South African double bassist James Oesi is active as a soloist, chamber musician and artistic director. His work centres on the double bass as a solo instrument spanning from the Baroque to the present day and includes solo and chamber programmes in which he gives the instrument a central melodic role. 

A central part of his practice involves developing new repertoire through close collaboration with composers, as well as reworking existing material for the double bass himself. His programmes often bring together different musical languages within a single concert context.

Alongside his performance career, Oesi is the founder and artistic director of BassFest, an international festival dedicated to the double bass and it’s direct relatives. In his role as artistic director he also works for BachFestival Dordrecht.

As a musician James is concerned above all with communication; using sound to create an immediate connection with the listener.

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