Björn Meyer

Björn Meyer — born in Sweden and based in Switzerland since 1996 — is acclaimed for his category-defying musicianship, expanding the sonic and expressive possibilities of the electric bass across a multitude of genres, both within and beyond its traditional role.

Initially a hobby guitarist headed for a degree in computer science, Meyer’s life changed at 18 when he first encountered the electric bass. Within five years he had completed his studies, left the world of computers, and begun touring professionally — launching a career he has pursued ever since, beginning in 1989.

Meyer’s international breakthrough came with an Afro-Cuban jazz band at the Havana Jazz Festival in 1990, followed by touring in the United States, studio work in New York, flamenco projects across Europe, and pioneering efforts to integrate electric bass into Swedish folk music. He continues to explore new depths of the instrument that has defined his artistic life.

His solo work on ECM Records has been widely praised for revealing the bass guitar’s “unheard” potential. Produced by Manfred Eicher, Provenance (2017) established a distinctive solo language grounded in resonance, texture, and spatial awareness, while Convergence (2026) further develops this approach, treating acoustic space as an integral musical partner. Meyer’s solo performances have taken him to major venues and festivals worldwide, including the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Ronnie Scott’s in London, and concerts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Alongside his solo career, Meyer has built long-standing collaborations across diverse musical traditions. He has worked extensively with Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem and has been a central figure in contemporary Swedish folk music for over three decades with Bazar Blå. He leads the intercultural ensemble Garden of Silence, co-founded the Swiss quartet NEN, and collaborates widely with artists such as Simin Tander, Tom Arthurs, Misagh Jolaee, Mahan Mirarab, Park Stickney, and others.

Meyer was a defining member of Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin, contributing to the group’s first seven albums and more than a decade of international touring, and he maintains a long-running creative partnership with Swiss composer and musician Don Li.

Awards

Current awards and schollarships include:

STIM (SE - 2025)

Swiss Music Prize (CH - 2019)

Canton Bern Music Prize (CH - 2018)

Gear

MTD 635 Six string Electric Bass Guitar - travelling together since 1996

Acoustic Bass Guitar by Richard Rolf

Bass Mandola by Christer Ådin

Metric Halo ULN2 / 2882 3D - Preamp / Interface

Macbook running Plogue Bidule ..

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