Chris RiggenbachArtist Affiliate: Jazz Bass

Bassist Chris Riggenbach was born in Gainesville, Florida and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. His first instrument was cello. He began playing electric bass in high school then the double bass in college. Chris has played bass with Josh Groban, Chloe Agnew, Gary Motley, Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Audrey Shakir, Karla Harris, Ted Howe, Keith David, Sarah Partridge, Marcus Lewis, Josh Lawrence, Raphael Imbert, Macon Pops, Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Jose Manuel Garcia,  Larry Camp, Tempest Little Big Band, The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, Jazz Legacy Big Band, Sweetwater Junction, and Gold Sparkle Band. Chris has also played bass on the musicals, “The Sound of Music”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Dreamgirls”, “Bonnie & Clyde”, and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

For 10 years, Chris led his own jazz trios and performed in show bands on cruise ships. He had the opportunity to perform with entertainers such as John Davidson, Christopher Alan Graves, Michelle Shocked, Marcus Anthony, and Denny Brunk. During this time, Chris was a member of The Gavin Ahearn Trio, a jazz trio featuring pianist Gavin Ahearn and drummer Christian Coleman. In 2007, they released the CD, “Flight of the Arctic Tern”. In 2010, Chris toured in Poland with trumpet player Josh Lawrence and drummer Mike De Castro. The trio performed at The Sopot Molo Jazz Festival, Piwnica pod Baranami in Krakow, Dwor Artusa in Torun and other jazz festivals in Poland. The trio released the CD, “One Night in Atlanta”, in 2013.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in jazz studies from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He has studied bass with jazz bassists Neal Starkey and Robert Dickson as well as classical bassists Dee Moses (Florida Orchestra), Ralph Jones (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), and Thomas Thoreson (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra). Chris and his wife live in Marietta with their two daughters.