Welcome to the website of JUNO and Polaris Prize nominated Composer/Bassist :::::::::::: Bret Higgins

He readily blends Eastern European influences, rock grooves, psychotropic sounds, and klezmer-ish melodies, alternately creating grooving numbers and sweeping, cinematic pieces in the process.” - - Dan Bilawsky

— All About Jazz

This Canadian ace has his fingers in so many pies at once that it probably doesn't phase him to toss off a Klezmer/surf/crime Jazz track that would have been at home in a movie produced by Golan Globus financed with Middle Eastern money. ” - Chris Spector

— The Midwestern Record

Winningly melodic carbonated chamber jazz” - Carlo Wolff

— Downbeat Magazine

About

Bret Higgins is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto, Canada.  He leads a varied career that includes writing music for film and television, original music for ensembles, co-writes, producing, arranging, and performing & recording with an array of artists from across a broad spectrum of contemporary music. 

The bassist's prolific work as a composer has won him numerous awards, grants, residencies, and scholarships.  His music has been heard in clubs, theatres, and concert halls throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. Additionally, he has received a number of music commissions by notable performing ensembles.

Bret has released 2 CDs of his original music performed by his Bret Higgins' Atlas Revolt instrumental project.  His debut ‘self-titled' CD was released by John Zorn on Tzadik Records in 2015, and the followup CD ‘Illusion Machine’ was released in 2018 on Chant Records

In addition to leading his own Bret Higgins’ Atlas Revolt band, the bassist performs regularly with Canadian folk-rock group Great Lake Swimmers and Canada's leading Klezmer-Balkan group Beyond The Pale.  Bret performs extensively in Toronto, and has toured throughout North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and Asia.   

 

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