Contrabass Conversations

Isaac Trapkus is a bassist with the New York Philharmonic, rosin maker , and developer of Monkey Wrench DB —a tool that syncs sheet music PDFs with YouTube performances. He's also the creator of a free urtext-style edition of the Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto, based on a previously unknown personal score copy he discovered at the Library of Congress. We cover a wide range of topics: Isaac's ye...

Bassist and arts administrator Thomas Zera joins us today to share what changed between our first chat years ago and now, including life in the Utah Symphony and the path that led to building his new project, The Sub Pool . We dig into what The Sub Pool is, why orchestra sub lists so often "run dry," and how a centralized, musician-friendly platform can help personnel managers find the right playe...

Casey Lipka is a Los Angeles–based singer, songwriter, bassist, and collaborator with a gift for building community around music. In this episode, Casey shares the winding path that brought her into jazz voice, bass, and a creative life that blends composing, performing, and heartfelt projects. Along the way, Casey talks about how coaching shaped her work supporting other artists, and why creating...

This episode with Johnny Hamil and friends is a celebration of the music of Lloyd Goldstein . Enjoy this, and be sure to join Johnny and company March 21st at 11am Central Time via Zoom . You can visit KC Bass Workshop for more information and details. Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter Double Bass Resources Double Bass Sheet Music Double Bass Merch Gear used to record this podcast Zoom H6 stud...

In this episode, we're joined by bassist, composer, and bandleader Marlonius aka, Marlon Martinez , the creative force behind the Marlonius Jazz Orchestra . We talk about growing up in a deeply musical family, moving through a serious classical conservatory track at Colburn, and the long arc of building a personal sound. We dig into Marlon's early encounters with Stanley Clarke, what it means to l...

John Mietus is a composer, double bassist, and conductor, currently Associate Principal Bass with the Auckland Philharmonia . Born in Hong Kong and raised in Ohio, John started playing bass at age four and went on to study with some legendary teachers while building a career that spans orchestral playing, chamber music, teaching, and composition. In this episode, John and Jason dig into John's wor...

Niklas Lukassen is a German bassist, composer, and doctoral researcher splitting his time between London and Berlin. His bandleader debut album Still Waters releases February 20th on Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records with liner notes by Ron Carter. The quartet features Ben Van Gelder on saxophone, Kit Downes on piano, and Francesco Ciniglio on drums, with guest appearances from Rosenwinkel, Wan...

Jon Henriksson is a Stockholm-based double bassist and composer who has become one of the leading voices in the contemporary Scandinavian jazz scene. Born in 1996 in Gothenburg, his path to the bass started when a high school big band director gave him just two months to learn the instrument for a Christmas concert. His 2023 debut album Harmonia placed second in Orkesterjournalen's Golden Album re...

Chris Jennings is a Canadian left-handed double bassist who's been based in Paris since 2002, traveling extensively across jazz and world music projects to all corners of the globe. A D'Addario Orchestral Artist , Chris has carved out a unique niche playing in ensembles where there's often no bass part written, working with artists like Nguyên Lê, Dhafer Youssef, and exploring the rhythmic complex...

Matt Rybicki is a jazz bassist, author, and educator who helps bassists of all levels master jazz bass. Through his online courses and YouTube channel , Matt makes jazz bass education accessible to students worldwide. His new course, 8 Weeks to the Jam Session: First Notes to Walking Like a Pro , takes beginners from their first notes to confidently walking bass lines at jam sessions. Check out th...

Join us for a conversation with two frequent podcast guests, Gaelen McCormick and Michael Geib , as they discuss their recent article Bass Is for Everyone! , published in the American String Teacher journal. Gaelen is the Director of the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center and a passionate advocate for inclusive bass pedagogy. Michael teaches at the University of Central Oklahoma as a bass edu...

Rohan Dasika has been a double bassist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2022. From a musical Melbourne family, Rohan started on piano, then played trombone and tuba before finding double bass in high school. He studied with Duncan Allen (Melbourne Opera, jazz), Sylvia Hoskin (MSO), Max McBride (Australian National University, Canberra), Damien Eckersley (Australian National Academy of M...

Hannah Marks is a bassist, composer, and educator living in New York City. She has performed at festivals including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and Kennedy Center, and currently leads an acoustic jazz quartet featuring NYC's most in-demand musicians. Hannah teaches at prestigious programs including Interlochen, Stanford Dance Workshop, and Jazz Camp West. In this episode, H...

In this episode, San Francisco Symphony Assistant Principal Bassist Stephen Tramontozzi joins Jason to talk about his new solo album Basso Antico . Alongside his orchestral work, Steve has built a wide‑ranging career as a soloist and educator. He has released a series of solo recordings, including Walkabout , Home Bass , Urban Bass , and Basso Novo . In this conversation, Steve shares the musical...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Kubota , bassist and bandleader of the internationally acclaimed Postmodern Jukebox . Adam shares his musical journey—from studying bass with Barry Green to becoming a key figure in one of the most innovative ensembles reimagining modern pop hits with vintage flair. Enjoy, and be sure to give Adam a follow on Instagram ! Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter...

In this inspiring episode, Stephanie Patterson returns to share a deeply personal journey of resilience and adaptation. After experiencing serious health challenges that made it impossible to continue playing the double bass, Stephanie made the courageous decision to return to the viola—an instrument she hadn't played in over 50 years. This conversation explores the physical demands of playing lar...

In this episode, we dive deep into the creation of Memoirs in Time, a groundbreaking new bass concerto with composer J im Beckel and Indianapolis Symphony Principal Bassist JuFang Liu . This commission represents a significant addition to the bass repertoire and showcases the incredible versatility of the double bass. Watch the world premiere performance with full orchestra of "Memoirs in Time: Co...

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Camacho , a double bassist, tango composer, and ethnomusicologist originally from Buenos Aires and now based in Austin, Texas. Laura shares her fascinating journey from performing with the ensemble Las del Abasto in Argentina—including opening for tango legend Mariano Mores—to pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin. We dive de...

Join us for a conversation with Spanish double bassist Uxía Martínez Botana , who shares her journey from facing skepticism as a woman in classical music to becoming a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Based in Amsterdam, she tours internationally with ensembles like the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Sol Gabetta's baroque ensemble, and is the first female double bass professor...

In this episode, Gary Upton , the founder of Upton Bass , joins us for an in-depth conversation about the craftsmanship, innovation, and business of building double basses.  We explore a wide range of topics including the growing popularity of 5/8-sized basses, the development of Kay-inspired plywood models, the economics of bass-making, and Upton's ventures into creating strings, amplifiers, and...

In this episode, we sit down with Edmonton-based jazz bassist and composer Aretha Tillotson to discuss her highly anticipated second album, Kinda Out West , releasing on November 7th, 2025. Following her Western Canadian Music Award-winning debut, Introducing Aretha Tillotson , this new album pays tribute to the musicians and landscapes of Alberta and British Columbia. Aretha's chordless quartet c...

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Anderson , the newly appointed Clinical Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign . With over two decades of experience performing with some of Chicago's most prestigious ensembles, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his teaching role. Enjoy, and check out Andy's past podcast appearances here . Connect wit...

In this episode, renowned bassist and educator Gaelen McCormick joins us to discuss her newly released annotated edition of Franz Simandl's 30 Etudes, published by Carl Fischer . For over a century, these etudes have been a cornerstone of double bass pedagogy. Gaelen's fresh annotations bring new insights and perspectives to this essential collection. Check out Gaelen's past podcast appearances he...

In this episode, we chat with Darren Sacks , a double bass audition coach, UMass Boston Associate Lecturer, and Greater Boston freelance bassist, to discuss winning strategies for double bass auditions. Darren shares insights from his 9 years of coaching experience, during which he's helped students gain acceptance into major youth orchestras like the Boston Youth Symphony (BYSO) and NEC Prep, sum...

In this episode, Jason Heath interviews Rodney Slatford. Rodney is joined by his friend Mike Coombs, who helped facilitate this conversation. Together, they explore Rodney's remarkable career as a performer, educator, publisher, and advocate for the double bass. As founding Chairman of the Yorke Trust, Rodney Slatford has established himself as a renowned double bass player and teacher. His career...