Chase Behar

Chase Behar is a Canadian-American bassist focused primarily on the jazz idiom—although he is interested in pop and groove styles as well. After nearly ten years of playing the electric bass, Behar decided to pick up the double bass in his second year at Berklee College of Music in 2023, and quickly rose to a professional level within the Boston music scene on his new instrument.

Behar's philosophy since coming to Berklee has been to not be intimidated by the level of others or become daunted by the system around him, but instead to realize his own pace of growth and find his own path. This pursuit led him to his studies in the avant-garde style shortly after beginning on the upright bass. He took on a mentorship with the incredibly accomplished Cuban drummer Francisco Mela, while also studying with other giants in the free music circle, such as Tony Malaby and Kris Davis. Although this style is only one of Behar’s many areas of focus within his professional career, he continues with improvised music as a method to further his musicality in ways that he can apply to all other styles. Throughout his studies so far, Behar has been fortunate enough to have work with other heavily accomplished bassists and musicians such as Linda May Han Oh, John Lockwood, Susan Hagen (of the Boston POPS and Boston Symphony Orchestra), Kenny Werner, and many more.

Behar has had the honor of receiving awards such as the World Tour Scholarship and the Clarke Family Scholarship from Berklee, as well as the Jimmy Haslip Scholarship award from the Berklee Bass Department for musical and academic excellence. He is currently entering his final year at Berklee, with the goal of moving to New York shortly afterward to pursue his career path as a jazz artist.

Chase Behar will be performing as part of Berklee’s Summer in the City 2025 concert series. View all concerts.