Sebastiano Dessanay is a double bassist and composer born in Cagliari, Sardinia.
His music is highly informed by a strong sense of melody and attention to textural details. The double bass has often a prominent role in his research and elements of improvisation permeate his compositions, often enriched by the use of electronics.
Sebastiano started to play piano and cello when he was 11 and then turned to electric bass, playing with different rock and pop bands. Some years later, after having obtained a geology degree at Cagliari University, he started studying double bass and composition at Cagliari Conservatoire where he graduated in 2007. In November 2007 he moved to UK and in 2009 he has completed a Master in Music at Birmingham Conservatoire, where he is now completing a PhD in Composition.
Many are the past and current collaborations with musicians in jazz, classical, pop-rock and ethnic music. He has also collaborated with practitioners of theatre, dance, film and visual arts world. He has performed extensively throughout Europe and has recorded in many different projects.
Prizes and awards have included: Honorable Mention from the International Society of Bassists (ISB) for the composition Noise for double bass and electronics at the 2012 David Walter Composition Competition; 1st prize at Sardinia International Composition Competition in 2004 with the composition Scherzo for solo double bass.
His music has been performed at Stratford On Avon Music Festival (Stratford-upon-Avon 2012), Jazz Dock (Prague, 2012), Sound New Festival (Canterbury, 2012 and 2010), European Jazz Expò (Cagliari, 2012), Nuoro Jazz Festival (Nuoro, 2012 and 2010), Integra Festival (Copenhagen, 2011), University of Nebraska (Omaha, 2011), Royal Conservatoire (Stockholm, 2011), Frontiers Festival (Birmingham, 2009 and 2010), The Place (London, 2008 and 2009), Spazio Musica Festival (Cagliari, 2004), Time in Jazz Festival (Berchidda, 2000).
