Biography

Born into a family of musicians, Félix Zurstrassen has been immersed in music since childhood. He discovered the electric bass at the age of 14, rapidly developing a passion for the instrument. Jazz and improvisation quickly became an important part of his everyday practice.

From 2005 to 2010, he studied under Michel Hatzigeorgiou at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and graduated con laude. He then turned more particularly to the double bass for a few years. After a year studying under Jean- Louis Rassinfosse, he graduated in 2013 from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel in the class of the French double bass player Christophe Wallemme.

Félix Zurstrassen is a very versatile musician that can adapt easily to the specificities of many musical genres and styles. He quickly became part of the Belgian jazz scene as a sideman for numerous projects from different backgrounds. This is how he became one of the most appreciated Belgian bassists of his generation. As proof, Zurstrassen was awarded the Sabam "Young Talent" Jazz Award in 2017 "as he serves as a focal and rallying point for the entire young Belgian jazz scene by contributing to the main projects that carry it forward”.

In addition to his career as a leader of NOVA, Félix Zurstrassen has participated in numerous artistic performances on the national and international scene in various formations ranging from jazz, to pop-rock, to funk. His main groups are/have been Antoine Pierre "Urbex" with Bram De Looze, Jean- Paul Estiévenart, Bert Cools and Frédéric Malempré; Typh Barrow; Fabrizio Cassol "Conference of the Birds"; LG Jazz Collective with Guillaume Vierset; Pierre de Surgères Trio with Teun Verbruggen; Pirly Zurstrassen 4tet with Erwin Vann ; David Thomaere Trio; Alain Pierre Tree-Ho!; and The KMG's with Piotr Paluch.

He has shared the stage and/or recorded with Magic Malik, Jozef Dumoulin, Reinier Baas, Teis Semey, Stéphane Galland, Nicola Andrioli, Maxime Sanchez, Alexandra Grimal, Bo Vanderwerf, Steven Delannoye, Toine Thys, Steve Houben, Robin Verheyn, Nicolas Kummert, Nathalie Loriers, Pascal Mohy, Alex Koo, Lionel Beuvens, Sylvain Debaisieux, Peter Hertmans, Frédéric Leroux, Lorenzo Di Maio, Alexandre Cavalière, Greg Houben, Dré Pallemaerts, Lieven Venken, Igor Gehenot, Fabian Fiorini, Bruno Castellucci, Jasper Steverlinck, BJ Scott, Matthew Irons from Puggy and many other musicians.


DISCOGRAPHY

FELIX ZURSTRASSEN NOVA - Elusive - Igloo Records 2024

FELIX ZURSTRASSEN NOVA - NOVA (live) - Igloo Records 2023

ANTOINE PIERRE URBEX ELECTRIC  -  Suspended  -  Outnote Records 2020

FELIX ZURSTRASSEN - NOVA - Igloo Records 2020

TYPH BARROW - Aloha - Doo Wap Records 2020

ANTOINE PIERRE URBEX  -  Sketches of Nowhere  -  Igloo Records 2018

VINCENT SCARITO  -  What's In The Fridge  -  Self produced 2018

TYPH BARROW  -  Raw -  Doo Wap Records 2018

LG JAZZ COLLECTIVE  -  Strange Deal  -  Igloo Records 2018

PIERRE DE SURGERES TRIO  -  ZED  -  Self produced 2017

ANTOINE PIERRE  -  Urbex  -   Igloo Records 2016

DAVID THOMAERE TRIO  -  Crossing Lines  -  W.E.R.F. 2016

ALAIN PIERRE TREE-HO!  - Aaron & Allen  -  Spinach Pie Records 2016

LG JAZZ COLLECTIVE  -  New Feel  -  Igloo Records 2014

PIERRE DE SURGERES TRIO  -  Krysis  -  Self produced 2014

TYPH BARROW  -  Time  -  Doo Wap Records 2014

VINCENT SCARITO  -  Beings  -  Self produced 2014

THE KMG'S  -  Wake Up  -  Akamusic 2009

Picture © Gaël Maleux