Pasadena, California
Holden King
Upright Bassist
Jazz · Improvised Music · Composition · World Music
Holden King is a Pasadena-based upright bassist, composer, and improviser. Rooted in jazz, his work moves through improvised music, world music, recording, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
01 / Listen
Not Rex
The Holden King Trio · Jazz · 2020
An original Holden King Trio recording centered on composition, improvisation, and the acoustic voice of the upright bass.
Open in Spotify02 / Selected credits
Notable Work & Collaborations
Selected performance, recording, ensemble, and interdisciplinary work.
- 01The Holden King TrioLeader · Composer · Bassist
- 02Ulrich KriegerAbyssal · Composer / Performer
- 03Vinny GoliaCollaboration
- 04Vardan OvsepianPerformance Collaboration
- 05Koobang EnsembleEnsemble Performance
- 06Matin EshaghiAs Days Go By · Bass / Visual Collaboration
- 07JC Meyers / LiturgyREDCAT Performance
- 08TF QuartetEnsemble
- 09Chris SpeedLight Line · Film Collaboration
03 / About
A bassist first.
Holden King is an upright bassist, composer, improviser, and interdisciplinary artist based in Pasadena, California. His musical foundation is jazz, with a practice that also reaches into free improvisation, experimental music, and world music traditions.
King earned a BFA in Music Composition and Performance with a Jazz Bass concentration and an interdisciplinary MFA in Film/Video and Jazz Bass from California Institute of the Arts. His work crosses live performance, recording, composition, film, and collaborative art-making while keeping the upright bass at its center.
04 / Contact