Contrabass Conversations

Matthew Tucker of Bresque Basses has been innovating in a number of fascinating ways in the world of bass luthiery. A regular attendee of the Violin Society of America / Oberlin Bass Workshop, Matthew has designed an innovative system of flatback double bass bracing that he calls Responsive Flatback Bracing. We dig into this bracing system, his path into the luthier world, his approach to repair (think doctor/patient relationship), the luthier and client relationship, and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, archival and cataloging Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We're chatting with Katie Thiroux on today's episode. Katie's album Off Beat was named one of Downbeat's Best Albums of 2017, and she recently completed a three-month stint at Quincy Jones' Dubai Jazz club. We dig into all kinds of topics, like: growing up in Los Angeles Katie's favorite Jazz audiences around the world What she does with six hours of practicing Advice for those embarking on a music career ..and much more! This is an engaging conversation with one of Jazz's great young artists! Enjoy, and be sure to follow along with Katie on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Micah Howard has been on my "to interview" list for years. As a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony and faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, Micah has had a huge influence on countless bass players (including my good friend Christian Dillingham!). I actually just found a note from 2008 that said "interview Micah Howard" - that's how long I've been hoping to do this! A few weeks ago, I wrote him an email asking to schedule an interview, only to find that he had emailed me that exact same day to ask if I'd be up for being a clinician at the next Pittsburgh Bass Symposium. We must have been on the same wavelength that day without realizing it! Micah and I dig into a ton of topics: Micah's journey through the music world What he learned through his four Pittsburgh Symphony auditions The experience of serving on the PSO core audition committee Mindset shifts between preliminary rounds and later rounds What non-bassists hear when they listen to bassists Negotiating committees, lockouts, and other things you don't think about when you're in music school Advice for Micah's younger self This is a great conversation with a person who gives so much to the bass community, and I know you'll love it! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

BASS2018 Lucca will take place July 31 - August 5, 2018. Today, we chat with Artistic Directors Gabriele Ragghianti and Alberto Bocini about what to expect at this event. I'll be there covering the event and having many conversations for the podcast. We all hope to see you there!

Lauren Pierce has just released a new course called Practiceology. As the name implies, this is a deep-dive into the hows and whys of practicing. We dig into all kinds of topics with Lauren, like: Lauren's recent article about why practice is frustrating her video digging into warm-up routines building a practice routine intentional practice general practicing techniques eight killer practice methods becoming your own teacher I hope you enjoy this discussion with Lauren on a very important topic! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This special 500th episode of the podcast was recorded live at the Golden Gate Bass Camp in San Francisco on June 20, 2018. It features conversations and performances from the following people: Richard Duke, camp director Michael Manring and Cody Wright Alex Friedman, The Acoustic Bass Shop Joe Conyers, Philadelphia Orchestra and Project 440 Steve Swan, Steve Swan String Basses Bill Gould, Faith No More Donovan Stokes, Shenandoah University Jeff Denson, California Jazz Conservatory Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Marek Romanowski and I were housemates during the Bradetich Competition back in the fall of 2017. He and I spent some great nights with our hosts chatting about bass, music, Texas, Poland, and all sorts of other topics. Ever since the competition, I have become such a fan of his playing. Marek won the Sperger Competition in 2016 and was one of the finalists for the Bradetich Competition in 2017. We also put out an interview and performance excerpt video on YouTube as well as a podcast episode titled Four Bassists that will Change the World. We talk about nerves, how to set yourself up for success in a competition, how competitions relate to auditions, what Marek does the day of a big event, his position with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I first met Steve Tramontozzi back in 2000 at the Pacific Music Festival. Steve was our bass coach that summer, and it was such a pleasure to work with him on solo playing, orchestral repertoire, and bass ensembles. Steve is assistant principal bass for the San Francisco Symphony and also teaches bass at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Steve is also one heck of a solo player, and I've had several opportunities to see him play here in San Francisco. Steve just released his latest album Walkabout. This album features pieces for double bass and piano in a variety of styles. It's a super-cool project, and you have to check out the cover for an epic view of Steve with his bass! We dig into Walkabout, his journey from the East Coast to Brazil, how he found himself in San Francisco, and what it has been like being in the orchestra over the years. Enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today, we take a look at the state of young bass education. This episode is based on a recent blog post written after attending the Suzuki Association of the Americas' 2018 Conference. Enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today, we dig into some thoughts that past podcast guest Colin Corner shared about the recent Oregon Symphony Assistant Principal Bass audition. Check out Colin's most recent interview here, and check out his complete recital from the 2017 Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium here! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today's special episode is Mike Forfia's conversation with Victor Wooten. An edited version of this conversation appeared in the June 2018 edition of Bass World magazine from the International Society of Bassists. Enjoy, and be sure to join the ISB if you're not a member already!

Today's special episode is a round table discussion with over two dozen of the world's top double bass luthiers. This discussion took place at the 2018 Violin Society of America Double Bass Workshop at Oberlin College and features the following luthiers: Jay VandeKopple Greg Smith Brian Gencarelli Joey Naeger Thomas Helton Robbie McIntosh Vince Jesse Andrew Stolfa Arnold Schnitzer Elinore Morris Andrew Hassel Sony Negreros Ray Ramirez Jacob Bradford Randy Hunt Mitch Moehring Ralph Alcala Jack Hill Jeff Mueller Gabriel Golden David Gage Mark Leue Alejandro Zapata Dustin Woodward A big thanks to all of these folks for taking the time to chat, and thank you to Steve Rodby, Kristin Zoernig, Lloyd Goldstein, Grace Lewis, Sara Nelson, and all the others that contributed great questions for this discussion! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I first met Geoff Neuman when I was teaching high school orchestra back in Illinois, and ever since then I've admired how Geoff manages to operate at such a high level as a gigging bassist, music educator, and ensemble director. Geoff is up to so many things in the music world: He's the Instructor of Instrumental Music at The Alexander Dawson School in Las Vegas He brought the Green Valley High School Symphony to the Midwest Clinic, and they were also named the National GRAMMY Signature School in 2000-01 He has been a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic bass section since the group's inception 20 years ago He and Brad Pfeil started the Las Vegas Bass Workshop together 20 years ago His Outside in Jazz Trio has played in countless Las Vegas venues He has played all kinds of shows on the Las Vegas Strip, including long-term subbing for Derek Jones on KA by Cirque du Soleil He's active as a bass teacher and educator, participating in events like the ISB's Young Bassists Program and the Golden Gate Bass Camp He's even pursuing his Doctorate in conducting! Geoff is a great friend, and great guy, and one heck of a bassist and teacher! We dig into a wide array of topics like score study, what he has learned on the podium and how it carries over into the bass section, how the Las Vegas music scene has changed over the years, advice for his younger self, and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Joseph McFadden has led a remarkable career in the music world. Joe's journey from Southern California to his current role as principal bass of the Atlanta Symphony is full of valuable life lessons. We dig into a ton of great topics like bing true to yourself as an artist, what taking a chance really means in an audition setting, dealing with frustration and discouragement, organizing your time to move forward with your career goals, and much more. Joe is a great guy and one heck of a bass player, and it was such a pleasure to have him on the podcast for this episode! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

When Mitch Moehring, one of our producers for the show, recommended that I get in touch with Lois Robinson for an interview, I had a weird sense of deja vu…. I knew that name from somewhere in my past. After reading a few emails, I realized that Lois and I go way back. In fact, she was the Executive Director of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago back the I was a member in the late 1990s. I even think that we played a gig or two in the Elgin Symphony as well! In addition to being a bass player, Lois has a remarkable talent: bringing orchestras back from the brink of disaster. Lois was hired as Executive Director of the Shreveport Symphony following a crippling two year strike by the orchestra. The financial situation of this orchestra was complicated by the loss of the orchestra's tax exempt status! After coping with the immediate crises, Lois and her team successfully restructured Fundraising and Marketing activities and increased annual revenue by approximately 50% overall from 2011 to 2015. They've achieved an operating surplus for the last two fiscal years, and negotiated the first three year CBA with the musicians since the 1990's. Learn about the remarkable transformation that Lois spearheaded fro the Shreveport Symphony, her experiences working at the Louisiana Philharmonic right after Hurricane Katrina, her background as a bassist and a lawyer, and much more in this great conversation! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, cataloging and archiving Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Thomas Zera has undertaken a fascinating project these past couple of years: play in the bass section of many of the United States' major orchestras and learn the differences between how these sections approach their craft. For this project, Tom performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Utah Symphony, and many others. Tom and I dig into pizzicato placement, use of vibrato, how different halls influence the bass section, what bass sections sounds like out in the hall, and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I was driving from Santa Cruz to San Jose with Barry Green recently. We were talking about folks I should connect with for the podcast, and Eric Hansen was the first person Barry suggested. Eric teaches bass at Brigham Young University and is the former principal bassist of the Winnipeg Symphony. Eric and I met in person for the first time in December of 2017 at the Midwest Clinic. He's great guy with a fascinating musical background, and I had a blast chatting with him about all kinds of topics like: how he got into conducting ways in which conducting has informed his bass playing studying with Eugene Levinson, Audrey Bush, and Hal Robinson what motivates students This is a fun and spirited conversation, and I know you'll enjoy spending this time with Eric and learning about his unique path through the music world! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Like so many great artists, it's hard to pin down the artistry of Matthew Golombisky. His website states "Bassist, Composer, Educator, Ideator." That's an intriguing tagline for a fascinating and multidimensional artist. Matthew runs ears&eyes Records and is the founder and conductor of the Tomorrow Music Orchestra. AllAboutJazz writer Jakob Baekgaard called Matthew a modern "renaissance man" in this fascinating deep-dive into his career. Matthew has been active as an artist in New Orleans, Chicago (where he played in the Gunelpumpers with my former teacher Michael Hovnanian), Oakland, and Buenos Aires. We covered a lot of ground in this interview—enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

When Moulin Rogue bandleader and bassist Bernard Gallone reached out to me about doing an episode on the unique challenges of being a left-handed bassist, I was intrigued. I am also a left-handed bassist, though like many other left-handed people, I was taught to play in the traditional, "right-handed" way. Bernard plays the bass left-handed, with his right hand doing the fingering and his left hand plucking the strings. He keeps the string order the same, so his G string is on the same side as the standard bass set-up. We dig into issues that left-handed people (and bassists in particular) face, the impact that learning an instrument with the non-dominant hand might have early on, and much more surrounding that topic. We also dig into Bernard's career, the time he spent studying at Berklee in Boston, what it's like leading the band at Moulin Rogue, and how the aging process affects performers. Enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

James Ham is a legend in the double bass luthier world. After a multifaceted background that landed him in Victoria, British Columbia, James Ham created a series of revolutionary designs for the double bass. His first instrument was commissioned by Gary Karr after a deep analysis of the various positive and not-so-positive traits of the Karr-Koussevitzky bass, Jim created a marvelous instrument on which Gary Karr still plays. In fact, Gary will only perform somewhere these days if there's a Jim Ham bass waiting for him! Here's a photo of me with Gary and his lovely Jim Ham bass. We dig into Jim's adjustable and removable neck system, which eliminates the need for bridge adjusters. We also talk about Jim's founding of the Violin Society of America Double Bass Workshop at Oberlin. We even dig into our shared South Dakota roots! This is a great chat with a luthier that has had a big impact on the lives of many bass players. Enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Fellow International Society of Bassists board member Marcel Villaflor suggested that I get in touch with high school junior Haruki Gonai about winning the Yonkers Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Haruki is the first bassist ever to win this competition! Haruki will be performing the Koussevitzky Concerto on Sunday May 20th, 2018 at 3:00 PM at Saunders Trades and Technical High School. The ISB has also arranged for Haruki to perform the Koussevitzky Concerto on the Karr-Koussevitzky bass! Learn about Haruki's background, training, and hopes for the future in this interview—my first ever with a high school student! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

The Johann Matthias Sperger Competition is being held from 22 to 29 July 2018 in Ludwigslust / Germany. This competition is open to all double bass players with an age limit of 35. Applications are required to submit audio links. Deadline for applications: June 1st, 2018. Invitations and compulsory piece will be sent till June 15. The final round will be played with the Orchetra of Staatskappelle Schwerin. Prize winners of Sperger Competition will have the opportunity of playing solo concerts with several German partner orchestras of the J.M. Sperger Society. The International J.M. Sperger Competition offers an extraordinary and motivational experience to young double bassists. The challenge of competing artistically on an international level is combined with concerts and masterclasses by the top-level jury. The International J.M. Sperger Society, the city of Ludwigslust and the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania co-host the competition biennially. Jury: Jury chairwoman: Christiane Hutcap (Germany) Jeff Bradetich (USA) Gunars Upatnieks (Latvia/Germany) Hiroshi Ikematsu (Japan) Christine Hoock (Germany/Austria) Dorin Marc (Romania/Germany) Dan Styffe (Norway) Emil Tabakov (Bulgaria) Prizes: 1st prize: €8.500, - 2nd prize: €4.500, - 3rd prize: €2.500, - Plus, many special awards, instruments, bows, concert and recital engagements! New work for Solo Double Bass composed by renowned composer and conductor Emil Tabakov. To apply, please complete the online application form on our website. Please note that video links of you performing a slow and a fast movement of a work of the Classical period are required. For more information, visit our website at www.spergercompetition.com or email us at [email protected]. More links to check out: Sperger Competition website Sperger Competition on Instagram YouTube channel Marek Romanowski final round (winner of 2016 competition) Christine Hoock on Contrabass Conversations (2016)

Gael McKeon saved my bacon in 2017 on the way to a gig. I was headed out the door to rehearsal when I heard a worrisome wooden banging sound from my bass—never a good sign! Opening up the case, I discovered to my horror that my tailpiece had cracked apart. My soundpost was rolling around the bottom of my bass, and my bridge and strings were splayed all over the place. In a panic (I only have one bass!), I called Gael, and he had me in his shop and all set up with a new tailpiece in under an hour. I made it to the gig with plenty of time to spare, and my bass sounded better than ever! Gael is leaving the San Francisco Bay Area (which makes me sad!) for new adventures in France. We talk about how he got into the luthier trade, his time spent working at David Gage's Shop and the Bass Violin Shop, how he ended up as a luthier in the Bay Area, thoughts on set-up, and much more! I know you'll enjoy this conversation and be sure to follow Gael on Instagram to stay current with his new adventures! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Charley Sabatino is on a mission to re-vamp the way people teach music theory. There's a lot of wariness and confusion around music theory for many players, and it often comes down to the way it's taught. That's not all that Charley is up to these days, however. He's a man in constant motion: composing new music, teaching clinics on improvisation, and working with the next generation of players on the art, science, and business of music. We dig into all kinds of topics today, like Charley's first trip to the NAMM show (and the unexpected cosplay happening in the halls!), the "tune/tone/time" pyramid, the umps and downs of a living as a creative artist, and much more. Charlie's an awesome guy—be sure to follow along within on Instagram and Facebook for his great music theory whiteboard posts and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Ole Wilson is the CEO of Wilson Pickup Systems, which have been making the signature Wilson Pickup for double bass for over 34 years. Wilson provided the first commercially available piezo pickup systems for the double bass back in the 1980s, and it has been used by artists like George Mraz, Gary Peacock, and John Patitucci. We dig into the history of the pickup, how the company has branded out into other string instruments, how the pickup is installed, and more in this special gear-centric episode! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Yoshi Horiguchi is a Baltimore -based double bassist and educator as well as a faculty member of Maryland's thriving Bass Works program. In the fall of 2017, Yoshi got in touch with me about putting his analysis of George Vance's Progressive Repertoire Book 1 online. We got it up on the blog, and it has proven to be a popular resource for bassists worldwide. In this analysis, Yoshi interviewed Nicholas Walker, Tracy Rowell, Johnny Hamil, and Martha Vance about the pedagogy of George Vance. We dig into details about using this teaching resource and what Yoshi has learned through this research. Enjoy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

As the son of Dominic Duval Sr. (Cecil Taylor's bassist for a decade), Dominic Duval Jr. grew up immersed in the world of avant-garde jazz. Dominic attended the Eastman School of Music, working with James VanDemark and Jeff Campbell. He has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and many New York jazz clubs. The classmate of former podcast guests Danny Ziemann and Eric Steffens, Dominic and I dig into all kinds of topics, like: playing cruise ships (it can be a crazy gig!) daily routines the highs and lows of a music career when to say yes to a project …and much more! Be sure to follow Dominic on Instagram to keep up with his career, and it was a pleasure having him on the podcast. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was a pleasure to connect with Cielito de Jesus and chat about the vibrant double bass educational scene she has built in Southern California! As the founder of the Rabbath Institute Los Angeles, Cielito has dedicated her career to teaching Vance-Rabbath pedagogy to middle and high school students throughout the Los Angeles area. She works with over 60 bassists each week. Cielito has worked with many of the world's great bass teachers, including past podcast guests François Rabbath, Patrick Neher, and Thierry Barbé. She's a great person and is doing wonderful things for the double bass community. Be sure to check out the Rabbath Institute Los Angeles for more information about this great event! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

What a pleasure to chat with Christian McBride for the podcast! Christian just won his sixth Grammy for the Christian McBride Big Band's new album Bringin' It, and he has a course available titled Fundamentals of Jazz Bass and Beyond. Christian and I dig into all kinds of topics (including many suggestions from podcast listeners!), like: the story behind his Benedict Puglisi bass what Christian looks for in a bass setup hearing Ray Brown play live for the first time Christian's heartwarming story about James Brown from The Moth staying in shape on the road working his bow chops …and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, interview editors Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Former Guildhall Strings solo double bassist Chris West has built a tremendous resource for learning thumb position, and he's finally unleashed it upon the world. Titled Reaching the Heights - Thumb Position on the Double Bass, it's chock full of useful exercises and pieces that will have you navigating the upper reaches fo the fingerboard in no time. Chris and I dig into all kinds of cool concepts in this conversation, including the myelination process detailed in Daniel Coyle's book The Talent Code, the "secret spacing" that makes navigating thumb position much easier, and many other topics. Chris is a great guy, and this book is a great read. Be sure to pick up a copy! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

When I heard that Danny Ziemann was filming courses for Discover Double Bass, I couldn't wait to sit down with Danny and Discover Double Bass founder Geoff Chalmers to learn more details about the project. Both Danny and Geoff are past podcast guests, and they happen to be two of my favorite people in the bass world. This new course is called The Bass Player's Guide to the Trio. It's set to launch on April 24th, and you will be able to pick it up at disoverdoublebass.com. Learn more about what's offered in this new course, what it's like filming a course like this, what both Geoff and Danny like about the online course learning environment, and more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Dan Carson is the latest member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's bass section. I've had the pleasure of knowing Dan for over a decade. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and worked with Andy Anderson and a few other teachers (including me!) during high school. Dan attended Indiana University and won principal bass of the Alabama Symphony during his junior year. After a few years, he decided to return to Indiana University to finish his undergraduate degree. He opted to not return to the Alabama Symphony and headed to the University of Southern California to study with David Allen Moore. Five months into his studies at USC, Dan won a position with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. We cover a lot of fascinating ground, including: making progress in school versus out of school his decision to quit the Alabama Symphony to continue his studies what it was like being back in school after several years playing professionally what he learned working with Paul Ellison, Andy Raciti, and David Allen Moore Dan's audition preparation routine for Lyric getting through moments of discouragement …and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Dr. Jacqueline Pickett has built a remarkable career as a double bass performer, educator, and community activist. From managing nonprofits to launching programs in the public schools, Jacqueline has been a major force for good in the double bass world. She teaches bass at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia as well as serving as principal bass for the Columbus Symphony. We dig deep into all sorts of interesting topics, like: why she brought Lauren Pierce in to work with students (it's a great story and a valuable lesson!) how music and community go hand in hand how her background set her up for success ways in which the arts present valuable employment opportunities for double bass players what a well-rounded education looks like …and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I had the good pleasure of spending time with Oregon Symphony and Grant Park Symphony principal bassist Colin Corner recently. We did a deep-dive interview on auditioning, being a principal string player, and much more. Colin and I also talked about getting some recent playing of his up on the podcast, and he shared this recital from the 2017 Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium. You'll hear the following pieces on this episode: Romanze by Richard Strauss (originally for cello) Anderson Sonata No. 2 for Double Bass and Piano Weinberg Sonata for Solo Double Bass Chorale by Nicholas Walker Enjoy, and a big shout-out to Colin for passing this along! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today's episode is a deep-dive into double bass strings. We take a look at D'Addario's Kaplan, Zyex, and Helicore strings and learn more about how these strings play, feel, and sound. You'll hear perspectives on strings from the following D'Addario Orchestral Artists: Alexis Cuadrado - New York-based jazz bassist, composer, and educator Andres Martin - Mexico-based soloist and composer Barry Green - Inner Game of Music author and clinician Claus Freudenstein - Bassmonsters founder Daniel Kimbro - Grammy-nominated bassist for Jerry Douglas Band Danny Ziemann - jazz bassist and educator David Allen Moore - LA Phil bassist and University of Southern California faculty Jory Herman - LA Phil bassist Kieran Hanlon - SUNY Fredonia faculty We're also joined by D'Addario Orchestral Strings Product Manager Lyris Hung as and Orchestral Strings Social Media Specialist Sabrina Brengel. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I've known Dan Chmielinski for over a decade, and it has been a real pleasure watching his career unfold. Dan grew up in metro Chicago, and I had the privilege of being his bass teacher through middle and high school. Dan started playing bass at age 3 with Virginia Dixon, and he has one of the most natural and fluid approaches to the bass that I've ever seen. After high school, Dan attended Juilliard for for his bachelor's and master's degrees, where he studied with Ron Carter. Dan has toured the world, performing with artists such as Joey Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. His main project right now is Four by Four. Here's a link to their trailer on YouTube. We dig into all kinds of topics: what the Juilliard jazz studies audition is like (hint: it's intense!) the Richard Davis Foundation Conference - Dan attended as a student from ages 3-18, and he is now a faculty member teaching for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People Program the focus required to develop a career as a New York City jazz bassist advice for younger musicians Be sure to follow Dan on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest activities! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Pascale Delache-Feldman has been a frequently requested podcast guest, and it was such a pleasure to get a chance to connect with her! Pascale enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher. She is the founder of the Boston Bass Bash and is co-founder of the co-founder of Duo Cello e Basso (formerly the Axiom Duo) with cellist Emmanuel Feldman. She also teaches at Bard College, New England Conservatory, Tufts University, and Brown University. We dig into all kinds of topics like: growing up in France attending the Paris Conservatory studying with Roger Scott at the Curtis Institute programming and commissioning music for Duo Cello e Basso differences between French and American double bass playing Here's a list of material that Pascale uses with her undergraduate students: Fred Zimmermann: a Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique for the double bass Hal Robinson: Strokin' and Boardwalkin' Franco Petracchi: Simplified Higher Technique Marcos Machado: Tao of Bass Edouard Nanny: Caprice Etudes and Etudes of Virtuosity Storch-Hrabe: 57 Studies Kreutzer and Fiorillo Etudes Isaia Bille: 18 Studies Alain Weber: 10 Rhythmic and Melodic Etudes J.S Bach: Cello Suites Orchestral Excerpts by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss...... Major Bass Concertos: Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Koussevitzky, Bottesini Sonatas by Vivaldi, Bach Viola da Gamba sonatas, Misek, Schubert Arpeggione, Hindemith Short pieces by Bottesini, Koussevitzky, Glière, Fauré...... Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I was first introduced to Melody Chia by our mutual friend Lauren Pierce. Melody is located in Melbourne, Australia, and in addition to being an excellent bassist, she has worked for many years in marketing. Melody has also begun making shoes, and you can follow along with this fascinating process and all of her other activities on her Instagram feed. Melody and I talk about all kinds of topics: her journey from Beijing to Melbourne the recent visually provocative marketing campaign for the Victorian Youth Symphony stress, overwhelm, and burnout how creativity manifests itself Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Chuck Israels during my recent trip to Portland, Oregon. In fact, we even took a trip together to visit Seth Kimmel's shop in Eugene! Both Chuck and Seth are past podcast guests, and I thought that a rebroadcast of my conversation with Chuck was in order. Chuck and I dig into a wide range of topics, including: meeting Charlie Mingus playing with Bill Evans Bill's use of rhythm the importance of having concrete and specific role models Balinese wood carving not creating your own artistic world without the traditions that preceded you the perils of the "parallel case" commonalities among how great artists approach their craft Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

A podcast listener recently suggested that I re-interview Colin Corner about how he has managed to win audition after audition. It turned out that I would be in Portland, Oregon for a couple weeks, and Colin and I sat down for a terrific deep-dive into auditioning, the role of a principal bassist, and much more. Prior to his current positions of principal bass for the Oregon Symphony and Grant Park Symphony, Colin played principal bass for the Atlanta Symphony and the Rochester Philharmonic. He also held positions in the Minnesota Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, and Louisiana Philharmonic. I originally interviewed Colin back in 2007 when he was playing in the Minnesota Orchestra, and I caught up with him briefly in 2009 after he'd moved into his role as principal bass of the Rochester Philharmonic. It was such a pleasure to dig into Colin's experiences over this past decade. There are a tremendous amount of valuable takeaways from this conversation! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Henry Chen and I go way back. In fact, I remember meeting Henry at DePaul University over a decade ago! At that point, he had not had much orchestral experience, but he was a fabulous solo player who won the concerto competition with the Bottesini Concerto. Chicago was Henry's choice because of the orchestral training he knew he'd receive there. He spent his time studying with Chicago Symphony bassist Rob Kassinger and playing principal bass with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Fast-forward ten years, and Henry is now teaching at Soochow University School of Music in Jiangsu, China. We talk about Henry's journey from Chicago to China and the steps in between, what it's like teaching and performing in China, opportunities for bass players looking for an orchestra job, Henry's teaching style, and much more! Links to check out: Henry's website Bottesini Concerto PDF and MP3 files (Cliff Colnot arrangement) Franck Sonata with Henry (mvt 1) Franck Sonata with Henry (mvt 4) Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and are great for all kind os styles of music. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Volkan Orhon was one of my early podcast guests, appearing along with fellow Bad Boyz of Double Bass members Anthony Stoops, David Murray, and Paul Sharpe. I chatted with the Bad Boyz ten years ago (!), and I realized that I'd never actually sat down with Volkan one-on-one for the podcast. We fix that today! Volkan had established himself in a professional orchestra in his native country of Turkey. He had graduated from the Ankara State Conservatory with bass professor Tahir Sumer, and he was already a member of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Volkan could have stayed in that position long-term. He took a leap, however, and moved to the United States to study with Gary Karr at The Hartt School of Music. Working with Gary and also with Diana Gannett, Volkan earned his Master's Degree and and Artist Diploma. After Hartt, found himself in a "road warrior" freelance position, teaching adjunct at a few schools and driving all over the place playing gigs. I know that life well! Volkan eventually got a tenure-track job at the University of Iowa and is in his sixteenth year of teaching at that institution. We talk about what it's like teaching at Iowa, plus: What has been most surprising about being in a full-time academic position. How working with Gary Karr shaped his concept of tone. The challenges of relocating to the United States. What he practices on a daily basis. Advice for students (and their parents!) thinking about embarking on a music career. …and much more! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This year's Winter Olympics inspired podcast listener Steven Bingham to write in the following topic request: "If I could suggest a future podcast topic, it would be "performance psychology" with a bassist or other musician who also is a subject matter expert, for example, a university teacher or researcher. Watching the Winter Olympics reminds me of what human beings are capable of achieving when their mind is made up and their body coached up to do it." I put this question out on Facebook and got some great responses, so I decided to take these responses and roll them together with some performance psychology-related conversations from these past guests: Dr. Don Greene - Performance Coach Paul Ellison - Rice University Ian Hallas - Lyric Opera of Chicago David Allen Moore - Los Angeles Philharmonic and University of Southern California Andy Raciti - Northwestern University and Milwaukee Symphony Karl Fenner - Atlanta Symphony These topics were also covered in my Winning the Audition book and podcast series. Let me know if you have any other tops-specific episodes like this that you'd like to hear! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and are great for all kind os styles of music. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Barry Green's creative output is filled with surprises and unexpected new directions. The last tie he was on the podcast, we were chatting with Barry and Jeff Bradetich about Anna's Promise. An article from Barry just came out in the American String Teachers Association's journal. Titled "Chair Factor," this article is an examination of body energy in playing, and how posture can indicate good or bad body energy. We dig into all sorts of fine points about this well-researched article. Anyone who isn't an ASTA member and didn't get the article in the magazine, can send Barry a private message on Facebook or write him at [email protected]. and he will be happy to send you a copy. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and are great for all kind os styles of music. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I was first introduced to Erik Higgins by orchestra director and bassist Jonathan Lane. Jonathan passed along a mesmerizing video of Erik performing an improvised duet with clarinetist Kinan Azmeh. This duet is based on a Syrian Folk tune and took place during a live performance with A Far Cry and the Silk Road Ensemble. Like New Century Chamber Orchestra bassist Tony Manzo, Erik has carved out a fascinating career for himself as a chamber music bassist. In addition to performing in A Far Cry, Erik plays regularly with the Handel and Haydn Society, and remains active in the both the modern and period performance scenes locally, nationally and abroad. He previously played in the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (where bassist Alexandra Scott now plays), and he was on the "bass soloist" path in his younger years, having placed in competitions for the International Society of Bassists and American String Teachers Association. Erik and I dig into all sorts of topics, like: why Erik left the "bass soloist" path what he finds musically fulfilling about chamber settings developing a passion for period performance how "being interested" is the key to so many things in life Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

James Oesi is truly blazing new trails for double bassists worldwide. Originally from South Africa, James spent several years studying in Russia before moving to the Netherlands. Over the past decade, James has established a vibrant career for himself as a solo double bassist. He also founded and hosted the Dutch Double Bass Festival in 2017. We dig into many meaty topics, like: How can you make a career as a double bass soloist? What are the roadblocks and pitfalls? How James' career has unfolded, and the surprises he has encountered along the way. Advice James would give his 19-year-old self. What James learned from Gary Karr. …and much more! Be sure to follow along with James on his website and Facebook. He's doing great things for the double bass world and is a magnificent and fascinating soloist! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This episode is one of those astoundingly complex projects that I love digging into! We're featuring questions from double bass student Baylee Brown, which are answered by 27 noted double bass faculty members. This idea was suggested by University of Texas at Arlington bass faculty member Jack Unzicker, who help design and execute this project. A big shout-out to Baylee, Jack, and all of the faculty who took their valuable time to answer these questions! Here's the list of questions and the order in which they are covered: What are the advantages and disadvantages to attending a conservatory vs. a university? How many schools should I audition for? What are some common preparation mistakes that you see auditioning students making? Besides the bass teacher, what other factors should I consider when comparing schools? Other than Performance, Music Ed, and Jazz, what other options are available for undergrads? How early should students start preparing for their college auditions? I am interested in auditioning at six schools; is there any flexibility in audition requirements that could help lessen the amount of combined repertoire for all of the schools? How can I keep from getting overwhelmed by the audition repertoire requirements from the different schools for which I'm auditioning? How do I ask for a lesson with the teacher for whom I'm auditioning? Do I pay them/ask about payment? I play the German bow; how important is it that I study with a German bow teacher? Learn more about each of the faculty members and their programs through the links below: George Amorim - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Andrew Anderson - Roosevelt University Adam Booker - Appalachian State University Jeff Bradetich - University of North Texas Susan Cahill - University of Denver Timothy Cobb - Juilliard School of Music Paul Ellison - Rice University John Floeter - Northern Illinois University Diana Gannett - University of Michigan (emeritus) Kieran Hanlon - State University of New York at Fredonia Chris Hanulik - University of California, Los Angeles Caitlyn Kamminga - University of Trinidad and Tobago Douglas Mapp - Rowan University Gaelen McCormick - Nazareth College Leigh Mesh - Bard College Orin O'Brien - Manhattan School of Music Volkan Orhon - University of Iowa Scott Pingel - San Francisco Conservatory of Music Andrew Raciti - Northwestern University Brian Perry - Southern Methodist University Catalin Rotaru - Arizona State University Tracy Rowell - Oberlin College Donovan Stokes - Shenandoah University James VanDemark - Eastman School of Music Nicholas Walker - Ithaca College DaXun Zhang - University of Texas at Austin Learn more about over 100 other United States college double bass programs in our colleges guide! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

The line-up for the 2018 TCU International Double Bass Festival (March 3-4, 2018) is like a who's who in the double bass world! Founded and organized by Artistic Director and TCU Professor of Double Bass Yuan Lu, this fifth bi-annual festival is the largest such event for double bassists in North America. Learn more about this event on their website, and be sure to like TCU on Facebook to follow along with their live coverage! Featuring recitals, lectures, masterclasses, and clinics by the following renowned double bass artists and teachers (past podcast guests are linked to below): Gary Karr, World-Renowned Double Bass Virtuoso George Amorim, UT-Rio Grande Valley Jeff Bradetich, North Texas Michael Cameron, U. Illinois/Urbana-Champ. Timothy Cobb, Juilliard, NY Phil. Igor Eliseev, Stavanger Sym. Norway/Russia Paul Ellison, Rice University Blaise Ferrandino, TCU, composer & bassist William Gowen, Dallas Opera Orchestra Kyp Green, TCU, Jazz Shaoshi Jiang, Sichuan Conservatory Michael Klinghoffer, Jerusalem, Israel Yuan Xiong Lu, TCU Bing Luo, Shanghai Conservatory Szymon Marciniak, Polish Virtuoso/Germany Leigh Mesh, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Mark Morton, Texas Tech University David Murray, Butler University David Neubert, Austin Symphony Sandor Ostlund, Baylor University Brian Perry, Dallas Symphony, SMU Tim Pitts, Rice University Frank Proto, Bassist & Composer Nicholas Scales, West Texas A&M University John Schimek, Oklahoma City University Dan Styffe, Oslo Philharmonic, Norway Jack Unzicker, UT Arlington Jessica Valls, Southwestern University Shun Hua Zhu, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Gary Karr… I mean, what can I say? He's the reason that I play bass. That so many people play the bass. He's truly one of a kind, and he's not slowing down anytime soon! When International Society of Bassists General Manager Madeleine Crouch heard that I would be the guest artist for the 2018 Las Vegas Bass Workshop, she suggested that Gary Karr and I coordinate an "at home with Gary" podcast. Gary Karr and Harmon Lewis split their time between British Columbia and Las Vegas, and both Gary and Harmon were around that weekend for a visit. Gary, Harmon, and I spent several hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon chatting about all kinds topics, including: why Gary has never cared for Simandl… and how he ended up being photographed for the International Music Edition! how "soft rosin" became the rosin of choice among bass players the concept of proprioception …and much more! I hope you enjoy this inspiring and freewheeling conversation, and be sure to check out my conversation with Gary from the 2017 ISB Convention as well! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. A440 Violin Shop An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I first became acquainted with REMIC microphones through my good friend Adam Booker. Adam did a comprehensive video review of the REMIC bass mics in 2017, and I was mesmerized by how well the acoustic sound of the bass is reproduced. When Trine from REMIC reached out to me and suggested that company founder Thorkild Larsen and I chat about the technology behind these mics, I immediately said yes. After all, we "bass geeks" are always curious about new and emerging technologies surrounding our instrument. This is a fun conversation and a deep dive into the inner workings of mixing a bass. You'll love it! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets. Robertson & Sons Violins For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow. Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players. Contrabass Conversations production team: Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!