

Alongside his career as a double bassist, Jean-Baptiste is also an electric bassist, composer, and producer. His eclectic tastes, ranging from classical music to electro, indie rock, and jazz, have led him to play in a variety of different bands, with whom he has performed and recorded. He currently performs regularly with electro group Kolman Skupp and David Bowie tribute band Some Strings, which brings together a number of orchestral musicians.

These experiences in pop music have inspired Jean-Baptiste to arrange a number of songs for double bass, which he records for his YouTube channel. Since 2019 he has also performed this music live, using technology to manage loops and effects.

Double Bass

Performance

Tutorial

  • Catalan Traditional — El Cant Dels Ocells: Tutorial with Jean-Baptiste Salles, Double Bass

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