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Jair-Rohm Parker Wells
Jair-Rohm Parker Wells 21st Century Electric Bassist
About Me
Jair-Rohm Parker Wells (born October 13, 1958) is an American bassist, composer, producer, and
conceptualist whose work traverses experimental, improvised, and jazz-derived idioms. His music is
distinguished by a deep sense of space, resonance, and narrative — whether performed solo on
electric upright bass or within collaborative ensembles that bridge genres and generations.
After formative years in Germany and New Orleans, Parker Wells established himself in New York’s
experimental scene, co-founding the legendary ensemble Machine Gun (with Thomas Chapin and
Robert Musso) and later performing with figures such as Elliott Sharp, Tony Scott and Reeves
Gabrels. His wide-ranging projects have included the power-trio Doom Dogs (with Gabrels and
drummer Jonathan Kane), Ripplewood (an acoustic Grateful Dead-inspired group), Yellow Fields (a
tribute to Eberhard Weber), and the new acoustic trio Dead Solstice — described as “Grateful Dead
meets ECM.”
He has also developed the long-form solo presentation “Resonance: Improvisation, Innovation, and
the Legacy of Eberhard Weber”, which combines live performance, storytelling, and pedagogy. This
program has been presented internationally at schools, libraries, and concert venues.
Currently based in New Jersey, Parker Wells remains active throughout the U.S. and Europe. His
recent engagements include concerts and workshops in Philadelphia, Stockholm, London, and
Liverpool, with forthcoming tours across Scandinavia and Germany in 2026. In addition to his own
ensembles, he serves as a licensing agent for the Jerry Garcia Music Arts label and is presently in
talks for a very special new project with the Jerry Garcia Foundation.
