Charles Berthoud

Born in Switzerland, Charles Berthoud has been developing since the 2010s a body of work focused on the solo bass, at the crossroads of rock, jazz fusion and a compositional approach influenced by classical music. A Berklee College of Music alumnus, where he also co‑authored Two‑Handed Tapping with educator Jim Stinnett, Charles Berthoud puts the bass front and center with a playing style that combines melodic lines, chords, harmonics, percussive attacks and two‑handed tapping. His compositions, arrangements and videos have circulated well beyond the circle of bassists, complementing a performance career that has taken him on tours across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Berthoud’s aesthetic is built on dense but readable instrumental writing, in which the bass can simultaneously fulfill rhythmic, harmonic and solo roles. Alongside his concerts, he also pursues pedagogical work through online lessons and masterclasses delivered in a variety of contexts, notably at the Musicians Institute, the Guitar Summit and Victor Wooten’s Music & Nature camp.