Contrabass Conversations

Andrew Goins has been hard at work since the pandemic hit.   He recently launched the Texas Double Bass Academy , which is dedicated to the online education of the pre-college double bass student, and he has been putting together a compelling offering with many of Texas' most renowned bass teachers. This new organization will host the Texas Double Bass Academy Online Camp this June 1-4.   This cam...

Ryan Roberts is a freelance bassist in Los Angeles and is the founder of The Bass Shed , which is focused on learning the language of music from legendary bassists and other instrumentalists. We chat about many topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting his work life, the impetus to start The Bass Shed and how he is incorporating it into his schedule, and much more. Enjoy, and...

We're chatting with past podcast guest Elisa Janson Jones today.   I had the chance to spend some time in person with her during the NAMM Show in January 2020, and I was interested in learning about how she has been handling the current pandemic, with its many challenges and opportunities. Elisa wears many hats: entrepreneur, author, educator, host of the Music Ed Mentor Podcast , and the founder...

It was a real pleasure having Sydney bassist Elsen Price back on the podcast to talk about his recent projects. Elsen was been up to a lot just before the global pandemic hit, including: a world tour throughout Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK his solo album Descent of the Free (ABC Jazz/ Universal) Eishan Ensemble Ephemera Ensemble Masha's Legacy Paul Cutlan String Project Marais Project...

When I saw a couple of recent projects that Hugh Sung had been working on since the pandemic hit,   I knew that I had to have him back on the podcast and talk through what he was doing. Hugh Sung is one of the most creative people I know when it comes to harnessing the power of technology to enhance our music teaching.   As co-founder of the excellent AirTurn foot pedal, Hugh has inspired me for y...

It was an absolute pleasure having Morgan Daly on the podcast!  In addition to a busy performing life, active teaching schedule, and working for the education program for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan has created a really cool product called the ContraCover . We talk about all the features of this cool bass cover, moments when I really wished I'd had one of these, Morgan's many projects...

We're featuring Dmitry Gorodetsky on today's podcast.   Dmitry has been on the road constantly since moving to LA a little over 4 years ago, working with Charlie Puth and many other artists. Recently, his work has shifted more toward studio work, and he has been transforming himself into an artist working on dates for film, commercials, TV, and the like.   He has been splitting his time between th...

Today we're featuring Christian Fabian , the longtime bassist for the Lionel Hampton Big Band .   We spent some time in person together during the 2020 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival . Born in Sweden and raised in Germany, Christian attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship.   Through Brian Bromberg, one of his early mentors, Christian became the bassist for the Lionel Hampton Band. He...

We're chatting with Eleanor Martindale about the third annual RCR Double Bass Camp , which will be coming up August 17-22 in the south of France. We talk about how the camp is organized, Lorraine Campet, Bernard Salles, Alberto Bocini, Giuseppe Ettorre, and all the other teachers that will be there, and much more. Enjoy, and you can learn more about the RCR Double Bass Camp on their website and Fa...

Houston Grand Opera principal bassist and University of Houston bass faculty Dennis Whittaker recently launched a YouTube Channel called Incredibly Useful Exercises . Dennis has 45 of his favorite exercises that he is putting on YouTube and also into a series of 16 volumes plus an appendix.   He rates each exercise on a scale of 1-5 for the following attributes: Control Mindfulness Expression Powe...

After 30 years at the University of Washington , Barry Lieberman is retiring.   I've had Barry on the podcast several times in the past, and we had an engaging chat about the hefty list of bass players that he has brought to the university for his Barry Lieberman and Friends series. We also chatted about a wide variety of videos and artists, including: Barry's orchestral solo videos on his YouTube...

I had a great time having Kieran Hanlon back on the podcast. In this episode, recorded on February 20, we talk about the Fredonia Bass Fest , which had recently wrapped up and which had past podcast guests Danny Ziemann and Lauren Pierce as guest artists. We also dig into Kieran's new trio edition (bass, guitar, cello) of the Eccles Sonata , the interesting self-care topic that came up at the Bass...

It was great to have Valentina Ciardelli back on the podcast to talk about all the new developments in her career.   In this episode, recorded on February 20, we dig into her new arrangements, including Zappa, Stravinsky, and her new arrangement of 'Nei Cieli Bigi' from La Bohème for cello and bass.   We also talk about Music Academy International and other topics. Valentina is currently offering...

It was a pleasure chatting with Lizzie Burns about the fascinating career that she has carved out for herself in the music world.  Lizzie spent six years studying in Boston while maintaining an active freelance career. She was a founding member of Phoenix and the Pianosofia Chamber Players; a fellow of Symphony Nova ; and has been heard many times in Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and at the American...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of Gary Karr and his influence: David Murray - Butler University Derek Jones -   bassist for Cirque du Soleil's show KÀ Diana Gannett - University of Michigan professor emeritus Gary Karr - the man himself! Hector Tirado - Puerto Rican bassist Lawrence Hurst - Indiana University professor emeritus James Oesi - soloist and bass...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of what it's like working these days as a jazz bassist: Ben Allison - NYC Dan Chmielinski - NYC Herbert Smith - Brazil John Goldsby - Germany Katie Thiroux - Los Angeles Kenneth Knudson - Denmark Larry Gray - Chicago Rufus Reid - NYC Sean Conly - NYC   Listen to more "best of" episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights...

We're all experiencing difficult times right now.  Ranaan Meyer, my longtime friend and member of Time for Three , reached out to me this week, and we had an inspiring conversation about how we're handling the current situation. Ranaan has been on the podcast many times in the past , and I felt much better about what I can do to make the best of things after chatting with him. We also featured mus...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of what it's like playing in major American orchestras: Chris Hanulik - LA Phil Jeff Weisner - National Symphony Micah Howard - Pittsburgh Symphony Orin O'Brien - New York Philharmonic Rex Surany - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Scott Dixon - Cleveland Orchestra Steve Tramontozzi - San Francisco Symphony Tom Zera - Utah Symphony...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of bass gear: Bill Merchant - luthier Christian McBride - jazz bass legend Daniel Kimbro - Jerry Douglas Band Derek Jones -   bassist for Cirque du Soleil's show KÀ Donovan Stokes - Shenandoah University Eric Revis - New York jazz bassist Ethan Jodziewicz - newgrass bassist Gael McKeon - luthier Gahlord Dewald - modular synthe...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of working with the jazz greats: Brian Bromberg - jazz bass legend Chuck Israels - jazz bass legend Frank Proto - bassist and composer Gary Peacock - jazz bass legend Gene Perla - jazz bassist and music business expert Jeff Denson - California Jazz Conservatory Jim Miller on Art Davis Kenny Davis - NYC jazz bassist Kurt Morrow...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topics of improvisation and learning in jazz: Adam Booker - Appalachian State University Alexis Cuadrado - NYC jazz bassist Ben Robertson - Melbourne jazz bassist Bernard O'Neill - European jazz bassist and composer Charley Sabatino - New York jazz bassist and educator Chuck Israels - jazz bass legend Christian McBride - jazz bass l...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of developing your sound: Christine Hoock - German bassist and pedagogue Dan Styffe - Oslo Philharmonic David Allen Moore - LA Phil David Murray - Butler University Ethan Jodziewicz - newgrass artist James VanDemark - Eastman School of Music Mark Dresser - University of California San Diego Matthew McDonald - Berlin Philharmon...

Today's episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of what makes a teacher great: George Amorim - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Caroline Emery - renowned UK bass teacher Bob Phillips - clinician and educator Paul Ellison - Rice University Guy Tuneh - soloist and chamber musician Lawrence Hurst - professor emeritus at Indiana University Ira Gold - National Symphony and...

It was such a pleasure to spend time with composer and Melbourne Symphony bassist Stephen Newton during my trip to Australia in 2019 .   Stephen is an outstanding performer, and he has a compelling voice as a composer. A native of Sydney, Stephen joined the Melbourne Symphony in 2006, and he has performed internationally with the MSO and other ensembles. We talk about this recent solo bass suite,...

I first learned about Eleonore Oppenheim from Contrabass Conversations team member Krista Kopper , and I knew that she'd prove to be an interesting podcast guest.   Eleonore describes herself as a "genre surfing musical polyglot," and she explores the bass and its role as a solo and chamber instrument in a variety of creative ways.   Eleonore also recently wrapped up a long stint as the bassist fo...