Contrabass Conversations

Nina Bernat is a double bass performer and educator based in New York City. In 2023, Nina was honored as a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the CAG Elmaleh Competition. Her recent first-prize awards include the Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition, the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Juilliard Double Bass Competition, and the 2019 International Society of...

Today's episode features a conversation with Gary Upton , the founder of Upton Bass . Since founding the company in 1999, Gary has built it into one of the most established and trusted names in the world of double bass. Besides exploring the backstory of Upton Bass, we delve into their latest innovations, including amplifiers, strings,  BuildBass.com and rosin. Enjoy!   Subscribe to the podcast to...

Today's episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 International Society of Bassists Convention , taking place June 2-7 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU bass faculty members and convention hosts Rodney Jordan and George Speed join Jason to discuss organizing this event, share upcoming highlights, and preview what attendees can expect during the week. Enjoy!   Subsc...

Melody Ruiz is writing a book about Thelma Terry, a double bassist and bandleader in 1920s Chicago. She documents her research process on Instagram and is crowdfunding the project through gofundme and Etsy . We discuss how Melody discovered Thelma's story, the challenges and rewards of researching someone from a century ago, and the fascinating discoveries she's made along the way. We'll reconnect...

Christopher Dammann is a Chicago-based composer and bassist whose sextet recently released its debut album . Our conversation explores Christopher's journey from self-taught musician to Northwestern University bass student, examining how iconic Chicago venues like Velvet Lounge and Constellation shaped his artistry, his practice methodology, and much more. Enjoy, and don't miss this excellent debu...

In today's podcast, we speak with Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell . Kathryn and Andrew joined the double bass faculty at the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music in fall 2023, where they recently hosted the inaugural Pacific Bass Day in January 2025. We explore their backgrounds, discuss the experience of launching their first bass day, and delve into their plans for the future,...

Today's podcast features a conversation with Nina DeCesare about The Artemis Bass Initiative , an organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women and nonbinary bassists through mentorship, orchestral training, and professional development. We explore the origins of this project and discuss its key programs, including upcoming seminars, orchestral training, and mentorship opportunities. To...

Adam Ben Ezra is a truly original voice on the double bass, and each new project of his is fascinating in its own right. His latest album, a collaboration with Cuban drummer Michael Olivera titled Heavy Drops , is no exception. We explore Adam's life in the Portuguese countryside, the inspiration behind his latest album, his current approach to the double bass, his creative process with Ableton Li...

TianYang Liu currently teaches double bass at Beijing's Central Conservatory. He earned First Prize at the 2013 International Society of Bassists Competition and has garnered top honors in several other competitions, including Singapore's International Double Bass Competition and the San Francisco Conservatory's Concerto Competition. He regularly performs solo recitals across the United States and...

Bruce Gertz is a jazz bassist, composer, and educator who has taught at the Berklee College of Music for nearly half a century. In addition to his numerous awards and recordings, Bruce developed musicsightreader.com , an Apple Books publication designed to develop sightreading skills through duets, trios, and quartets. We explore Bruce's daily creativity habits, Berklee's evolution over the decade...

Javier Martin is a double bassist, teacher, and YouTuber based in Madrid, Spain. He began his double bass studies at age 8 at the Arturo Soria Professional Conservatory of Music with Professor José Antonio García Alamá. He continued his advanced studies at the Katarina Gurska Higher Center with Professor Karen Martirossian before pursuing his master's studies with Ed Barker at Boston University.  ...

Jake Thurston is a double bassist, educator, and YouTube content creator based in Boulder, Colorado. In this episode, we explore the story behind his YouTube channel, share insights about creating engaging content, and discuss how he balances content creation with performing and teaching. Enjoy, and be sure to subscribe to Jake's YouTube channel and also check him out on Patreon ! Subscribe to the...

Join Barry Green, Frank Proto, Debbie Taylor, and special guest Maggie Cox at their Bass Club Cincinnati live event honoring Francois Rabbath. This episode includes Zoom tributes from Gary Karr, Paul Ellison, Hal Robinson, Dennis Trembly, Patrick Neher, Johnny Hamil, and many more. This episode also includes live performances from: Renaud Garcia-Fons Sandor Ostlund Tracy Rowell Etienne Lafrance Ni...

Today's episode features Brazilian bassist and educator Alexandre Piazza .   Alexandre was a bass teacher Saarbrücken, Germany and has a YouTube Channel with lessons on how to play acoustic and electric bass, equipment reviews, and videos about his life as a musician and music teacher in Germany and Brazil.   We dig into his experiences studying and teaching in Germany, the inspiration for his You...

In today's episode, Yuka Tadano shares her musical journey. Starting with her current gigs, including a new Broadway show, "Swept Away," and preparing for a cast album of "Suffs," she reflects on her extensive experience in musical theater.   Yuka discusses her involvement in several productions, including the Neil Diamond show "Beautiful Noise." She also touches on her passion for jazz, her educa...

This episode is an in-depth and inspiring conversation with 2022 Sphinx Competition winner Kebra-Seyoun Charles (they/them), a classical bassist and composer renowned for overcoming barriers and diversifying the landscape of classical music.   As a modern virtuoso and composer of concerti, ballets, and pop ballads, Kebra's music has been praised for its "buoyancy and verve — pushing the far reache...

We take a look back at 2024 and discuss plans for 2025 in today's episode.   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bass double bass merch double bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsor! Upton Bass  - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each  Upton Bas...

In this episode, acclaimed double bassist, composer, and arranger Sidney King discusses his busy fall filled with outreach events, master classes, and student recitals at the University of Louisville .  Sidney highlights his collaborations, notably with flamenco guitarist Gareth Jones, and shares insights into his compositions for orchestras, educational groups, and church services.  He emphasizes...

In this episode, Roberto Cassani shares his journey into the world of improvised music and his latest project Music for the purpose of Joy , which provides group music sessions to children, young people and adults based on his improvisational approach. Initially focused on mastering his instrument and securing gigs, Roberto discovered a profound sense of joy and connection through improvisation. H...

In this episode, New York Philharmonic principal bassist Tim Cobb discusses his journey from growing up in Albany with a musically gifted family to his renowned career in the New York Philharmonic. Tim shares personal anecdotes about his father's influence, his early experiences in Albany's vibrant music scene, and his tenure at the Metropolitan Opera. He reflects on his time studying with Roger S...

In this episode, I chat with Szymon Marciniak about his newly released album ' Lost Beauty: Music for Double-Bass by František Hertl and Contemporaries .' Szymon shares the recording process, the repertoire's significance, and his experience using gut strings. We discuss the challenges and inspirations behind the project, including the role of early 20th-century performance practices. The episode...

In this conversation, Petru Iuga , a renowned Romanian double bassist, discusses his experiences during the pandemic, his contributions to the ToneBase platform, and the development of the ErgoBass, a product designed to enhance bass playing ergonomics. He reflects on his musical journey, incorporating elements of martial arts into his musical practice, and the impact of physics and mindfulness in...

In this episode, Emilse Rios recounts her journey from studying music at the José Luis Paz Music Conservatory in Venezuela to balancing her academic pursuits in sociology at La Universidad del Zulia. Emilse talks about the challenges and cultural richness of moving to Buenos Aires, her experiences as one of the few female double bass players, and the influence of her sociology background on teachi...

In this episode, the conversation explores the development and launch of Matt Rybicki 's new online jazz bass course, JAZZ BASS 101 , which aims to deepen participants' understanding of fundamental jazz concepts through innovative teaching methods. Rybicki shares the inspiration behind the course, stemming from his 26 years in New York City and his experience in the Juilliard Jazz program. He disc...

Today's episode features Brian Powell , double bass faculty at the Frost School of Music , discussing his recently released album, ' Suite Italienne Double Bass and Piano. ' This album marks the first full arrangement and recording of Igor Stravinsky's Suite Italienne for double bass and piano, approved by Stravinsky's estate and published by Boosey & Hawkes .  It features 8 movements, incorporati...