Thomas Heidepriem
Instruments: Upright bass and Fender basses

Biography: Born in 1953 Thomas has been playing the jazz bass since 1977. He has participated in many TV, radio and band projects in and beyond Germany. He has taught music at universities in Stuttgart, Mannheim and Frankfurt, where he still teaches. Thomas was awarded the Jazzpreis des Landes Baden Württemberg in 1987 and has been he has been a permanent member of the HR Big Band (Frankfurt Radio Big Band) since 1992.

Touring for the Goethe Institut brought him to Asia, Africa and eastern European. He played at Festivals in Frankfurt, Montreux, Lugano and San Remo, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Leverkusen and Cologne. In his career Thomas has joined forces with Franco Ambrosetti, Richie Beirach, Till Broenner, Jack Bruce, Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Eddie Daniels, Dave Douglas, Eliane Elias, Kurt Elling, Joey deFrancesco, Bill Frisell, Curtis Fuller, Peter Giger, Benny Golson, Rigor Gustavson, Georges Gruntz, , Tim Hagens, Gabriele Hasler, Roy Haynes, Bill Holman, Ralf Hübner, Maria Joao, Lee Konitz, Bernd Konrad, Paul Kuhn, Joachim Kühn, Christof Lauer, Joe Lovano, Albert Mangelsdorff, Tania Maria, Pat Martino, Jim McNeely, Bob Mintzer, Alphonse Mouzon, Chris Potter, Hugo Read, Diana Reeves, Michael Sagmeister, Heinz Sauer, Maria Schneider, Martin Schrack, Manfred Schoof, John Schröder,Gunter Schuller, Jürgen Seefelder, Jimmy Smith, Christoph Spendel, Mike Stern, Claus Stötter, Clark Terry, Silvia Tolstoi, Toots Thielemans, Ernie Watts as well as with the Radio- DRS- Big Band, the EBU- Big Band, the Ensemble 4+6(WDR) and the Jazzensemble des hr.

Thomas is a bass player of great originality and creativity. As soloist he has developed his own style; transparent and full of ideas. As part of the rhythm section he is sensitive and provides its harmonic backbone. He is one of the few bass players who gained accomplishment on the upright bass as well as on the electric bass. Avoiding the clichés which are common for many jazz musicians Thomas’ pure playing has made him a legend in European jazz.

Albums: Thomas contributed to more than 50 albums as bass player or pianist.
In 1992 he traveled to New York to record his solo album Brooklyn Shuffle with musicians: Jim Beard, Terry Lyne Carrington and Tony Lakatos.
In 1987 the radio station Südwestfunk published his duet with Vladislav Sendecki (LIVE JAZZ).

Favourite albums: My funny valentine-four and more (Miles Davis live at the Lincoln Center), We want Miles and Jobiniando (Ivan Lins), Mas coisas do brasil ( Leila Pinheiro) and Casa (Paula Morelenbaum).