Bänz Oester, born in 1966 in Bern, Switzerland, is a Swiss jazz double bassist and educator. Oester studied classical double bass under Bela Szedlak from 1983 to 1987, and jazz at the Swiss Jazz School under Peter Frei from 1986 to 1989. Oester began his professional career as a sideman for musicians including Dewey Redman, Joe Lovano, and Michael Brecker. As a leader, Oester released his solo studio album Blospermint Suite in 2007 on Leo Records, and recorded the duo studio album Schibboleth in 2011 with Andreas Schaerer. In 2012, Oester formed the quartet Rainmakers, releasing studio and live albums including Playing at the Bird's Eye in 2014 on Unit Records and Gratitude in 2023 on Enja Yellowbird. Oester is a professor of double bass and ensemble playing at the Jazz Department of the Musikhochschule Basel.
