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PODCAST

Contrabass Conversations

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!

music music interviews

All Episodes

30:24

1099: Xavier Foley in San Francisco!

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/06/26

Acclaimed double bassist and composer Xavier Foley recently made his recital debut at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. During his visit, he generously made time to chat for the podcast and brought his bass along to perform. In this episode, we explore Xavier's background, compositional process, and much more. Watch the video version on YouTube, and discover his exceptional playing, sheet music, bows, and other offerings on his website, Instagram, and YouTube Channel! Subscribe to the

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38:54

1098: Kate Jones on her new double bass pedagogy book

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/06/19

Double bassist and educator Kate Jones has just published her first book. Titled "Scotland Through the (St)Ages," this resource explores the concept of deep review through a familiar and simple tune—presenting 84 variations on the classic melody "Scotland's Burning." We explore the inspiration behind this book, the creative process of putting it together, and how teachers, students, and professionals can incorporate it into their musical practice. Enjoy! Subscribe to the podcast to get these

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37:01

1097: Katie Thiroux on her new solo album

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/06/12

Katie Thiroux recently released "Always but Never Alone," her first solo album featuring voice and bass. This intimate recording explores a wide array of genres through creative and diverse arrangements. We delve into the story behind the album, motherhood, and much more in this episode. Enjoy, and be sure to check out "Always but Never Alone" on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to music! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Connect with us

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49:42

1096: Warren & Flick

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/06/05

Jacob Warren and Grant Flick have been performing as the duo project Warren & Flick for the past 10 years. Warren & Flick have just released their third duo album, Cormorant. While the physical album is available now, they're rolling out the digital release from June through December. In today's episode, we explore the duo's story and listen to excerpts from each track on the album. Don't miss their video for Bässen, the album's opening track. You can follow Warren & Flick on YouTube, Instagram,

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26:49

1095: Kostas Patsiotis on gear

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/05/29

Kostas Patsiotis has an upcoming solo bass album "Childhood Heroes" and recently released "This Moment," his first instrumental single from it. We talk about his use of looping, various technical setups to perform live, his desire to incorporate more Mediterranean sounds, and much more. Be sure to follow along with Kostas on his website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out his past podcast appearance here. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you

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59:10

1094: Chris Minh Doky on funk bass

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/05/22

Chris Minh Doky is a world-renowned bassist, bandleader, and composer celebrated for his melodic solos and deeply funky bass lines. His rich sound, innovative approach, and pioneering work with the electric upright bass have earned him global recognition. He is also a course creator for Discover Double Bass and has performed with iconic artists and bands including the Michael Brecker Quartet, Brecker Brothers, Toots Thielemans, David Sanborn, Biréli Lagrène, Keith Carlock, Dennis Chambers, Michel

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57:12

1093: Michael Geib on his latest album and university...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/05/15

Michael Geib is a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and an active double bass performer. His latest album, Don't Panic, features six original compositions written during the early days of the 2020 pandemic. In our conversation, we explore Michael's university roles, his approach to student recruitment in the social media age, his work with ATSA and ISB, his position as a Grammy voting member, and much more. Listen to Michael's latest album here, check out his previous podcast

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54:37

1092: Mark Bernat on Bach

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/05/08

Mark Bernat is a double bassist currently living in Austin, Texas. His groundbreaking recording and edition of the Six Bach Cello Suites were driving forces that led to their wider adoption in the double bass world. Mark studied at Juilliard and is a former member of the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony, and the Seattle Symphony. He has taught at the Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Texas at Austin, and Emory University. In Austin, he formed the all-volunteer Red River Ensemble,

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01:07:12

1091: Margarethe Maierhofer-Lischka on contemporary...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/05/01

Margarethe Maierhofer-Lischka, born 1984 in Regensburg, is a double bassist, improviser, researcher, and sound artist. As an active ensemble musician, she collaborates with artists across disciplines to create performances, radio art, and sound installations. She is a member of several initiatives focusing on contemporary music, improvisation, and interdisciplinary art. Her work has been recognized with scholarships from the Austrian Federal Government, the DOMS Foundation Basel, and the Karlheinz

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01:01:50

1090: Nina Bernat Interview and Recital

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/04/24

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 Bassists Solo Competition. In this episode, recorded live in San Francisco in 2025, Nina shares her

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28:26

1089: Gary Upton on double bass innovation

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/04/17

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 get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Connect with us: all things double bass double

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19:56

1088: ISB Convention Preview with Rodney Jordan and...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/04/10

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! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Connect with us: all

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18:27

1087: Melody Ruiz on Thelma Terry

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/04/02

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 with Melody as her book nears publication. Meanwhile, follow her journey on Instagram! Subscribe to

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49:20

1086: Christopher Dammann on the Chicago jazz scene

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/03/27

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 debut album from Christopher's sextet! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you

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33:01

1085: Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell on...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/03/20

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, among other topics. Enjoy! We explore their backgrounds, discuss the experience of launching their first

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22:32

1084: The Artemis Bass Initiative with Nina DeCesare

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/03/13

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 learn more, check out Nina's past podcast appearances here and visit their website to subscribe to their

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25:22

1083: Adam Ben Ezra on Heavy Drops and his creative...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/03/06

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 Live, and much more. Check out Heavy Drops wherever you listen to music, and be sure to follow Adam on

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43:51

1082: TianYang Liu on solo, orchestra, and teaching

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/02/27

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 Asia. Born into a musical family, Liu began studying violin with his mother at age three, demonstrating

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39:06

1081: Bruce Gertz on sight reading

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/02/20

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 decades, the unique challenges of teaching sightreading, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to check out Bruce's

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27:56

1080: Javier Martin on his YouTube Channel

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/02/13

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. He currently teaches at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón. We explore Javier's background,

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1,156 results

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