Check out this beautiful bass by Heartland String Bass Shop owner and instrument maker Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand.

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist Donovan Stokes.  We last spoke with Donovan on episode 40 of the show, discussing his early years on the instrument, his experiences attending various universities, and his former and current double basses.  This week, we continue our discussion about instruments and delve into Donovan's compositional process, practice techniques, and advice on how to get the most out of studying with a private teacher.

Learn more about Donovan at www.donovanstokes.com.   Enjoy!

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm and I got together recently and filmed a chat about the Rabbath left hand position technique. This final segment of our chat covers more general mental approaches to practicing the double bass.

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist Brad Opland.  Last time we heard from Brad (on episode 37), we talked about his experiences in the Minnesota Orchestra and Chicago Symphony, plus some of the most memorable highlights from Brad's performing career.  This episode we discuss Brad's experiences performing with the Berlin Philharmonic plus performing with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and some general advice for bassists.

We also hear from University of Oregon double bass instructor Tyler Abbott and the Toby Koenigsberg Trio.

Enjoy!

Sometimes things catch fire and explode.

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm discusses left hand pivot and position concepts involved in the Rabbath technique.

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm discusses left hand pivot and position concepts involved in the Rabbath technique.

These videos can be slow to load through the player in this post player.  You can also click on ‘Our Videos’, which will usually load them much faster (and at a higher resolution!).

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with double bassist, music educator, and author Peter Tambroni.  Last time we heard from Peter (on episode 32), we talked about his early years on the bass, classroom and school orchestra teaching techniques, studying bass during  his bachelors and masters degrees, teaching approaches, performance experiences, and much more.

We also feature a performance of the "Carmen Fantasy" by Frank Proto from Taiwanese bassist Henry Chen, plus share many news stories and interesting developments in the world of the double bass.

Visit Peter online at www.petertambroni.com

Enjoy!

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm discusses left hand pivot and position concepts involved in the Rabbath technique.

Welcome to the video version of Story Time with the Contrabass Conversations podcast!  This new venture was inspired by the great podcast Digital Flotsam (along with a healthy dose of This American Life), and it features me narrating my story about fitting basses in cabs, along with topical songs, sound effects, and more.

This week's podcast concludes our interview with National Symphony Orchestra bassist Ira Gold. We began this interview on episode 15 of the podcast and continued it on episode 18, as well as featuring Ira performing the Vanhal Concerto with orchestra.

Ira discusses his double bass set-up and mental toughness aspects of the audition, practicing, and preparation process for the double bass during this segment of the interview and features a recording of Ira performing the Gigue from the first Bach cello suite.

You can direct any questions to Ira directly at irajgold@gmail.com.

Enjoy!

International Society of Bassists President and Ball State University Bass Professor Hans Sturm discusses left hand pivot and position concepts involved in the Rabbath technique.

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features the conclusion of our chat with Minnesota Orchestra bassist Colin Corner.  Colin joined the orchestra in 2006 after being a member of the Vancouver Symphony and Louisiana Philharmonic.  In this episode we discuss the process of taking an audition for an ensemble like the Minnesota Orchestra--the various rounds, screen (or lack thereof), and repertoire.  We also discuss improvisation,  parallels between classical music and jazz, Colin's sources of musical inspiration, and his instrumental activities outside of the orchestral sphere.

Check out episode 34 of the podcast for the first part of this interview.

We also feature a recording of "Trioticism" from Chicago Symphony bassist and Contrabass Conversations interview guest Rob Kassinger.  Enjoy!

This week's Contrabass Conversations Episode features the second part of our interview with Chicago Symphony bassist Rob Kassinger. Last time we heard from Rob (on episode 25), we talked about his early years on the bass, growing up in Colorado, playing jazz and electric bass, studying the instrument, and studying with Homer Mensch in New York City.

This episode, we talk about Rob's time in the New Orleans Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and then moving into the Chicago Symphony.

Rob talks about the materials he works on with students, like etudes and Simandl, plus what gear Rob uses and how his band NYCO developed.

We'll also be hearing three tracks from Bay Area bassist Djordje Stijepovic. Enjoy!

Welcome to Story Time with the Contrabass Conversations podcast!  This new venture was inspired by the great podcast Digital Flotsam (along with a healthy dose of This American Life), and it features me narrating my story about fitting basses in cabs, along with topical songs, sound effects, and more.

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features the conclusion of our interview with double bassist Michael Hovnanian. Click here to listen to Michael's previous episodes (CBC 24 and 29).  Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview.  You will also get a chance to hear Michael play the Discordia Music edition of the Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on this episode.

After our interview with Michael, we'll be featuring two tunes from Chicago-area jazz bassist Mark Sonksen.  Mark is the owner of Sonksen Strings, a double bass repair and retail shop located in Chicago.  Enjoy!

In preparation for this weekend’s CBC episode featuring the final part of our Ranaan Meyer interview, we’re putting out this great video of Ranaan performing I’m Tryin’, one of his original compositions. Ranaan is the bassist for the excellent trio Time for Three, and after watching this video, I think you’ll see that Ranaan is a huge part of why this group has become so popular.

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode concludes our chat with Time for Three bassist Ranaan Meyer. CBC guest and co-host John Grillo joins us in this interview, and the three of us had a very engaging conversation. You can check out the first part of our interview plus CBC video episodes featuring Ranaan on his Contrabass Conversations page here, and visit Time for Three's website at www.tf3.com.

You can hear more from co-host John Grillo on his new blog www.classicalmusicnews.tv. Enjoy!

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an in-depth analysis of the double bass orchestral excerpts most commonly requested at auditions.  Double bassist (and regular Contrabass Conversations guest and ho-host) John Grillo discusses each of these excerpts--stylistic considerations, differences in articulation and bow strokes, and suggestions for effectively learning them--and then performs them.  I believe that this project will be a highly valuable resource for bassists worldwide, and I'd love your feedback on this project!

Learn more about John at his new blog ClassicalMusicNews.tv, and check out all of his older Contrabass Conversations appearances here.

Excerpts covered:

Beethoven Symphony No. 9; Beethoven Symphony No. 5; Brahms Symphony No. 1; Brahms Symphony No. 2; Shostakovich Symphony No. 5; Mozart Symphony No. 35; Mozart Symphony No. 39; Mahler Symphony No. 2; Schubert Symphony No. 9; Strauss Ein Heldenleben; Britten Young Person's Guide; Verdi Otello

This week's podcast features an interview with double bass performer, composer, and teacher Donovan Stokes. We featured music from Donovan on episode 13 of the podcast, and it's a pleasure to feature this great musician again. Gadaha, the album that we feature this week, was recorded with no overdubs whatsoever, which is amazing considering the intricacy of much of this music.

You can learn more about Donovan at www.donovanstokes.com. Enjoy!

CBC #40 Show Notes

Release Date: 9/23/07
Length: 48:22
listen by phone: +1 (360) 227-5632
call our comment line (24 hour voice mail): +1 (206) 666-6509
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.org
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17621298264
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

Check out our jazz forums at JazzDoubleBass.com.

Join our Facebook group and share videos, chat on discussion boards, leave ideas for the show, and interact with other bassists!

About Donovan Stokes:

Buy Gadaha at Itunes, CDBaby and Lemur Music

Sheet Music at http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/donovanstokes

Donovan Stokes’ fluency in a wide range of musical styles has compelled critics to hail him as “to the string bass as Basquiat was to canvas.� Whether arco, pizzicato or “slap� style, Stokes has the “ability to perform circus type bass maneuvers with effortless efficiency.� From concert hall to club stage, Bach to Rockabilly, few musicians are as comfortable, and proficient, in so many musical genres. His 2006 CD of unamplified solo bass works, Gadaha, has garnered international praise and solidified his place in the new generation of double bass soloists.
An active composer, Dr. Donovan Stokes is a specialist in the use of amplified and electronically manipulated double bass and has received recent commissions from the Young Bassist’s Division of the International Society of Bassists, Musical Arts Society of Chicago and the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. His recent Titanium Jr. for intermediate level bass and string orchestra was premiered in May of 2007 in Chicago, Il. His most recent concert work Caoineadh Mhná na Neachtlanna Mhaigdiléana (Lament for the Women of the Magdalene Laundries) for Solo Double Bass and Orchestra was premiered in October 2006 by the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra with the composer as soloist.
The author of several articles on double history and pedagogy, Stokes has given presentations and recitals for the International Society of Bassists on a wide range of subjects and is a regular clinician at the Golden Gate Bass Camp (Oakland, CA), and the Richard Davis Bass Conference (Madison, WI). Upcoming performances include the November 2007 Las Vegas “Bass Bash� and the December 2007 “Unity Through Diversity� festival sponsored by the Brian Deneke Memorial Committee.
Stokes is currently Associate Professor of Bass at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA and is married to fellow bassist, and International Society of Bassists Young Bass Ambassador for 2001, Inez Wyrick.

Visit him on the web at:
www.donovanstokes.com
www.myspace.com/donovanstokes
http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/donovanstokes

Buy Gadaha at Itunes, CDBaby and Lemur Music

Sheet Music at http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/donovanstokes

Musical Selections:

Donovan Stokes - Gadaha
The Death of Cuchullain
Remembrance
Confrontation
Battle

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with Chicago-based double bassist and electric bassist Scott Rosenthal. Scott is one of the major players for the Chicago theater scene, having performed in a huge number of productions such as The Producers, Ragtime, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Showboat. We also feature Italian bassist Stefano Sciascia performing Adagio Melanconico e Appassionato by Bottesini. Enjoy!

______________

CBC #39 Show Notes

Release Date: 9/16/07
Length: 58:17
listen by phone: +1 (360) 227-5632
call our comment line (24 hour voice mail): +1 (206) 666-6509
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.org
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17621298264
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

Check out our jazz forums at JazzDoubleBass.com.

Join our Facebook group and share videos, chat on discussion boards, leave ideas for the show, and interact with other bassists!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes

This Contrabass Conversations special episode features the second part of our interview with Chicago-based jazz bassist Eric Hochberg. Eric first appeared on episode 21 of the podcast, and listeners should really enjoy hearing the conclusion to this interview. Following the interview is a track featuring Eric titled Mr. Bar Locrian. Learn more about Eric and his various musical endeavors at www.erichochberg.com.  Enjoy!

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with Chicago Symphony bassist Brad Opland. In addition to the interview, you'll get a chance to hear Brad perform on the double bass in his own arrangement of Ibert's Quatre Causons (four songs) de Don Quichotte for bassoon and bass and hear Brad perform on the electric bass in his south side Chicago church. Enjoy!
__________

CBC #37 Show Notes

Release Date: 9/9/07
Length: 45:41
listen by phone: +1 (360) 227-5632
call our comment line (24 hour voice mail): +1 (206) 666-6509
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.org
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17621298264
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

Check out our jazz forums at JazzDoubleBass.com.

This interview-only episode wraps up our chat with double bass composer Bjorn Berkhout. Bjorn's music has been performed by the Chicago Symphony Bass Quartet (among other groups). We chatted about composing and life as a university professor, and Bjorn offered practical advice for music majors. Check out the first part on CBC 10.

This interview-only episode of Contrabass Conversations wraps up our interview with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University bass instructor Greg Sarchet, and we were joined by two of his students (Ausberto and Hans) at a Bulgarian restaurant for this interview. Both Hans and Oz contribute some questions, which both Greg and I answer. Check out the first part on CBC 19.

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with Minnesota Orchestra bassist Colin Corner. Colin joined the orchestra in 2006 after being a member of the Vancouver Symphony and Louisiana Philharmonic. We got a chance to talk auditions, orchestra life, gear, and much more. We also feature a piece from Israel-based musician J.C. Jones and Victoria, British Columbia-based musician Daniel Nix. Enjoy!

____________

CBC #34 Show Notes
Release Date: 8/19/07
Length: 49:16
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17621298264
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

Check out our jazz forums at JazzDoubleBass.com.

Join our Facebook group and share videos, chat on discussion boards, leave ideas for the show, and interact with other bassists!

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

Click to listen (right-click to download)

Colin Corner bio:

Colin Corner joined the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2006 after serving as associate principal bass of the Vancouver Symphony and touring with the Minnesota Orchestra on the summer 2006 European Festivals Tour.
Corner began his musical training in Indianapolis, studying with Peter Hansen, Bob Goodlett and Bennett Crantford of the Indianapolis Symphony. He attended Interlochen Arts Camp, where in 1997 he was awarded the Double Bass Class Studio Award, which was recently renamed the Colin Corner Bass Award in his honor. After graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, Corner earned a degree from Indiana University, studying with Lawrence Hurst and winning the University’s 2003 Concerto Competition; while there, he also played in orchestras around the state. He next won a position with the Louisiana Philharmonic and was active on the avant-garde jazz scene, sitting in with Ellis Marsalis and playing in El Radio Fantastique, a “dark rock band beyond categorization.�
A recipient of numerous awards, Corner won third place in the 2001 International Society of Bassists Orchestral Competition and two years later took the competition’s first prize, which led to a one-week internship with the Detroit Symphony. Corner has attended the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, mountain biking and snowboarding

Musical Guest:

J.C. Jones

Music Played: Coming: live episodes

visit J.C. Jones online at www.kadimacollective.com/JCJones.htm for purchasing information

J.C. Jones bio:

Jean Claude Jones was born in1949 in Sfax, Tunisia, raised in France, and educated in the US.
From Tunisia he moved to France, where by the age of17, a self taught musician, he began working in professional popular music and jazz bands on lead and bass guitar. After majoring in jazz guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received a music degree in 1980, he spent two years in Los Angeles studying at the Music Institute of Technology. He emigrated to Israel in 1983. In 1986 he made a definitive switch from bass guitar to double bass, and started to immerse himself in free improvised music. He later added electronics and computer-manipulated sounds to his musical arsenal.
JC Jones is an esteemed music educator and served as chair of the Jazz Department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance between 1996 and 2000.
He has performed and recorded with many leading international and Israeli musicians, dancers, poets and vocal artists, including Stan Getz (1985), Red Rodney (1986) Dave Liebman (1988). Since the 1990s he has appeared with John Zorn, Anthony Coleman, Ned Rothenberg, Slava Ganelin, Steve Horenstein, Albert Beger, Arkady Gotesman, Avishai Cohen, Julien Hamilton, Amos Hetz, Anat Shamgar, Ariel Shibolet, Harold Rubin, Victoria Hanna, Josef Sprinzak, and many others.
His most recent release, Hosting Myself, from Kadima Collective Recordings is his first solo disc.
JC Jones’s current projects include the Excited Strings with cellist Yuval Mesner and guest reed player Steve Horenstein, and the Between the Strings trio with viola player Nori Jacoby and violinist Daniel Hoffman, featuring soprano sax player Ariel Shibolet.
The driving force behind his work is “finding one’s space.�

Musical Guest:

Daniel Nix

Music Played: Claude Debussy - Beau Soir (Beautiful Evening)

visit www.danielnix.com for more information about Daniel

Daniel Nix bio:

Daniel Nix began the double bass at the age of fourteen because of the insistence of his orchestra director in Richardson, Texas. Having previously studied violin from the age of ten, Daniel was persuaded to make this supposedly temporary switch of instruments in order to accommodate the needs of the orchestra. After having played the double bass only one day, the director of the orchestra concluded that Daniel demonstrated too strong an affinity for the instrument not to continue. After much reluctance, Daniel focused his efforts on playing the double bass but subconsciously longed for the gorgeous melodies so easily played on the violin. After his years on the violin, Daniel found the double bass massive, uncomfortable, and extremely difficult for producing a beautiful and satisfying sound. At first he could not see a way to play such a cumbersome instrument in the way he wanted. Upon hearing famed bassist Karr in concert, Daniel, at the age of seventeen, realized the enormous potential of the instrument. After this brief encounter, Daniel began to experiment and learn how to produce what he considered “a gorgeous sound� with which he could convey strong emotional messages similar to those he heard in the Karr concert.
After studying for a year at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where Daniel had the extraordinary opportunity to study with the finest members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, he attended KarrKamp, an intensive course in double bass studies, in 2003. There, for the first time, Daniel had the chance to play for his mentor. Upon hearing him play, Karr expressed a strong interest in working with Daniel privately. This encouraged Daniel to move to Victoria, British Columbia in order to study privately with Karr while also attending the University of Victoria to major in music performance and study with Mary Rannie, principal bassist of the Victoria Symphony.
Throughout his musical journey both as a student and performer, Daniel’s most important goal is to be a lyrical player. Daniel says, “with so much importance placed on technique with little regard for lyricism in today’s competitive world, so many musicians become cold technocrats rather than expressive artists.�

Music provided by:

JC Jones
Daniel Nix
Eric Hochberg
Fonkmasters – www.music.podshow.com
N’Awlins Gumbo Kings – UFO Saloon
"UFO Saloon" (mp3)
from "UFO Saloon"
by N'Awlins Gumbo Kings
(Blue Cat Blues Records) Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album



Oneson – Just One of Those Nights
"Just One of Those Nights" (mp3)
from "Long Overdue: The Prologue"
by Oneson
(acropolisRPM) Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

This is an amazing off-the-cuff performance from Miloslav Gajdos playing and singing (both parts at the same time!) Mozart’s “Per Questa Bella Mano� on the double bass. He was experiencing jet lag and playing on a borrowed bass, but one would never know if from watching this video! The bass in this video was provided by sonksenstrings.com. This trip was coordinated by Lyric Opera of Chicago and Northeastern Illinois bass professor Greg Sarchet in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the first bass recital in Chicago. Check out Greg at Bass Club Chicago, and stay tuned for more great episodes featuring Miloslav Gajdos!

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features the second half of our interview with double bassist Guy Tuneh, conducted over a distance of thousands of miles. It was a real pleasure to get to sit down and chat with Guy--he's a warm, intelligent, and passionate individual, and these traits come through in his speaking just like they do in his bass playing. You can visit him online at www.guytuneh.com. You will also get a chance to hear the great jazz bassist Brian Bromberg perform and hear some bass playing from L.A. bassist Nam Chi Vu. Enjoy!

____________


CBC #33 Show Notes
Release Date: 8/12/07
Length: 51:24
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

Click to listen (right-click to download)

Guy Tuneh bio:

Guy Tuneh has been studying in Germany and performing internationally. He is noted for his intense musical involvement and phenomenal performances, combining virtuosity and musicality. Mr. Tuneh has been active as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestra and opera bassist. Having begun as a violin student at the age of 6, he was drawn to the tone color of the double bass, joining Prof. Michael Klinghoffer's bass studio at the S. Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University. Later, he continued his bass studies under Prof. Barbara Sanderling at the Hochschule Für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, he is now working towards a Solo Artist Diploma with Prof. Wolfgang Güttler at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel. Additionally, he took master classes with Yoan Goilav, Gary Karr and Miloslav Gajdos. His orchestra performances included engagements as a principle bassist with the Berliner Kammeroper, Ensemble "Echo" in the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Theater Erfurt, and most recently with the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. As an orchestra bassist Mr. Tuneh performed under such distinguished conductors as Kurt Sanderling, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, Nicolas Harnoncourt and Christian Thielemann. Winner of a Villa Musica Scholarship, Guy Tuneh has performed all over Germany as a chamber musician and a soloist to great acclaim, and participated in chamber music and solo performances recorded by the SWR (Southwest German Radio). These performances included collaborations with Ulf Rodenhäuser, Guy Braunstein, Christian Altenburger, Wen-Sinn Yang, Martin Ostertag, Hermann Bäumer, and other distinguished musicians.The "Allgemeine Zeitung" described his performance as youthful and exuberant.

Musical Guest:

Brian Bromberg

Music played: “A Love Affair� from Wood II

Visit him online at http://www.brianbromberg.net/

About Brian:

Brian was born December 5th, 1960 in Tucson Arizona. He grew up in a family of musicians and artists. His father and brother played the drums. With all that music around the house, and drums all over the place, it was natural for Brian to start playing the drums as well. Brian was two and a half years old, beating up the furniture and banging on anything that didn't move. After some years of playing and practicing, Brian began his professional career as a drummer at the age of thirteen.
In elementary and Jr.high School, Brian also played the cello. That was one instrument that Brian did not feel very comfortable playing. One day in orchestra class at jr. high, the orchestra director came over to Brian and said, hey Brian, you see that big bass over there in the corner? You know that nobody is playing it. Don't you want to play that big cool bass over there? You see, the orchestra director had a plan. He thought that having one bad bass player was better then not having one at all. That was his way of getting Brian to stop trying to saw his cello in half!
That day was a blessing in disguise. Brian didn't realize that he had the gift for melody as well as rhythm. With his drumming background, and all this new melody available to him from the bass, Brian knew that this was going to be his path.
From ages fourteen to eighteen, Brian locked himself up in a room and practiced day and night. Testing out of high school early and devoting all his time to music, for the next few years Brian played every type of gig imaginable. Quite often Brian would play five to seven nights a week with several different bands.
Brian's first big break came in 1979 when Marc Johnson, the wonderful bassist with the great jazz pianist Bill Evans, heard Brian play. Several months later while on tour, Marc ran into legendary jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. Stan was looking for a new bass player and asked Marc if he knew any new young players. Marc told Stan about Brian. Brian auditioned for Stan and joined the Stan Getz quintet in December of 1979. Brian had just turned 19 and spent nearly a year touring the world with Stan and his band.


Musical Guest: Nam Chi Vu

-she will be releasing a solo double bass album late this year, so stay tuned for that, but check out this sampler featuring many of her bass highlights from various musical situations.

-visit her online at www.namchivu.com or www.myspace.com/namchivu

About Nam Chi Vu:

Nam Chi Vu has been singing since she was twelve years old, playing electric bass guitar
since she was thirteen, acting since she was fourteen, and playing upright bass since she was
sixteen. Her background consists of several genres from classical, jazz, rock, to pop. Her
experience goes from sharing the stage in master classes with Victor Wooten to rocking out with
Chicago based band Veruca Salt. Nam Chi is currently in the studio with world-renowned
producer/bass player Josquin des Pres of Track Star Studios and will be featured on a
compilation featuring Dennis Chambers of Santana, members of the Gipsy Kings, and numerous
other celebrities to be announced. She is also currently in the studio and on tour with EMI
songwriter/ Warner Brothers record producer Kim Bingham, also known as the former backup
vocalist and guitarist for Nelly Furtado, and have had recordings with Kim produced by Steve
Porcaro of Toto which were featured in Hollywood films. Nam Chi Vu currently plays Carvin "Bunny
Brunel" 4 & 5 String Signature basses, Kesslar Contrabass with French Bow and Underwood
Pickup, Carvin B800 Combo, and La Bella strings.

Music Provided by:

Nam Chi Vu
Fonkmasters – www.music.podshow.com
Matthew Ebel – Drive Away – www.music.podshow.com
Eric Hochberg

Presto -Searching Featuring 3rd Kind – Right Here

"Searching" (mp3)
from "Right Here"
by Presto
(Concrete Grooves) Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Brian Bromberg
"A Love Affair" (mp3)
from "Wood II"
by Brian Bromberg
(Artistry Music Group, LLC) Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album

Check out this excellent video from the extraordinary double bassist Ranaan Meyer.  Ranaan is a member of the trio Time for Three, and he was featured on Contrabass Conversations episode 28.  Enjoy!

This week on Contrabass Conversations we bring you an interview with string teacher and double bassist Peter Tambroni. Peter has written a book titled An Introduction to Double Bass Playing, and he has many valuable ideas regarding double bass pedagogy. Arizona bassist Robert Matheson is also featured on this episode. Enjoy!

_____________

CBC #32 Show Notes
Release Date: 8/5/07
Length: 57:11
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

We also encourage you to check out more resources for the jazz bassist at JazzDoubleBass.com, where you can find the Contrabass Conversations jazz forums.

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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



Interview guest – Peter Tambroni

Book – An Introduction to Double Bass Playing – available at: http://www.lulu.com/tambroni

Between interview segments you will get the chance to hear Peter perform some highlights from various electric and acoustic bass selections.

Peter’s bio:
I began playing the double bass at the age of 16 (after playing the clarinet since elementary school) when the director of my high school jazz ensemble asked if anyone would be interested in playing bass. After playing electric bass it was suggested that I learn the string bass and soon after I began orchestral studies. Within a year I knew I wanted to go into the field of music, and becoming a music teacher was the perfect choice for me. I received my Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music in 1996.
After that I taught strings in the public schools for grades 4 - 12 in Northern New York and have been adjunct faculty for 'cello and double bass at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. In 2000 I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign with a Master's in Double Bass Performance, studying with Michael Cameron.
I am currently a string teacher in suburban Chicago where I teach string lessons in grades 3 - 8 and conduct the middle school concert and chamber orchestras. I also lead an Irish ensemble and a bass quartet.
I perform around the greater Chicago area with many orchestra and rock bands around the city. In 2000 I appeared on the Bozo Super Sunday Show to give a presentation and performance on the double bass. In the spring of 2003 I was the guest soloist for District 212 (playing the Vanhal concerto) and in spring of 2004 I performed at Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall with the Polish American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago.
I have attended classes with Michael Hovnanian of the Chicago Symphony, John Chiego, Hal Robinson of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Scott Haigh of the Cleveland Symphony, Stewart Arfman, and Erik Harris.
I have been published several in American String Teacher as well as websites around the world.

Bass news:

-Bass Musician Magazine launches! – our first feature for this publication featured double bassist Ranaan Meyer, who you heard on episode 28 of the podcast. For this bi-monthly magazine, we’ll be featuring artists who work in multiple styles of music, so expect to see one such artist in each magazine. Being featured in each issue of this publication is a really good thing for the podcast!

-New interactive podcast features

-New survey happening now over at doublebassblog.org about bassist experiences with various airlines

Musical Guest – Robert Matheson

Songs performed:

Box Canyon
Sattva

Ironwood Duo
Michael Lich, banjo & guitar
Robert Matheson, bass

Double Bassist, composer, Robert Matheson’s repertoire includes classical and jazz compositions, as well as original works influenced by classical, jazz, folk, and rock music. He also enjoys collaborating with visual artists, dancers, and musicians on improvisation projects. Past performances have taken Robert to Sonora, Mexico for Festival Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado; Sedona, Arizona for Chamber Music Sedona; and to Los Angeles, California for performances at the Roxy, and the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts. He has performed with the guitar duo, Toccata; the Latin jazz group, Hans and the Attachés; Blue Pacific Swing Band; as well as the Tucson and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestras. His radio performances have included Chamber Music Showcase on KUAT 90.5 FM and Locals Only on KXCI 91.3 FM. Robert has studied under Barry Green, David Young, and Patrick Neher. He has also participated in master classes with such distinguished bassists as, François Rabbath, Paul Ellison, and David Murray. Robert performs with the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra and Tucson Chamber Orchestra. He is a music artist in the Opening Minds Through the Arts (OMA) residency program. He also lectures and teaches double bass at the Academy of Music and Dance in Tucson.

www.cdbaby.com/cd/lich
www.ironwoodduo.com
www.myspace.com/mathesonbass


Music provided by:

Fonkmasters – www.music.podshow.com
Eric Hochberg – www.erichochberg.com
Peter Tambroni – www.tambroni.com
Full-Time Duet – www.myspace.com/fulltimeduet
Robert Matheson – www.ironwoodduo.com

"Friday Night" (mp3)
from "Live At Blue Cat Blues - Dallas Texas"
by Los Lonely Boys
(Blue Cat Blues Records) Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album

This week we are wrapping up our interview with double bass virtuoso François Rabbath. You can hear the previous sections of this interview on episode 16 and episode 22 of the podcast.

We will also be featuring in interesting new twist in Contrabass Conversations interviews today—the Lyric Opera’s Andy Anderson (a regular collaborator on the podcast) will be discussing one piece in depth and offering practice advice and tips. This week we will be discussing the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, which we will be doing after the conclusion of our Rabbath interview.

Today we will also be hearing tracks from “At the Uke Shack #1�, featuring Seattle bassist Matt Weiner as well as Del Rey on ukulele. You’ll hear “Clockin’ the Vic� right after we conclude our conversation with Rabbath as well as a few tunes at the end of the program. Enjoy!

_____________

CBC #31 Show Notes
Release Date: 7/29/07
Length: 44:08
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

We also encourage you to check out more resources for the jazz bassist at JazzDoubleBass.com, where you can find the Contrabass Conversations jazz forums.

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes

François Rabbath

visit Rabbath's show notes page for biographical and album ordering information

Guest #2 - Andrew Anderson

visit all of Andy's podcast episodes here

Musical Guest - Matthew Weiner

visit him online at www.myspace.com/matthewweiner

check out At the Uke Shack #1

Music Provided by:

FonkMasters – Podsafe Music Network – music.podshow.com

Eric Hochberg

Matthew Weiner

Download "Take Out The Trash" (mp3)
from "The Else"
by They Might Be Giants
TMB Productions

More On This Album

Download "Hola Cuba Remix" (mp3)
from "Salsa Caribe!"
by Cuba Libre
Azul Music

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from Rhapsody
• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at GroupieTunes

More On This Album

CBC #30 Show Notes
Release Date: 7/21/07
Length: 38:37
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

Guy Tuneh bio:

Guy Tuneh has been studying in Germany and performing internationally. He is noted for his intense musical involvement and phenomenal performances, combining virtuosity and musicality. Mr. Tuneh has been active as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestra and opera bassist. Having begun as a violin student at the age of 6, he was drawn to the tone color of the double bass, joining Prof. Michael Klinghoffer's bass studio at the S. Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University. Later, he continued his bass studies under Prof. Barbara Sanderling at the Hochschule Für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, he is now working towards a Solo Artist Diploma with Prof. Wolfgang Güttler at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel. Additionally, he took master classes with Yoan Goilav, Gary Karr and Miloslav Gajdos. His orchestra performances included engagements as a principle bassist with the Berliner Kammeroper, Ensemble "Echo" in the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Theater Erfurt, and most recently with the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. As an orchestra bassist Mr. Tuneh performed under such distinguished conductors as Kurt Sanderling, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, Nicolas Harnoncourt and Christian Thielemann. Winner of a Villa Musica Scholarship, Guy Tuneh has performed all over Germany as a chamber musician and a soloist to great acclaim, and participated in chamber music and solo performances recorded by the SWR (Southwest German Radio). These performances included collaborations with Ulf Rodenhäuser, Guy Braunstein, Christian Altenburger, Wen-Sinn Yang, Martin Ostertag, Hermann Bäumer, and other distinguished musicians.The "Allgemeine Zeitung" described his performance as youthful and exuberant.

Lonnie Plaxico bio:

The middle child in a family of musicians, Chicago-born Lonnie Plaxico inherited a gift for music that was discovered and nurtured early. By the age of twelve he had taught himself to play the electric bass, and he was soon venturing into Chicago's music scene, renowned for its mix of jazz, funk and blues. It was not long before the young musician made his first recording, featuring his family's band. At the age of just fourteen, having already performed alongside several prominent Chicago jazz figures, Lonnie Plaxico turned professional, playing the electric and acoustic bass with equal facility.

In 1980 Plaxico moved to New York and soon began to appear with such artists as Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon and Wynton Marsalis. His first extended tenure was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: between1983 and 1986, lonnie performed on twelve of Blakey's albums, including the Grammy Award-winning, New York Scene. In 1986 he joined Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, continuing with that group until 1993. Presently, Plaxico is the musical director and featured bassist for Cassandra Wilson; their critically acclaimed and award-winning collaboration has now spanned fifteen years.

Plaxico's recording and performance catalog is equally impressive for its caliber, depth and diversity. He has appeared with such luminaries as Sonny Sitt, Junior Cook, David Murray, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Sample, Abbey Lincoln, and Dizzy Gillespie. Just as noteworthy are his performances with younger artists -- among them Steve Coleman, Rachelle Farrell and Dianne Reeves. lonnie has also recorded with Bill Cosby, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ravi Coltrane and Barbara Dennerlein, as well as his Grammy-winning collaborations with Art Blakey and Cassandra Wilson. He has also recorded five critically acclaimed albums as leader.

We hope that you enjoy this special video episode from double bass virtuoso Guy Tuneh!  Check out CBC 30 for a complete interview with Guy, and visit him online at www.guytuneh.com.

This week we are continuing our conversation with Chicago Symphony Orchestra bassist Michael Hovnanian that we began on Episode 24 of the podcast. Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview.

You will also get a chance to hear Michael play selections from the Discordia Music edition of the Beethoven Sonata (Op. 17) for Double Bass and Piano Michael is performing from his own edition, which is available for purchase from Discordia Music. Enjoy!

__________

CBC #29 Show Notes
Release Date: 7/15/07
Length: 37:41
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com


This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

Intro

-I’d like to thank Ranaan Meyer once again for a great interview last week and for the magnificent playing we heard from Guy Tuneh. You will be hearing he rest of our conversation with Ranaan in an upcoming episode, and you will get a chance to hear an interview with and more playing from Guy Tuneh on next week’s episode.

-This week we are continuing our interview with double bassist Michael Hovnanian that we started on Episode 24 of the podcast. Michael is a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra bass section and is involved with a wide range of other music groups, including the Gunnelpumpers, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Bass Ensemble, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra.

-In Episode 24 Michael and I discussed his early years on the instrument. This episode we get into advice on practicing, life in a symphony orchestra, and much, much more.

-Additionally, he runs a publishing company called Discordia Music that specializes in music for the double bass, and you will be hearing selections from his edition of the Beethoven Sonata (Op. 17) after the interview.

-Later on in the episode we will also be hearing from Vancouver-based vocalist and double bassist Dinah D.

About Michael Hovnanian

Michael Hovnanian grew up in the Seattle area and started playing the bass in the public schools. His primary teachers were James Harnett and Ronald Simon of the Seattle Symphony. An early interest in solo playing led to performances with the Seattle Symphony, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra and the University of Washington Symphony. Michael attended the University of Washington and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts where he studied with Frederick Tinsley of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1986 he joined the Victoria Symphony as Principal Bassist and in 1988 the San Antonio Symphony as a member of the bass section.

Since 1989 he has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing in the CSO Mr. Hovnanian is active performing solo and chamber music in the Chicago area. He has appeared in the Chicago Symphony chamber concerts at Orchestra Hall and the Art Institute, with Chicago Pro Musica, and at the Winter Chamber Music Festival. Currently he is President of Discordia Music, a pulishing company specializing in new and arranged works for Double Bass. He is also a co-founder of the International Bottesini Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the legacy of that composer.

Michael’s blog: www.csobassblog.blogspot.com
Discordia Music: www.discordia-music.com
Gunnelpumpers: www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: www.cso.org
Chicago Bass Ensemble: www.chicagobassensemble.com
Ars Viva Symphony: www.arsviva.org
Music of the Baroque: www.baroque.org

Interview

Music from Michael

Thanks again for the great interview, Michael. Tune in to episode 24 of the podcast to hear the first part of this interview, and stay tuned for the final segment plus even more double bass playing for Michael on a future episode.

Next up on the program, we are going to be hearing Michael performing a selection from the first movement of the Beethoven Sonata (Op. 17) from his own edition of the piece, which is available for purchase from Discordia Music at www.discordia-music.com.

News and Notes

-I have been just been selected for the Board of Directors of the International Society of Bassists. Getting a chance to serve in this capacity is a real thrill for me, and I appreciate the opportunity. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that my blog is the reason that I was selected to work in this organization, and it is an example of the real power of this new medium.

-We’ve gotten a huge listener response from last week’s episode where we featured some of double bass virtuoso Guy Tuneh’s playing. We had many, many questions from listeners about Guy Tuneh, which you can check out over at contrabassconversations.com under episode 28. I really appreciate all of these questions, and I tried to incorporate as many of them as I could into our interview with Guy, which we completed earlier this week. I think that listeners will really enjoy this interiview next week.

-You will also be seeing the first video selections from Contrabass Conversations in the next couple of weeks. This video will feature Guy Tuneh, and it will be available at the Contrabass Conversations. If you’re subscribed, it will just come down the pike to you. This is an audio program (obviously), but I have always planned on including some video episodes where appropriate, so stay tuned and let me know what you think!

Music from Dinah D


website--http://www.dinahd.com
music--http://www.myspace.com/dinahdmusic

About Dinah

I have been playing Bass for a short 5 years. A lot has happened in these few
years. Tonnes of road hours, studio hours, playing hours and, of course,
rehearsal hours!

Not long after I met the upright Bass, I was touring with the (now popular)
Be Good Tanyas. That pretty much kick started my career to date. Lots of fun
shows! The most recent recording I played was The Contenders (Valdy and Gary
Fjellgaard) 'Contenders Two' - sharing the bass stage with vancouver
Bass-monster Rene Worst.

I live on beautiful gabriola island, where my cat is my best critic, and my
friends are my best fans.

I love doing freelance work for almost any style of band, as long as they
are Upright Bass saavy. Any band who tours with an Upright Bass deserves
respect. Cheers to those bands!

My own projects have garnished some nice attention in the last few years.
Touring with the 'Contraband Trio'(Dinah D and her Contraband Trio) has been
a highlight. Playing festivals with this band is another highlight! People
are very cool at festivals!

I have been doing solo Bass/Voice shows for 3 years now. A combination of
song,storytelling, and noises both strong and weak, beautiful and ugly!

My most recent incarnation, just another on the wheel of Bass, is Dinah D's
Contraband Swingclub. this band ranges from 5 piece to astronomical
proportions! great swing music, horns, fiddles, you name it!

line-up(for all 3 songs)
Upright Bass/Vocal -Dinah(pronounced dye-nah) D
Guitar- Kelly Fawcett
Drumkit- Andreas Kahre(pronounced Kah-ray)

Dawson

Dawson was written for the town in the Yukon--- Dawson City.
It's an audio voyage to Dawson City in the summer - without having to wreck
your station-wagon to get there.
It was written on guitar on the ferry between vancouver and vancouver
island. I was on tour with a band and we were heading to the Yukon(with a 3
week stint in Dawson). I was trying to describe what the band could expect
when they got there.... and they weren't disappointed. They said it was just
like the song....and the town has adopted the tune as their national anthem!

Renaissance Man

This song is 'renaissance man'. It was written after a conversation about 2
chord songs. (With the 2 chords not really belonging together). I took on
the challenge. It was written for a friend who was having troubles in love.

Outro

Music provided today by:

Michael Hovnanian
FonkMasters – Podsafe Music Network – music.podshow.com
Eric Hochberg
Dinah D
Shagg – Bub Ba Ba Ba

Download "Essa Magia" (mp3)
from "Shades Of Brazilectro - EP"
by De Madrugada
Mahjong Music LTD

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at Napster

More On This Album

This week's Contrabass Conversations podcast features the first part of our interview with double bassist Ranaan Meyer. John Grillo (a frequent guest and collaborator on the podcast) and I co-interviewed Ranaan, who is the bassist for the band Time for Three and has had a very interesting and multi-faceted career. In addition to hearing a few musical excerpts from Time for Three, this episode features music from German double bassist Guy Tuneh, Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter Brad Yoder, Los Lonely Boys, and The Latin Soul Syndicate. Enjoy!

________

CBC #28 Show Notes
Release Date: 7/8/07
Length: 39:52
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.org
Podcast forums: www.talkbass.com/cbc
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.



To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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

I’d like to thank double bassist Kate Nettleman again for a great interview! You heard the conclusion of that interview last week on the show, and I really think that Kate has a valuable perspective and a lot to offer bassists everywhere. I’d also like to thank Kevin Tkacz for the music from last week’s show.

This week John Grillo and I will be featuring the first part of our interview with double bassist Ranaan Meyer. Ranaan is the bassist for the fabulous band Time for Three, which is really an unclassifiable band that melds classical, jazz, bluegrass, and other influences together into a really awesome and exciting product.

In fact, rather than try to describe this band myself, let me just read this quote from Paul Newman:

"To hear these three young guys is to be thankful that music was invented... If I had been able to create a sound like these kids a few years back, I might have thought twice about going into acting!"

In addition to playing with Time for Three, Ranaan has performed alongside such diverse musical luminaries as Mark O’Conner, Duane Eubanks, has played in the bass sections of the Minnesota Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Baltimore Symphony, and has written commissioned scores for the Pittsburgh Symphony. He has also taught alongside Hal Robinson at the Strings International Music Festival and for Mark O’Conner’s String Camp.

We’ll be hearing a couple of brief selections from Time for Three during today’s interview with Ranaan. To hear more from this band, check out their website at www.timeforthree.com.

After the interview, we’ll be hearing a track from German bassist Guy Tuneh and will also feature a track from Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter and podcast listener Brad Yoder titled “James Bond.�

Ranaan Meyer bio:

Ranaan Meyer, double bassist and composer, began his musical studies at the piano at age 4; at age 11, he took up the double bass (once he was big enough to hold it). He attended the Manhattan School of Music and graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2003. Beyond regular appearances with orchestras such as the Minnesota Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Meyer is also increasingly
in demand as a composer, creating unique new works for his trio Time for Three as well as for solo bass and other ensembles. Most recently Mr. Meyer completed a commission, “My Zayda� (for Violin, Piano and Double Bass) for the Kingston Chamber Music Festival in Rhode Island. Other recently completed commissions include a solo double bass piece for the Network for New Music, a double bass and harp duet as well as a set of Time for Three pieces for Astral Artistic Services and a Time for Three composition for the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony, “Of time and three rivers�. All commissions have been expedited through the American Composer’s forum.

Mr. Meyer, also an accomplished jazz musician, has performed with Jane Monheight, Victor Lewis, Jason Moran, Mark O’Connor, Ari Hoenig, Duane Eubanks, Mickey Roker and many more. Ranaan, at age 19 produced, directed and performed in the very first
Washington Township Jazz Festival which was also broadcasted live on Philadelphia’s WRTI. Mr. Meyer, an avid teacher, has held adjunct Double Bass Professorships at both Princeton University and the University of Delaware. He has spent several
Summers teaching alongside Hal Robinson (Principal Bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra) at the Strings International Music Festival in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He has also taught at the Intermountain Suzuki Camp in Sandy, Utah and Mark O’Connor’s String Camp in San Diego, California.

Albums from Time for Three:

We Just Burned This For You

Time for Three's second album, recorded LIVE, in concert, January 13, 2006 in band member Zach's hometown of Bowling Green, Ohio.

$15.97 Order Now

Time For Three

The first album, featuring "The Orange Blossom Special", "Bach Double", and many more.
$15.99 Order Now

Musical Guest:

Guy Tuneh
Visit him online at www.guytuneh.com.

Selection performed:

Leopold Mozart: Frosh Parthia-for violin, violoncello & bass

C.Altenburger-Vl
E.Wehse- Vc
G.Tuneh –Kb.

Guy Tuneh bio:

Guy Tuneh has been studying in Germany and performing internationally. He is noted for his intense musical involvement and phenomenal performances, combining virtuosity and musicality. Mr. Tuneh has been active as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestra and opera bassist. Having begun as a violin student at the age of 6, he was drawn to the tone color of the double bass, joining Prof. Michael Klinghoffer's bass studio at the S. Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University. Later, he continued his bass studies under Prof. Barbara Sanderling at the Hochschule Für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, he is now working towards a Solo Artist Diploma with Prof. Wolfgang Güttler at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel. Additionally, he took master classes with Yoan Goilav, Gary Karr and Miloslav Gajdos. His orchestra performances included engagements as a principle bassist with the Berliner Kammeroper, Ensemble "Echo" in the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Theater Erfurt, and most recently with the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. As an orchestra bassist Mr. Tuneh performed under such distinguished conductors as Kurt Sanderling, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, Nicolas Harnoncourt and Christian Thielemann. Winner of a Villa Musica Scholarship, Guy Tuneh has performed all over Germany as a chamber musician and a soloist to great acclaim, and participated in chamber music and solo performances recorded by the SWR (Southwest German Radio). These performances included collaborations with Ulf Rodenhäuser, Guy Braunstein, Christian Altenburger, Wen-Sinn Yang, Martin Ostertag, Hermann Bäumer, and other distinguished musicians.The "Allgemeine Zeitung" described his performance as youthful and exuberant.

News and Notes

-We’ve got a great line-up of future guests coming up here, including some more interviews with people outside of the classical bass realm. I am interested in continuing to broaden the types of guests on this program, and while it will always probably be at least somewhat weighted toward the classical orchestral side of things (seeing as how that’s what I do and where I come from), I’m talking with some really prominent electric bass and crossover players, so expect to hear some interviews with players who have worked in rock and fusion settings.

-One of our future interview guests is actually going to be Guy Tuneh, who you just heard magnificently play that Leopold Mozart selection. I have also been in correspondence with some other European guests, and I look forward to bringing more perspectives outside of the United States into the show. Podcasting is global and the double bass community is global and I want to make sure that this show continues to become more and more global. One of the things that really sets podcasting apart from traditional radio is that it is accessible anywhere in the world to anyone with an internet connection, and, as with the blog, I want to make sure that the show reflects the global nature of the medium.

-In addition to new guests, we’ve got a wealth of material sitting in the archives from Rob Kassinger, Michael Hovnanian, Francois Rabbath, Eric Hochberg, Greg Sarchet, Jeff Turner, and many other guests, so expect to hear more of this in the next few weeks. Many of the first parts of these interviews wrapped up just as they were getting juicy, so I’m sure that folks out there will be interested to hear some more perspectives from these and other former guests.

-This is currently the only active bass podcast for either double bass or electric bass. A couple of excellent podcasts have podfaded, and I feel a responsibility to include some electric bass content as well and to feature guests who work on both instruments, and we will start to see some of that, although the show will still be predominantly about the double bass.

-I am also planning on featuring even more music on the podcast, and including submissions from a wide range of sources. If you’d like to have some music played on the podcast, please e-mail us here at contrabassconversations@gmail.com and we’ll get it set up for you. Remember, one of the things that make podcasting really cool and unlike traditional radio is the community involvement and interaction between host, guests, and listener. My door is always open, and I welcome comments, ideas, submissions, guest interviews, and the like. As with my blog, I see this as a community podcast, and I want to continue to grow and develop it according to what you, the listeners, want.

-Double bassist and Contrabass Conversations frequent guest Phillip Serna is now a regular contributor to the bass blog. You will see his signature at the bottom of any posts he has contributed. This week he wrote an excellent piece on the Octobass. Check it out if you didn't get a chance to do so earlier this week. Click here to find all of Phillip's contributions.

-We put out two blogging/podcasting/subscribing how-to posts this week. One post was written by me, while another post was a great tutorial on how to subscribe to blogs and why it is a good idea.

-For more bass news and a summary of what’s been going on in the community, visit www.doublebassblog.org and click on the Weekly Wrap-Up. There, you’ll get a nice summary of this week’s activities.


One More Track

From Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter Brad Yoder – titled James Bond – bassist Kevin Kehrberg on this track.

You can visit him online at www.bradyoder.com


Music provided by:

The Fonkmasters

From the Podsafe Music Network
Check them out at www.music.podshow.com

Latin Soul Syndicate Shake It From The Adventures of Johnny Loco

Download "Shake It" (mp3)
from "The Adventures Of Johnny Loco"
by Latin Soul Syndicate
Lovecat Music

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at GroupieTunes
• Buy at Misrolas

More On This Album


Los Lonely Boys Heaven From Live at Blue Cat Blues – Dallas, Texas

Download "Heaven" (mp3)
from "Live At Blue Cat Blues - Dallas Texas"
by Los Lonely Boys
Blue Cat Blues Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Stream from Rhapsody
• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Buy at GroupieTunes

More On This Album

This week on Contrabass Conversations we are concluding the interview with double bassist Kathryn Nettleman that we began on episode 12 of the podcast. Also, this week we feature some jazz bass from Brooklyn musician Kevin Tkacz plus current news on the bass scene. Enjoy!
___________

CBC 27 Show Notes

Release Date: 7/1/07
Length: 30:28
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.org

Podcast forums: www.talkbass.com/cbc
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

-This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

Intro

Thanks to Jeff Turner for the great interview last week!

This week we’ll be featuring part 2 of our interview with double bassist Kate Nettleman, which we started on episode 12 of the podcast.

Kate is a classical double bassist located in the Chicago area, and she regularly performs with the Minnesota Orchestra St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Symphony and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. In the first part of the interview we talked about her early training at Juilliard and Yale, plus her experiences at the New World Symphony and Naples Philharmonic so check out episode 12 to hear about Kate’s early years on the instrument.

After the interview, we’ll be hearing a track from Brooklyn-based jazz bassist Kevin Tkacz titled ‘Yo, Jimmy!’, so here we go with the second part of our talk with Kate Nettleman.

Interview

Musical Guest:

From Kevin Tkacz

Improv4 (Yo, Jimmy!)

http://www.kevintkacz.com/

This track, as well as the majority of the record, was improvised. No
discussion before we played; we just played. The trio had played together
for the first time as a group the night before, so the high quality of the
music we made (if I can be a pompous ass for a minute) is testament to the
great players I was able to work with. They are Bill Carrothers (piano) and
Michael Sarin (drums). I hope to be able to get this band working again by
spring of next year. Various scheduling and geographical difficulties make
this a challenge, though, so we'll see.

The title came after the fact, as I was listening to the mixes to decide the
sequencing and I realized that the opening phrase I played bears a striking
resemblance to something I heard Jimmy Garrison play on a 'Trane record. So
it's an homage, albeit accidental.

News and Notes

-URL switched from jasonheath.blogspot.com to doublebassblog.org – don’t worry, you don’t need to change anything if you’re linking to my site or have bookmarked anything on my site. Putting in my old URL or doublebassblog.com will take you there.

-Upcoming guests will be Ranaan Meyer (who John Grillo and I are interviewing this weekend) and Minnesota Orchestra bassist Colin Corner. Colin has been a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic and the Vancouver Symphony prior to joining the Minnesota Orchestra, and hearing from a young player who has had such success will really be a great thing for bassists everywhere.

-Luthier directory is now up and active. If you click the ‘bass luthiers’ tab on my blog you will be taken to a page featuring a listing of luthiers by state, then alphabetically within each state. I am also including an index so that you can quickly skip to one luthier. Otherwise, you can browse through all of the listings one after another and check out the kind of work that different shops do.

In addition to contact information like address, phone number, and website, I am including map directions for each shop, plus photos of their work, background information on the luthiers at that shop and the kind of work they do, and any other relevant information.

You can comment on any shop and add information or share your experiences at that shop, and doing so will help this grow into a valuable resource that is more than just a list of addresses and phone numbers.

This kind of project takes time, so I only have a few shops listed now. I will continue to list more each day. Feel free to e-mail me your suggestions for the directory, or leave a comment.

-The Contrabass Conversations website is getting a massive overhaul this summer. The site that is currently up at ContrabassConversations.com was intended as a placeholder until I could get some time to put up a really slick site, and I’ve got the time now (yay, summer!), so expect to see some changes in the next few weeks. Your experience with the podcast won’t change at all—everything will stay the same—but the Contrabass Conversations site will offer a lot of increased usability. You’ll see—it’ll be awesome.

-The Weekly Wrap-Up is a new feature on the blog that I think will help folks to get an easy summary of what the bass news of the week has been/. Things move pretty quickly on the front page of the blog, and it’s easy to let some important stories slip by, so this wrap-up will summarize what’s been going on for the week. You can also subscribe to just the wrap-up if you like. Simply click the tab labeled ‘wrap-up’ for more details.

Music provided by:

Hathead - Roll & Go -Songs from the Lost Hard Drive

and

FonkMasters - The Fonks on Music Jam (new outro)

From the Podsafe Music Network

Check them out at www.music.podshow.com

It is my pleasure to bring you this great interview with Pittsburgh Symphony principal bassist Jeff Turner for this week's episode of Contrabass Conversations. Jeff has excellent advice for musicians, and he reflects on his early years on the instrument in this very engaging interview. You will also be hearing a double bass feature from the Lascivious Biddies on this episode. Enjoy!

_________


CBC 26: Jeff Turner interview

Release Date: 6/24/07
Length: 30:44
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast forums: www.talkbass.com/cbc
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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

News and Notes:

-This show is brought to you by TalkBass.com, the largest community of bassists on the Internet. Join in the conversation at talkbass.com/cbc.

-I’d like to thank Paul Determan for setting this up for us. It should prove to add a great new dimension to the podcast, and I urge listeners to visit the forums and give their input on the episodes. A direct link is available at the podcast website or on my blog at www.doublebassblog.com.

After the interview, we’ll be featuring a few musical selections, but let’s get into our interview with Jeff Turner. Here we go!

Today’s Guest – Jeff Turner
Principal Bass, Pittsburgh Symphony

About Jeff:

Principal Bass Jeffrey Turner joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1987. He served as Principal Bass of the New American Chamber Orchestra from 1984 to 1986 and became a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1986. Mr. Turner, a native of South Carolina, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. His teachers include James VanDemark, Lawrence Hurst and Robert Gladstone.

Mr. Turner serves on the faculties of Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University. He is the Artistic Director of the City Music Center’s Young Bassist Program, and gives annual seminars and master classes at universities and conservatories throughout the world. He has also served as Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music and Lecturer at the University of Maryland.

Mr. Turner has been a resident artist for many annual festivals including the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and the Korsholm Festival in Finland. He has been featured as a presenter at the conventions of The International Society of Bassists, and has served on the faculty of The Asian Youth Orchestra (Hong Kong) under the direction of Lord Yehudi Menuhin. Mr. Turner is a faculty member of the National Orchestral Institute. As winner of the Y Music Society’s Passamaneck Award, Jeffrey Turner appeared in a critically acclaimed recital at Carnegie Music Hall in 1989. He was also a winner of the 1990 Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Artist Award.


INTERVIEW

Musical Selections

Summertime from Brother Love

Visit him online at www.brotherloverocks.com

Odd Bird by the Lascivious Biddies

Visit them online at www.biddies4ever.com

Music provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Visit them online at www.music.podshow.com

News and Notes:

-Grillo studied with Jeff

-Ranaan Meyer – upcoming guest

-I wrote about Time for Three (Ranaan’s trio) for the Take a Friend to Orchestra initiative on Adaptistration

-Gary Karr videos on blog

Visit my bass blog videos for all Gary Karr selections

see my Amati bass recital video

-auditions tab

-luthiers project

-music injury/prevention project


Related Posts:

• John Grillo recital - interview part 1 part 2 part 3
• Rob Kassinger interview
  
• Michael Hovnanian interview
• Greg Sarchet interview
  
• Lawrence Hurst interview part 1 part 2
• Rabbath interview part 1 part 2
• Ira Gold interview part 1 part 2

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with and music from Chicago Symphony bassist Rob Kassinger. Rob’s musical interests span many genres and include both the electric bass and the double bass. You will learn about Rob’s early years on the bass and how working in jazz and rock settings led to an interest in orchestral double bass playing in this fascinating interview.

This episode also features Rob playing the first movement of the Breval Sonata in a live performance, and it includes a track from NYCO, a rock band that Rob was a member of for several years. You will be hearing People We Knew from their recent album “Two�. You can purchase “Two� by following this link.

Enjoy!

_________


CBC 25: R. Kassinger interview

Release Date: 6/17/07
Length: 36:17
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

Click to listen (right-click to download)
or click player below:
News and Notes:

-ISB Convention
-TalkBass dedicated forum
-Jeff Turner interview

Today’s Guest – Rob Kassinger

Member of Chicago Symphony bass section

Bass Professor at DePaul University in Chicago, IL

About Rob:

Robert Kassinger was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Prior to Chicago, Rob performed as assistant principal bass with the Colorado Symphony and also played with the New Orleans Symphony.

In addition to his busy schedule with the Orchestra, Rob is an active chamber musician. He performs with the Revolution Ensemble, the Orion Ensemble, Fulcrum Point, Ars Viva, Music of the Baroque, the Callisto Ensemble, MusicNOW, and broadcasts on WFMT and WTTW. Most recently he has been a featured guest with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, and has performed Schubert’s Trout Quintet with Daniel Barenboim. In July 2006, Rob served as double bass professor at the Canton International Summer Music Academy, led by Charles Dutoit.

Rob grew up in a family of musicians in Boulder, Colorado. He began his bass studies with Frank Carroll at the University of Colorado. In 1985 he moved to New York to study with Homer Mensch at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received his bachelor of music degree. Rob then pursued his master’s degree at the Juilliard School, continuing his studies with Mr. Mensch. He later went on to study with Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Some of his most influential experiences as a student were his two years as principal bass of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, conducted by Alexander Schneider, and the two summers he spent as a fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival, studying with Stuart Sankey and Bruce Bransby. In 1989 Rob was the winner of the Aspen Double Bass Competition.

Rob’s experience as a jazz performer dates back to his early teens, working in the house rhythm section at the infamous Denver jazz club El Chapultapec, and over the years he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Burrell, the Woody Herman band, Conte Candoli, Charlie Rouse, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land, Red Holloway, Charles Brown, Art Lande, Richard Stoltzman, Gary Burton, Alex Acuna, Laurence Hobgood, and Bobby Lewis. In 1998 and 2000, Rob toured India with the Chicago Jazz Express, and he can be heard on their recordings Voyage to India and The Rhythm Section. He also appears on Bobby Lewis’ latest CD, Just Havin’ Some Fun. In addition, Rob is featured on Daniel Barenboim’s Brazilian Rhapsody on the Teldec label, and Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk by the Revolution Ensemble. Rob’s latest project has given him a chance to spend more time with the bass guitar. His alternative rock group NYCO has released its debut album Two, available through nycomusic.com and at Itunes.com.

Rob is professor of double bass at DePaul University. He is also in demand as a coach and master clinician, serving in this capacity for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Juilliard School, and the Mannes School of Music. In the summers of 1999 through 2002, it was Rob’s honor to teach at the West-Eastern Divan, a ground-breaking workshop that brings young musicians from Israel and various Arab countries together to study orchestral music with Daniel Barenboim, Yo-Yo Ma, and members of the CSO, Berlin Philharmonic, and Staatskapelle Berlin.

INTERVIEW

Musical Selections

NYCO – People We Knew from “Two�

www.nycomusic.com

purchase “Two� by following this link

Breval Sonata mvt 1

Related Posts:

• Michael Hovnanian interview
• Greg Sarchet interview
  
• Lawrence Hurst interview part 1 part 2
• Rabbath interview part 1 part 2
• Ira Gold interview part 1 part 2

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with double bassist Michael Hovnanian. Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview.

You will also get a chance to hear Michael play the Discordia Music edition of the Brahms Sonata in E minor on this episode. It is a great edition of a great piece, and Michael plays it beautifully. Enjoy!

_________


CBC 24: M. Hovnanian interview

Release Date: 6/10/07
Length: 27:35
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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

About Michael Hovnanian

Michael Hovnanian grew up in the Seattle area and started playing the bass in the public schools. His primary teachers were James Harnett and Ronald Simon of the Seattle Symphony. An early interest in solo playing led to performances with the Seattle Symphony, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra and the University of Washington Symphony. Michael attended the University of Washington and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts where he studied with Frederick Tinsley of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1986 he joined the Victoria Symphony as Principal Bassist and in 1988 the San Antonio Symphony as a member of the bass section.

Since 1989 he has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing in the CSO Mr. Hovnanian is active performing solo and chamber music in the Chicago area. He has appeared in the Chicago Symphony chamber concerts at Orchestra Hall and the Art Institute, with Chicago Pro Musica, and at the Winter Chamber Music Festival. Currently he is President of Discordia Music, a pulishing company specializing in new and arranged works for Double Bass. He is also a co-founder of the International Bottesini Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the legacy of that composer.

Michael’s blog: www.csobassblog.blogspot.com
Discordia Music: www.discordia-music.com
Gunnelpumpers: www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: www.cso.org
Chicago Bass Ensemble: www.chicagobassensemble.com
Ars Viva Symphony: www.arsviva.org
Music of the Baroque: www.baroque.org

INTERVIEW

-Gunnelpumpers tracks played:

Floobah I

Visit them online at www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers

-Michael plays the Brahms Cello Sonata in E minor, mvt 1
Discordia Music edition (great bass publishing company--check them out!)

Sign-off

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features a continuation of our interview with Indiana University double bass professor Lawrence Hurst plus some music from plus some music from the Italian bass ensemble The Bass Gang.  You can check out episode 20 of the podcast for the first part of this interview with Mr. Hurst, and detailed information for both guests is available in the show notes below. Enjoy!


____________
CBC 23: L. Hurst interview part 2 and music from the Bass Gang

Show Notes

Release Date: 6/3/07
Length: 33:52
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



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

News and notes:

-This week�s interview was co-hosted by double bassist John Grillo. You have heard John on CBC episodes 6, 9, 14, and 20, plus his recital showcase back in February of this year. John was a Mr. Hurst student at Indiana University for his undergraduate degree, and he introduces some great questions and commentary into the interview.

-The 2007 International Society of Bassists Convention will be taking place June 4-9 at Wanda L. Bass (fitting name) School of Music on the campus of Oklahoma City University. I imagine that many bass blog readers will be attending this event, and I'd love to hear your experiences during and after the convention. Feel free to e-mail me (jsh177@yahoo.com) any photos, stories, recordings, or any thoughts in general on your time spent at this event, and I'll be happy to share it with bass blog readers!

-Ausberto Acavedo will be available for interviews during the convention, so if you are attending, be sure to look for him at the event. He is looking to do as many interviews as possible during the event, so please say hi to him if you see him in Oklahoma. He'll be wearing a Contrabass Conversations t-shirt and carrying a microphone, so you can't miss him!

His trip is being sponsored by the Northeastern Illinois University School of Music, and I'd like to thank the University for making this trip possible. Contrabass Conversations guest and Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist Greg Sarchet is the bass instructor at Northeastern, and you can here him being interviewed on episode 19 of the podcast.

I was featured in June of 2006 at Northeastern Illinois University playing a recital on Gary Karr's former 'Amati' (many refer to it as the Karr-Koussevitzky) bass. It was a real treat to get to do this recital, and I'll include a link to my video from this recital in the show notes of this episode. Northeastern Illinois University, with the assistance of Greg Sarchet, set this recital venue up for me, and the Guarneri House of Grand Rapids, Michigan provided me with the bass, and I'm grateful to all three of them for making this event possible.

It was a ton of fun to play on this bass, but I have to say that not having the spectre of a recital on a famous bass is making for a much more relaxing June this year! Just a little blogging and podcasting--easy as pie...

-I am currently working on Miloslav Gajdos video and audio projects; expect recital showcases soon plus videos on YouTube and on my blog; material kindly provided by Greg Sarchet.


Interview with Lawrence Hurst

Lawrence Hurst is the former principal double bass for the Dallas Symphony. He is a former faculty member of Southern Methodist and Eastern Michigan Universities and former faculty member, associate dean, and chair of the string department at University of Michigan School of Music. He was honored with the Alumni Award from the University of Michigan School of Music in 1998.

Professor Hurst is former director of the University Division of the National Music Camp and is a summer faculty member of the Interlochen Arts Camp.

He is past chair of the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition, and past president of the International Society of Bassists.

His former students can be found in many prestigious orchestras, including Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Atlanta.

He has chaired the Indiana University Strings Department for the past 19 years and has been on faculty at Interlochen for the past 40 years.

Learn more about Lawrence Hurst and his Indiana University double bass studio at http://newsinfo.iu.edu/sb/page/normal/231.html

Music from the Bass Gang


Tracks played: B&W Cat & Brava -� recorded live in Japan

website: http://www.thebassgang.org/

members: Antonio Sciancalepore, Andrea Pighi, Alberto Bocini, Amerigo Bernardi


Sign-off

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

Related Posts:

• Lawrence Hurst interview part 1
  
• Ira Gold interview part 1
• Greg Sarchet interview
• Andy Anderson recital showcase
• Eric Hochberg interview

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features a continuation of our interview with double bassist François Rabbath plus some music from U.K.-based bassist Leon Bosch. You can check out episode 16 of the podcast for the first part of this interview with François, and detailed information for both guests is available in the show notes below. Enjoy!


____________
CBC 22: Rabbath interview part 2 and music from Leon Bosch

Show Notes

Release Date: 5/27/07
Length: 40:16
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:



Click to listen (right-click to download)
or click player below:
News and notes:

-Thanks for the positive feedback on Eric Hochberg’s interview last week. There has been some very positive buzz about the episode on various jazz blogs, and it is great to see it get out there and to see the podcast start to cover non-classical musicians.

-Scott Spiegelberg (Musical Perceptions) just put out an updated list of the top 50 (actually 52 due to some ties) blogs in the world of classical music. You'll notice that my blog is number 22, just below Scott's own blog(!). I wasn't included on the list last time around, so it is good to see the bass blog getting more and more popular:

1 The Rest is Noise: 508 Alex Ross (Crit)
2 About Last Night: 347 Terry Teachout (Crit)
3 A Singer's Life: 248 Michelle Bennett (voice)
4 Opera Chic: 193 (O) [two listings of 106 and 87]
5 Sequenza21: 182 Jerry Bowles (C)
6 Night after Night: 149 Steve Smith (Crit) [two listings 96 and 53]
7 On an Overgrown Path: 145 Bob Shingleton (producer)
8 PostClassic: 129 Kyle Gann (C)
9 Ionarts: 123 Charles T. Downey (A)
10 Violinist.com Diaries: 114 (violin)
11 Sandow: 107 Greg Sandow (Crit)
12 Think Denk: 96 Jeremy Denk (piano)
13 La Cieca: 94 James Jorden (O)
14 Soho the Dog: 87 Matthew Guerreri (C)
15 Jessica Duchen: 86 (Crit)
16 Dial “M� for Musicology: 67 Phil Ford and Jonathan Bellman (A)
17 Aworks: 65 Robert Gable (L)
17 The Concert: 65 Anne-Carolyn Bird (voice)
19 Sounds and Fury: 62 AC Douglas (L)
20 Terminaldegree: 61 (kazoo) [57 + 4]
21 Musical Perceptions: 58 Me (A)
22 Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog: 57 (bass)
23 Adaptistration: 54 Drew McManus (orchestra management)
23 Mad Musings of Me: 54 Gertsamtkunstwerk (O)
25 Deceptively Simple: 53 Marc Geelhoed (Crit)
25 Loose Poodle: 53 Peter Kaye (C)
25 The Rambler: 53 Tim Rutherford-Johnson (A) [41 + 12]
28 Roger Bourland: 52 Roger Bourland (C) [43 + 9]
29 Oboeinsight: 50 Patty Mitchell (oboe)
30 Meanwhile, here in France: 43 Ruth (cello)
31 The Standing Room: 40 Monsieur C (L and voice?)
31 Sieglinde’s Diaries: 40 Leon Dominguez (O)
31 Classical Music: 40 Janelle Gelfand (Crit)
34 A Sort of Notebook: 38 Waterfall (L)
34 ANABlog: 38 Analog Arts Ensemble
36 The Well-Tempered Blog: 37 Bart Collins (piano)
36 The Iron Tongue of Midnight: 37 Lisa Hirsch (Crit)
36 My Favorite Intermissions: 37 Maury D’annato (O)
36 Renewable Music: 37 Daniel Wolf (C)
40 An Unamplified Voice: 34 JSU (O)
41 On a Pacific Aisle: 30 Josh Kosman (Crit)
41 Chicago Classical Music: 30 (L)
43 Listen: 29 Steve Hicken (C and Crit)
43 Wellsung: 29 Alex and Jonathan (O)
43 Twang twang twang: 29 Helen Radice (harp)
46 Trrill: 28 Nick Scholl (O)
46 Am Steg: 28 Kris Shaffer (A)
48 Musical Assumptions: 26 Elaine Fine (C and viola)
48 Sounds Like Now: 26 Brian Sacawa (saxophone) [18 + 8]
50 Eric Edberg: 25 (cello)
50 Collaborative Piano: 25 Chris Foley (piano)
50 Catalysts & Connections: 25 Evan Tobias (education)

I’d also like to congratulate double bassist Phillip Serna for receiving his Doctorate this month from Northwestern University. Phillip gave his lecture recital for the degree this month, and he is finally done with all of the coursework and requirements for the degree, so congratulations to Dr. Serna. You can hear more from Dr. Phil on episodes 5 and 8, as well as his recital showcase from April.

Today’s interview guest: Francois Rabbath

Today we will be continuing our conversation with the great double bass performer and composer Francois Rabbath. This interview continues the discussion that we had on episode 16 in April, and I know that double bassists from all musical disciplines will get something out of our talk.
Topics discussed:

-the origins of Rabbath’s bass – how he ended up with it and the benefits of its construction
-mistakes bassists make when buying basses and bows
-how wood has a memory
-how every note has the right spot for the bow, for the speed, for the weight, and what happens when all of these factors align
-you make the wood of your instrument sound bad by playing badly, and you make it sound good by playing well yourself

Rabbath has traveled extensively with his double bass during the course of his career, and he offers some real insight into what it is really like hauling a bass all over the world through various customs and security checks, as well as dealing with airline baggage bureaucrats.
François Rabbath biography (from Liben website)

Every now and then, just when you thought you had things all neatly arranged in their proper order, someone comes along and not only upsets everything you've done, but demands that you change your entire way of thinking before you can even begin to put them back together again. François Rabbath is one of those people.

Born in Aleppo, Syria into a musical family of six boys and three girls, François discovered the double bass at the age of thirteen when one of his brothers brought an instrument home and allowed him to experiment with it. When the family moved to Beirut, Lebanon he found an old copy of Edouard Nanny's Contrabass Method in a tailor shop and with some difficulty, since he read neither music nor French, began to teach himself. After nine years of work in Beirut, François saved enough money to move to Paris for a year. He was eager to go to the Paris Conservatory, meet with Monsieur Nanny and show him what he was able to do with the bass. When he applied at the Conservatory he was disappointed to learn that Nanny had died in 1947. He was also told that auditions were to be held in three days and that he would never have enough time to learn the required pieces. He asked for the music anyway and returned three days later to finish first among the applicants. However, his stay at the Conservatory was a brief one, since it didn't take very long to see that he was not only far ahead of the other students but of the professors as well!

While in Paris he began to earn his living as an accompanist for Jacque Brel, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Becaud, Michel Legrand and others. In 1963 he made his first of many solo record albums. Although never advertised or promoted, the Phillips album Bass Ball became one of the most sought after recordings of its time.

From 1964 he became active composing much music for movies and the theater. At the same time he started to play solo recitals, first in France, then throughout Europe. His American debut was in Carnegie Hall in 1975.

François Rabbath's uniqueness stems from his refusal to accept any traditional limitations. Whether performing his own fascinating compositions, the music of others or the classical repertoire, one is always moved by his profound musicianship and dazzling virtuosity. You quickly discover that he brings you such a sense of security that the most difficult passages sound effortless.

In 1978 Rabbath met the American composer-double bassist Frank Proto. A close friendship quickly developed when the two discovered that they had many shared musical experiences and philosophies. Neither had any respect for the boundaries that separated classical, jazz and ethnic musicians. Both were as comfortable playing chamber music at a formal concert one day and improvising with jazz musicians the next. In 1980 the Cincinnati Symphony asked Proto to compose a concerto especially for Rabbath. The resulting Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass and Orchestra was premiered by Cincinnati in 1981. Two years later the Houston Symphony asked Proto to write another work especially for Rabbath. The Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra was premiered in Houston in 1983. Rabbath has since played the work around the world. Their third collaboration, the Carmen Fantasy, began life as a work for double bass and piano. Rabbath again premiered the work in Cincinnati in July of 1991 with the composer at the piano. Proto orchestrated the work in the spring of 1992. All three works have been recorded and are available on the Compact Disc Frank Proto: Works for Double Bass and Orchestra. (Red Mark 9204). Their most recent collaboration has been on Proto's Four Scenes after Picasso - Concerto No. 3 for Double Bass and Orchestra.

We are fortunate in that Rabbath has recorded constantly through the years. His sequel to Bass Ball - Multi Bass '70 (Red Mark 9202) is still available, as is Live Around the World (Red Mark 9201), a collection of his own compositions recorded in concert. The original Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano with the composer at the piano, was recorded recently along with his own Concerto No. 3 and Two Miniatures - Carmen! (Red Mark 9203).

The importance of François Rabbath to the development of double bass playing can be compared with that of Paganini to the violin. Since the early 1800s when Nicole Paganini established the violin as a virtuoso instrument, solo violinists have practiced the most brilliant of instrumental art. Meanwhile, the development of double bass playing had been seriously neglected. The great and popular 19th century composers did not consider the bass worth their attention and in turn the bass repertoire did not attract potential virtuoso performers with enough genius to change the situation. It demanded an artist with the unique qualities of François Rabbath to break this impasse.

Recordings and Publications by François Rabbath

Art of the Bow DVD

A New Technique for the Double Bass

Solos for the Double Bassist
Two Miniatures for Double Bass and Piano

Bach: Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Double Bass
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D Minor for Solo Double Bass
Vivaldi: Concerto in F (or G Major) for Double Bass and Piano

CD02 - Live Around the World
Breiz, Poucha Dass, Ordis, et al.






CD03 - Multi Bass '70
Poucha Dass, Incantation, et al.






CD04 - Carmen!
Proto: A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano. Rabbath: Incantation pour Junon; Reitba; Concerto No. 3.





CD05 - Rabbath Plays Proto
A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra; Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra; Concerto No. 2.





CD06 - François Rabbath: 60
Rabbath’s recordings of the 1960s, including the legendary “Bass Ball� album.






Check out even more recordings of François Rabbath here

______________

After the interview, we will be hearing some tracks from double bassist Leon Bosch’s new solo album, which was released on Meridian Records in 2007.
INTERIVEW

Thanks so much for your time and energy in doing this interview, Francois!

Musical Guest - Leon Bosch

You will be hearing the Bottesini Elegy and the Bottesini Gavotta from Leon Bosch’s recent solo album called Virtuoso Double Bass, which is available from Meridian Records.

Leon’s website: http://www.leonbosch.co.uk

Album information for Virtuoso Double Bass: http://www.leonbosch.co.uk/music.php

Click here to order this great album from Leon Bosch:

http://www.meridian-records.co.uk/acatalog/CDE84544a.html

Meridian Records website: http://www.meridian-records.co.uk/

About Leon Bosch:

(Visit his website for more information about this great artist’s career and the challenges he had to overcome during his early years in Apartheid South Africa.)

From liner notes to his recent release as well as an interview with Lawrence Milner – published in the Summer 2003 edition of Double Bassist magazine:

Leon had to overcome many difficult circumstances in the early years of his career. He was arrested by members of the Cape Town special branch when he was just 15 years old for demonstrating against the Apartheid government outside of parliament. He faced a month’s detention and torture, only to be found not guilty on all charges. This experience fired up his ambition to become a lawyer, but this field of study was forbidden to him by the regime at the time. He then chose to study a subject that would be the least likely to mark him out as subversive—music.

Had Bosch been able to pursue his prime aspiration to become a lawyer, the cello/double bass debate might never have occurred. Born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1961, Bosch
was forbidden by the repressive regime of the time to study law, so applied to the University's music faculty instead `as a light-hearted prank.'
The `prank' soon turned more serious. Once enrolled at the University, Bosch studied with Zoltan Kovats, principal double bassist of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra at that time. A single year into his studies, the young student was invited to
play in the Symphony Orchestra's bass section alongside his mentor. Only another 12 months passed before he was giving his first solo performance of Dittersdorf 's concerto in E major. Completing his Batchelor of Music Performance degree at the
University, he received the highest mark ever awarded there in a performance examination.

Post-university, Bosch quickly realised that he would have to study abroad if he really wanted to further his performance career, but was thwarted once again by the apartheid laws which decreed that overseas scholarships could only be given to white performers. However, Bosch was undeterred. `I had a passionate commitment to the double bass and never enter- tained the idea that I would fail in my pursuit', he asserts.
Fortunately, a number of private individuals came forward to sponsor his travel to England where he was heard playing by Rodney Slatford, the former Head of School of Strings at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), who offered to
teach him. Bosch enrolled at the RNCM following a successful interview with Eleanor Warren to study with Slatford and Duncan McTier. He describes his time at RNCM as
`extremely fruitful'. Bosch's prestigious record of achievements also continued there, as he received the College's PPRNCM (Professional Performer of the RNCM) with
distinction, the first such award to a double bassist in the College's history.

Studies completed, Bosch embarked on the varied professional orchestral and chamber career that continues to this day. His first assignment was with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, moving onto The Manchester Camerata as principal in 1985. His playing career has also taken in the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North and Scottish Chamber orchestras, plus the Moscow
Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Brodsky Quartet and Goldberg Ensemble as a freelance performer, a career path that he chose to `give me greater variety in my playing.'
A decade after his first principal appointment, Bosch began his current association with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, touring with the orchestra's founder, Sir Neville
Marriner. `Chamber music represents the most enjoyable part of my musical life,' he enthuses, explaining why he has focused on this area through most of his professional career ¬ which has taken in almost all of the major chamber orchestras in the UK.

Listener feedback:


………from Seth:

Hi Jason,
Just a note to say thanks very much for your show - I'm finding it really stimulating and inspiring - I'd say it's added an extra hour to my daily practise, just from hearing so many fantastic bass players. Lord knows I need it. it's easy to feel isolated when you play an unusual instrument, especially here in the u.k. - eg I know five other double bass players in Leeds, where i live, and it's a city of 700,000 people - not a good ratio - so it's great to have some support and inspiration from so many fine players. Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
Seth

……..from Alex:

Hi Jason,
I love your blog and podcast man!
Thank you SO MUCH for interviewing Larry Hurst. What an amazing guy who has
done so much for the bass family. I really enjoyed the interview.
Looking forward to hearing and reading much more of your fine work.
I also wanted to say that I think Jeff Turner would make a great interview
too.
Thanks man,
-Alex

Sign-off

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

This week's Contrabass Conversations guest is jazz bassist Eric Hochberg. Eric is very active in the jazz scene here in Chicago, and you will get a chance to hear him during the interview and his playing after the interview. I'm really excited to be able to present you with this great episode. Enjoy!
___________

CBC 21: E. Hochberg Interview

Release Date: 5/20/07
Length: 39:04
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes.

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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


News and Notes

-I hope you all enjoyed last week’s episode featuring IU bass professor Lawrence Hurst. It was a real pleasure to co-host this interview with double bassist John Grillo, and expect more of this interview in the near future and many more episodes involving John Grillo as well. I really like the dynamic of multiple guests on the show, and I think that listeners will be really into some of the future offerings we have in store! You can always hear John Grillo on episodes 6, 9, 14, and his recital showcase. Visit www.contrabassconversations.com or www.doublebassblog.com for these episodes.

-I also hope you enjoyed DaXun’s Beethoven track; DaXun will be a guest on the show in the next few weeks; you can visit him online at www.daxunzhang.com

-Finally, I hope that you enjoyed the recital showcase last week featuring Civic Orchestra of Chicago double bassist Peter Lawson. Pete was also featured on episode 2 of the podcast with a piece for thirty separate vocal tracks. What a multi-talented individual!

-CBC widget available for your website, blog, or MySpace though my blog or by clicking this link.

-I am currently working on Miloslav Gajdos video and audio projects; expect recital showcases soon plus videos on YouTube and on my blog; material kindly provided by Greg Sarchet, our guest for CBC 19

-Part 1 of Road Warrior Without an Expense Account was published in the Adjunct Advocate this month. Follow the link below to read the story:

http://jasonheath.blogspot.com/2006/12/road-warrior-without-expense-account.html



Today’s guest is jazz bassist Eric Hochberg. You can visit him online at www.erichochberg.com.

Eric’s bio:

A mainstay of the Chicago music scene for more than twenty years, Eric Hochberg has lent his bass work -- both upright and electric -- and an occasional trumpet lick, to a variety of projects across the realms of jazz, folk, rock and blues.
He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of Pharoah Sanders, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, Von Freeman, Chico Freeman, Ken Nordine, Cannonball Adderly, David Bromberg, Johnny Frigo, Howard Levy Quartet, Kurt Elling, Trio New, Tierny Sutton, Patricia Barber, Jackie Allen, Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman Quartet, Sam Rivers, Bobby Broom, Rick Margitza, Grazyna Augucik, Sheila Jordan, Alan Pasqua, Bob Sheppard, Mark Murphy, Randy Brecker, Terry Callier, Don Ellis, Larry Coryell Trio, Sonny Fortune Quartet, Fareed Haque, Lew Tabackin, Kahil El Zabar, Brian Lynch, Jon Faddis, Lester Bowie, Don Moye, Henry Butler, Frank Catalano, Chevere de Chicago, Mark Colby, Anthony Molinaro, Bonnie Koloc, Michal Urbaniak Quartet, Bill Holman, Jon Faddis, Joshua Redman, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Sonia Dada.

He has toured nationally/internationally with the Lyle Mays Quartet, the Terry Callier Group, the Paul Wertico Trio, the Kurt Elling Quartet, and the Grazyna Auguscik Quintet and has performed at the Jazz Festivals of Montreal, San Fransisco, Chicago (16 times), Montreux, Rotterdam, UK London, Free Jazz/Sao Paolo & Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Leverkeusen/Germany, Bam Festival/Barcelona, Nice Jazz(Fr), Cully Jazz(Swiss), The International Society of Jazz Educators/Atlanta, The Percussive Arts Society/Columbus, OH and many others.
Eric Hochberg's groups perform frequently around Chicagoland. The Eric Hochberg Orchestra has performed for countless events of all kinds over the past twenty years and Eric Hochberg Music contracts the finest musicians in the Chicago area for clients worldwide.
As a producer, Eric is credited with Jackie Allen's 2006 debut Blue Note Records release, "Tangled" and her 2003 release "The Men in My Life". Eric has also worked extensively with legendary singer-songwriter Terry Callier, producing his latest album, "Lookin' Out", on Emarcy and Mr. Bongo Records, the critically acclaimed "TC in DC" on Premonition, Verve Forecast's "Timepeace", Novo Record's "Chicago Rapid Transit" and Acid Jazz "Totally Re-wired Vol. 8". He co-produced "Future Tense" by Hochberg/Eisen/Potter available at musicstem.com. He is currently working on a trio project with pianist Michael Kocour, saxophonist Rich Fudoli and Eric on bass.

As a composer, Eric has made contributions to Kurt Elling's "Close Your Eyes" and "The Messenger" on Blue Note, Hochberg and Potter's "World Thing" on HoPo Records, Trio New "New Bolero", Paul Wertico's "Yin and the Yout" and The Paul Wertico Trio's "Live in Warsaw" & "Don't Be Scared Anymore". Five new compositions are featured on "Future Tense", the new recording by Eric, Steve Eisen & Andrew Scott Potter.

He can be heard on the recordings of:

• Paul Wertico "Live in Warsaw", "Don't Be Scared Anymore" and "Stereonucleosis"
• Grazyna Augucik's "River"
• Terry Callier's "Lookin' Out", "TimePeace", "Lifetime" and "TC in DC"
• Kurt Elling's "Close Your Eyes" and "The Messenger"
• Rich Corpolongo's "Just Found Joy" and "Smiles"
• Howard Levy's "Harmonica Jazz"
• Ken Nordine's "Upper Limbo" and "Transparent Mask"
• Mark Colby's "Tenor Reference" and "Speaking of Stan"
  

and many others.

Eric endorses Lakland Basses and D'Addario strings.

Track played - ‘The Visit’ from Don’t be Scared Anymore by the Paul Wertico Trio
Eric plays multiple basses on this track

Eric Hochberg, bass
Paul Wertico, drums
John Moulder, guitar

http://www.paulwertico.com/

visit the link below to purchase this album:

http://www.paulwertico.com/products/order.php

Listener feedback:

….from Jeff Turner:

Jason,
I've had a wonderful time listening to several of your podcasts. Great
work!
Jeff Turner

….from Peter James:

My name is Peter James
I'm just start learning Contrabass. Do you have any books that can help me learn from the beginning. Like how to handle the bass, what the best bow fits you, fingering, technique, etc.

….from Chad Cole:

Hi Jason, my name is Chad Cole and I’m a 16 year old bassist who has
recently discovered and fallen in love with your podcast. I live in Phoenix,
Arizona, and I’ve been playing the bass for almost three years now and I
absolutely love it. I have played in both Arizona regional and all state
orchestras and practice the bass non-stop. I’m pleased at how much your
podcast have helped me with my practicing for auditions, solos, technique,
etc. So on to my question have you ever considered interviewing high school
bassist across the country and see what Americas next generation of bass
players are up to? Or even if you could give me some advise as how to set up
a podcast so I can start my own and start to interview teens across the
country and ask who their teachers are, practice techniques, and what they
are doing performance wise etc. So if you could email me back with either
some helpful tips on how to start up a podcast, or that you would be
interested in interviewing teen bassist so I can look forward to that in the
future. Thanks again for all of the great podcast.
Chad Cole

…from Anthony C. Orlando:

I am relocating from Cleveland OH to
Evanston IL. I have a near mint condition non-laminate
String Bass I cannot play due to disability. I'd like
to find a student in need of a quality non-laminate
student instrument, approx. 10 y.o. Knilling built in
Bucharest (spruce arch top, maple flatback & sides,
ebony fingerboard, w/ bridge height adjusters & soft
case). Not sure what "bluebook" value would be but I
paid approx $2500. If you have any students in need
could you pass along the info.

Sign-off

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast
Theme song by Eric Hochberg: www.erichochberg.com

This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an excellent interview with Indiana University double bass professor Lawrence Hurst. Double bassist (and frequent Contrabass Conversations guest) John Grillo co-hosted the interview with me. You'll be hearing the first part of our interview this week, and we'll be putting out more of this interview in the next few weeks.

You will also be hearing a track from the fabulous double bass virtuoso DaXun Zhang. DaXun was a student of Mr. Hurst at Indiana University, and he is currently on faculty at Northwestern University. Enjoy!

_____________

CBC 20: Interview with Lawrence Hurst and music from DaXun Zhang

Release Date: 5/13/07
Length: 39:22
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes.

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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

News and Notes

-new theme song! – Eric Hochberg and Jason Heath, double basses
-visit Eric Hochberg online at www.erichochberg.com
-thanks for positive feedback on interview with Greg Sarchet
-great response to Catalin’s playing last week—more of that in future episodes
-we are going to be doing our first jazz interview this week with double bassist Eric Hochberg
-I was featured in the most recent installment of Double Bassist magazine in an article called Poducation. I am the Poducator. You cannot resist….

-This week’s interview was co-hosted by double bassist John Grillo. You have heard John on CBC episodes 6, 9, and 14, plus his recital showcase back in February of this year. John was a Mr. Hurst student at Indiana University for his undergraduate degree, and he introduces some great questions and commentary into the interview.

After the interview, we will be featuring some double bass playing from the great young double bass virtuoso DaXun Zhang. DaXun was a student of Mr. Hurst at Indiana University, and he has received international acclaim as a double bas soloist. He is current on faculty at Northwestern University just down the street from me here in Evanston, IL.

Interview with Lawrance Hurst

Lawrence Hurst is the former principal double bass for the Dallas Symphony. He is a former faculty member of Southern Methodist and Eastern Michigan Universities and former faculty member, associate dean, and chair of the string department at University of Michigan School of Music. He was honored with the Alumni Award from the University of Michigan School of Music in 1998.

Professor Hurst is former director of the University Division of the National Music Camp and is a summer faculty member of the Interlochen Arts Camp.

He is past chair of the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition, and past president of the International Society of Bassists.

His former students can be found in many prestigious orchestras, including Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Atlanta.

He has chaired the Indiana University Strings Department for the past 19 years and has been on faculty at Interlochen for the past 40 years.

Learn more about Lawrence Hurst and his Indiana University double bass studio at http://newsinfo.iu.edu/sb/page/normal/231.html

______________

Music from DaXun Zhang

Beethoven Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 3 – mvt 3

Visit DaXun online at http://www.daxunzhang.com/
DaXun’s Biography:

The Washington Post declares, “If the bass is finally to produce a headliner, the instrument can have no better champion than Zhang,� of 24-year-old double bassist DAXUN ZHANG. Zhang has performed and toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, including concerts in Japan, California, and an appearance at Carnegie Hall in September 2004. He also worked with Mr. Ma to record the soundtrack to a 10-part documentary series on the Silk Road. The series aired on Japan’s national broadcast channel, NHK, and the CD was released on Sony Classical.

In April 2006, Zhang performed Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy in YCA’s annual Irene Diamond Concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall with Keith Lockhart conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. During the 2005-2006 season, Zhang performed with the Monroe (LA) Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and gave recitals at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Missouri State University, and in the Embassy Series in Washington, DC. He will perform as a member of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society II during the 2006-2007 season.

Zhang has appeared as soloist with Orange County’s Pacific Symphony (CA), Orchestra New England, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (NC). He has given recitals at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (FL), the University of Georgia, Western Michigan University, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, and in The Artist Series in Tallahassee, FL. He has performed chamber music in the La Jolla Music Society Summerfest and the Linton Chamber Music Series in Cincinnati.

As the first double bass player to win the Young Concert Artists Auditions in 2003, Zhang was also awarded the Claire Tow Prize, which sponsored his New York debut in the Young Concert Artists Series and the Washington Performing Arts Society Prize, which sponsored his Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center, as well as the La Jolla Music Society Prize, the Orchestra New England Soloist Prize, and The Fergus Prize.

Zhang was the first double bassist ever to win First Prize in the 2003 WAMSO (Women's Auxiliary of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra) competition. In 2001, Zhang was the youngest artist ever to win the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. He has also received the Grand Prize of the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition.

DaXun Zhang comes from a family of bassists in Harbin, China. He has been playing the instrument since the age of nine, and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing beginning at the age of eleven. He continued his studies in the U.S. at the Interlochen Arts Academy and received his Artist Diploma from Indiana University School of Music, where he worked with Lawrence Hurst. He is currently on the faculty at Northwestern University.

Listener Feedback

……….David Ballam wrote:

Hi Jason,
Congratulations on being mentioned in the Doublebassist (Spring 07). I just received my issue in the mail today. The title is "Poducation" and is found on p.28-29. Your blog is mentioned and given credit for this growing area of podcasting/blogging. Btw... I think the sites (Bass Blog & Contrabassconversations) really has done a lot for the bass community, not only here in Chicago, but nationally and internationally. I'm really excited to see the technology bring the bass community together. Keep up the great work.

…………Christian Dillingham wrote:

Hey Jason,

I just listened to 3 interviews from the show. I'm addicted! They're all inspiring, and it's really great what you're doing. Just wanted to say thanks. Also, I'm sure Jeff Turner would be into the podcasting. Let me know if you would like to consider that, and I can get you his info.

Sign-off

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass
MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

Show notes:

Release Date: 5/10/07

Length: 50:18

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com

E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

Blog: www.doublebassblog.com

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

MySpace: www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

You can always call 206-666-6509 to leave a message and join in the conversation!

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

___________

Program Order:

Bottesini Romanza Dramatica Op. 20 (Elegie No. 2)

Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major (performed in original key)

Sofia Gubaidulina Pantomime

Eccles Sonata
            Andante
            Allegro
            Adagio
            Presto

Here is this week's Contrabass Conversations episode! This episode features an interview with double bassist Greg Sarchet (pictured here with Flea). Greg is a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra and the double bass instructor at Northeastern Illinois University. You'll hear Greg playing with the Vienna Waltz Ensemble, and at the end of the episode we will feature a track from double bassist Catalin Rotaru. Enjoy!

______________

Show Notes

Release Date: 5/6/07
Length: 35:04
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes.

Click here to subscribe through e-mail or through another program besides iTunes

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

Interview with Greg Sarchet

Greg’s bio:

Greg Sarchet considers himself fortunate to have had an array of musical experiences and training, from studying with his first teacher, jazz luminary Rufus Reid, to receiving degrees from the Juilliard School (where he was a student of Michael Morgan), to hundreds of television/radio commercial recordings. His strong interest in researching the double bass and ongoing international exchange efforts were recognized by a 1996 Chicago Artists International Program award which sent him to the Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria for performances, masterclasses, and archival research. These and other exchange activities have allowed him to build an extensive library of unpublished, out-of-print, and contemporary double bass works, as well as a first-hand understanding of Europe's leading teaching methods. Since 1986, he has been a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra. Additionally, he frequently serves as Principal Bass with Chicago Opera Theater and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. He maintains a limited private studio for high school and adult pupils. Briefly, his musical foundation was laid by his first double bass teachers, Rufus Reid and Todd Coolman. The musical values and priorities they, among others, instilled in him have led him to a wide variety of professional opportunities ranging from recordings with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, Smashing Pumpkins, and hundreds of television and radio commercials.

Greg Sarchet maintains a great double bass website called Bass Club Chicago. I have been visiting this site for years, and it is full of great information, photos, and more.

Check out the bass family tree from Greg’s site. It is quite interesting!

Greg will be featured on a few tracks in this episode from his recordings with the Vienna Waltz Ensemble. Visit them online at www.viennawaltz.com.

To purchase any of the Vienna Waltz Ensemble’s albums, please visit their product page.

Music from Catalin Rotaru

Catalin’s bio:

Catalin Rotaru, double bass, joined the School of Music at Arizona State University, in 2005. Mr. Rotaru is in demand as a performer and clinician throughout the world. He is a licentiate of the National University of Music from Bucharest, Romania, and holds a Master’s degree in music performance from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Previously he was Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, taught at Millikin University, and at the University of Illinois. He has performed both solo classical and jazz bass throughout Europe, the United States, South America and Japan. He served as associate principal bass in the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, principal bass in the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra, Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra of Bucharest, Danville Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, associate principal and principal bass in Sinfonia Da Camera, and principal bass of the Orchestra Sinfonica Europea. Mr. Rotaru performs extensively as soloist in recitals or with symphony orchestras throughout the United States and abroad and gives numerous clinics and master classes. He received the second prize at the 1997 International Society of Bassists 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, and received the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Award in 1996. For the last several years, Professor Rotaru has been a frequent solo performer at the International Chamber Music Festival of Pernambuco in Brazil.

Visit Catalin online at his Arizona State University faculty page.

Music played:

Brahms Sonata for Cello and Piano No.1 in E Minor, Op. 38 mvt 3(Allegro)

From:

· Bass*ic Cello Notes
· Catalin Rotaru
· Summit Records
· (Classical)

Street Release: Mar 13, 2007

Download "Sonata for Cello and Piano No.1 in E Minor, Op. 38" (mp3)
from "Bass*ic Cello Notes"
by Catalin Rotaru
Summit Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic
• Buy at Napster

More On This Album


We’ll wrap up today with a song from Mark Gunn called Wild Kitty from his album “Irish Drinking Songs for Cats�.

Here is the next segment of our interview with National Symphony Orchestra double bassist Ira Gold. Ira was first interviewed on episode 15 of the podcast. Feel free to check that episode out, or click here to listen to any of our older episodes. Also, you can direct any questions to Ira directly at irajgold@gmail.com.

Enjoy!
__________

CBC 18: Interview with Ira Gold Part 2 and music of Bill Koehler

Release Date: 4/30/07
Length: 36:49
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Podcast T-shirts, hats, and more: www.cafepress.com/doublebass

Click to listen (right-click to download)
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Welcome to Contrabass Conversations, life on the low end of the spectrum! I hope you all enjoyed last week’s episode continuing our conversation with Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist Andy Anderson. In case you missed it, head on over to our website and check it out—it was episode 17. You can also hear Andy on episodes 11, 7, and 4. Episode 11 featured a recital showcase from Andy, so if you’d like to hear him play (and he’s a GREAT player), check out episode 11.

_____________

I also hope that you all also enjoyed this week’s Contrabass Conversations Recital Showcase featuring music from Phillip Serna. This showcase was a full-length recital from 2003 featuring music of Brahms, Misek, Hertl, and Rachmoninoff, and it was recorded at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Two quick news items before we get into our episode today. As most listeners undoubtedly know, the International Society of Bassists Convention is coming up this June in Oklahoma City. Due to an irritatingly complicated web of events, I cannot make the convention this year. I really think that it is important for Contrabass Conversations to have a presence at this event, and I’d like to let folks know that double bassist Ausberto Acevedo will be representing Contrabass Conversations at the convention. I will let you know more details as the event approaches, but Oz will be available for interviews and the like, and it should prove to be a good time all around.

If any listeners that are planning on making the convention would like to include some of their own footage and observations, whether they be in written, audio, video, or photo form, that would be welcomed and shared on both the blog and the podcast. Just drop me a line at contrabassconversations@gmail.com or head to over to the blog to get in touch.

__________________

Finally, I’d like to let listeners know that we are going to be adding some special hosts to episodes of the podcast. Both Phillip Serna and John Grillo will be either co-hosting or solo hosting some future episodes of the podcast, which I think is a really great thing. The more people that can be involved on the production end, the more interesting the product.

If anyone out there would like to do an interview for the podcast, please let me know. I really like having listener-submitted content to use for the show, and I am sure that many listeners are aware of guests that would be very interesting to hear from. Just drop me a line and we can talk about how to set this up on the technical end.

_____________________

This week we continue our conversation with National Symphony Orchestra double bassist Ira Gold. The first part of this interview was on episode 15, so you can go back and listen to this episode to get up to speed.

Topics discussed:

Ira’s practice routines
Practice session lengths
Open string work
Technique materials for students
Vance Progressive Repertoire series
Rabbath technique books
Hal Robinson Boardwalkin’ (starts at 11:40 part 2 of interview) and Strokin’
…and much more!

Interview with Ira Gold – Part 2

______________

I also did an interview this week with Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist and Northeastern Illinois University instructor Greg Sarchet. This interview was done in a Bulgarian restaurant and was a lot of fun, and I think that listeners will enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed doing it!

This episode will be released next week, and you will also be hearing Greg performing with the Vienna Waltz Ensemble during this upcoming episode.

Music from double bassist Bill Koehler

For the final part of our show this week, we will be playing music from double bassist Bill Koehler’s latest album Vandana.

Bill just released a new DuoCD entitled Vandana, Journey2gether
with Manpreet Bedi, tabla virtuso.

The CD got great reviews in ISB's Bass World and in Double Bassist
(London) Magazines.

Click here to order Bill’s new CD.

You can find more information about Bill’s CDs at his website:

http://www.bill-koehler.com/

Bill’s Biography:

Dr. William Koehler is Professor of Illinois State University where he teaches applied double bass, string pedagogy, graduate courses in psychology of music, and improvisation. Bill Koehler has performed in England, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Russia, Belo-Russia, Puerto Rico, and throughout the U.S. He has recently completed a book entitled A Guide to the Developmental Processes of Improvisation and Composition, which will be released soon. His Solo Bass CD, entitled "Glimpse" features original compositions in jazz, and world fusion idioms, as well as classical pieces for unaccompanied solo bass.
Bill has performed in numerous Orchestras in his native New York City, the Southeast, the Midwest, and performed with notable jazz and improvising musicians such as Sam Brown, Joe Tecula, Joel Smirnoff, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Harold Seletsky, John Clark, Dave Burrell, Joe Morello, John Campbell, Carl Fontana, Dave Burrell, Jimmy Guiffre, Richard Davis, John Clayton, Rufus Reed, David Baker, Harvey Phillips, Turk Van Lake, and Nashville country music producer Byron Gallimore.
Dr. Koehler is a frequent clinician, and writer on bass pedagogy. He is a regular clinician/performer at the Richard Davis Festival, the International Society of Bassists, and various Bass Symposia. He has written articles and reviewed new music for string bass and string orchestra for the American String Teacher, and the ISB. Dr. Koehler has a number of transcriptions and original compositions for solo double bass, which are available through Schorer Publications in Munich, Germany.
One of his early research interests involves the application of biofeedback to study physiology and to aid the reduction of excess muscle tension in string playing. He has illustrated double bass techniques and made Editorial contributions in the two editions of Robert Klotman's string education textbook entitled Teaching Strings.

CD review reprinted from Bass World
The Magazine of the International Society of Bassists Summer 2005

Vandana-Journey2Gether
Bill Koehler (db)
Manpreet Bedi (tabla), Bob McEntyre (drums), Glen Wilson (bar sax), David Collier (bass mar, vib), John Boboukis (vox)
Virtual Time Records VTR2004

Journey2gether is the name of the CD, Vandana is the name of the duo, and “cool!� is what you’ll say when you listen in. Bass players and drummers have a special relationship in non-classical music; together we create the groove over which all those horn players, guitar players, and singers do their business – without us, they would be nothing! (well…) On this CD, bassist Bill Koehler and tablist Manpreet Bedi feature themselves and the groove, resulting in some very interesting and beautiful music.
The Duo sites their musical influences as contemporary classical, jazz, world music and the music of India, and the fusion of eastern and western musical languages. Journey2gether features some written, but mostly improvised music. With the exception of Vernon Duke’s Autumn in New York and a 14th century ballade by Guiullame Machaut, all of the compositions are by Koehler and Bedi, and sound heavily influenced by Indian music.
For example, the opening cut, Caravan Bacchanal, begins with Koehler’s cadenza on a Phrygian scale, then he sets up a groove, and after Bedi and guest drummer Bob McEntyre join in and take over the groove, Koehler picks up the bow and continues wailing. The drummer and the tablist both take solos before the piece is through, and when it’s all over the listener will be surprised that eleven minutes have passed – compelling stuff.
Euphoethos has a guest appearance by baritone saxophonist Glenn Wilson, and he and Koehler take turns providing cascading phrases throughout the piece. This tune like many on this recording (and particularly Deep is My love for You), has a wonderful, hypnotic effect. The tunes Incantation, Consolation, and Postlude are grouped together, seemingly as one piece, and are tremendous. Consolation employs Wilson’s bari sax as well as David collier’s marimba and vibes – one of the great things about this album (and Consolation is a very good example), is the way Koehler brings together so many low pitched instruments, and how fantastic these instruments sound together. There is such warmth – it’s the musical equivalent of “comfort food!�
Koehler’s playing is top notch. His sound, particularly when bowing, is beautiful and his intonation enviable. His compositions are published through himself or Schorer Publications, and I suspect that they are equal parts fun and challenging. Tablist Bedi is a delight; he gets a gorgeous tone and his accompaniments or interactions are noteworthy throughout the album. Journey2gether is an excellent addition to and CD collection-check it out, play it for your students, and enjoy listening to a terrific example of what else the bass can do!
Review by Chris Kosky

Phillip Serna Recital Showcase 1

Show Notes

 

Release Date: 4/26/07

Length: 1:17:08

Website: www.contrabassconversations.com

E-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

Blog: www.doublebassblog.com

 

To get Contrabass Conversations downloaded automatically to your computer (for free!), you can subscribe in iTunes:

 

Or click here to subscribe via e-mail through another program.

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

 

_______________

 

Here is a full-length recital showcase featuring a performance from double bassist Phillip Serna.  Visit Phillip online at www.phillipwserna.com

 

Northwestern University School of Music

Presents a Doctoral Recital

Phillip Woodrow Serna, double bass

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Music in Double Bass Performance

Double Bass Student of Michael Hovnanian

Viola da Gamba Student of Mary Springfels

assisted by:

Shirley Trissell, piano

Sunday, April 27, 2003, 8:30 p.m.
Regenstein Recital Hall
60 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, Illinois

Sonata in E-Minor, Op.38 (1862-1865)           Johannes Brahms
For Violoncello and Piano                                     (1833-1897)

    Allegro non troppo
    Allegretto quasi Menuetto        
    Allegro      

SHORT INTERMISSION

Sonata No.2 in E-Minor, Op.6                               Adolf MiÅ¡ek
For String Bass and Piano                                     (1875-1955)

    I. Con fuoco
    II. Andante cantabile
    III. Furiant: Allegro energico        
    IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato      

SHORT INTERMISSION

Sonata (1956)                                                    FrantiÅ¡ek Hertl
For String Bass and Piano                                           (b. 1906)

    I. Allegro moderato
    II. Andantino
    III. Rondo: Alla polka, moderato        

[ENCORE] Vocalise, Op.34, No.14              Serge Rachmaninoff
                                                                              (1873-1943)

Program Notes

Johannes Brahms' Sonata in E-Minor, Op.38 (1862-1865)


    In the summer of 1862, Johannes Brahms composed the first two
movements of the Sonata for Piano and Violoncello, Op. 38. He later
added the final Allegro in June of 1865. Intended as an "homage to
J.S. Bach," Brahms based the principal themes of the outer movements on
Contrapuntctus 4 and Contrapunctus 13 from "The Art of Fugue." Indeed,
beyond these thematic references, fugal interplay is the prevailing device
employed throughout the work. The sonata was first performed in July
of 1865, and submitted for publication to both Breitkopf & Härtel and
Simrock in September of the same year. Breitkopf & Härtel refused to
publish the work. Simrock soon accepted it, however, and it was probably
published in early 1866. Brahms' famous description of the work,
which accompanied his submission to Simrock, remarks that it is "a
violoncello sonata which, as regards both instruments, is certainly
not difficult to play.

    David Cardon, Discordia Music

    Discordia Music, a publishing company run by Professor Michael
Hovnanian, publishes the edition used for this performance. Discordia
specializes in publishing new works and transcriptions for the double bass,
as well as to publish premium quality, well-researched, scholarly editions
of music part of the standard double bass solo literature.

Adolf Mišek's Sonata No.2 in E-Minor, Op.6


    The typesetter, composer, conductor, and double bass player Adolf
Mišek was born in Modletin, Czechoslovakia in 1875. At age 15, Mišek
attended the Academy of Vienna, later conducting as choirmaster of The
Czech Choir ,,Tovaovský" and Slavonic Chorus. Additionally, he
conducted The Czech Academic Orchestra in Vienna. From 1890 to1894 Mišek was a student of the famous lecturer, Franz Simandl (1840-1912), who in Mišek's time was associated with the Vienna Conservatory, an
institution that Mišek would later be engaged as bass professor. From
1920 to 1934 Mišek returned to his place of birth in Bohemia. He returned
to Prague where he built a career as a soloist with the National
Theatre. He died in Prague in 1955.

    MiÅ¡ek composed various works in different genres for voice, violin,
chamber ensembles, and lastly for the double bass. His works for
bass include a Scales Study, Legend op. 3 for Double Bass and Piano, a
Capriccio (1899), Concert Polonaise, Sonata No.1 in A Major, Op. 5,
Sonata No.2 in e minor, Op. 6, Sonata No.3 in F Major, and a Concert in
C-major.

František Hertl's Sonata (1956)

    Composer and double bassist FrantiÅ¡ek Hertl was an active member in
Czech music throughout his career. From 1920 to1926, Hertl studied double bass at the Prague Conservatory with Professor Fr. Cerny, also
studying composition from 1933 to1936. Hertl was solo double bassist in
the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (1929-1935) and Czechoslovak Radio
Orchestra Prague (1935-1950).  Hertl was director as well as performing
member of the Czech Nonet from 1936 to 1950 and 1963 to1966 in addition to his duty as conductor of the Radio Orchestra in Brno (1950-1961). As a pedagogue, Hertl was professor at the Prague Conservatory (1951-1961), at the LeoÅ¡ Janácek Academy of Music Arts in     Brno (1954-1961), and at the Academy of Music in Prague (1953-1973).

    Hertl wrote 35 compositions for orchestra including a Czech Suite
(1947), Czech Dances (1947), and a Symfonietta for Oboe and Small
Orchestra. Hertl composed a Sonata for Violoncello and Piano as well
as various choral works. Hertl also composed a Concert Polka (1948)
and a Concert for Double Bass (1957) premiered by František Pošta in 1958.
He additionally composed a Prelude, Burlesca, Nocturno, and Tarantella
(1969). As pedagogical works, Hertl wrote a Double Bass School  (1962) and 20 Studies  (1965) for Double Bass. The Sonata for Double bass and Piano (1956) was first recorded by his pupil Pavel Horak, a member of Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, now in retirement.  Hertl was directing during the recording process.

    Information courtesy of Miloslav Jelinek of the Czech Society of
Double Bassists

Biography

A native of Houston Texas, Phillip W. Serna (viola da gamba) is an active
and enthusiastic performer of early music, as well as the contemporary,
solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoires. Phillip earned his Bachelor of
Music in double bass performance with Stephen Tramontozzi at the San
Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1998. Phillip later completed his Master of Music at Northwestern University School of Music in 2001 as a Civic Orchestra of Chicago Graduate Fellow. On June 16, 2007, Phillip will receive the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University where he studied double bass with international soloist DaXun Zhang and formerly with Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Michael Hovnanian. Phillip studied viola da gamba with Newberry Consort founder Mary Springfels.

Since 2003, Phillip has been principal double bass of the Northbrook
Symphony Orchestra and has been recently elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Northbrook Symphony.  In addition, Phillip has performed regularly with other orchestras such as the Bach Chamber Orchestra & Choir, Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonic Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Racine Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Waukesha Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra as well as the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. In March of 2007, Phillip will perform Giovanni Bottesini's Concerto No.2 in b-minor with the Waubonsie Valley High School Orchestra in Aurora, IL after having already performed Estonian composer Eduard Tubin's stirring Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra with Northwestern University's Summer Orchestra under the direction of Robert Hasty in July of 2003. Recently joining the board of the
Early Music Chicago arts advocacy & performance organization, Phillip
regularly performs on viola da gamba and period double bass/ violone with
period instrument ensembles and organizations such as the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, Ars Antigua, Chicago Early Music Consort, Period Opera Cosi fan Tutte with Chicago Opera Theater, Classical Arts Orchestra, Comic
Intermezzo, Early Music Chicago, the Janus Ensemble, the Newberry Consort, the Evelyn Dunbar Memorial Early Music Festival at Northwestern University, the Oriana Singers, the Second City Musick, and the Spirit of  Gambo - a Chicago Consort of  Viols, as well as the Concert for Compassion Viol Consort & the Forces of Virtue Ensemble and Choir, dedicated to raising money for disaster relief and other charities.

In addition to his intense performance schedule, Phillip teaches lessons on
double bass, bass guitar, guitar, viola da gamba, and presents master
classes and workshops on modern and period double bass. As a passionate
advocate of early music, Phillip has championed the viola da gamba with his initiative 'Viols in Our Schools,' bringing solo and chamber music for viols into Chicago area classrooms. Phillip also currently teaches at numerous institutions around the Chicago area. Phillip lives in Plainfield, IL with his best friend and wife, Magdalena.Program

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

Subscribe in iTunes: Click to listen (right-click to download) or click player below:

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!

CBC Episode 16 Show Notes

Contrabass Conversations Episode 16 Show Notes
Interview with François Rabbath

Welcome to Contrabass Conversations – life on the low end of the spectrum!

Episode Length: 27:02
Release Date: 4/15/07
E-Mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Voicemail Line: 206-666-6509
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
Subscribe in iTunes:

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

Last week’s episode featured the first part of a great interview with National Symphony Orchestra bass section member Ira Gold. You can check out the episode with Ira here.

François Rabbath was in Chicago recently, and we got a chance to sit down with him for a Contrabass Conversations interview while he was in town. This is the first part of the interview, and the second half of the interview will be released in the next few weeks.

François Rabbath biography (from Liben website)

Every now and then, just when you thought you had things all neatly arranged in their proper order, someone comes along and not only upsets everything you've done, but demands that you change your entire way of thinking before you can even begin to put them back together again. François Rabbath is one of those people.

Born in Aleppo, Syria into a musical family of six boys and three girls, François discovered the double bass at the age of thirteen when one of his brothers brought an instrument home and allowed him to experiment with it. When the family moved to Beirut, Lebanon he found an old copy of Edouard Nanny's Contrabass Method in a tailor shop and with some difficulty, since he read neither music nor French, began to teach himself. After nine years of work in Beirut, François saved enough money to move to Paris for a year. He was eager to go to the Paris Conservatory, meet with Monsieur Nanny and show him what he was able to do with the bass. When he applied at the Conservatory he was disappointed to learn that Nanny had died in 1947. He was also told that auditions were to be held in three days and that he would never have enough time to learn the required pieces. He asked for the music anyway and returned three days later to finish first among the applicants. However, his stay at the Conservatory was a brief one, since it didn't take very long to see that he was not only far ahead of the other students but of the professors as well!

While in Paris he began to earn his living as an accompanist for Jacque Brel, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Becaud, Michel Legrand and others. In 1963 he made his first of many solo record albums. Although never advertised or promoted, the Phillips album Bass Ball became one of the most sought after recordings of its time.

From 1964 he became active composing much music for movies and the theater. At the same time he started to play solo recitals, first in France, then throughout Europe. His American debut was in Carnegie Hall in 1975.

François Rabbath's uniqueness stems from his refusal to accept any traditional limitations. Whether performing his own fascinating compositions, the music of others or the classical repertoire, one is always moved by his profound musicianship and dazzling virtuosity. You quickly discover that he brings you such a sense of security that the most difficult passages sound effortless.

In 1978 Rabbath met the American composer-double bassist Frank Proto. A close friendship quickly developed when the two discovered that they had many shared musical experiences and philosophies. Neither had any respect for the boundaries that separated classical, jazz and ethnic musicians. Both were as comfortable playing chamber music at a formal concert one day and improvising with jazz musicians the next. In 1980 the Cincinnati Symphony asked Proto to compose a concerto especially for Rabbath. The resulting Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass and Orchestra was premiered by Cincinnati in 1981. Two years later the Houston Symphony asked Proto to write another work especially for Rabbath. The Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra was premiered in Houston in 1983. Rabbath has since played the work around the world. Their third collaboration, the Carmen Fantasy, began life as a work for double bass and piano. Rabbath again premiered the work in Cincinnati in July of 1991 with the composer at the piano. Proto orchestrated the work in the spring of 1992. All three works have been recorded and are available on the Compact Disc Frank Proto: Works for Double Bass and Orchestra. (Red Mark 9204). Their most recent collaboration has been on Proto's Four Scenes after Picasso - Concerto No. 3 for Double Bass and Orchestra.

We are fortunate in that Rabbath has recorded constantly through the years. His sequel to Bass Ball - Multi Bass '70 (Red Mark 9202) is still available, as is Live Around the World (Red Mark 9201), a collection of his own compositions recorded in concert. The original Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano with the composer at the piano, was recorded recently along with his own Concerto No. 3 and Two Miniatures - Carmen! (Red Mark 9203).

The importance of François Rabbath to the development of double bass playing can be compared with that of Paganini to the violin. Since the early 1800s when Nicole Paganini established the violin as a virtuoso instrument, solo violinists have practiced the most brilliant of instrumental art. Meanwhile, the development of double bass playing had been seriously neglected. The great and popular 19th century composers did not consider the bass worth their attention and in turn the bass repertoire did not attract potential virtuoso performers with enough genius to change the situation. It demanded an artist with the unique qualities of François Rabbath to break this impasse.

Recordings and Publications by François Rabbath

Art of the Bow DVD

A New Technique for the Double Bass

Solos for the Double Bassist
Two Miniatures for Double Bass and Piano

Bach: Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Double Bass
Bach: Suite No. 2 in D Minor for Solo Double Bass
Vivaldi: Concerto in F (or G Major) for Double Bass and Piano

CD02 - Live Around the World
Breiz, Poucha Dass, Ordis, et al.






CD03 - Multi Bass '70
Poucha Dass, Incantation, et al.






CD04 - Carmen!
Proto: A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano. Rabbath: Incantation pour Junon; Reitba; Concerto No. 3.





CD05 - Rabbath Plays Proto
A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra; Fantasy for Double Bass and Orchestra; Concerto No. 2.





CD06 - François Rabbath: 60
Rabbath’s recordings of the 1960s, including the legendary “Bass Ball� album.

Check out even more recordings of François Rabbath here

_____________

Jason discusses the Virtual Master Class Project

• About the Project
• Virtual Master Class Project Tracks

Jason also congratulates double bassist Matt Heller’s recent successful audition for the Calgary Philharmonic. Check out his excellent blog at http://hellafrisch.blogspot.com.

This week's episode of Contrabass Conversations features an interview with National Symphony bassist Ira Gold. Ira is an outstanding performer on the instrument, and he brings valuable insight into the process of learning and developing on the double bass in this interview. You will also get to hear Ira play the last movement of the Vanhal Concerto with orchestra. Check out the show notes below for Ira's biography and a description of the other goodie's on this week's show. Enjoy!

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Contrabass Conversations Episode 15 Show Notes
Interview with Ira Gold

Welcome to Contrabass Conversations - life on the low end of the spectrum!

Episode Length: 52:31
Release Date: 4/8/07
E-Mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
Voicemail Line: 206-666-6509
Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
Blog: www.doublebassblog.com
iTunes:



Correction -- In the introduction, we mentioned that Ira is the most recent addition to the National Symphony Orchestra bass section, but Paul Denola is actually the most recent bassist to join this section.

Last episode - John Grillo interview part 3 (final).

John played excerpts last week from Verdi's Otello and Malher's Second Symphony, and we are planning on doing a special podcast for people preparing auditions which will feature John performing a few dozen excerpts.

We also have upcoming recital showcases from double bassists Peter Lawson and Phillip Serna (who was featured on episodes 5 and 8 of the podcast).

Briefly discuss Rabbath episode for next week.

Today's Episode

This episode features part 1 of our interview with National Symphony bassist Ira Gold.

Jason and Ira played together for several seasons in the IRIS Chamber Orchestra of Memphis, TN.

Ira Gold biography:

Ira J. Gold joined the National Symphony Orchestra in September of 2005 as
the orchestra's youngest member. He was born and raised in Houston, Texas,
where he began violin studies at age 3. Mr. Gold started double bass
lessons at age 12, and became serious about pursuing a career in music
during high school. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Boston
University's College of Fine Arts, and his Master of Music degree at Rice
University's Shepherd School of Music, where he won the strings division of
the 2005 Concerto Competition. Mr. Gold performed the Vanhal Bass
Concerto with the Shepherd School of Music Chamber Orchestra in
February of 2006. His primary teachers include Edwin Barker and Paul Ellison,
and additional studies with Albert Laszlo, Kenneth Harper, Dennis Whittaker,
Mark Shapiro, and Harry Lantz.

Mr. Gold has performed with several orchestras around the country, including
the Minnesota Orchestra, and as Principal Bassist with the San Francisco
Symphony and Detroit Symphony. He has attended the Domaine Forget Music
Academy, Bach Festival Leipzig, Aspen Music Festival, and Tanglewood Music
Center, where he was a recipient of the Maurice Schwartz Prize. Mr. Gold
spent several summers at the International Festival Institute at Round Top
both as a student, and, during the summer of 2004, as a member of the bass
faculty. He has given masterclasses and recitals at the Peabody Conservatory
at Johns Hopkins University, James Madison University, and the Chautauqua Music Festival.

In addition to his position with the NSO, Mr. Gold has performed with the
Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of NSO members.

If you are interested in learning more about the concepts Ira brought up in this interview, you can contact him at irajgold@gmail.com

After the interview, you will be hearing Ira play the third movement of the Vanhal bass concerto, and we will read some listener feedback and cover some news items in the bass world. We'll conclude the episode with a song from Uncle Seth called, 'You Don't Need an iPod' which we'll talk a little more about later.


-INTERVIEW-

-VANHAL CONCERTO MVT 3-


News:

Philip Serna recital

Phillip W. Serna ' Crossover Performance Phenomena within the Early Music Movement ' Popular Idioms in Solo and in Consort ' a Doctoral Lecture Recital (Viola da Gamba & Double Bass)

Jeanne Vail Chapel, Alice Millar Religious Center , Northwestern University

1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston , IL 60201

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 7:00PM

Phillip W. Serna will be exploring the intersection of popular music and art music in the 17th century. Featuring transcriptions for double bass, as well as unaccompanied solo literature for viola da gamba, repertoire will include ballad settings from the Manchester Lyra-Viol Manuscript, John Playford's Musicks Recreation on the Viol, Lyra-Way, as well as consort settings.

Feedback:

......from Meredith Nelson

My name is Meredith Nelson. I'm a double bassist living just outside Toronto. Just writing to let you know how much I've been enjoying the podcast and the website.

Meredith has a great story about a painful experience while flying with a bass, and I'll relay that story on my blog, so look for that soon.

.....from Lenny Tischler

Jason...what was the solo bass piece played between the interview with John Grillo and Terry Plumeri playing Footprints? It was in my opinion a very cool piece of music and I want to learn it...Lenny Tischler

.....from Michael Binder

Dear Jason.
I like your website very much. I am a bass player and teacher from Germany and I live with my wife since three years in Spain. My wife is spanish.

It is interesting to see that in the US there are many small orchestras and people seems to be proud of playing in this orchestras. In Germany and Spain you are only "somebody" when you play in the big famous orchestas, otherwise you seem that you are not good enough as musican.

How is this in the US?? Is it right what it seems to be or is there more show than reality?

Greetings from Spain y un saludo

......from David Ballam

Hi Jason,
I hope you are doing well. I'm writing to put a bug in your ear about an really cool upcoming concert at your alma mater. It's next Wednesday, April 4th (7:30pm) at Pick-Staiger. The concert is entitled "QuadroPhonia: A Feast of Fours with the the Wacker Consort". The Wacker Consort, is the doublebass quartet made up of CSO musicians (Daniel Armstrong, Michael Hovnanian, Robert Kassinger, and Stephen Lester). I know they are doing the Schuller Quartet by themselves, and then myself and three others are joining them to make an octet of basses performing a Renaissance piece by Susato.

Song from Uncle Seth

We'll finish up the episode today with a song by the band Uncle Seth. This song is called 'You Don't Need an iPod' and it is a short little public service announcement correcting some misconceptions people have about podcasts. I'm really trying to keep the technical geek talk to a minimum on this show and keep it focused on bass, but I definitely get asked, 'I don't have an iPod. How do I listen to your show?' frequently. This song will hopefully correct come misconceptions about how people can access this show. Internet, iPod, through your cell phone, through e-mail, iRiver, Zune, TiVo, and soon on Internet radio--this show can be grabbed in dozens of ways, and I'll try to clarify what subscribing really means and how one can get easy access to this show.


-SIGN OFF-

You can reach us at:

-Website: www.contrabassconversations.com
-e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
-on iTunes
-find T-shirts, hats, coffe mugs and more through the website or at www.cafepress.com/doublebass
-voicemail line 206-666-6509
-www.myspace.com/cbcpodcast

Find all of our old shows at www.contrabassconversations.com

Stay tuned next week for our interview with Francois Rabbath, and we'll see you then for more life on the low end of the spectrum.

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CBC 14 show notes

 

Length: 29:23

e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

voicemail line: 206-666-6509

website: http://contrabassconversations.com

blog: http://doublebassblog.com

 

This episode features Part 3 of our interview with double bassist John Grillo.  You can listen to the previous two installments of this interview plus John's recital showcase in the archives of Contrabass Conversations.  Click here for all episodes featuring John.

 

Download the episode here (right-click and choose 'save as')

 

Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes here (or visit www.contrabassconversations.com to subscribe using  another program)

 

New and Notes

 

Rabbath visit to Chicago on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at Buntrock Hall in Symphony Center from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  This event is being sponsored by DePaul University, and I'd encourage folks to come check it out if they happen to be in the Chicago area in early April.

 

The Contrabass Conversations online store is now open!  Visit http://contrabassconversations.com and click on the 'Store' button.  You can also do the same from my blog at http://doublebassblog.com, or you can visit it directly at http://cafepress.com/doublebass. 

 

We've got a ton of different T-shirt designs, plus caps, coffe mugs, tote bags, teddy bears, wall clocks, and more, so check it out!

 

Today's episode will feature the final part of our interview with double bassist John Grillo.  John was on episodes 6 and 9 of the show, and he was also featured on our first recital showcase episode.

 

Today you will also hear some tracks of John playing orchestral excerpts.  I think that this is an interesting way of highlighting another facet of John's playing.  You've heard a lot of John's solo work over the past few episodes, and you can now get an opportunity to hear a player of his caliber execute some orchestral excerpts.

 

Before the interview you will hear the double bass solo from Verdi's opera Otello.  We bassists get to play some very tense and dramatic music in a soli section during the final act of this opera, and you will get a chance to hear John play this.  After the interview, you will get to hear John play another famous bass soli section from the opening of Mahler's Second Symphony.

 

After hearing John today, we'll read some listener feedback and hear music from double bassist and conductor Terry Plumeri.

 

Music from Terry Plumeri

 

Today we will also be featuring a recording of the tune Footprints from bassist and composer Terry Plumeri from his album Blue in Green.  This album also features David Goldblatt on piano and Joe La Barbera on drums.  Terry plays the head for each of these tunes with the bow as well as his solos, and I think you all will really enjoy it.

 

I'd like to thank David Bell and GMMC records for allowing the use of this track.

Terry's Biography

 

Terry Plumeri has just completed recording the 4th, 5th and 6th symphonies of Tchaikovsky as conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic for a fall 2006 release on the GMMC CD label. In the past, Terry's recordings with the Moscow Philharmonic of his original compositions have received such words of praise from Fanfare Magazine as, "These well-prepared composer-conducted performances and recordings are both technically and esthetically stunning. The emotional curve of Plumeri's music has a dramatic inevitability that carries the listener along without questioning and leaves him fully gratified, very much like the best of Tchaikovsky's efforts." The Washington Post has said of these recordings, "Plumeri conducts the Moscow Philharmonic in a performance sensitive to the music's smallest nuances."

Terry's innovative style of bowing jazz solos on the acoustic bass has garnered comments like 'Stunning, a very high level of music' from the Washington Post. Terry Plumeri's bowed bass work is endlessly compelling" from allaboutjazz.com. 'Extraordinary bowing facility' from Jazz Improv Magazine. In speaking about his latest jazz release Blue In Green, Jazz Improv Magazine has said 'The performances and solo improvisations on the parts of Terry Plumeri on bass, David Goldblatt on piano and Joe La Barbera on drums are outstanding. Blue In Green is an album bubbling with creativity, interactivity, magnificent improvisations, and the combined experience, sensitivity, and desire of three consummate musicians performing eight essential pieces from the jazz and standard repertoire. Go and listen.'

While on scholarship to Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Terry studied with Robert Brennand, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic. During his period as a bassist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C., he studied composition and conducting with the Hungarian conductor/composer Antal Dorati, himself a student of the legendary Bela Bartok.

During the past 15 years he has written the music to 55 feature films, which includes the score to the award winning crime story One False Move, which has recently been added to the "New York Times List of the 1000 Best Films Ever Made". His score for One False Move was nominated for Best Score by the IFP Spirit Awards.

Terry's lectures on music have been heard at the Smithsonian Institute, Georgetown University, Maryland Art Institute and University of Southern California as well as in his private classes in the Los Angeles area on the Vocabulary and Psychology of the Music of Bernard Herrmann in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Psycho.

Terry has played with such jazz greats as Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Quincy Jones, Arthur Prysock, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Les McCann, Yusef Lateef, John Abercrombie and Woody Herman. Notable performances include Carniegie Hall/New York City, Albert Hall/London, Herodicus Atticus Theater/Athens, Tchaikovsky Hall/Moscow, as well as the Newport, Monterey and Montreux jazz festivals.

 

- - - - -

 

Feedback from Glenn Gordon and David Bell closes the episode.

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Show Notes

Length: 58:35

e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

voicemail: 206-666-6509

blog: www.doublebassblog.com

Download the episode here

Listen:

This episode features the first part of an interview that Jason recently did with double bassist Weldon Anderson.  Weldon has worked in many styles of music, from traditional classical bass playing to very experimental forms of music.  The first part of this interview discusses Weldon's early years on the instrument and how he became involved Pittsburgh's Squonk Opera.

 

Weldon Anderson was a member of the Squonk Opera when they secured a run on Broadway in New York City, and Weldon and Jason discuss the unique situation of getting to Broadway by creating your own show.  What an unusual and very interesting trajectory! 

Visit the Squonk Opera to learn more about this ensemble http://squonkopera.com

Click here to read the Ben Brantley review of the Squonk Opera

____________
 

The music of double bassist Donovan Stokes is featured throughout the episode from his recent album Gandaha.  A former student of David Murray and Edgar Meyer, Donovan manages to blend several styles of bass playing and create his own compelling compositions.  I am a real fan of Donovan's, and I can't wait to hear more of his playing. 

 

Visit http://donovanstokes.com or http://myspace.com/donovanstokes for more information on this extremely talented and creative bassist, and visit the following links to order Donovan's album Gandaha:

 

Buy Gandaha on iTunes

Buy Gandaha on CDBaby

Buy Gandaha through Lemur Music

 

Donovan's bio:

 

Fluent on electric bass and double bass, Dr. Donovan Stokes currently teaches bass and composition in the Department of Music at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA and bass in the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA. He earned his D.M.A and M.M from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and his B.M. from Vanderbilt University.  An active soloist, composer, and clinician Stokes is a specialist in the use of amplified and electronically manipulated double bass and performs regularly both as a soloist and a sideman in a variety of musical genres, venues and collaborations.

_____________

Listener feedback from Dave Swenson, Kirsty Matheson, and Joel Negus.

 

 

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CBC Episode 12
 

Show Notes

e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com

voicemail: 206-666-6509

website: contrabassconversations.com

blog: doublebassblog.com

Episode Length: 26:31

 

This week's episode features double bassist Kate Nettleman.  Kate is a great friend and an excellent bassist based here in the Chicago area.

 

Kate's bio:

 

Kathryn Nettleman - as a young student of Neil Courtney, Assistant Principal Bass with the Philadelphia Orchestra, she performed with numerous local ensembles including the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. During this time she twice received the New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education. She attended The Juilliard School as a full-scholarship student of Homer Mensch and following graduation spent a year studying with Don Palma at the Yale University School of Music. For several summers she performed in the Aspen Music Festival and the Spoleto (USA) Music Festival.

Ms. Nettleman then spent two seasons in the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, during which time she was involved in a wide variety of solo and chamber music performances, musical outreach projects, and served as co-chair of a concert series. In 2001, she was awarded by her colleagues there the "NWS Musician of the Year Award for Artistic Leadership." The following year she served as a section member in the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, where she was active as a performer in introductory musical programs for elementary and middle school children.

Currently living in Chicago, Ms. Nettleman performs regularly with many local ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Symphony II, and Grant Park Symphony. She serves as a volunteer friendly visitor to the elderly through Resurrection Health Care Home Health Services. In addition to making music, she enjoys running, gardening, reading, and vegetarian cooking and baking.

You will be hearing some duets on this episode that Kate and Jason recorded at the 2007 Whitewater Winter Bassfest.

 

-          - - - -

 

We also had some feedback this week from Ben Huff.  Ben writes:

 

Hi Jason,
I just wanted to let you know how much I really enjoyed this most recent podcast with Andy Anderson playing...wow! A couple of things really struck me. One, I really liked the artistic liberties he took with the Paganini Moses Fantasy, especially in the 2nd variation; he made it very lyrical, despite the fact that the variation is literally one whole, nasty lick. Also, it was great to hear his version of Bottesini #2. I kind of made Edgar Meyer's version of the concerto my reference for what is  'okay to do and not okay to do', especially in regard to tempo. But after having heard Andy play it, this wonderful, liberating thought hit me, 'Andy's a fantastic player, and he plays it slower, so that means it's okay to play it slower!' Last, the Monti Czardas was perfect.

 

Thanks!
Ben

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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

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Release Date: 3/5/07
Length: 33:08
website: contrabassconversations.com
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
voicemail: 206-666-6509
blog: doublebassblog.com
Co-Host: Courtney Lawhn

This episode of Contrabass Conversations features an interview with composer Bjorn Berkhout.  Bjorn discusses his musical training, his various compositions for bass, and the challenges of writing for the double bass.  Musical selections from his pieces Steamworks and Rise are also played on the show this week.

To find out more about Bjorn's activities, visit http://bjornb.com/.
To order Bjorn's double bass music, visit discordia-music.com.


We also play a track called Big Green Horn by the band Death Chariot.  Visit them online at deathchariot.com, or e-mail jbvanderkail@deathchariot.com to get in touch.

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 Contrabass Conversations Episode 9 - Interview with John Grillo Part 2
Show Notes
Release Date: 2/24/07
Episode Length: 34:37

Jason is joined by new co-host Courtney Lawhn for this episode of Contrabass Conversations.  Courtney is a harpist, but don't hold that against her--she has a lot of experience with the bass and does a great job on the show.  You can find Courtney's website at www.chicago-harpist.com.

We will start this episode with Schgweik Farht, one of the movements from David Anderson's seven double bass duets.  You will also hear the Bach Gigue from the third cello suite and the second movement of the Schubert Arpeggione Sonata.

John will be assisted by Peter Guild- Double Bass(member Pittsburgh Symphony) on the Anderson duets and by pianist Alaine Fink on the Schubert.

In this second part of our interview with John Grillo, Jason and John discuss the gear John plays on, his thoughts on French and German bow, his experiences in the opera pit, and his experiences with freelancing.  John also offers advice to music school students on how to establish a freelance career in various metropolitan areas.

Look for the conclusion of this interview in a March episode of Contrabass Conversations.

To hear the rest of the Schubert, Bach, and Anderson pieces, check out John's complete recital at contrabassconversations.com.  His recital is the first installment for Recital Showcase #1, and you can find it at either that website or at doublebassblog.com.

Jason and Courtney conclude the episode with a discussion about their experiences performing the Schubert, and the new Contrabass Conversations MySpace page, which can be found at myspace.com/cbcpodcast.

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 Contrabass Conversations Episode 8
Interview with Philip W. Serna Part 2
Release Date: 2/19/07
Show Length: 33:36
voicemail: 206-666-6509
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
website: http://contrabassconversations.com

On this episode of the show we continue our interview with double bassist Phillip W. Serna.  Phillip is an active double bass and viola da gamba performer, clinician, and pedagogue in the Chicago metropolitan area.  In this episode of Contrabass Conversations, Phillip gives general student advice, practice tips, advice on choosing schools, and much more.  Visit him online at http://www.phillipwserna.com/

News & Notes:

Jason talks about some of the more popular features of his blog, including the recital showcase and bass video archive.

Listen to the end of the podcast for some of the worst instrumental playing you'll ever hear in your life!

Music played:

Music from Phillip Serna

Prokofiev Quintet mvt 2
Rachmaninoff Vocalise

This is the first Contrabass Conversations promo!  Feel free to pass it around and help spread the word.  You can e-mail me at contrabassconversations@gmail.com to get an uncompressed version if you'd like to include it in your podcast.  I'd like to thank my fiancée Courtney Lawhn (pictured here) for doing the voice work for this promo.

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This is a special Recital Showcase edition of Contrabass Conversations featuring the music of John Grillo.  John was interviewed on Contrabass Conversations episode 6.  This episode is a live performance of John's complete recital, which was performed in Pittsburgh, PA in 2006.

Recital Program:


Bach Suite No. 3 for Solo Violincello
Allemande
Sarabande
Bourrees I and II
Gigue

John Grillo, Double Bass

Schubert "Arpeggione" Sonata
Allegro Moderato
Andante
Allegro

John Grillo, Double Bass
Alaine Fink, Piano

David Anderson-Seven Double Bass Duets
Kibbles & Kibitz
Parade of the Politically Prudent Pigs
Gustav's 11 O'clock Dance
Schgweik Farht
Lament
Blue Cheeze
Rush Hour
Peter Guild- Double Bass(member Pittsburgh Symphony)
John Grillo - Double Bass


Stanley Chepaitis-Slow Dance
Duet for Violin and Double Bass
(Transcription-John Grillo)
Stanley Chepaitis- Violin
John Grillo - Double Bass
Stanley is a violin professor at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Original piece written for violin and cello.

About John Grillo:

John started playing Double Bass at the age of 11. He attended The Julliard School during high school and was a scholarship student at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana where he studied with Lawrence Hurst. After graduating from IU, he attended the Manhattan School of Music completing his Masters Degree with Timothy Cobb. Mr. Grillo performed at The Tanglewood Music Center from 1994 to 1996. Other festivals include the National Repertory Orchestra, Festival di Due Mondi in Italy, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan. John was a member of the New World Symphony from 1999-2002. His other professional engagements include performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera. John was a faculty member with The Pittsburgh Music Academy from 2002-2006. Future engagements include the Princeton Symphony and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony.

technorati tags: John, Grillo, Contrabass, Conversations, live, recital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, double, bass, string, strings

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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

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This week's Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview and musical performances from double bassist John Grillo. John has got some great insight into the world of the bass, and this interview was both a lot of fun to do and very informative and interesting.

CBC #6 Show Notes

episode length: 36:24
Release Date: 2/5/07

Today's Episode features an interview with double bassist John Grillo with musical tracks from one of John's recent recitals.

John Grillo biography:

John started playing Double Bass at the age of 11. He attended The Julliard School during high school and was a scholarship student at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana where he studied with Lawrence Hurst. After graduating from IU, he attended the Manhattan School of Music completing his Masters Degree with Timothy Cobb. Mr. Grillo performed at The Tanglewood Music Center from 1994 to 1996. Other festivals include the National Repertory Orchestra, Festival di Due Mondi in Italy, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan. John was a member of the New World Symphony from 1999-2002. His other professional engagements include performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera. John was a faculty member with The Pittsburgh Music Academy from 2002-2006. Future engagements include the Princeton Symphony and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony.

Double bass tracks for this episode consist of excerpts from David Anderson's Seven Double Bass Duets and Slow Dance by Stanley Chepaitis.

Complete information:

David Anderson-Seven Double Bass Duets
Kibbles & Kibitz
Parade of the Politically Prudent Pigs
Gustav's 11 O'clock Dance
Schgweik Farht
Lament
Blue Cheeze
Rush Hour
Peter Guild- Double Bass(member Pittsburgh Symphony)
John Grillo - Double Bass


Stanley Chepaitis-Slow Dance
Duet for Violin and Double Bass
(Transcription-John Grillo)
Stanley Chepaitis- Violin
John Grillo - Double Bass
Stanley is a violin professor at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Original piece written for violin and cello.


Feedback from listener and double bassist Ben Huff.

http://doublebassblog.com

technorati tags: John, Grillo, Double, Bass, Contrabass, Conversations, Music, Education, Podcast, Jason, Heath

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 Contrabass Conversations Episode 5
Interview with Philip W. Serna Part 1
Release Date: 1/29/07
Show Length: 27:52

This show features an interview with double bassist Phillip W. Serna.  Phillip is an active double bass and viola da gamba performer, clinician, and pedagogue in the Chicago metropolitan area.  In this episode of Contrabass Conversations, Phillip discusses his early years studying the bass, his training in Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, and general student advice.  Visit him online at http://www.phillipwserna.com/

News & Notes:

One of my crazy gig stories was excerpted for an article in Double Bassist magazine.

Music played:

Music from Phillip Serna

technorati tags: Phillip, Serna, interview, double, bass, contrabass, conversations, Chicago, Illinois, podcast, classical, music, Jason, Heath

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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

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CC #3 Show Notes

Contrabass Conversations Episode 3
release date: 1/15/07
show length: 28:58
Freelance Musician Tips and Great Tracks.

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


Music played on this podcast is available from the Podsafe Music Network.  Check them out at http://music.podshow.com.

Jason starts this week's episode by playing Tu Cha Cha Cha by Antonin Bastian.  Check out Antonin's blog at http://dr-vibe.blogspot.com/.


Listener feedback from Ed in Sydney, Australia.

Jason discusses the January performance of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra.

Jason discusses the ins and outs of some aspects of the freelance music world.  The comments are geared toward classical double bass players, but the information may be of value to all instrumentalists.

The last track played on this episode is Spherical by saxophonist Evan Tate.  There is a great bass solo by Henning Sieverts on this track.  Check out Evan's website here.

technorati tags: Contrabass, Conversations, Double, Bass, String, Strings, Jason, Heath, freelance, freelancing, Evan, Tate, Antonin, Bastian, Podshow, Podsafe, Classical, Music, podcast

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CC #2 Show Notes

Contrabass Conversations Episode 2 - Audition news and more.
release date: 1/8/07
show length: 27:43

Contact Information:

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

In this episode of Contrabass Conversations, Jason discusses the gear he is using to record Contrabass Conversations.  For this episode he is using:

iRiver IFP-899
Sony ECM MS957   (the price has really dropped since I bought it six years ago!)

Last episode Jason use the same microphone into his laptop through a Griffin iMic .  The results are actually much cleaner into the iRiver than into the laptop.


Music played on this podcast:

Agnus Dei by double bassist Peter Lawson

This is an excerpt from a very interesting piece written by a very creative double bassist.  For more information on this and other works by Peter Lawson you can e-mail him at ptklawson@gmail.com.  Peter studied with Michael Hovnanian at Northwestern University (Michael now teaches at Roosevelt University) and with Rob Kassinger at DePaul University.  He is a great double bassist, a great composer, and an all-around great guy.

CORRECTION:
Although Peter plays with the Madison Symphony, he is not a member of this ensemble.  He won an audition in the past for this organization but had to turn the position down due to scheduling concerns, so although he does perform with this group, he is not a member.

Jason discusses several auditions coming up for the double bass.  Although there aren't many jobs this month, there are several summer festivals holding auditions:

North Carolina School of the Arts
Artist/Teacher of Bass beginning Fall 2007

National Repertory Orchestra
Audition tour in January and February
Festival runs from 6/10-8/5 in 2007

Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra Fellow - 2007-08 Season
deadline for tapes: 2/6/07

AIMS Festival Orchestra  in Graz, Austria
7/10-8/11 in 2007
Live auditions 2/25-3/31 in various North American cities
taped auditions acceptable

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
Audition for Bass 5
per-service position
for more information, e-mail hunter@hso.org

Kent/Blossom Chamber Music Festival
7/1-8/12 in 2007

Tanglewood Music Center
The Boston Symphony Orchestra's Academy for Advanced Musical Study
6/21-8/20 in 2007
apply online

New World Symphony
National Audition Tour January through March in 2007
apply online


Another great program always worth checking out is the Aspen Music Festival and School.  The best place to find current audition information is at musicalchairs.info.


My Odeo Channel (odeo/1ea6773b877e3541)

technorati tags: Contrabass, Conversations, Jason, Heath, Double, Bass, String, Strings, classical, music, podcast

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or click player below

show length: 10:38
e-mail: contrabassconversations@gmail.com
voicemail: 206-666-6509

Hello, and welcome to Contrabass Conversations, your weekly podcast for double bass interviews, resources, news, and music.  Contrabass Conversations is a new project by Jason Heath.  You can find all information for this show at http://contrabassconversations.com.

This show will be released every Monday.  Most shows will be in an interview format, but these first few shows will be with Jason alone.  The show will not exceed 30 minutes in length.  I would rather have people wanting more Contrabass Conversations than begging for less!  When I am doing a show alone the length will be around 15-20 minutes, and when I have a guest, shows will be around 20-30 minutes in length.

Topics covered in these shows will include profiling specific excerpts, solos, and audition lists, double bass techniques and practice strategies, and general advice for pursuing developing one's ability on the bass and pursuing a professional career on the bass.

I already have some great guests lined up for this show, but I would like to interview YOU for this show!  People from all walks of life, from students and amateurs to professional performers and pedagogues all have valuable information to share, and I plan on interviewing representatives from all of these groups of people.

Link of the week:

http://talkbass.com

Talkbass is the best double bass and electric bass forum available online.  Please visit them, participate, and support them.  They are a great resource.  Paul Determan (founder of Talkbass) and I used to play in the South Dakota Symphony together.

For more double bass and general music information, visit my blog:

http://doublebassblog.com

technorati tags: Contrabass, Conversations, Jason, Heath, double, bass, podcast, string, strings, classical, music

Contrabass Conversations is my newest project in the world of podcasting.  This podcast will be a series of interviews and insights into the world of double bass playing.  Please visit my Double Bass Blog for more information, and stay tuned for my first episode!
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