Contrabass Conversations

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!

Lauren Pierce has been a guest on the podcast many times in the past. She's a great friend and is constantly looking for new ways to help bass players learn ket concepts. Lauren has just come out with a Left Hand Technique course through Discover Double Bass. Talk about a big concept to tackle! Lauren has done a magnificent job laying out a logical sequence of major concepts for the left hand. We talk about being efficient in the left hand, curved fingers, starting at the heel block, avoiding tension, the "Death Grip," and much more in this fun and energetic 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. 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!

How do we learn a piece? That's a question thatI recently put out to the Contrabass Conversations community. The responses I got back were fascinating. While we all have a different approach to learning a piece (as you'll see in this episode!), there are certain recurring approaches that I discovered: Listening to recordings Watching videos on YouTube. Beginning with a "bird's eye" perspective Playing along with recordings. Working in chunks. Connecting small chunks to form bigger chunks. Slow practice. Identifying key notes in phrases. This podcast episode consists of advice from Ed Maxwell, Cristóbal Caballero, Dennis Bergevin, Gaelen McCormick, David Feldman, Marcel Villaflor, David Goodwin, David Heyes, James Lambert, Kurt Muroki, Paul Cannon, Paul Sanwald, Martin Zuinglio, Peggy Johnston, Nathan May, Sharif Ibrahim, Danielle Meyer, Joshua Henry Endo, Chantal Incandela, Peter Tambroni, and Ayrian Yasar. We also feature excerpts from past interviews with Paul Cannon, Peter Tambroni, Leon Bosch, and Diana Gannett. Book recommendations: The Art of Practicing by Madeline Bruser The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green The Musician's Way by Gerald Glickstein 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!

We are chatting with Daniel Smith on today's podcast! Daniel recently joined the San Francisco Symphony as associate principal bass after spending two seasons in the San Diego Symphony double bass section. About Daniel Smith: A native to Southern California, bassist Daniel Smith was recently appointed Associate Principal Bass of the San Francisco Symphony after performing for two seasons with the San Diego Symphony. Mr. Smith graduated from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in 2013 under the tutelage of Timothy Pitts. After four years of pursuing music, as well as a biochemistry minor, Mr. Smith travelled to Bali, Indonesia, where he spent four months volunteering and teaching music at an orphanage known as Bali Life. Two months following his return home, Mr. Smith was appointed Principal Bass of the Santa Barbara Symphony in February of 2014. As an active freelancer, Mr. Smith has performed with ensembles such as the New World Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Hawaii Symphony, California Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. His festival appearances include the Music Academy of the West, Idyllwild Festival Orchestra and Pacific Music Festival in Hokkaido, Japan. Mr. Smith loves collaborating with other artists in pursuit of alternative forms and styles of music. Much of this pursuit has been spent writing and touring with Nashville-based Sony singer/songwriter Tim Timmons. Mr. Smith is equally passionate for the discovery of new music as for travel and experiencing world cultures. He has spent time at orphanages and cultural centers in Bali, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Honduras and Mexico teaching proper hygiene, practical life skills, surf lessons and music. 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. 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 covers injury prevention and recovery. We feature excerpts from the following individuals: Randy Kertz Nina DeCesare Lloyd Goldstein Robin Kesselman Nash Tomey Susan Wulff Scott Devine Leigh Mesh 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. 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!

We're chatting with double bass performer, composer, and Hutchins Consort founder Joe McNalley. I had the chance to spend time with Joe at Andrés Martín's Contrabajos de Baja California Double Bass Festival About Joe McNalley: Joe McNalley began bass violin studies at the age of eleven, and started writing orchestral music in his early teens. Formal training with Edwin Barker, Ran Blake, Miroslav Vitous and Hankus Netsky at the New England Conservatory of Music was followed by advanced studies with Bertram Turezky at U.C. San Diego. Mr. McNalley has played with a number of notable musicians in the classical, jazz, and world music realms and has been honored several times for his solo and ensemble playing. He has performed with George Russell, Vinnie Golia, Jimmy and Jeanie Cheatham's Sweet Baby Blues Band, Jay McShann, Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson, Thad Jones, and other notables of Jazz and Blues. As the founder of the Hutchins Consort, he has written over 220 arrangements and original compositions for the Hutchins Violins. About the Hutchins Consort: The Hutchins Consort plays on the eight scaled violins designed and built by luthier Dr. Carleen Hutchins, whose research into the acoustic properties of string instruments resulted in an innovative process called free-plate tuning; a precise method of refining the top and back plates of a violin before it is assembled to bring it to peak acoustic performance.The fruits of her labor are the eight Hutchins violins, ranging in size from the 18.5-inch treble to the 7.2-foot contrabass. Like all violins, these instruments capture the emotional element of the music. But they have the additional advantage of being crafted as a complete set with the same harmonic DNA — giving them the ability to produce a unique array of sounds that add a new dimension to the works they perform. Known for its eclectic programming, the group includes two visionary composers who have written and arranged a vast anthology of works that embraces virtually every known musical genre. All the music is either transcribed from standard repertoire or composed specifically for the Hutchins Octet to accommodate the unique sonic structure of these instruments. This collection gives the ensemble diversity in performance that few traditional groups can match and is key to their success in bridging the gap between classical music and pop culture. Based in Southern California, the Hutchins Consort brings together a group of extraordinary players to tackle the challenge of adapting the techniques of traditional strings, as well as inventing new techniques, to master the instruments Dr. Hutchins created. This ensemble of gifted musicians redefines the customarily accepted perception of the chamber music concert with programs that combine great works of virtually every musical genre — from the Renaissance to Rock. Their performances are virtuosic, uninhibited, sometimes improvisational and always entertaining. "…A refreshing departure from the typical chamber music performance." 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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 had a wonderful time chatting with Peabody Conservatory double bass faculty member Paul Johnson! About Paul Johnson: Paul Johnson earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1980 from St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota before earning his Master of Music degree in 1986 at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. A "Liberace Foundation Scholar" during his graduate years of study, Mr. Johnson is currently a faculty member and chair of strings at the Peabody Conservatory. Other institutions of attended include the United States Air Force Academy, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota. Previous positions include faculty appointments at Towson State University, Goucher College, and Baltimore School for the Arts. In 1999, Mr. Johnson was the recipient of The Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award. He is currently the acting chair of the Peabody Institute String Department. Mr. Johnson's playing positions have included principal bassist for the Baltimore Opera Company, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. His major teachers include Eugene Levinson and Harold Robinson. Mr. Johnson currently plays as a freelance musician the Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia, as well as being an active clinician and adjudicator on the East Coast. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored 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. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. 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!

We're chatting today with Killer Walking Bass co-author and Mike Stern band member Teymur Phell! About Teymur Phell: ​" Unbelievable bass player, both electric and upright… Great feel, amazing soloist, love playing with him! " - Mike Stern " A virtuoso, incredible musician! " - Arturo Sandoval Teymur is a virtuoso bassist, proficient in classical, upright jazz and electric bass styles. He graduated with honors from the Jerusalem Academy of Music, where he studied with bass professor Dr. Michael Klinghoffer. In 2010, Teymur moved to New York City and quickly became a sought-after bassist. He's performed with Mike Stern, Arturo Sandoval, Vic Juris, Oz Noy, Lafayette Harris, and others. Mike Stern says Teymur is an "unbelievable bassist and incredible musician. He's mastered the art of walking with an amazing feel. Teymur really walks his ass off!" 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. 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. 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!

Today's "best of" episode features bassist and composer Miles Mosley! About Miles Mosley: Throughout the years Mosley has written, composed, performed live, appeared in videos and recorded for various artists including Chris Cornell, Jonathan Davis, Everlast, Terrence Howard, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, Gnarls Barkley, Jeff Beck, Common, Christina Aguilera, Lesa Carlson, and Kamasi Washington. A founding member of the acclaimed collective, The West Coast Get Down, Mosley has released albums containing his own solo work, in addition to recording and touring with artists including Jonathan Davis (Korn), Miss Lauryn Hill (as her Musical Director and bassist), Harvey Mason, Kendrick Lamar, India Arie, Chris Cornell, Mos Def, Common and Andra Day. His newest project is with West Coast Get Down drummer, Tony Austin - a duo called BFI - their music is described as 'heavy soul', a mix of soul and rock. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored 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. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This "best of" episode features a conversation with the fantastic Adam Ben Ezra! About Adam Ben Ezra: Double-Bass phenomenon, multi-instrumentalist and online sensation Adam Ben Ezra; a man seemingly on a mission to bring his instrument from its status as a background note to the dominant front-presence it deserves. For the past few years Adam has been pushing his craft in new, exciting directions and carving out a unique spot for himself in today's international musical landscape, with both his virtuosity and musicianship earning him great success along the way. With more than ten million hits on YouTube and a strong following on all social media platforms, it is clear Adam is a bonafide star in the internet world. However, his success is certainly not limited to the web, having performed around the globe in major international music festivals and shared stages with some of the world's fusion giants – including Pat Metheny, Victor Wooten and Richard Bona – over the last few years. His work has been shown at industry leading publications, such as BBC World Service, CBS News, Time Magazine and The British Telegraph to name but a few. Jazz FM has defined his appearance as "a dazzling virtuosity and breath-taking athletic performance". The term "multi-instrumentalist" is often overused but in this case it couldn't be more fitting; Adam began playing the violin at age five and picked up the guitar at age nine. Over the years he has added the Piano, Clarinet, Oud, Side Flute and even BeatBox to his arsenal, largely teaching himself each time. However, it was an introduction to the Double-Bass at age 16 that truly changed his life, when he instantly fell in love with the instrument's rich sound. Drawing inspiration from heroes as diverse as Bach, Sting, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, Adam made a clear decision to make his compositions current – no matter the tool used. He has consciously added new colors to his palette, incorporating elements of Jazz, Latin and Mediterranean music into his playing. Whether he is playing original material or his wonderfully crafted cover arrangements, ABE is a creative force of nature who can transform a room full of strangers into lifelong fans in a moment. Regardless if he's performing solo, duo or as part of his Trio with guitar and percussion, no two shows are alike as he expertly moves from one instrument to the next, sometimes within the same song, without ever missing a beat. Using a smart combination of effects and pedals, Adam regularly loops his notes in order to deliver an authentic wall of sound, worthy of a small orchestra. With a rise in requests for international appearances and a need to push his instrument further, Adam commissioned a special one-of-a-kind 5 strings bass with an unusual removable neck setup. Both his Trio album (Can't Stop Running, 2015) and latest Solo album (Pin Drop, 2017) showcase not just a virtuoso performer but also a sensitive composer with no musical boundaries, combining elements of jazz, rock and world music to create a sweeping, fascinating and versatile sound. 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. 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. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We're chatting about how to start a podcast on today's solo episode. This episode is based on a series of articles that Jason published on Artshacker.com in 2016 and includes updates for today's newest publishing and editing tools. 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We're chatting with Eric Snoza of Fifth House Ensemble on today's episode. Eric has built a remarkable career for himself as a chamber musician, educator, and entrepreneur, and we dig into the hows and whys of his journey. About Eric Snoza: Eric Snoza has been a double bass performer before he could even properly reach the fingerboard. He received his Bachelors and continuing Masters degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. At Eastman, Eric studied solo performance with one of the world's leading double bass performers, James VanDemark. He has performed with many leading new music ensembles including OSSIA, Musica Nova, and Ensemble X. Eric's solo accomplishments include the Rochester debut of the Eduard Tubin Double Bass Concerto and his own world premier transcription of the Elgar Cello Concerto for Double Bass led by Rochester Philharmonic Pops Conductor, Jeff Tyzik. Also a fourth degree black belt, Eric is a visiting instructor with the American School of Karate and Judo. As well as performing with Fifth House he also owns and operates SnoStudios Photography and provides much of the marketing and promotional material for the group. About Fifth House Ensemble: Fifth House Ensemble taps the collaborative spirit of chamber music to create engaging performances and interactive educational programs, forging meaningful partnerships with unexpected venues, artists of other disciplines, educational institutions, and audiences of every type. Fifth House Ensemble accomplishes its mission through a commitment to the following core values: Performing at the highest artistic level through connective programming, dramatic interpretation and creative energy. Verbally and musically communicating with our audience, allowing each performance to connect in unexpected, thought-provoking and deeply personal ways. Upholding and revitalizing the chamber music repertoire through the performance of honored classics, undiscovered works and new music from both renowned and emerging living composers. Developing young audiences through curriculum-integrated educational programs that encourage active listening. Promoting musical innovation and entrepreneurship through higher-education training programs for the next generation of performers. 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We're chatting about the Pareto Principle and how Jason has focused on discovering those "hell yes" moments now that he is out in San Francisco building a new career. Blog post referenced: Unemployment Never Sounded So Sweet 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We're chatting with violinist Nathan Cole on today's podcast. Nathan is a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has just released a new podcast called Stand Partners for Life. Nathan and his wife Akiko (also a member of the LA Phil) have all sorts of exciting plans for this new venture. We dig into Nathan's journey through music, getting into tech, the motivations behind launching a podcast, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to subscribe to this new podcast! About Nathan Cole: First Associate Concertmaster Nathan Cole, who joined the LA Phil in 2011, has appeared as guest concertmaster with the orchestras of Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Houston, Ottawa, Seattle, and Oregon. He was previously a member of the Chicago Symphony and Principal Second Violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A native of Lexington, KY, he made his debut with the Louisville Orchestra at the age of ten while studying with Donna Wiehe. After eight years working with Daniel Mason, Cole enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music. In addition to his studies there with Pamela Frank, Felix Galimir, Ida Kavafian, and Jaime Laredo, Cole formed the Grancino String Quartet, debuting in New York's Weill Hall. Several summers at Marlboro enriched his love of chamber music. Nathan's articles and videos on practicing, performing, teaching, and auditioning have helped thousands of violinists worldwide. Visit natesviolin.com for the complete collection. In addition to his online teaching, Nathan is currently on faculty at the Colburn School for the Performing Arts, with classes at the Colburn Conservatory and USC. His articles and photographs have also appeared in Strings, Symphony, and Chamber Music magazines. Nathan is married to Akiko Tarumoto, the LA Phil's Assistant Concertmaster. Together they host the podcast Stand Partners for Life, which is a weekly "inside look" at the symphony life. Visit standpartnersforlife.com to listen. Nathan and Akiko live in Pasadena with their three children 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This "best of" episode features a conversation with the always inspiring Leon Bosch! About Leon Bosch: Leon Bosch has an honoured place among the select group of virtuoso double bass players worldwide. Concerto engagements in many parts of the world with the likes of conductors Pinchas Zukerman, Nicolas Kraemer, Nicolae Moldoveanu and Guido Johannes Rumstadt have been matched by collaborations with a long line of leading chamber music groups - among them the Lindsay, Belcea and Brodsky string quartets, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, the Moscow Virtuosi and the Zukerman Chamber Players. Partnerships with solo performers have embraced such pianists as Peter Donohoe, Vladimir Ovchinikov, Mikhail Rudy and Maria João Pires. Leon Bosch has a growing discography of concerto and recital recordings. This will shortly include two albums devoted to the music of the great Giovanni Bottesini and two featuring music by British composers. Then will follow everything from a disc of Russian music and another of compositions by Domenico Dragonetti, to the complete works for solo double bass by Dittersdorf, Menotti's concerto and recordings of a string of neglected concertos for the instrument. 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today's "best of" episode features Certified Music Practitioner Lloyd Goldstein. About Lloyd Goldstein: When Lloyd was in sixth grade he had a dream. He envisioned playing the double bass in such a way listening audiences would be emotionally moved. He played the double bass through high school, but was unprepared for college and as a result, dropped out. While attempting to cut wood on a table saw, he sliced his finger open. Frantic, a voice in his head told him he would never be able to play again. Fortunately, his finger healed and for the first time he had a clear understanding and direction of what he wanted to do. Play the double bass. Lloyd's experience playing the double bass encompasses both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The University of Miami under the direction of Dr. Lucas Drew, a 21-year career with The Florida Orchestra, studying under the direction of world-renowned bassist Francois Rabbath; receiving diplomas in teaching and performance from The Institute Francois Rabbath, as well as being a certified music practitioner. 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Jason and D'Addario Orchestral social media manager (also a bassist!) Sabrina Brengel answer listener questions about strings on this special Q&A 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

We take a look back at all the guests we've featured in 2017 on Contrabass Conversations plus thoughts for the future of the show. Here's the list (in order of appearance): Adam Booker Jeff Bradetich Brandino Dan Styffe David Heyes Eric Steffens Kevin Brown Composed Documentary Ted Botsford Sean Perrin Bernard O'Neill Emilio Guarino Tracy Rowell Patrick Neher Audition Breakthrough Summit Enrico Fagone Marcos Machado Andrew Hitz John Feeney Daniel Kimbro Wes Thompson Miles Mosley Michael Valerio Artem Chirkov Steve Metcalf Nick Villalobos Ranaan Meyer Paul Cannon Clair Condit Randy Kertz Nicholas Walker Don Greene Bob Nieske Normand Guilbeault Matt Ulery David Arend Jon McCullough-Benner Tim Dilenschneider Andrew Pedersen Heather Miller Lardin Joey Naeger Derek Jones Tom Mendel James VanDemark Gary Karr David Gage David Neubert Gaelen McCormick Curtis Burris Rick Jones Jon Liebman John Davis Kieran Hanlon Gahlord Dewald Jennifer Bradbury Louis Levitt Rebecca Lawrence Stuart Pearce Jessica Valls Lyris Hung Alexis Cuadrado Seth Kimmel Dennis Whittaker Jonathan Glawe Matt Waters Dennis Tobenski Nick Mainella Larry Grenadier Lucia Turino Caroline Emery Benedict Puglisi Susan Cahill Gary Peacock Jeff Denson Jennifer Rosenfeld Todd Parks Orin O'Brien John Goldsby Max Dimoff Miles Brown Zach Rowden Brian Perry Jack Unzicker Kate Jones Bassinova Quartet Chris Fitzgerald Patricia Weitzel Kurt Morrow Caitlyn Kamminga Charles Chandler Elsen Price John Grillo Marlene Rosenberg Scott Lang Alexandra Scott Milton Masciadri George and Tom Martin Gene Perla Mark Dresser Hans Sturm Susan Wulff Catalin Rotaru Karl Fenner Eric Revis Carmen Rodriguez Patrick Charton Diego Zecharies Anthony Manzo Nash Tomey Leigh Mesh Kevin Smith 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I had a wonderful time talking with Kevin Smith for the podcast! Kevin is Willie Nelson's bassist and has some of the best stories from the road that I've heard. You'll love this conversation with Kevin--enjoy! About Kevin Smith: Currently on tour with Willie Nelson and Family, Smith has toured with High Noon, Ronnie Dawson, Dwight Yoakam and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Smith received a Grammy nomination for 2009's "Willie And The Wheel" and has recorded with Willie Nelson and Family, Kris Kristoferson, Dwight Yoakam, Pam Tillis, Dan Hicks, Dale Watson, Asleep At The Wheel, Heybale!, and many other Americana, Rockabilly, and Country acts. Links to Check Out: Kevin Smith Spotify Playlist Kevin's D'Addario Artist Page 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 have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was a pleasure to chat with Leigh Mesh for the podcast! Leigh is the MET Orchestra Associate Principal Bass and teaches bass at Bard College. This is a fun and wide-ranging conversation with a ton of great advice throughout. About Leigh Mesh: Leigh Mesh, Associate Principal Bass, joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, he has taught master classes at the New World Symphony in Miami, the Cincinnati Conservatory, the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Mesh has performed regularly at the Verbier Music Festival, and with the MET Chamber Ensemble, the Caramoor Virtuosi, and the Brentano and Tokyo String Quartets. He lives with his wife and two children in New York, and pursues cycling and skiing whenever he can. Mr. Mesh is an exclusive artist for Thomastik-Infeld Strings. Links to Check Out: Leigh Mesh teaching and performing Brahms Symphony No. 2 on the New World Symphony's MUSAIC site Leigh's MET Orchestra page more about the Bard College bass program 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. D'Addario Strings This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

In this conversation with recent Kansas City Symphony audition winner Nash Tomey, we dig into how Nash overcame a playing injury that threatened to derail his playing career. This is an inspiring and honest conversation about something that many musicians struggle with during their careers! About Nash Tomey: Philadelphia native Nash Tomey joins the Kansas City Symphony beginning with the 2017/18 season. An experienced orchestral bassist and chamber musician, he attended the New England Conservatory where he studied with Boston Symphony Assistant Principal Bass Lawrence Wolfe and Donald Palma of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Under the tutelage of Boston Symphony Principal Bass Edwin Barker, he received his master's degree from Boston University in 2017. During summers at the Tanglewood Music Center, Tomey has worked with several noted conductors including Andris Nelsons, Christoph von Dohnányi, Michael Tilson Thomas and Charles Dutoit. He also has attended the Pacific Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and Wabass Institute. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was a pleasure to chat with Anthony Manzo about his career as a chamber music double bassist, traveling with a bass (always an adventure!), the unique qualities of Anthony's bass, and much more. A special shout-out to Eric Roy of Upton Bass for connecting me with Anthony for this conversation! About Anthony Manzo: Anthony Manzo enjoys performing in a broad variety of musical forums - despite the ever-present complications of travel with a double bass! An artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Mr. Manzo is sought-after chamber musician who performs regularly at such noted venues as Lincoln Center in NYC, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, Maine, and the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival on Maryland's Eastern Shore. In addition, Mr. Manzo is also the Solo Bassist of San Francisco's New Century Chamber Orchestra, and a regular guest artist with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, and the Smithsonian Chamber Society near his home in Washington DC. Formerly the Solo Bassist of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, he has also been a frequent guest with Camerata Salzburg in Austria, where collaborations have included their summer residency at the Salzburg Festival, as well as two tours as double bass soloist alongside bass/baritone Thomas Quasthoff in Mozart's "Per questa bella mano" (with performances in Salzburg, Paris, Vienna, Budapest, and Istanbul). Links to Check Out: Anthony's University of Maryland page Anthony's Kennedy Center page about Anthony's removable neck conversion from Upton Bass 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. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

I had such a great time spending a week with Diego at Andrés Martin's bass festival this fall. Diego is one of the most inspiring double bassists I know, and he's doing great things for the double bass both in Spain and in his home country of Uruguay. About Diego Zecharies: Diego Zecharies is a highly dedicated professional musician who has mastered his art globally, branching out as recording artist, professor, soloist, principal bass, producer and pedagogue, born in Montevideo Uruguay, nowadays based in Spain. Diego began his studies in his hometown, continues in Jerusalem and graduated with the highest qualification in the ÜdK Berlin (University of Arts Berlin) under the guidance of Prof. Rainer Zepperitz, Prof. Klaus Stoll and violin Prof. Ilan Gronich. During his studies, Diego performed as a principal bass at the Mahler Jugend Orchester, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra. He won the Friczay Stipendium at Deutsche Symphonie Orchester Berlin and played as a substitute with the Rundfunk Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Diego served as Principal Bass position in The Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the bandArt Orchestra, Brandenburg Symphoniker, Philharmonie Potsdam, and Sinfonica di Milano. He also is assiduously invited as Principal Bass at the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (Lugano, Switzerland); the Ensemble Les-Dissonances (Paris) with violinist David Grimal; collaborated with the the Israel Philharmonic; the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra and the Luzern Festival Orchestra, recording together with Maestro Abbado many concerts for ARTE and for the Deutsche Grammophone. Diego played chamber music concerts with Emmanuel Ax, Christian Zacharias and Elizabeth Leonskaya, symphonic concerts with world-class conductors such as Mehta, Maazel, Abbado, Nagano, Ashkenazy, Temirkanov, Pappano, Sinopoli, Ozawa, Welzer Möst and soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Yuri Bashmet, Anna Sophie Mutter, F.P. Zimmerman, Martha Argerich, Alfred Brendel, Maurizio Pollini, Gordan Nikolic and others, always as Principal Bass. Diego is Principal Solo Bass in Galicia Symphony Orchestra from the year 2002. Renowned as a very active and passionate soloist, Diego's research has brought him to perform some world-premiere material including entire unaccompanied Double Bass recitals, like at the BASS EUROPE Convention in Amsterdam 2014 and ISB World Convention 2015 in Denver (U.S.A) with great appreciation both critics and public. Diego appeared as soloist with: the Chamber Orchestra of Galicia Symphony; the Camerata of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Montevideo; the Galicia Symphony Orchestra; the OJS of Montevideo, the Orquesta de Baja California,among others and gave the opening unaccompanied Double Bass recital for the UNESCO Chair Culture of Peace and Human Rights under the World Peace Forum 2010. Diego has given numerous master classes in Europe, South América and South Korea, been assigned as coach on many youth orchestras across Spain and Germany and has recently been appointed as Director of the International Double Bass Festival of Montevideo and Director of the Double-Bass Cathedra of the Uruguayan National Orchestral Training Plan. This cathedra foresees a minimum of 3 seminars with solo recitals and telematic virtual master classes given throughout the year, plus an international festival every 2 years. In Spain, Diego is the Artistic Director of the "ReSuena Project", which brings together kids from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, throughout the creation of youth symphony orchestras and choirs all over the city, project originally inspired on Venezuela's "El Sistema de Orquestas". Links to Check Out: Diego's website Music For Double Bass Solo, Duo And Quintett (new album) Montevideo International Double Bass Festival 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today we feature innovate French double bass luthier Patrick Charton. Patrick has been turning heads with models like his B21, C21, and Suit-Bass for many years, and it was great to chat with him about how he developed these unique models. About Patrick Charton: Patrick Charton's new instruments have attracted the attention of many soloists and musicians from French and foreign orchestras. They have won many awards in various international competitions, including: Gold Medals: Paris 1991 contrabass Portland 2004 contrabass Silver Medal: Portland 2004 Cello Sound Prize: Paris 2004 Cello Paris 2004 Alto Quality Violin Making Certificates: Iowa City 2002 Portland Quartet 2004 violin Musicora innovation Prize: Paris 2003 Double bass B21 Links to Check Out: Patrick's Website Suit-Bass video 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was a pleasure to meet Carmen Rodríguez this past summer at the 2017 International Society of Bassists Convention! She and I talk about growing up in Panama, the experience of coming to the United States to study, her professional ambitions, and much more! About Carmen Rodríguez: Carmen Liseth Rodríguez began her music studies in 2008 at the Instituto Nacional de Música in Panama. In 2016, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Music Performance at the Universidad de Panamá. She also holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and Marketing. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Music at Louisiana State University. In Panama, she taught in several music programs for children in different provinces. Carmen has participated in the music festival Alfredo de Saint Malo in Panama, Bavarian Basscamp in Germany, and the Orquesta Juvenil Centroamericana. She won the second prize in the Young Artists Solo Competition at the Louisiana Bass Fest 2017. 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. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Grammy Award-winning bassist and longtime Branford Marsalis collaborator Eric Revis joins Jason for today's deep-dive into growing up in California, being influenced by Parliament and prog rock, gut string explorations, and much more. A special shout-out to Eric Roy of Upton Bass for connecting me with Eric Revis for this conversation! About Eric Revis: One of the most talented and accomplished musicians of his generation, Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer Eric Revis has, over the past 15 years, become an important voice in jazz. Branford Marsalis states, "Eric's sound is the sound of doom; big, thick, percussive." Scores of musicians across various disciplines agree. Revis has performed and recorded with Betty Carter, Peter Brotzmann, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Steve Coleman, Ralph Peterson, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Cyrille, and Tarbaby (the experimental trio he tri-leads with Orrin Evans and Nasheet Waits). Manning the bass chair with Branford Marsalis' powerfully flexible quartet since 1997, Revis has also recorded four brilliant albums as a leader. 2004's Tales of the Stuttering Mime and 2009's Laughter's Necklace of Tears have both revealed his startling range as a musician and composer. Informed by his past but not tethered to it, a glimpse into the musical trajectory of this artist is indelibly clear on his latest release Parallax (Clean Feed ) and the soon to be released City of Asylum (Clean Feed). "Tales of the Stuttering Mime was an amalgam of songs I'd been composing for quite some time," Revis explains. "Being that there were a lot of different influences at play, it required that I use various band configurations on almost every tune, which was great in that I had a very real connection to all of the musicians involved." With Laughter's Necklace of Tears the same conceptual construct was in place in terms of the confluence of musical influences, but the goal was to present it in a more cohesive fashion in terms of having one group navigate the songs for the record as opposed to five or six". Conceptually improvisational and thematically broad, Parallax (Clean Feed) is timeless and borderless. The albums' approach is one of inclusion, extrapolation and exploration. Joined by Jason Moran, Ken Vandermark and Nasheet Waits, it is a true document of Revis' growth as a composer, bassist and sounding board. As on previous recordings, Revis' playing is personal and distinctive: his tone deep and woody, his execution, agile, melodic and clear. A musical polyglot, Revis is comfortable in any setting, any direction. His skills as a band leader and composer are equally profound and inspiring. Links to Check Out: Eric's website Tales Of The Stuttering Mime by Eric Revis After Hours at the Upton barn 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today's conversation with Atlanta Symphony bassist Karl Fenner is a deep-dive into auditioning, progress, long-term planning, and persevering through adversity. There's a ton of advice that you can use to help with your preparation for any upcoming performance, audition, or high-stakes event! About Karl Fenner: Bassist Karl Fenner joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in January 2016. A native of Houston, TX, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Max Dimoff, and his Master of Music Degree from Rice University, with teachers Tim Pitts and Paul Ellison. Other teachers include, Albert Laszlo, Ken Harper, Dennis Whittaker, Sandor Ostlund, and Robert Stiles. Further training has included summers as a fellowship student at the Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festivals, in addition to the National Repertory Orchestra, Music Academy of the West, Spoleto USA and the Festival-Institute at Round Top. Mr. Fenner joined the Colorado Symphony in 2008, serving as both section and principal bass. Prior to moving to Colorado, Mr. Fenner was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL. He has also spent time in the Canton Symphony in Canton, OH, and as a substitute musician with both the San Antonio and Houston Symphonies. As a recitalist, Karl performed at the International Society of Bassists convention in 2013. As a teacher, Mr. Fenner served as the interim bass teacher at the University of Colorado-Boulder, and has given masterclasses at the University of Denver and the University of Colorado. He currently teaches at the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, CO during the summer. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Catalin Rotaru has just released a new album titled The Lord of The Basses. This album features Catalin performing on Bottesini's famous 300-year-old Testore bass. Catalin has also released another project this fall titled Sonic Bridges Vol. 2. About Catalin Rotaru: Catalin Rotaru was born in Moldova, a province in the far northeast of Romania, in the same region where Romania's most celebrated composer, George Enescu was born. Leaving home at the age of 11 and settling in the city of Botosani, he began his musical studies directly with the double bass. After only one year he transferred to one of the leading music schools in Bucharest, the G. Enescu Arts Lyceum. Upon his graduation he was admitted to the Conservatory, a great accomplishment, since at the time, only one bass player was admitted each year. As part of the admission process, he had to pass 5 exams: 3 instrumental - recital, technical proficiency, sight-reading and 2 theoretical - dictation, pure theory and solfeggio. His most influential teacher there was Ion Cheptea, a direct disciple of Joseph Prunner, an eminent bassist and visionary from Austria, who moved to Bucharest at the beginning of the 20th century and established at the conservatory one of the most distinguished schools of double bass. Immediately upon graduation, he was offered a position with the Sibiu State Philharmonic, a major orchestra in Transylvania. Three years later he became associate principal with the Romanian National Radio Symphony in Bucharest. While still in Romania Catalin served as principal with the Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra of Bucharest and Orchestra Sinfonica Europea, with which he toured extensively throughout Europe. In 1995 he emigrated to the U.S. after being offered a teaching assistantship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he also obtained a Master's Degree in music performance. He has also served as Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and taught at Millikin University in Decatur Illinois before joining the faculty of the School of Music at Arizona State University, in 2005. Since his arrival in the U.S. Catalin has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. He received the second prize at the 1997 International Society of Bassists Solo Division Competition and the Jury's Special Award for the best performance of the required piece at that competition. He was the winner of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Debut Recital Award in 1997, the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Award in 1996 and in 2013, was honored with the Recognition award for Solo Performance by the International Society of Bassists, which, being an award from his peers, is one of the highest forms of recognition that a solo double bassist can receive. Catalin is one of the most in-demand International soloists of the day. His 2013 schedule alone included multiple appearances as soloist with various orchestras, performing recitals or conducting master classes at prestigious conservatories in Brazil, Japan, China, The Netherlands, Russia, Romania, Italy, Ecuador and Paraguay as well as the U.S. He also found time to perform the premieres of two new works for the bass: Andres Martin's Double Bass Concerto and Frank Proto's Sonata No. 2 for Double Bass and Piano, and serve as a juror at many of the world's most prestigious solo bass competitions. His debut solo CD, Bass*ic Cello Notes was released by Summit Records in March 2007 and in 2010 released his second CD entitled Juliana D'Agostini + Catalin Rotaru which was recorded in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2012 Catalin recorded his third CD, in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay, which includes the world premiere of a double bass performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5. Links to Check Out: Catalin Rotaru on Liben Music The Lord of the Basses Sonic Bridges Vol. 2 Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limite

I had a great time chatting with Susan Wulff for the podcast! Susan is Associate Principal Bass of the San Diego Symphony and is a longtime friend of mine. She is an active Contemporary and Hip Hop dancer and loves to build things as well. About Susan Wulff: Susan Wulff is the Associate Principal Bass with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double Bachelor of Music degree in bass and vocal performance at CSU, Sacramento, completing her Master of Music and Advanced Studies degrees at the University of Southern California under the tutelage of Dennis Trembly, followed by private studies with David Moore. In addition to the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Opera Orchestra, Susan has been a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and New West Symphony, and she has worked extensively with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra. Susan's musicianship and versatility have garnered her work in diverse genres: she has performed on many Hollywood soundtracks and appeared with Willie Nelson, Julian Lennon and Andrea Bocelli on The Tonight Show, as well as recording with Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves. Susan's "jazzy" side can also be heard on several of Hallmark's loveable "Hoops & Yoyo" e-cards. Susan has participated in several prominent music festivals including Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, La Jolla SummerFest, Mainly Mozart, Peter Britt, Pacific Music Festival and the National Repertory Orchestra where she was a featured soloist in 1999. Her other passions include Contemporary and Hip Hop Dance, gourmet food, single malt scotch and building things. Links to Check Out: Susan's San Diego Symphony profile Finding the Horizon - written for Susan Wulff by Howard Yermish New Yorker article about Susan's Metropolitan Opera Orchestra audition 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. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Jack Unzicker and Jason Heath chat about all kinds of topics in today's episode. This was recorded live at East Side Denton in Denton, Texas in September, 2017. Links to Check Out: Jack's website Jack's past Contrabass Conversations appearance 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. 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. The English Double Bass Book The English Double Bass Book examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Hans Sturm and Jackie Allen have recently released Rose Fingered Dawn, an album of original compositions written by Hans. Today's episode is a conversation with Hans about this new album along with excerpts of several selections. About The Album: Rose Fingered Dawn Ten tunes written for Jackie by Hans Sturm, performed by her working band and a three-horn section. John Moulder, guitars Tom Larson, keys Hans Sturm, bass Dane Richeson drums with Victor Garcia, trumpet Geoff Bradfield, sax Andy Baker, trombone Links to Check Out: Hans' website Jackie's website Hans' past Contrabass Conversations interview Rose Fingered Dawn on Amazon 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. 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was a pleasure to sit down with bassist, composer, and University of California San Diego professor Mark Dresser for this wide-ranging conversation about bi-tones, fingerboard amplification, telematic music performance, and much more! About Mark Dresser: Mark Dresser is a Grammy nominated, internationally renowned bass player, improviser, composer, and interdisciplinary collaborator. At the core of his music is an artistic obsession and commitment to expanding the sonic, musical, and expressive possibilities of the contrabass. He has recorded over one hundred forty CDs including three solo CDs and a DVD. From 1985 to 1994, he was a member of Anthony Braxton's Quartet, which recorded nine CDs and was the subject of Graham Locke's book Forces in Motion (Da Capo). He has also performed and recorded music of Ray Anderson, Jane Ira Bloom, Tim Berne, Anthony Davis, Dave Douglas, Osvaldo Golijov, Gerry Hemingway, Bob Ostertag, Joe Lovano, Roger Reynolds, Henry Threadgill, Dawn Upshaw, John Zorn. Dresser's most recent and internationally acclaimed new music for jazz quintet, Nourishments (2013) his latest CD (Clean Feed) marks his re-immersion as a bandleader. Since 2007 he has been deeply involved in telematic music performance and education. He was awarded a 2015 Shifting Foundation Award and 2015 Doris Duke Impact Award. He is Professor of Music at University of California, San Diego. Links to Check Out: Mark's website Mark's UC San Diego faculty page Music in the Digital Age (2009 ISB panel 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. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Today, we take a look at the remarkable impact that Paul Ellison has had on the double bass world as a teacher. This episode includes our original interview with Paul from 2016 as well as thoughts on Paul as a teacher from five former students: Kaitlyn Kamminga Nina DeCesare Peter Seymour Nicholas Walker Jory Herman About Paul Ellison Performing solo and ensemble concerts as well as giving master classes on the double bass and period instruments on four continents, Paul Ellison is the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Double Bass and chair of strings at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Visiting Artist-Faculty University of Southern California and guest tutor at the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Royal College of Music, and Bass Club, England. Current summer positions include principal bass at the Grand Teton Music Festival, faculty/performer at the Sarasota Music Festival and faculty/performer at Festival Domaine Forget, Quebec. Former students hold titled positions in major ensembles and institutions of higher learning on five continents. Previous positions include principal bass of Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Aspen Festival Orchestras (also faculty), professor of double bass and chair of strings at the University of Southern California, and president of the International Society of Bassists. Ellison was the first to receive both the diploma and teaching certificate from Institut International Rabbath, Paris. Contrabass Conversations is sponsored 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. 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. The Bass Violin Shop The Bass Violin Shop offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! 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.

This "best of" episode features Berlin Philharmonic principal bassist Matthew McDonald. Enjoy, and check out the original episode from 2016 here. About Matthew McDonald As a child Matthew McDonald was actually interested in playing only jazz and rock music. His parents gave him an electric bass for Christmas – but only under the condition that he would also learn to play the double bass. Matthew quickly fell in love with the big instrument's dark, mellow sound. In 1996 he began his studies with Max McBride at the Canberra School of Music, later continuing with Kees Boersma in Sydney, where he completed his bachelor's (BMus) degree in 2000. From 2000 to 2001 he was a scholar of the Berliner Philharmoniker's Orchestra Academy, and then was immediately engaged as deputy principal bass of the Danish National Orchestra. He relinquished that position in order to prepare for his concert exam with Esko Laine at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin. Engagements followed as principal bass with the Ensemble Modern (2003-06) and with Berlin's Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester before he came to the Berliner Philharmoniker. As a chamber player, Matthew McDonald is a regular visitor to the Open Chamber Music seminar at Prussia Cove in Cornwall. He devotes his free time to his family, first and foremost, and also enjoys reading and going to the cinema. 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. The Bass Violin Shop The Bass Violin Shop offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! The Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Bostonian was conceived at the 2009 International Society of Double Bassists convention at State College, Pennsylvania, while world-renowned jazz bassist and Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas, Lynn Seaton and Upton Bass String Instrument Co. President and Founder, Gary Upton Birkhamshaw were playing and discussing the various instruments Upton Bass had created for the convention. They started with a blank sheet of paper, and together began jotting down Lynn's preferences and suggestion with each model. The result was a rough outline of what would become the UB Bostonian Concert Double Bass.

This "best of" episode features composer, teacher, and bassist Ron Carter. Enjoy, and check out the original episode from 2016 here. About Ron Carter Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He later toured Europe with Cannonball Adderley. From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He was named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by Downbeat magazine, and Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 1993 Ron Carter earned a Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, the Miles Davis Tribute Band and another Grammy in 1998 for Call 'Sheet Blues', an instrumental composition from the film 'Round Midnight. In addition to scoring and arranging music for many films, including some projects for Public Broadcasting System, Carter has composed music for A Gathering of Old Men, starring Lou Gosset Jr., The Passion of Beatrice directed by Bertrand Tavernier, and Blind Faith starring Courtney B. Vance. Carter shares his expertise in the series of books he authored, among which are Building Jazz Bass Lines and The Music of Ron Carter; the latter contains 130 of his published and recorded compositions. Carter earned a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School in Rochester and a master's degree in double bass from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has also received four honorary doctorates, from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, and was the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Hutchinson Award from the Eastman School at the University of Rochester. Most recently he was honored by the French Minister of Culture with France's premier cultural award--the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, given to those who have distinguished themselves in the domain of artistic or literary creation and for their contribution to the spread of arts and letters in France and the world. Carter has lectured, conducted, and performed at clinics and master classes, instructing jazz ensembles and teaching the business of music at numerous universities. He was Artistic Director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies while it was located in Boston and, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus although, as a performer, he remains as active as ever. Contrabass Conversations is sponsored 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. The Upton Bass String Instrument Company Upton's Bostonian was conceived at the 2009 International Society of Double Bassists convention at State College, Pennsylvania, while world-renowned jazz bassist and Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas, Lynn Seaton and Upton Bass String Instrument Co. President and Founder, Gary Upton Birkhamshaw were playing and discussing the various instruments Upton Bass had created for the convention. They started with a blank sheet of paper, and together began jotting down Lynn's preferences and suggestion with each model. The result was a rough outline of what would become the UB Bostonian Concert Double Bass.

In addition to today's "best of" podcast, check out my book Winning the Audition! It's available in paperback, Kindle, enhanced PDF, and audiobook formats. This series is drawn from interviews conducted with dozens of bassists from orchestras like the Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and Houston Symphony, plus some of the most influential pedagogues in the field. This series provides actionable advice that you can use to take your auditioning to the next level, and while we're speaking with bassists for these episodes, the advice can certainly be applied to other instruments and disciplines as well. This series is divided into four episodes: Part 1 – Preparing for Audition Success Part 2 – Practicing Techniques for Peak Auditions Part 3 – Preparation Routines That Work Part 4 – Sealing the Deal These episodes include advice from dozens of major figures in the bass world, including Lawrence Hurst, Michael Hovnanian, Ranaan Meyer, Ian Hallas, Brandon Mclean, Robin Kesselman, Ira Gold, Max Dimoff, Jack Budrow, Andrew Anderson, Rob Kassinger, Peter Tambroni, Greg Sarchet, Andrew Raciti, Marc Ramírez, Gaelen McCormick, Joseph Conyers, Colin Corner, Ju-Fang Liu, Jeffrey Turner, Owen Lee, Brad Opland, and Alex Hanna. Our original sponsor for this series is Discover Double Bass. This site is run by Geoff Chalmers and provides lessons and step-by-step courses on a variety of double bass areas of study. They've got free articles, string reviews and a show called Ask Geoff and Lauren where they answer questions from the double bass community. Geoff does great work and has built this into a tremendous resource for bassists everywhere. Check out over 70 free lessons and much more at discoverdoublebass.com! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored 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. 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. 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. The Bass Violin Shop The Bass Violin Shop offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome!

This "best of" episode features double bassist and contemporary music pioneer Bert Turetzky. Enjoy, and check out the original episode from 2016 here. About Bert Turetzky Bertram Turetzky has been a distinguished clinician and pedagogue for over three decades, giving master classes, seminars, and workshops nationally and internationally. His knowledge of repertoire, performance style, and his unique approach to technical, psychological, and physical problems has made him a highly sought-after teacher. His master classes have been referred to as "life-altering." Turetzky has been a featured contrabass soloist in the music centers of the United States, Europe, Latin America and Australia. The response to his many concerts, recordings, lectures, writings and his unique sonic vocabulary has taken the contrabass from it's traditional role to assume the position of a major solo instrument. More than 300 compositions have been written for, performed by, and recorded by Turetzky, making him one of the few performers, in all of music history, to have created a large and impressive repertoire of music for his instrument. He is is a prolific recording artist and has recorded for Nonesuch, Finnador, Son Nova, Desto, Music and Art, Incus, 9 winds, Advance, Vanguard, New World, and others as soloist, improvisor, chamber player, Jazz player, orchestra player, and Klezmer artist. He is also an acclaimed scholar/researcher in the fields of Jazz History, 18th Century Chamber Music and the author of many reviews, articles and the now classic book "The Contemporary Contrabass." After the success of his book, Turetzky was named co-editor of "The New Instrumentation Series" [UC Press]. He is also a published composer, editor, transcriber and arranger of music for his instrument. His compositions are published, reviewed and recorded. Turetzky has also received many awards for composition from ASCAP plus grants from the NEA and Meet the Composer as well as many commissions. Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: The 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. The Bass Violin Shop The Bass Violin Shop offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! The Chromatic Endpin A straight endpin only lets you balance the bass one way. The Chromatic Endpin opens up many possibilities.You can feel more of the bass's weight, make it feel light as a feather, or anywhere in between. When the bass is balanced, you stand comfortably on two feet with a neutral spine. The instrument feels lighter, is easier to hold, and you're more comfortable.

Can a piece of music be cursed? After hearing this tale of repeatedly bizarre circumstances surrounding James VanDemark's repeated Dittersdorf Concerto performances, you'll be asking that same question! A big thank you to James for his idea for this episode, and be sure to check out James' past podcast appearance for more about his career as a double bass performer and teacher.

This "best of" episode features composer, teacher, and bassist Andrés Martín. Enjoy, and check out the original episode from 2016 here. About Andrés Martín Native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, bassist, arranger, and composer Andrés Martín has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, England, Germany and United States. Since his arrival in Tijuana (Mexico), Andrés has been immersed in teaching as well as performing as a soloist and chamber musician. He is a member of the "Orquesta de Baja California" and "Cuatro para Tango", a chamber ensemble with whom he has released four recordings. He also organizes and directs Contrabajos de Baja California A.C., a Double Bass academy who celebrates an international double bass festival and chamber music course held in Tijuana every summer. As a composer and arranger, he works with a wide language which ranges from contemporary techniques to tango and rock. His work has been performed and recorded by very successful orchestras, ensembles, and soloists in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan and the United States. Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: The 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 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.

In addition to being a bassist and working with artists like Elvin Jones and Miles Davis, Gene Perla is a composer, arranger, orchestrator, band leader, manager, booking agent, music publisher, record company executive, producer, Broadway sound designer, and much more. Gene and I engage in a delightful and insightful conversation about how the music business has changed and where it's headed. More About Gene: Gene Perla was raised in New Jersey where he studied classical piano and trombone. After attending Berklee School of Music he moved to New York and began his musical career as a jazz bassist. He has performed and/or recorded with Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Elvin Jones, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Chuck Mangione, Joni Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Stone Alliance, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and others. In the early 1970's he formed music publishing and record companies, and his group "Stone Alliance" traveled to South America and Europe which gave him experience in management and booking. Other efforts include Broadway sound design (Tony Award for "City of Angels"), and recording studio operations. He is currently playing his basses, producing records, running an Internet design and hosting company, is Webmaster for the Jazz Education Network, and teaching music business and other subjects at Lehigh University and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. His musical performance activities continue with the wonderful vocalist Viktorija Gečytė and his groups "New Light," "Fine Wine Trio," "Go Trio," "Axiom Jump," "Funk Xpress," "Fleet Wing," and the new "The Gene Machine Quintet." Links to Check Out: Gene's website The Gene Machine Gene Perla performing with Viktorija Gečytė Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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. The Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

This special episode is brought to you by The English Double Bass Book! We speak with former podcast guests Thomas Martin and George Martin along with Martin Lawrence about this exciting new offering. Be sure to visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com to reserve your patron copy now! The English Double Bass examines the great English double bass makers of the 18th and 19th Century, illustrating in fine detail the incredible work they produced. It also explores the fascinating story of how the double bass came to England, its development guided by the great Venetian virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, and the rise and fall of the English double bass makers. The definitive work on the English double bass An exquisite leather-bound book spanning over 400 pages with more than 500 beautiful colour photographs More than 70 instruments from England's best-known double bass makers Published in Spring 2018. To pre-order your limited-edition copy, please visit www.theenglishdoublebass.com.

I've been looking forward to chatting with Milton Masciadri for quite some time! Milton is Distinguished University Professor of the University of Georgia and is a UNESCO Artist for Peace. He has been highly involved in the international double bass community for over 30 years. More About Milton: Milton Masciadri is a third generation of double bass player. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, he began his studies with his father and by age 17 was Co-principal Bassist with the Porto Alegre Symphony in Brazil. At 19, he was already on the faculty at Brazil's Federal University. He completed his Master's and Doctorate Degrees with work under Gary Karr, Julius Levine and Lawrence Wolfe. In addition to being Professor of Double Bass at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Masciadri is also coordinator of the Hodgson School's International & Study Abroad Program, and each year he directs the University of Georgia International Double Bass Symposium. In 2009 Dr. Masciadri received the title of Distinguished University Professor of the University of Georgia, the first faculty member in the fine arts to be so honored in 62 years, and he also holds the title of "Accademico" of the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, Italy – Europe's oldest musical educational institution. He has been awarded the Brazilian Medal of Honor for Academic Achievements for his musical and educational services to the people of Brazil, is listed in the "International Who's Who in Music", in 1998 was designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace and in 2011 he received the Knighthood honor of the designation of Cavaglieri di San Marco in Venice. Masciadri has presented master classes at such musical institutions as The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Paris Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music in London, Moscow Conservatory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires National Conservatory, and Milan Conservatorio, among many others. During the summers he teaches at several international music festivals and double bass conventions in the United States, South America and Europe. His solo recordings have been released on the DMR, Sinfonica, ACA & Fondazione labels. As a performer, Dr. Masciadri has performed chamber music and duets with such artists as George Bolet, Robert Mc Duffie, Aldo Parisot, Sidney Harth, Gary Karr, and Francesco Petracchi, in addition to appearing in collaborations around the world with United Nations musical ambassadors. His solo performances have taken place at such internationally renowned concert venues as New York's Lincoln Center, Venice's "La Fenice" Opera House, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Castro Alves Opera House in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil), and the Municipal Theater of Sao Paulo. He is a frequent recitalist and soloist with major symphony orchestras in Europe, Asia, North America, Central America and South America. Masciadri's enthusiasm for enlarging the repertoire of the double bass has led him to publish and premiere works of many contemporary American and South American composers, including works commissioned for him by such institutions as UNESCO and Funarte (Brazilian Foundation for the Arts) as well as making contributions of his own with numerous transcriptions and arrangements. Some of Masciadri 2015 performances included performances in Italy, Spain, France, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, China, Russia, Canada, Slovenia, Croatia and the United States. Masciadri performes on a 320 years old Testore double bass, appears in the International Who's Who in Music and has solo recordings on DMR, ACA, Fondazione & Sinfonica Labels. Links to Check Out: Milton's University of Georgia faculty page Inside Stories: Milton Masciadri Milton Masciadri Honored with Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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. The 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. Check out this video of David Murray "auditioning" his Upton Bass! The Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! Subscribe to the podcast to get these int

I'm thrilled to be chatting today with Alexandra Scott! Alexandra plays bass in the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, and she was a headliner for the 2017 International Society of Bassists Convention. More About Alexandra: Born in Somerset, England, Alexandra Scott began her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London. Later, whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music, she became a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, the Mahler Youth Orchestra and the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra. She completed her bachelor of music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with "First-Class Honours" under Rinat Ibragimov. In 2005 Alexandra moved to Berlin where she held a scholarship from the Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy. Among her teachers at this time were Klaus Stoll, Janne Saksala and Esko Laine. At the age of 23 she was appointed Principal Double Bass with the NRD Radio Philharmonic in Hanover. Alexandra is a dedicated chamber musician and appears regularly at leading international festivals in collaboration with artists such as Lisa Batiashvili, Gautier Capuçon, Reinhold Friedrich, Francois Leleux, Vilde Frang, Valeriy Sokolov, Eduard Brunner, Sergio Azzolini und Harriet Krijgh. She often plays with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Amsterdam Sinfonietta, and is a founding member of the period instrument ensemble, L'accademia giocosa. Since May 2007, Alexandra holds the position of Sub-Principal Double Bass with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, with whom she played as a soloist under Maris Jansons in 2015. Alexandra is also a passionate teacher. Since 2012 she has been Professor for Double Bass at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe. Alongside teaching the members of the Academy of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, she also coaches the Gustav Mahler Academy, the German Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Links to Check Out: Alexandra's Website Interview (in German) with Alexandra Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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. The 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. Check out this video of David Murray "auditioning" his Upton Bass! The Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was great to chat with Scott Lang for the podcast! Scott is a music education leadership specialist and public speaker with an inspiring mission: enroll one million new music students in our schools each year. Scott has made the lives of music educators worldwide significantly easier with his Be Part of the Music initiative. We talk about this, his wonderful book Seriously?!, how to get students and parents involved in leadership roles, and much more! More About Scott: For over a decade Scott Lang has been educating and entertaining audiences of all ages. As a nationally known leadership trainer, Scott conducts over 120 workshops annually and works with some of our countries finest educational groups and performing ensembles. As a highly decorated veteran teacher of sixteen years Scott's bands have had many notable performances including the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Parade, the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship, the Music Educators National Biennial Conference and for the President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. Scott is a well know author with over ten publications to his credit including; Seriously?!, Leader of the Band, Leadership Success, Leadership Travel Guide, Leadership Survival Guide and the highly successful Be Part of the Music series. Mr. Lang currently resides in Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife Leah and their sons, Brayden, Evan and their highly irrational Golden Retriever Rexie. He has breathed in and out approximately 264 million times and plans to keep on doing so until he doubles that number. Links to Check Out: Scott's Website Be Part of the Music Seriously?!: Ruminations, Affirmations, and Observations About Music Education by Scott Lang Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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. The 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. Check out this video of David Murray "auditioning" his Upton Bass! 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. The Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

It was great to chat with Marlene Rosenberg for the podcast! Marlene is a Chicago-based jazz bassist and educator and is one of the most active players in the local scene. More About Marlene: Marlene Rosenberg has emerged as one of the most talented and multi-faceted bass players on the scene today. She has played professionally throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and Japan, performing with innumerable jazz luminaries, such as Kenny Barron, Frank Foster, Stan Getz, Albert "Tootie" Health, Joe Henderson, Marian McPartland, Cedar Walton,Wallace Roney, David "Fathead" Newman, Monty Alexander, Kevin Mahogony, Frank Morgan Frank Wess, Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson, to name a few. Her stylistic range encompasses everything from traditional Big Band to intimate experimental ensembles. Rosenberg was featured on the recording of the Ed Thigpen Quartet entitled "Easy Flight." Thigpen believes, "What makes Marlene special is her strength and depth of understanding of music. In a world of clones, she has managed to emerge as her own person with her own sound and feel… her time feel is steady and swings like mad." Rosenberg, who grew up in Illinois, began clarinet studies at the age of ten and took up the electric bass in high school, playing in the jazz band. She began acoustic bass in college at the University of Illinois, where she received the Smith Memorial Women's Scholarship in 1977, and the University of Illinois Bass-Violas Scholarship two years in a row. Well versed in both the classical and jazz aspects of her instrument, she performed with the University's main symphony orchestra as well as the prestigious U of Jazz Band, the top of six bands in University of Illinois, and a Masters of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from North western University in June of 1999. In 1985, Rosenberg received an National Endownment of The Arts Jazz fellowship grant,which she used for intensive private study with Ron Carter, Hal Galper, Milk Richmond and Jim Mcneeley. She also counts among her teachers Warren Benfield (Chicago Symphony), Jeff Bradetich (Northwestern University), Ed Krolick and John Gravey (University Of Illinois), and Karl Fruh (Roosevelt University).She also Studied for a 9 month period with Rob Kassinger from the Chicago Symphony (2010) Also, as mentors, Rosenberg counts Rufus Reid and Ray Brown,John Clayton and Buster Williams. In Addition to her versatility as a bassist, Rosenberg has developed a keen interest and capability in the performance of ethnic music. She has performed and recorded with the Balkan Rhythm Band, which focuses on traditional music from Yugoslavia, Serbia and Greece. Her enthusiasm for the drumming and dance of West Africa has promoted study with master drummers from Ghana as well as participation in an African drumming group in Chicago. Rosenberg has worked with numerous modern dance troupes, improvising on both bass and percussion. All this experience have added an extra dimension to Rosenberg's Jazz work giving it a rare depth and range. Committed to imparting her knowledge to others, Rosenberg currently teaches privately in the Chicago area. She has given special workshops in high schools throughout the Chicago area and has been a clinician at the Saskatchewan School of the Arts in Canada. She has been involved with the Ravinia Jazz Mentors program in the Chicago public high schools.Rosenberg has given workshops on creating melodic bass lines at the International Society of Bassists conference.She was Adjunct Professor at Northern Illinois for 13 years University (1994-2007),teaching Bass Studio and Jazz History (1 Semester). Rosenberg was a full time professor at Western Illinois University, in Macomb, IL for 3 years from 2007-2010 (Teaching Bass, World Music, Popular Music & Jazz Combos)and currently is music faculty teaching jazz combos at Northwestern University (2009-current),in Evanston,Illinois. She also is on the Music Faculty at Roosevelt University, in Chicago.She has been working with students at the Gallery 37 Program in Chicago, Sponsored by the Thelonius Monk Intitute in Washington D.C. Rosenberg has recorded radio and television commercials for McDonald's and Ameritech, among others. Rosenberg made her debut as a leader and composer on her compact disc "Waimea" (Bassline). Her latest CD "Pieces Of…"(Bassline) presents her as arranger as well as composer. PIECES OF… features pianist Cedar Walton and saxophonist Javon Jackson. Currently, (2011) she is a recipient of an Illinois Arts Council Grant which will help to complete her 3rd self Produced CD. Links to Check Out: Marlene's Website Northern Illinois University - Double Bassist's Guide to Colleges Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: 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 s