The next episode of Contrabass Conversations is now available for your listening pleasure. This episode features a talk with Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist Andy Anderson and music from the double and electric bass band Gunnelpumpers. Enjoy! CBC 17 Show Notes

 

Episode Length: 47:12 Release Date: 4/22/07 Website: www.contrabassconversations.com Blog: www.doublebassblog.com Voicemail: 206-666-6509

E-Mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

Podcast t-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass

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Music from the Gunnelpumpers: www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers

Interview with Andrew Anderson Part 3

News and Notes

My Take a Friend to Orchestra Initiative essay was just published on Adaptistration, a great blog on the changing face of the modern orchestra authored by Drew McManus.

Click below for my article:

http://www.artsjournal.com/adaptistration/archives/2007/04/tafto_2007_cont_25.html

The contributors included:

· Paul Alter: Retired multimedia training specialist, practicing music addict [bio]

· Galen Brown: Composer and Sequenza21.com blogger [bio]

· Andrew Druckenbrod: Classical Music Critic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [bio]

· Bill Harris: Systems Dynamics Expert and orchestra enthusiast [bio]

· Jason Heath: Bassist & author of Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog [bio]

· Magda Krance: Manager of Media Relations, Lyric Opera of Chicago [bio]

· Frank J. Oteri: AMC Composer Advocate & Founding Editor, NewMusicBox [bio]

· Jim Palermo: General Director, Grant Park Music Festival [bio]

· Henry Peyrebrune: Bassist, Cleveland Orchestra [bio]

· Jesse Rosen: Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ASOL [bio]

· Roger Ruggeri: Bassist, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra [bio]

· Leonard Slatkin: Musician [bio]

· Michael Tiknis: Managing Director, Harris Theater for Music and Dance [bio]

· Connie Linsler Valentine: Executive Director, Nashville Chamber Orchestra [bio]

· Kim Pensinger Witman: Director, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming [bio]

-great response on the Francois Rabbath episode last week

-we�ve got the second half of that coming up

-our interview with National Symphony Orchestra bassist Ira Gold will continue next week

-later this week I plan on releasing the next recital showcase featuring Phillip Serna playing music of Brahms, Misek, Hertl, and Rachmaninoff

-I describe how these recital showcases work and how special episodes versus regular episodes will work

What is Gunnelpumping?

Gunnelpumping is the act of standing on the lip (gunnel) at the stern of a canoe and propelling the craft forward by pumping up and down with only your legs. It's quite ungainly and requires great balance, coordination, and is potentially very dangerous.

And how exactly does this relate to music?

Gunnelpumpers bring this experience to their music. Three upright bassists (Chicago Symphony member, a top Chicago-area freelancer, and a relocated New Orleans cataclysminite) paired with two world-class hand percussionists (Las Toillitas, C.U.B.E. Ensemble) and electric guitar bring to life improvised instrumental music drawing on world, trance, rock, classical, jazz and experimental traditions, resulting in music that makes it difficult to sit completely still.

Once Gunnelpumpers start to play, they tend to keep going and - in true gunnelpumping fashion - try not to fall off. But, yes, sometimes they do tend to go overboard.

Official Bio

Gunnelpumpers was founded by bassist/composer Douglas Johnson and percussionist Randy Farr in 2002. They had met through the band, Las Toillitas, of which Randy was a member and Doug occasionally sat in with. Soon afterwards, another Las Toillitan, percussionist Douglas Brush, and Chicago Symphony bassist Michael Hovnanian joined the group. Finally, in 2006, guitarist John Meyer and bassist, composer and Katrina cataclysminite Matthew Golombisky completed the group. Their first several performances were benefit concerts for the Treehouse Animal Foundation, but now can be heard at several area clubs and events. Gunnelpumpers currently hosts the Infrasonic Sound Series monthly at the Muse Cafe in Chicago.

At the heart of Gunnelpumpers is the spirit of improvisation, and each musician brings a wide range of influences to create a unique and compelling sound. By nature Gunnelpumpers defies labels, but perhaps electro-tribal improv best describes the myriad of styles they draw from, which ranges from classical, to rock, jazz to minimalism, and Indian, African, Caribbean, and electronic music. Having such an open approach to music making, they have welcomed nearly twenty guest artists at their performances.

Gunnelpumpers have been the guest music ensemble for the Dutch National Ballet Project, as well as Dance Chicago and the Dutch National Ballet. They were featured in the Summer, 2006, issue of Double Bassist magazine, as well as the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of Zero Tolerance Magazine, both UK music publications.

Tracks Played:

D�Bass

Earthing

Andrew Anderson Interview Part 3

-Andy discusses his practice habits leading up to his successful auditions for the Grant Park Symphony and the Lyric Opera of Chicago

-pure warm-up and technique exercises versus warming up on repertoire

Listener Feedback:

Audio feedback from Phillip Serna

�from Benjy:

Hello Jason; I am a bassist and have just discovered your website. Keep up the good work and if you ever need anything from the other side of the Atlantic, just yell!

Benjy

�.from Ben Huff:

Hi Jason, Just wanted to let you know how much I've really enjoyed these last couple of podcasts! I wasn't really that familiar with Francois Rabbath before hearing this podcast, but after hearing you (and him) sounding so enthusiastic about his special approach to the bass, I've decided to do some research and see if I can include any of his techniques into my own playing. I was curious though, did Ira Gold record the entire Vanhal Concerto? The 3rd movement in his interview was so great, I'd love to hear the whole concerto if he made a recording of it. Thanks for making such a great show! Ben

�.from George Vance:

Thanks for putting the link to my web site on your site re recordings of Rabbath.

George Vance

�..from Nick Scales:

Hi Jason, I have been meaning to write in and say how impressed I am with your site and your work. If you are half as motivated in you playing as you have been with this undertaking, I will look forward to your being in the National bass spotlight very soon!! Has the ISB done an article on your site yet?? It would be a consideration for sure.

Congrats! Nick Scales

�.from Jeff Weisner

Hello Jason -

It's ironic that I finally get around to writing to you on the day you post on your blog about getting more feedback.... We haven't met, but I read your blog and enjoy your posts. Ira Gold has also said great things about you.

�.from Robert Oppelt:

Well done. You've got a great thing going and I'm sure it takes a tremendous amount of your time. A tremendous contribution...

Visit his site at http://www.robertoppelt.com/index.html

�from Tyler Abbot:

Dear Jason, I am a freelance bassist living out in Oregon. I recently discovered some of your online resources and wanted to thank you for all of your work. It is really informative and, believe it or not, inspiring ("You mean other people deal with the same stuff I do?"). Thanks again, Tyler Abbott

�from Rainer Lewalter:

Hi Jason, thanks for responding so quickly! Gives me an opportunity to say thank you again, because that Rabbath interview is just beautiful.

Sign Off

We�ll see you next week for more life on the low end of the spectrum!

Click to listen (right-click to download)
or click player below

CBC Episode 11: Andrew Anderson Recital Showcase
Episode Length: 59:55
Release Date: 3/12/07
e-mail: contrabasssconversations@gmail.com
website: contrabassconversations.com
blog: doublebassblog.com

This week's episode features a series of tracks from double bassist Andrew Anderson.  Andy was our guest on episodes 4 and 7.  Andy used a different set-up for each set of tracks, and he describes the strings and other differentiating factors between each track.

You can download the episode here (right click and choose 'save as...')

This is a very interesting episode, and I hope you enjoy it!

Track sequence:

Koussevitzky Concerto mvt 1
Koussevitzky Concerto mvt 2
Failing
Bottesini Concerto No. 2 mvt 1
Frescobaldi Sonata
Paganini Moses Fantasy
Monti Czardas

Click to listen (right-click to download)
or click player below

Contrabass Conversations Episode 7
release date: 2/11/07
show length: 36:24
Interview with Andrew Anderson Part 2

website: http://contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
24 hour voicemail: 206 666 6509
visit the blog: http://doublebassblog.com

Welcome to another episode of Contrabass Conversations!  In this episode we continue our interview with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony bassist Andrew Anderson.  In this segment of the interview, Andy discusses his audition preparation methods and gives advice on what schools in the United States are the best for studying the double bass.

Jason gives some feedback about recent activity on his blog, which can be found at http://doublebassblog.com.

The episode concludes with music from the N'Awlins Gumbo Kings.  The track is titled 'We're the Gumbo Kings' and is available through the following links:

Download "We're The Gumbo Kings" (mp3)
from "We're The Gumbo Kings"
by N'Awlins Gumbo Kings
Blue Cat Blues Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody
• Buy at GroupieTunes

More On This Album


Thanks to IODA Promonet for providing this music.

technorati tags: Contrabass, Conversations, Andrew, Anderson, Andy, Lyric, Opera, Grant, Park, Symphony, Chicago, Illinois, classical, music, interview, podcast, N'Awlins, Gumbo, Kings, Jason, Heath

Click to listen (right-click to download)
or click player below

Contrabass Conversations Episode 4
Interview with Andrew Anderson Part 1
Release Date: 1/22/07
Show Length: 31:51

website: http://contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
24 hour voicemail: 206-666-6509
visit the blog: http://doublebassblog.com

This episode features part 1 of an interview with double bassist Andrew Anderson.  Andy is a member of the double bass sections of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.  In this episode, Andy discusses his early training and college years studying the double bass.


Some listener feedback closes this episode of Contrabass Conversations.

technorati tags: Andy, Andrew, Anderson, Lyric, Opera, Chicago, Grant, Park, Symphony, Double, Bass, String, Contrabass, Conversations, Jason, Heath, interview, podcast, classical, music