BIO
Felipe Zenicola is a Brazilian electric bass player, composer, and sound designer based in Lisbon since 2022. Felipe is known for his distinctive approach to the bass, which emerged from a deep exploration of free forms of improvisation across diverse musical contexts. Spanning noise rock, free jazz, metal, and minimalism, Zenicola continuously experiments with various methods to engage with the instrument, creating a compelling and multifaceted voice on the bass.
A pivotal moment in his journey came with the formation of Chinese Cookie Poets in 2010, a trailblazing experimental band that seamlessly fused composed pieces with improvisation, consolidating his intense and unorthodox playing style. His technique merges extended bass approaches with rhythmic energy, ambient drones, and intricate patterns, carving out a distinct space for himself in contemporary music.
Zenicola’s long-standing collaboration with Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love has also been crucial to his career. Together, they released the albums Botafogo and New Brazilian Funk, blending the rhythmic complexities of Brazilian music with the raw power of free jazz and noise. More to come.
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In Portugal, he formed the trio MOVE with Portuguese drummer João Valinho and Brazilian saxophonist Yedo Gibson. Their music has been praised for its raw, dynamic sound and innovative interplay between the musicians. In 2025, Felipe will debut a new trio featuring Russian saxophonist Anton Ponomarev and Swiss drummer Maxime Hänsenberger, merging free improvisation with black and death metal.
Over the past 15 years, Zenicola has worked with other notable artists from different corners of the globe, including Otomo Yoshihide, Arto Lindsay, Zbigniew Karkowski, Julie Kjær, Bill Orcutt, Marcela Lucatelli, Negro Leo, and many others, further solidifying his role as a daring and innovative force in modern music. His ability to seamlessly fuse these different musical colors has established Felipe as a singular voice in contemporary electric bass playing, continuing to push the boundaries of his instrument with a sound that is both bold and unmistakably his own.
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“Zenicola´s bass grumbles and twangs like a demonic berimbau.”- Stewart Smith, The Wire Magazine
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“Electric bass by Felipe Zenicola is based on search of new timbres, experimental ways of playing and bright tunes. Soft and gentle mood is against ambient tunes, strange timbres, gorgeous noises, electronics, modified timbres and other special effects. His electric bass forms beautiful and contrasting background, has effective and deep sound.”- Rodrigo Bosard, Avant Scena
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“Zenicola's metallic unforgiving bass lines ripple like undercurrents in a storm.”- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz