CHRIS JENNINGS / SOFIA LABROPOULOU / VERENA ZEINER
concert
Thu. 06. November, 19:30
CHRIS JENNINGS Double-Bass / SOFIA LABROPOULOU Kanun / VERENA ZEINER Piano
For the fourth concert of Unbounded Sounds 2025, Sofia Labropoulou collaborates for the first time with Chris Jennings, a celebrated bassist known for his creative mastery in jazz and global music.
In the second half, the Austrian pianist Verena Zeiner brings her distinct improvisational flair to this trio’s first-ever concert performance.
Location: Sargfabrik Kulturhaus (Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Wien)
Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible.
workshop
Fri. 07. November, 10:00 - 17:30
CHRIS JENNINGS Intercontinental travels on the double-bass
Chris Jennings will present and discuss his musical path, learning and building as a jazz musician with rich experiences in immersion of different cultures and music, through demonstrations, listening examples and interactive exercises for those participating.
Location: mica – music Austria Seminarraum (Stiftgasse 29, 1070 Wien)
Duration: 6 hours
Time: 10:00 – 17:30 (with pause)
Participation fee: 80 euros
Language: English
Accessibility: The workshop room is wheelchair accessible
All workshops are open to composers and musicians of all instruments.
About the artists
Chris Jennings
Double-Bass
“An alchemist of sounds on his double bass – woody, full, round, expressive and supple – Chris Jennings is also, and above all, an alchemist of ambience. An ‘ambianceur’, as we would say these days.” Didier Peneguin – Jazz gazette
Based in Paris since 2002, Canadian bassist Chris Jennings has established himself internationally, collaborating with renowned artists like Dhafer Youssef, Nguyên Lê, Joachim Kühn, and Aynur Doğan.
His versatility spans jazz, world, and contemporary music, with performances alongside figures such as Tigran Hamasyan, Mark Guiliana, Kudsi Ergüner, and Seamus Blake.
An accomplished composer, arranger, and educator, Jennings leads projects such as his Chris Jennings 5 Ways Home album, praised in European press, and Drum’n Koto, featuring Nguyên Lê and Kudsi Ergüner. He has also developed longstanding collaborations like the Jennings/Perchaud Duo and the Chris Jennings String Quintet with members of the London Symphony Orchestra.
With a B.A. in Jazz Performance (University of Toronto) and an M.A. in Music (Royal Conservatory of The Hague), Jennings has taught at the Didier Lockwood Music School and actively leads masterclasses worldwide.
He is supported by d’Addario Strings and David Gage Pickups.
Sofia Labropoulou
Kanun player, composer, improviser and artistic director of Unbounded Sounds
“Sofia Labropoulou has translated the musical heritage of the European and Aegean musical tradition into a living practice.” Cecile Olshausen – SRF 2 Kultur
Sofia Labropoulou is an internationally acclaimed kanun player, composer, and improviser celebrated for her groundbreaking approach to the instrument.
By blending Eastern Mediterranean folk music, Ottoman classical traditions, Western medieval, contemporary, and experimental music, she creates a sound that is both deeply personal and globally resonant.
Classically trained in piano and percussion, Sofia discovered her passion for the kanun as a teenager and later moved to Istanbul to study Ottoman music in depth. Over the years, she has pushed the boundaries of the kanun, taking the instrument into entirely new territories, far beyond its traditional frameworks. Her innovative techniques and experimental compositions have redefined its role in contemporary music, establishing her as a pioneer in the field.
Sofia has collaborated with wonderful artists across genres, performing on prestigious stages worldwide and leading masterclasses in kanun and Greek folk music. Her acclaimed solo album Sisyphus (Odradek Records, 2020) showcased her unique ability to intertwine tradition and innovation, while her upcoming album Spiral continues to explore new sonic possibilities and brings the kanun out of its sonic limits.
As the founder and artistic creator of Unbounded Sounds, Sofia brings her vision of cross-cultural collaboration and artistic dialogue to life. The festival exemplifies her belief in the transformative power of music to connect people and traditions while pushing the limits of artistic expression.
Based in Vienna, Sofia Labropoulou continues to compose, perform, and inspire new generations of musicians with her revolutionary approach to the kanun and her dedication to reshaping the musical landscape.
Verena Zeiner
Piano
“Verena Zeiner draws her musical line that grips you in a truly magical way that takes you into another dimension.” Michael Ternai – mica-music austria
Verena Zeiner is pianist, improviser and composer. She plays in various ensembles in the wide field of improvised music, leads her own bands, composes for them as well as for chamber music ensembles, orchestra and interdisciplinary projects. She has released several albums and has received awards for her work as a pianist and composer. At the core of her work is the artistic exploration of the possibilities of improvisation. Her approach to music is strongly rooted in movement, bodywork and dance.
Verena Zeiner completed her studies (Music- and Movementeducation/ Rhythmics; IGP Tasteninstrumente Popularmusik/Jazzpiano) at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She is co-founder of Fraufeld, a platform dedicated to increasing the visibility of Flinta* musicians, is senior lecturer for improvisation at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna as well as lecturer for the Free Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Composition at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.