Petros Klampanis makes music that rewards close listening. A bassist, composer, producer and bandleader from Zakynthos, Greece, he has built a distinctive language around the double bass, treating it as a melodic and compositional voice. Improvisation sits at the heart of his work, held within a strong sense of form and place.

Petros Klampanis is a bassist, composer, producer and bandleader from Zakynthos, Greece. The double bass is at the centre of his work. He approaches it as a melodic and compositional voice. His music has taken shape over two decades spent between Europe and the United States, with improvisation remaining at its core. A strong sense of place runs through the work, as does a close attention to form and sound.

His albums include Contextual, Minor Dispute, Chroma, Irrationalities, Rooftop Stories, Tora Collective and Latent Info. His eighth album, ’96, follows in 2027. Klampanis has longstanding collaborations with Arooj Aftab and Oded Tzur. His years in New York also placed him within a wide circle of musicians who became an important part of his musical development. In Greece, his collaborations have included Maria Farantouri and Dimitra Galani.

His work with Aftab spans recordings and arrangements, extending into orchestral projects with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and the London Contemporary Orchestra. More recently, Klampanis created Songs from the Ionian Sea with CHÓRES, the women's vocal ensemble under the artistic direction of Marina Satti. The project returns to traditional music from the Ionian Islands through contemporary choral writing and production.

His work has been covered by NPR Music and DownBeat. The New York Times has also featured his performances. Tora Collective received the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Klampanis has received four Independent Music Awards across Chroma and Irrationalities.

Klampanis is also the founder of PKmusik, an independent label dedicated to artists with a strong individual voice.
’96 will be released on February 19, 2027 by Enja and PKmusik. The record reflects on attention and memory.

“This is very emotional music, where the assembled players bring all their interpretive skills to bear as they figuratively scale mountains, wrestle seas and find a place of centered calm.”

— New York City Jazz Record

“With each successive disc, bassist-composer Petros Klampanis has developed an increasingly personal voice.”

— DownBeat

“Klampanis is, fundamentally, a melodist.”

— LiFO

“Poised, yet heartfelt music characterized by seriousness of purpose and a dignified austerity.”

— All About Jazz

“Minor Dispute … incorporates chamber string arrangements and a worldly, streamlined rhythmic pulse.”

— The New York Times

“A formidable player and composer.
Irrationalities is a multifaceted, thing of beauty.”

— JazzTimes

“Klampanis plays solo bass with a loop pedal to create a “double bass orchestra”on “Basscope” and “Blue Cave,” which are done so masterfully that you’d thinkit was a full symphony.”

— No Treble

“Klampanis has long since freed himself from the role of the mere accompanist.”

— Jazzthetik

“Klampanis is a Bass Ace.”

— Bassplayer