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.

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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!

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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!
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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.