Contrabass Conversations

Jason Heath

Contrabass Conversations, produced by Double Bass HQ, features interviews and performances from leaders in the world of the double bass. Host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With over 3 million downloads, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum! read less
MusicMusic

Episodes

1032: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Novo
Mar 14 2024
1032: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Novo
In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Stephen Tramontozzi's new solo double bass album, Basso Novo. Tramontozzi shares the three-fold mission behind the album: to uncover and bring to light underappreciated works for the double bass, to transcribe works from other instruments for the double bass, and to commission new works for the instrument. This is his fourth, and most ambitious recording project to date, with all tracks designed for solo double bass and featuring contemporary works. Among the highlights, Tramontozzi commissioned Larry Wolfe from the Boston Symphony Orchestra for a suite, "Blomidon Set", inspired by Bach suites but adding a twist from Celtic, Scottish, Irish, and Acadian fiddler traditions. An exciting addition to the album is "The Earth and Stars", a piece written by talented composition student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, José Vargas. This piece, which Tramontozzi premiered in the previous year, stands out as the only track where he used his orchestra tuned bass. The album also features other important works like "Ballade" by Ranjbaran, written for the 1999 International Society of Bassists solo competition, "Hommage a J.S. Bach" by Zbinden, and Berio's short gem "Psy". Join us as we explore the rich sounds and captivating stories behind Basso Novo. Check out the sheet music for Blomidon Set here, and be sure to check out the latest album on Apple Music and Spotify! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsor!   Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that’s packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.   The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com     theme music by Eric Hochberg
1030: Sean Michael Casey on Progressive Orchestral Excerpts
Feb 29 2024
1030: Sean Michael Casey on Progressive Orchestral Excerpts
Sean Michael Casey has just released A Progressive Guide to Orchestral Excerpts for the Double Bass, which is a step-by-step method for teaching the fundamentals of good orchestral double bass playing. Sean is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the American Federation of Musicians, and the International Society of Bassists.  Sean currently operates a teaching studio in Allen, TX, with students making All-Region and chosen for TMEA’s All-State orchestras. His students have attended prestigious music schools like Baylor and Julliard. Learn more about Sean on his website, and pick up a copy of his book in our DBHQ sheet music store! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsor!   Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that’s packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.   The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com     theme music by Eric Hochberg
1029: Jordyn Davis on Compose the Way
Feb 22 2024
1029: Jordyn Davis on Compose the Way
Jordyn Davis, a multi-talented bassist, composer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, MI, is the first African-American woman to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from Michigan State University. She also earned a Master's in Jazz Studies from the same university. In 2021, after moving to Brooklyn, NY, she was honored as one of the inaugural Jazz Leader Fellowship recipients by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Recently, she has worked on the Tony-Winning Broadway Musical “New York, New York: A new musical and had a residency at Brown University collaborating with Craig Harris & the contemporary dance company Urban Bush Women. We talk about her journey into bass, studies with Rodney Whittaker, life in New York City, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to follow along with her work on her website, Facebook, and Instagram! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsor!   Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that’s packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.   The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com     theme music by Eric Hochberg
1027: Mark Foley on his Double Bass Concerto
Feb 8 2024
1027: Mark Foley on his Double Bass Concerto
Dr. Mark Foley is Professor of Double Bass and Electric Bass at Wichita State University is the Principal Double Bass for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He's also a key figure in Wichita's jazz scene, collaborating with local and national artists, and has performed as a concerto soloist. Mark also engages in rock gigs, bluegrass sessions at the Walnut Valley Music Festival, and creates records and live electronic music as a composer. Mark recently premiered his Little Wichita Concerto for Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra with the Wichita State Symphony Orchestra. We talk about Mark’s background, getting into composition, what it was like writing this piece, and much more. Enjoy, and check out this great local news clip about the piece with Mark Foley and his WSU colleague Mark Laycock!   Photo: Douglas Hahn   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet musictheme music by Eric Hochberg   Thank you to our sponsor! Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that’s packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music. The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com
1026: Only Girl in the Orchestra
Feb 1 2024
1026: Only Girl in the Orchestra
In this episode, we delve into Only Girl in the Orchestra, a new documentary directed by Molly O’Brien about the life and career of trailblazer Orin O’Brien, the first female musician in the New York Philharmonic. Despite the spotlight her unique position brought, Orin always preferred playing a supporting role to her family, students, friends, and colleagues. Jason and Molly are joined by editor Monique Zavistovski to discuss this remarkable profile of one of the double bassist’s major figures. Tickets are available now for the next screening of Only Girl in the Orchestra, which will take place on Saturday, February 3rd, at MoMA in New York City. Learn more about this documentary on their website, and learn more about Molly, Monique, and all of the other collaborators here.   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet musictheme music by Eric Hochberg Thank you to our sponsor, Dorico: This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico, the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg that’s packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music. The latest version of Dorico 5 includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com.
1025: Michael Bates on Lutoslawski
Jan 25 2024
1025: Michael Bates on Lutoslawski
Michael Bates recently released an album titled Metamorphosis: Variations on Lutoskawski. This album contains Michael’s arrangements and is based on arrangements of the composer Witold Lutoslawski, with music for clarinet, violin, bassoon, double bass, drums, plus string quartet. It’s a hybrid of jazz, classical, and improvisation and is a wild ride of styles and textures. We talk about the genesis of this idea, what it was like traveling to Poland to record this album, plans or touring with this ensemble, future projects with the Lutoslawski quartet, and more. Check out the promo for this project on YouTube, give the album a listen on Spotify and Apple Music, and follow along with Michael’s inspiring work on Instagram!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Timestamps theme music by Eric Hochberg 00:00 Introduction and Album Promotion 00:08 Discussing Michael Bates' New Album 01:02 Catching Up with Michael Bates 01:16 Exploring Lutoslavsky's Music 04:03 The Making of the Album 09:55 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University 12:05 Deep Dive into Lutoslavsky's Music 16:32 The Composing Process 22:51 Finding Inspiration in the Backyard 23:31 The Art of Balancing Work and Rest 24:19 The Challenges of Being an Early Riser in the Music Industry 25:19 The Ideal Environment for Writing Music 26:22 Drawing Inspiration from Ludo Slavsky 26:43 The Journey of Creating the Album 31:03 The Influence of Polish Musicians and Culture 34:25 Future Projects and Plans 36:48 The Role of Instruments in Music Creation 42:03 The Power of Podcasts in Connecting Musicians 42:52 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
1024: Hein Van de Geyn on his jazz bass journey
Jan 18 2024
1024: Hein Van de Geyn on his jazz bass journey
Hein van de Geyn  is jazz double bassist, composer, teacher and band leader from the Netherlands.  His groundbreaking Comprehensive Bass Method has influenced a generation of bassists and is widely regarded as one of the leading pedagogical works for jazz double bass. We talk about Hein’s remarkable career, his time in San Francisco, writing his bass method, what life in South Africa has been like these last several years, and much more.  Enjoy!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet musictheme music by Eric Hochberg Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:28 Getting to Know Hein van de Gein 01:50 Reminiscing About San Francisco's Jazz Scene 03:17 Exploring the Jazz Scene in South Africa 04:35 The Importance of Practice and Mastery 10:17 The Role of a Music Teacher 14:10 The Art of Improvisation and Composition 18:12 The Value of Consistent Practice 22:33 The Journey of Learning and Teaching Music 26:58 Closing Thoughts and Reflections 28:50 Discovering Pablo Records and Dreaming of Playing 29:09 Memories of Performing with Joe Pass 30:07 The Art of Musical Language and Influence of Charlie Hayden 31:14 The Impact of Michael Brecker and the Role of Charlie Hayden 32:03 Reflections on Early Musical Influences and Evolution 32:56 The Shift in Bass Playing and Amplification Over the Years 33:33 The Unexpected Impact of Jaco Pastorius 34:57 The Evolution of Bass Amplification and Sound 36:56 Memories of Playing with Jazz Legends 39:00 The Importance of Technique and Style in Bass Playing 42:10 The Transition from Jazz Musician to South African Entrepreneur 47:32 The Enduring Passion for Music and Jazz 52:31 Lessons Learned from Playing with Jazz Greats 53:55 Closing Thoughts on the Global Jazz Community
1022: Steve Husted on San Francisco, Austin, and his new album
Jan 4 2024
1022: Steve Husted on San Francisco, Austin, and his new album
Steve Husted began his musical journey at the ripe old age of 6. From there he was always involved in everything musical from school band to private instruction to playing local parties for friends. At age 15, Steven moved from CT. to San Francisco, where he jumped head first into the study of jazz. By the time Steven was 23, he was one of the top call bassists in the San Francisco Bay Area, including 6 years teaching at the acclaimed Stanford Jazz Workshop. Steven has played with many jazz greats including Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, and Vince Wallace. Now residing in Austin, TX, Steven remains an in demand bassist/composer and band leader. We talk about growing up in San Francisco, his new album Standards and Then Some, how life led hi to move to Austin, and much more.  Enjoy, and be sure to check out Steve’s cool new album and also follow him on Instagram and his website!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsors!   Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – The School of Music at CMU highly values each and every individual who wants to be a part of an innovative fine arts community immersed in a top research university.   Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.   theme music by Eric Hochberg 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:43 Conversation with Steve Husted00:55 Discussing San Francisco and Austin Music Scenes06:14 Reflecting on the Impact of the Pandemic13:05 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University14:27 Continuing the Conversation: Life in Austin and Music Career25:54 Discussing the Stanford Jazz Workshop30:45 The Unpredictability of a Music Career31:17 The Challenges of Being a Musician31:32 The Impact of Internet on Music Industry32:03 The Art of Bass Playing32:40 The Importance of Technique in Playing Instruments32:54 The Role of Internet in Learning Music33:28 The Difference Between Arco Playing and Pizzicato in Jazz33:46 The Struggles of Learning Classical Music34:20 The Fear of Performing Solo35:25 The Mastery of Arco Jazz35:33 The Influence of Christian McBride in Arco Playing36:18 The Art of Playing Double Bass37:06 The Challenges of Playing Different Instruments39:09 The Importance of the Right Equipment in Music39:18 The Influence of Heavy Metal in Bass Playing56:16 The Experience of Touring with Different Bands01:02:55 The Journey of Podcasting
1021: Sonia Ray on her creative double bass career
Dec 21 2023
1021: Sonia Ray on her creative double bass career
Sonia Ray is titular professor of double bass at the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil). She holds an undergraduate degree in Conducting and Composition from the State University of São Paulo and master's and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Iowa, both in Double Bass Performance under Dr. Gannett. Ray performs regularly performing both Brazilian and contemporary repertoire as a priority. Guest artist of ISB since 1993, Ray is a co-founding member of the Brazilian Society of Music Performance (ABRAPEM) and the Brazilian Society of Bassists (ABC). We talk about Sonia’s background, her cool daily interview series from 2020, how she got into composition and bass, and much more.  Enjoy!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsors!   Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – The School of Music at CMU highly values each and every individual who wants to be a part of an innovative fine arts community immersed in a top research university.   Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.   theme music by Eric Hochberg 00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation00:41 Podcast History and Personal Connections01:08 Memories from ISB Conventions02:40 Influence of Diana Gannett05:43 Adapting to Remote Music Making07:15 Daily Interview Project During Pandemic08:43 Reflections on Career Choices10:58 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University11:53 The Upside of the Pandemic12:55 The Challenges of Online Community Building17:26 The Artistic Freedom in University Positions20:38 The Joy of Chamber Music22:41 The Art of Making Choices22:49 Exploring New Musical Horizons24:06 The Joy of Learning New Instruments24:58 The Challenges and Rewards of Musical Experimentation25:56 The Evolution of a Musician's Journey26:31 The Power of Collaboration in Music29:22 The Impact of Technology on Music36:46 The Importance of Preserving Musical History39:19 The Future of Music and Education41:49 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Future Plans
1020: Gregg Goodhart on practicing and improvement
Dec 14 2023
1020: Gregg Goodhart on practicing and improvement
Gregg Goodhart has a passion for teaching others how to learn so they can surpass their perceived limitations. This passion led to an intense interest in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience and psychology as they relate to teaching. By putting these principles into practical use in the classroom over many years, he has come to an understanding of how to teach others to reach their potential. We dig into Gregg’s background, how to actually improve, recommended books, and much more.  Enjoy, and be sure to check out Gregg’s website to get in touch and learn more about his important work. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bassdouble bass merchdouble bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsors!   Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – The School of Music at CMU highly values each and every individual who wants to be a part of an innovative fine arts community immersed in a top research university.   Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.   theme music by Eric Hochberg00:00 Introduction and Background00:45 Reminiscing About Hometowns02:15 Discussing Urban Development and Nature03:41 Adapting to California Weather05:36 Podcast Recording Techniques07:59 The Importance of Teaching Music09:41 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University10:53 Exploring the Concept of Deliberate Practice17:27 The Journey of Personal Musical Improvement23:46 Promotion of Double Bass Course24:03 The Influence of Heavy Metal on Bass Playing25:21 The Importance of Proper Learning Methods25:46 The Power of Repetition and Retrieval Practice26:12 The Importance of Spacing in Learning28:44 The Role of Contextual Interference in Learning29:09 The Impact of Dotted Rhythms in Music Practice34:15 The Misunderstanding of Talent in Learning39:51 The Role of Stage Fright in Performance48:22 The Importance of Deliberate Practice50:20 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions