Paul Kowert

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Paul Kowert

| image =

| image_size =

| caption = Paul Kowert

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|18}}

| origin = Madison, Wisconsin, US

| instrument = Double Bass, Mandolin, Guitar, Violin, Piano

| genre = Classical
Bluegrass
Progressive bluegrass

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 2008-present

| label = Nonesuch Records, Padiddle Records

| associated_acts = Punch Brothers, Hawktail, Haas Kowert Tice, Mike Marshall's Big Trio, Dave Rawlings Machine.

| current_members =

| past_members =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

}}

File:2008 Punch Brothers - credit Cassandra Jenkins SMALL for website.jpg.]]

Paul Kowert (born July 18, 1986) is an American bassist and composer. His styles include classical, bluegrass, and progressive bluegrass. He is a member of the progressive acoustic quintet Punch Brothers and a founding member of Hawktail, an acoustic supergroup composed of Kowert, fiddler Brittany Haas, guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-18|title=A Long, Musical Friendship: A Conversation With Hawktail|url=https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/a-long-musical-friendship-a-conversation-with-hawktail/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=The Bluegrass Situation|language=en-US|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204200459/https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/a-long-musical-friendship-a-conversation-with-hawktail/|url-status=live}}

Biography

Kowert grew up in Middleton, Wisconsin. He transitioned to playing bass from violin at age 9. He studied under Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music, graduating in 2009.{{Cite web|title=Back to Aspen, and playing with new Punch | AspenTimes.com|url=http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110206/ASPENWEEKLY/110209909|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810032829/http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110206/ASPENWEEKLY/110209909|archive-date=August 10, 2016|access-date=January 6, 2012}}Allen, Dave. "Meet the Alumni - Endless Curiosity." Overtones, Fall 2019, 26-27. While still pursuing his degree at Curtis, Kowert was recruited to join Punch Brothers. Bandmate Chris Thile said of Kowert's arrival, "that’s when the band really became a band." He remained the only non-founding member of the ensemble until Brittany Haas joined in 2023.

Equipment

Kowert plays the double bass made by luthier Daniel Hachez in 2006 ("Daniel Hachez Bass #28").{{Cite web|title=Daniel Hachez #28 2006 —|url=https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/hachez|access-date=2021-10-18|website=www.padiddlerecords.com|language=en-US}} Inspired by mentor Edgar Meyer, Kowert plays in an unconventional tuning that combines orchestral tuning and solo tuning. In orchestral (or "standard") tuning, the bass is tuned in ascending fourths from E to G (i.e., E, A, D, G). In solo tuning, the bass is also tuned in fourths but begins a major second above orchestral tuning, running from F# to A (i.e., F#, B, E, A). Kowert's tuning adheres to solo tuning for the instrument's three highest strings but reverts to orchestral tuning for the lowest string (i.e., E, B, E, A). Additionally, Kowert regularly uses a C extension, resulting in an even wider range of pitch (i.e., C, B, E, A).{{Cite web|title=Daniel Hachez #28 2006 —|url=https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/hachez|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.padiddlerecords.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019170246/https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/hachez|url-status=live}}

In addition to his Hachez bass, Kowert regularly plays a Shen SB-180 bass modified by luthier Arnold Schnitzer to include a removable neck.{{Cite web|title=Arnold E. Schnitzer, luthier|url=http://cellobass.com/index.htm|access-date=2021-10-19|website=cellobass.com|archive-date=July 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713012752/http://cellobass.com/index.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Shen Removable Neck Bass —|url=https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/shensb-180|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.padiddlerecords.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019233427/https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/shensb-180|url-status=live}} This modification, Kowert claims, has proven indispensable for the demands of touring, particularly with Punch Brothers. "The way we traveled on the Who's Feeling Young Now? tour," Kowert explains, "would not have been possible without this thing."

Since 2021, Kowert exclusively uses a bass made by Nick Lloyd (#55, 2021).{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Kowert uses a bow made by Reid Hudson.{{Cite web|title=Reid Hudson Bow —|url=https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/hudsonbow|access-date=2021-10-18|website=www.padiddlerecords.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019152147/https://www.padiddlerecords.com/paulkowert/gear/hudsonbow|url-status=live}}

Discography

;With Punch Brothers

Antifogmatic (2010)
Who's Feeling Young Now? (2012)
Ahoy! (2012)
The Phosphorescent Blues (2015)
All Ashore (2018)
Hell on Church Street (2022){{Cite web|title=Punch Brothers' 'Hell on Church Street' Due January 14 on Nonesuch; Reimagining of, Homage to Tony Rice's 'Church Street Blues' - Nonesuch Records|url=https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/punch-brothers-hell-church-street-january-14-nonesuch-reimagining-homage-tony-rice-2021-01-27|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Nonesuch Records Official Website|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925161041/https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/punch-brothers-hell-church-street-january-14-nonesuch-reimagining-homage-tony-rice-2021-01-27|url-status=live}}