Former ISB President Barre Phillips Passes Away

Former president of the International Society of Bassists, Barre Phillips, passed away at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Dec. 28, 2024. He was 90.

Barre was a jazz bassist and composer who studied briefly with Charles Siani, assistant principal bass of the San Francisco Symphony and originally planned on an academic career. But in his mid-20s, he resolved to pursue his personal musical. During his time in New York City in the 1960s, he worked with Jimmy Giuffre, Archie Shepp, George Russell, Paul Bley and other musicians of avant-garde jazz. Barre moved to Europe in 1967 and lived in southern France for most of his life, returning to the U.S. in recent years. He founded the European Improvisation Center in 2014.

Barre was president of the International Society of Bassists from 2001–2003 and chaired the 2003 ISB convention at the University of Richmond, Virginia.

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