Contrabass Conversations

Jason Heath

About

Contrabass Conversations features interviews and performances from top leaders in the world of the double bass. Podcast host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With 2 million downloads and counting, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum!

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1043 episodes

1034: Adnata Ensemble on their bass quartet album

Bassists Ari Folman-Cohen, Michael Isvara Montgomery, Ran Livneh https://www.instagram.com/ran_livneh, and Scott Colberg /scottcolberg make up the Adnata Ensemble, which has just released their debut album Oku.  We dig into the story behind this bass quartet, coming together in the park in 2020, how these collaborations led to this album, and much more. Check out Oku here, and be sure to give this quartet a follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adnataensemble/!   __ __   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     __ __

39m
Mar 28
1033: Sam Loeck on his audition path

Sam Loeck has recently been appointed Principal Bass of Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra. Prior to this position, he served as Principal Bass of the Calgary Philharmonic. He was also a finalist and trialist for Principal Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. We dig into Sam’s path into the world of double bass and his auditioning journey, exploring the twists and turns and lessons learned. Enjoy!   __ __   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     __ __

1h 1m
Mar 21
1032: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Novo

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Stephen Tramontozzi' https://tramontozzimusic.com/s new solo double bass album, Basso Novo https://tramontozzimusic.com/recordings/. 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!   __ __   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     __ __

18m
Mar 14
1031: Lauren Pierce on Basstudes

Lauren Pierce recently released Basstudes, a series of 16 etudes organized around bowing, left hand technique, and right and left-hand coordination. We dig into the inspiration behind this project, her accompanying audio guides, and much more.  Enjoy, and be sure to check out more titles from Lauren on DBHQ and also give her a follow on Instagram.   __ __   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     __ __

30m
Mar 07
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 https://www.89musicstudio.com/sean-m-casey#/sean-m-casey/sean-casey-bio, and pick up a copy of his book in our DBHQ sheet music store!   __ __   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     __ __

44m
Feb 29
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 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 https://www.composetheway.com/, Facebook, and Instagram!   __ __   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     __ __

49m
Feb 22
1028: Jacob Warren on his Debussy Cello Sonata transcription

Jacob Warren has just released his transcription of the Debussy Cello Sonata, which was the main piece on his competition winning program at the 2023 International Society of Bassists Convention.  This transcription is a notable new addition to the double bass repertoire and a great opportunity to explore the music of this great composer. We talk about the history of this piece as well as the challenges and solutions for mapping this piece out on the bass.  We also listen to several selections of Jacob’s new recording of this work and break down the specifics of these sections. Jacob’s transcription is available in our store here.   __ __   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     __ __

38m
Feb 15
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     __ __   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

35m
Feb 08
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.     __ __ 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.

26m
Feb 01
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!     __ __   TIMESTAMPS __ __ 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

44m
Jan 25
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!     __ __ 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

55m
Jan 18
1023: Thoughts on 2023 and beyond

Jason selects on 2023 and plans for 2024 in this “solo rant.”     __ __   OVERVIEW __ __

19m
Jan 11
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!     __ __   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.   __ __

1h 5m
Jan 04
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!     __ __   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.   __ __

43m
Dec 21, 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 https://gregggoodhart.com/ to get in touch and learn more about his important work.   __ __   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.   __ __

51m
Dec 14, 2023
1019: Cécile-Laure Kouassi on her EP Beaux Jours

Oslo Philharmonic bassist Cécile-Laure Kouassi recently released an EP titled Beaux Jours.  This album features two arrangements by Cécile-Laure as well as two original works for double bass and piano. We talk about this project and much more in this engaging conversation.  Check out the new album on Spotify and visit her website for her arrangements and much more!   __ __   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.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation 00:58 Inspiration Behind the EP 03:02 Exploring the Unique Sound of the Double Bass 04:04 Unearthing Hidden Gems in Bass Compositions 07:30 The Art of Arranging Music 11:41 The Challenges and Rewards of Recording 17:48 The Accessibility of Music Production 18:40 Conclusion and Future Plans   __ __

20m
Dec 07, 2023
1018: Drew Banzhaf on his audition path to the Malmö Symphony

Drew Banzhaf won the audition for Associate Principal Bass Malmö Symphony in 2023. He spent three years as a guest musician of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has regularly appeared with renowned orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra. Drew was also a New World Symphony Fellow for three seasons and is a graduate of Indiana University and Rice University. We dig into Drew’s background, his decade spent taking 36 professional auditions, lessons learned along the journey, and much more. Enjoy!     __ __   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.   __ __

1h 12m
Nov 30, 2023
1017: Gregg August on balancing jazz, classical, and composition

Gregg August is a New York double bassist who successfully balances careers in classical and jazz music, as well as composition. He is member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Associate), the American Composers Orchestra, Westchester Philharmonic and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. He is also an active composer and performer in avant-garde, jazz and Latin jazz worlds. We talk about his background, how he balances these multiple disciplines, his 2020 project "Dialogues on Race," his experience with the innovative "Bang on a Can" summer festival, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to check out Gregg’s website to learn more about his exceptional work!     __ __   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.   __ __

1h 8m
Nov 24, 2023
1016: Kostas Patsiotis on Greece and October

Greek bassist Kostas Patsiotis recently released his solo debut album October, which was recorded in a single day at Antart Studios in Athens and features Yiannis Papadopoulos on piano, Michael Tsiftis on guitar and Dimitris Klonis on drums.   We talk about what it’s like being a jazz bassist in Greece, how Kostas got into bass playing, his gear, what it was like recording this album, and much more.   Enjoy, and be sure to check out October and also follow along with Kostas on his website, YouTube, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PatsiotisKostas/, and Instagram!     __ __   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.   __ __

45m
Nov 16, 2023
1015: Jesse Dietschi on balancing jazz and classical playing

Jesse Dietschi recently released Gradient, his debut album with fellow Toronto musicians Ethan Ardelli (drums) and Ewen Farncombe (piano).  This album has been getting considerable acclaim and will be featured in the Debut Album Reviews section of the December 2023 edition of DownBeat Magazine, along with numerous radio programs throughout North America and Europe.   We talk about the story behind this album, how Jesse and I met several years ago at the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference, what it’s like balancing classical work like subbing with the Toronto Symphony with his jazz projects, and much more.   Enjoy, and be sure to check out October on Spotify and bandcamp, and be sure to follow along with Jesse on his website and Instagram!     __ __   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.   __ __

1h 1m
Nov 10, 2023
1014: Joseph Whitt on a career as a military bassist

Technical Sergeant Joseph Whitt is the bassist for the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to joining the Band of the Pacific, he was stationed at the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and at the United States Air Forces in Europe Band at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.   We dig into a variety of topics, including: __ __   Enjoy, and you can learn more about a career in The United States Air Force Band here.     __ __   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.   __ __

59m
Nov 02, 2023
1013: Marty Isenberg on "The Way I Feel Inside" - Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson

Marty Isenberg recently released his debut album "The Way I Feel Inside" - Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson, and it has been getting great press.  In this interview, we chat with Marty about his life in music, his career as a jazz bassist, the inspiration for this album, and much more.  We also bring up a great interview that Marty also did for the Bass Shed.   Check out this super cool album on bandcamp and Spotify, and follow along with Marty and his projects on Instagram and his website!     __ __   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.   __ __

54m
Oct 26, 2023
1012: Phoebe Russell on Smash Your Audition

Phoebe Russell is Principal Bass for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.  She recently released a course on Discover Double Bass titled Smash Your Audition.    We released a YouTube video digging into this course, and in this podcast we cover Phoebe’s tips for preparing orchestral excerpts, what it was like to put all of her knowledge into a video course, general life updates, and more.   Check out Phoebe’s 2019 podcast appearance here, and be sure to check out her awesome course here!     __ __   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.   __ __

50m
Oct 19, 2023
1011: Bobby Scharmann on winning an orchestra audition

Bobby Scharmann is Associate Principal Bass with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and has been documenting his audition journey and what he has learned through the 24 professional orchestra auditions he took.   We last had Bobby on the podcast in 2020, and it was great to catch up with him and dig into his preparation process and what it was like landing his full-time orchestral position.  Enjoy, and be sure to check out Bobby’s website https://www.bobbyscharmann.com, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bobby.scharmann/, and YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@BobbyScharmann!     __ __   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.     __ __

1h 3m
Oct 12, 2023
1010: Lorraine Chai on music theory for young double bassists

Lorraine Chai is the author of Stringstastic https://stringstastic.com/, a set of music theory books for double bass and the other string instruments. We talk about these cool books, both of which are available through Amazon. Enjoy!     __ __   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.   Dorico - Unlock Dorico for iPad – For Life! Want to enjoy all of Dorico for iPad’s subscription-only features – including support for unlimited players, freehand annotations in Read mode with Apple Pencil, support for third-party Audio Unit plug-ins, and much more – but don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee? Dorico for iPad now provides a lifetime unlock option, so you can access all current and future subscription-only features for a single, one-off in-app purchase. Visit the App Store today and unlock Dorico for iPad for life!   __ __

38m
Oct 05, 2023
1009: Susan Hagen on her new edition of BASSics for Bass

Susan Hagen is a Boston native and is extremely active in that city’s musical scene.  She serves as principal double bassist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, teaches bass at the Berklee College of Music, and is a regular substitute in the Boston Symphony. She recently updated her remarkable book BASSics of Bass, and we dig into this and much more.  Enjoy, and be sure to check her 2023 August Recital for some inspiring bass playing!   __ __   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.   Dorico - Unlock Dorico for iPad – For Life! Want to enjoy all of Dorico for iPad’s subscription-only features – including support for unlimited players, freehand annotations in Read mode with Apple Pencil, support for third-party Audio Unit plug-ins, and much more – but don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee? Dorico for iPad now provides a lifetime unlock option, so you can access all current and future subscription-only features for a single, one-off in-app purchase. Visit the App Store today and unlock Dorico for iPad for life!   __ __

49m
Sep 28, 2023
1008: Pete Lampe on building his own double basses

Pete Lampe is the owner of Pete's Upright Bass Shop http://petesuprightbassshop.com in Portland, Oregon, and he has been an active bassist in Portland since 1986.  He won a Silver Medal for Tone at the 2023 International Society of Bassists Convention, and he is currently focused on building his own double basses.  We dig into Pete’s background, setup, strings, the “Golden Age” of bass building happening now, and much more.   Enjoy, and be sure to follow along with Pete and his great work on his website and on Instagram!     __ __   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.   Dorico - Unlock Dorico for iPad – For Life! Want to enjoy all of Dorico for iPad’s subscription-only features – including support for unlimited players, freehand annotations in Read mode with Apple Pencil, support for third-party Audio Unit plug-ins, and much more – but don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee? Dorico for iPad now provides a lifetime unlock option, so you can access all current and future subscription-only features for a single, one-off in-app purchase. Visit the App Store today and unlock Dorico for iPad for life!   __ __

1h 7m
Sep 21, 2023
1007: Behind the scenes with Ear Trumpet Labs

It was a pleasure to visit Ear Trumpet Labs founder Philip Graham and go behind the scenes with the Nadine microphone for double bass. I did a review of this mic back in 2020 and have been loving it ever since.  Enjoy, and check out the video version of this https://youtu.be/kfQEKS3t4YQ for some cool visuals from the workshop.      __ __   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.   Dorico - Unlock Dorico for iPad – For Life! Want to enjoy all of Dorico for iPad’s subscription-only features – including support for unlimited players, freehand annotations in Read mode with Apple Pencil, support for third-party Audio Unit plug-ins, and much more – but don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee? Dorico for iPad now provides a lifetime unlock option, so you can access all current and future subscription-only features for a single, one-off in-app purchase. Visit the App Store today and unlock Dorico for iPad for life!   __ __

19m
Sep 15, 2023
1006: Abe Gumroyan freelancing chat

Abe Gumroyan is a Grammy-award winning bassist who plays a wide range of gigs, ranging from major motion picture soundtracks to professional orchestras like the San Francisco Symphony.    We dig into Abe’s background, what it’s like freelancing, advice on developing a multifaceted career, Abe’s surprising “pandemic job,” and much more.  Enjoy!     __ __   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.   Dorico - Unlock Dorico for iPad – For Life! Want to enjoy all of Dorico for iPad’s subscription-only features – including support for unlimited players, freehand annotations in Read mode with Apple Pencil, support for third-party Audio Unit plug-ins, and much more – but don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee? Dorico for iPad now provides a lifetime unlock option, so you can access all current and future subscription-only features for a single, one-off in-app purchase. Visit the App Store today and unlock Dorico for iPad for life!   __ __

57m
Sep 07, 2023