France
Joëlle Léandre, double bass
Joëlle Léandre is a one-woman encyclopaedia of music. Her distinguished career is a treasure trove of musical collaborations, artistic creations and bravura performances either in various ensembles, most notably female line-ups, or solo projects. If America has William Parker, Europe has Joëlle Léandre. Her exceptional talent was recognised by both John Cage and Giancinto Scelsi, as well as Pierre Boulez and many other composers and musicians. One can speak neither about double bass nor music without referring to Joëlle Léandre.