Contrabass Conversations

Today we are featuring Adam Ben Ezra , who has exploded onto the double bass scene in recent years with his unique musical voice. Adam combines elements of Arabic music, Latin drumming, American pop, looping, and many other styles to form his own craft. He has become quite popular on YouTube, and his videos are fun and visually compelling. To me, Adam is an example of what I find so exciting about...

Today's guest is jazz bass legend Chuck Israels .  We start by covering more familiar topics like meeting Charlie Mingus, playing with Bill Evans, Bill's use of rhythm, the importance of having concrete and specific role models, and then go deep into topics like Balinese wood carving (the time it takes to get good) - not creating your own artistic world without the traditions that preceded you, th...

We're featuring National Symphony bassist and Peabody Institute faculty member Ira Gold on today's episode.  Ira was one of the very first interview guests for the podcast, and we spread it out over three episodes: 15 , 18 , and 43 .  This "round two" interview was conducted almost a decade after the first conversation, and Ira has been incredibly active with all sorts of new projects.   In this i...

I'm turning 40 today, the podcast just passed a million downloads, I wrote a chunky blog post that resonated with a lot of people, and I just got back from Cuba.  This is a different kind of episode where I share details on where I've been and where I'm headed in many areas of life. If you haven't read the above referenced post, check it out and you'll find links to a lot of what I talk about in t...

This is an all-music episode of Contrabass Conversations featuring Italian bassist  Federico Marchesano and tracks from his recent release on the Solitunes label titled The Inner Bass .   The first track, Piggy, features pedal effects and overdubs.  We then hear Hakazehe, a traditional Burundi song that features the bass being hit by a wooden stick.  We round out the show today with the haunting t...

This is an all-music  of Contrabass Conversations featuring jazz bass legend Todd Coolman with some tracks from his  new album Collectibles .  The Coolman Trifecta is made up of Todd on bass, Bill Cunliffe on piano, and Dennis Mackrel on drums.   We featured Todd as an interview guest on the podcast back on episode 137 , and Win Hinkle was our guest host for this interview, so be sure to check it...

Today's episode features an interview with the great Bert Turetzky. With nearly 60 years spent championing new works for the contrabass, Bert truly is the father of modern bass playing.  Bert has recently released a memoir titled A Different View which chronicles his life spent in music.  It delves into his early years growing up in Connecticut, his dreams of becoming a jazz player, his orchestral...

Today's episode features composer, teacher, and bassist  Andrés Martín .  Andrés has written works recently that have become quite popular in the bass community these past few years, and I've been looking forward to talking with him ever since hearing his music.  Andrés is also the composer of Anna's Gift and is currently writing the music for Anna's Promise , the project spearheaded by Barry Gree...

We are featuring double bassist Gaelen McCormick on today's episode. Gaelen is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic, teaches at Nazareth College and the Eastman Community Music School and is the author of Mastering the Bow , a two-part series for bass. Part one is based on the violin studies of Franz Wohlfahrt, and part two features off-the-strings strokes. We had a wonderful conversation about...

Inez Wyrick has been a huge name in bass pedagogy for decades. She really is one of those teachers that I think we all aspire to be like—she can take a student at any level and develop their technique while also instilling in them a passion for making music of all sorts. Today's conversation with Inez is a journey through the topics of education, inspiration, the development of bass teaching from...

This episode from the archives features an interview that Barry Lieberman did with Gary Karr . In preparation for it, Barry listened to all of Gary Karr's recordings and picked out his very favorite, and he and Gary listen to these and discuss the context behind them. It's a fascinating window into this great artist, and it's well worth a listen. This was originally released in 2008 on episode 89...

Today's episode features double bassist, author, conductor, and educator Michael Klinghoffer . Michael is a former Gary Karr student and is the author of the unorthodox and compelling book Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass? Michael is one of the most interesting minds in the world of contemporary double bass. In addition to his book, he has a wealth of articles, videos, and r...

Today's episode features double bassist David Murray . David is on faculty at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has been on the board of the International Society of Bassists for past two decades. The former winner of the ISB solo competition, David is known around the world as a soloist and clinician. He is also a member of the Bad Boyz of Bass , a quartet rounded out by Volkan Orho...

I had the opportunity recently to perform my arrangement of the Monti Czardas for double bass and orchestra recently, and I thought that it would make for a cool podcast episode.  I though that Andy Anderson would make for a spectacular soloist, so this recording features me conducting and Andy playing bass with my orchestra.  Andy is a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago bass section and teaches...

We are diving into a really interesting project today called Anna's Promise . Anna's Promise is the third in a series of multimedia works developed by Barry Green (author of The Inner Game of Music and several other works, and also a former Contrabass Conversations guest ). Barry is joined by Jeff Bradetich (double bass professor at the University of North Texas and also a former Contrabass Conver...

I am thrilled to feature Ron Carter today on the podcast. If is one bassist in the world that truly needs no introduction, it's Ron. Ron recently received the Guinness World Record title for most recorded jazz bassist in history, with well over 2200 recording credits to his name. From his work with the Miles Davis Quintet in the 1960s to his collaborations with musicians like Freddie Hubbard, Joe...

Friday's episode features another interview from the archives with bass maker Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand, who owns and operates the Heartland String Bass Shop . Chris makes beautiful basses and extensions—I actually have one of Chris' extensions on my main bass.  Chris' basses are played in major orchestras throughout the United States and are beautiful instruments with great sound. About Chris: Chri...

John Grillo and I recorded this interview with Barrie Kolstein back in 2008, and it has proven to be a very popular episode in the catalog. Barrie runs the Kolstein shop Long Island, and his instruments have been utilized by Jeff Turner of the Pittsburgh Symphony, James Van Demark of the Eastman School of Music, Scott Haigh of the Cleveland Orchestra, and many others. John Grillo has been frequent...

We are featuring George Martin from Thomas and George Martin Violin Makers. Their shop has been making basses for over 30 years, and they have a wealth of knowledge about the instrument-making and restoration process. George and I dig into these details, talking about some of his most challenging restorations and what goes into making a bass. Our recent  Contrabass Conversations guest Marc Ramirez...

Nick Lloyd has become one of the top double bass makers in the country over the years, with award-winning basses being played worldwide, including talents as diverse as New York Philharmonic principal bassist Tim Cobb and YouTube sensation Adam Ben Ezra. We talk about Nick's early years learning the bass, apprenticing with various makers and learning the craft of bass making, the intricacies of ma...

A graduate of Juilliard, Susan Lipkins is one of the most respected bowmaker in the country and has made bows for Hal Robinson, Alex Hanna, Jeff Turner, Max Dimoff, Thomas Martin, and other major bassists worldwide. We talk about Sue's early years growing up in Queens and studying with Homer Mensch and John Shaffer at Juilliard, her inspiration to become a bowmaker, the multitude of small steps th...

One of the most enjoyable things about hosting a show like this is that I have the opportunity to connect with people that I find interesting and that are really exploring different directions in the world of the double bass, and Brent Edmondson is a prime example of a person like this. I've been following along with Brent for years as he helped Ranaan Meyer to launch the Next Level Journals  and...

We are featuring Carlos Henriquez on today's show.  Carlos has been the bassist for the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for nearly 20 years, and he has just released his first solo album The Bronx Pyramid on Blue Engine Records.  You'll hear clips from the title track before and after the interview, and we have a link to check out the entire album, which I highly  r...

Today's guest is Ian Hallas, the newest member of the double bass section of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  Ian successfully auditioned for Lyric in January of 2016 and joins a section with former Contrabass Conversations guests Greg Sarchet and Andrew Anderson .  Ian studied with Paul Ellison at Rice University and David Allen Moore at the University of Southern California.  Ian also happens to be...

We are featuring Douglas Mapp on today's episode. Douglas is the current president of the International Society of Bassists and is also on faculty at Rowan University , where he is professor of jazz studies and teaches double bass. He is also extremely active as a performer, serving as principal bassist of the Reading Symphony and Assistant Principal of the Delaware Symphony and he performs regula...