About

Søren Nissen is an acoustic and electric bassist whose work spans a vast range of musical settings, reaching across jazz, folk, rock, indie, ambient, classical, and experimental genres. Currently based in his hometown of Saskatoon, SK, Søren was a fixture of the Toronto music scene for over a decade and maintains deep creative ties across Canada and abroad.

A devotee of classic tone, Søren is known for a warm, rich sound and a locked‑in sense of groove. Inspired by foundational heroes like James Jamerson, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, Carol Kaye, and Paul McCartney, he strives to provide a foundation that lifts up the music and the ensemble. He is a meticulous player who believes every bass line deserves attention to the smallest detail.

Søren holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College (2012), where he studied with esteemed musicians including Mike Downes, Neil Swainson, Pat LaBarbera, Kirk MacDonald, and Kieran Overs. He is also an alumnus of the Banff Workshop for Creative Music, learning from a world‑class faculty that included Vijay Iyer, Linda Oh, Esperanza Spalding, and Ravi Coltrane.

Throughout his career, Søren has performed and collaborated with an extensive list of renowned musicians and ensembles. His credits include: Ewan Currie, Shamus Currie, and Sam Corbett (The Sheepdogs), Field Guide, Liam Duncan (Boy Golden), Sam Lynch, Emily Rockarts, Chynna Lewis, Sarah Slean, Kellylee Evans, Lydia Persaud, David Occhipinti, Allison Au, Mark DeJong, Tara Davidson, Ewen Farncombe, Adrean Farrugia, Drew Jurecka, Nathan Hiltz, Jeff LaRochelle, P.J. Perry, the Outer Bridge Ensemble, Dean McNeill, Oliver Jones, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra, Terence Blanchard, Danilo Pérez, Vincent Herring, Geoff Young, Andrew McAnsh, James Hill, Steven Taetz, Language Arts, The Skyliners, Not The Moon, and many more.

As a bandleader, Søren released the EP Transform (2012) and the award‑winning full‑length album Departures (2017), which features original experimental jazz compositions inspired by a lengthy 2015 journey through India. Continually expanding his artistic pursuits, his recent creative output also includes ambient explorations under the alias Kris Edwards.

Beyond the stage, Søren has been a dedicated music educator for over a decade. His experience encompasses private instruction alongside faculty positions at the Humber Community Music Program (Toronto), the Global Music Institute (New Delhi), the TD Jazz Intensive (SK), and numerous other workshops and camps. Bridging his musical background with technical expertise, Søren has also broadened his skill set as a software and web developer. He recently built and launched Musician Practice Drones , a specialized web tool designed for intonation and improvisation. Whether in the studio, on the road, or in the classroom, Søren remains driven by the joy of recording, playing, and collaborating with pals, old and new.