Unsung Songs is the debut solo album from bassist David Bowden, featuring the double bass in a solo setting and building on work developed after his first solo performance at Glasgow Jazz Festival in 2024.
The music draws on jazz, folk and contemporary songwriting, combining original pieces with reimagined songs by Nick Drake, Emilíana Torrini and Chris Thile. A key focus of the project is vocal music — Bowden spent time transcribing singers to better understand phrasing and apply that sense of expression to the bass. Influences also include solo bass players such as Jorge Roeder, Larry Grenadier and John Patitucci, alongside the sound world of acoustic guitar music.
Recorded at Solas Sound in Glasgow with engineer Gus Stirrat, and developed with input from bassist Or Bareket, the album explores the bass as both melodic and accompanying instrument. The pieces bring together melody, harmony and groove in a solo context, reflecting an approach shaped through live performance and studio development between 2024 and 2026.
‘Absorbing explorations in solo double bass playing’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Scotsman
‘Beauty, breadth and emotional range… you can almost feel the strings and wooden fretboard’ Soweto Kinch, BBC Radio 3
‘Thoughtful and beautiful album’ - UK Jazz News
‘a record that is immediately listenable but offers plenty of depth and spaces you can get lost in. Shut off all other noises and indulge yourself in the purity of this solo solace.’ - Jez Nelson, One Jazz
‘Such is Bowden’s mastery and tone, that many of the tracks feel like old friends on first hearing… half an hour of dexterous, low frequency joy’ - The Ileach