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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!

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All Episodes

51:13

560: Mock Auditions at the San Francisco Academy

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/28

I recently had the opportunity to attend a mock audition for the San Francisco Academy Orchestra. This program, led by conductor and bassist Andrei Gorbatenko, offers a one-year artist diploma and features an academy orchestra, weekly lessons, monthly auditions, and more. In addition to chatting with audition coordinator Joy Fellows about audition techniques, we chat with Andrei Gorbatenko, current academy bassists Michael Minor and Yu Chen Liu, and violin faculty David Chernyavsky. Listen

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01:02:46

559: effective practice with Don Greene

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/24

We were thrilled to have Dr. Don Greene back as our guest on the podcast. Don first appeared on the show in 2017–his first podcast appearance ever! Don is a performance coach with an amazing track record in music music, sports, and other specialties. Over 1000 musicians won auditions after working with Don, and he continues to expand into new projects. On today’s episode, longtime co-host John Grillo and I dig into his TED Ed video (over 25 million views!) on how to practice more effectively.

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48:20

558: Brian Marcus on Feldenkrais Method

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/21

Today, we’re featuring San Francisco Symphony bassist Brian Marcus, who has been a member of the orchestra for 38 seasons. Brian overcame a serious playing injury several years ago through the Feldenkrais Method, and his discovery of this method transformed his approach to bass, music, and other aspects of his life. We dig into the hows and whys of Feldenkrais, how it changed Brian’s approach to the instrument, staying healthy and inspired as you age, Brian’s love of improv, and much more in this

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47:25

557: Ralph Alcala on building basses

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/17

Today, we’re featuring Ralph Alcala, who has recently moved into building basses full-time. Ralph is a super-talented luthier. Check out past podcast guest Aaron Olguin playing Ralph’s fourth double bass to hear these beautiful bass cannons that Ralph’s building. Ralph has actually been on the podcast before as a part of our Luthier Roundtable at this summer’s Oberlin Bass Workshop for the Violin Society of America. Ralph’s a great guy and is making beautiful basses, and I’m sure that the wait

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01:07:34

556: Aaron Olguin on solo bass

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/14

Aaron Olguin is truly one of the rising stars in the double bass world. As the winner of the 2017 International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, Aaron will be playing the opening recital for the 2019 ISB Convention. He is also the new principal bassist for the Trondheim Symfoniorkester. I had a wonderful time hanging out with Aaron at the 2018 Latin American Bass Festival. He is a truly magnificent solo player, and I had a blast performing Dani Chiva’s bass duets with him during a recital

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27:05

555: Recital Preparation

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/10

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of recital preparation: Sam Suggs - James Madison University Diego Zecharies - Galicia Symphony Orchestra principal solo bass David Grossman - New York Philharmonic Marek Romanowski - Polish soloist and teacher Jack Unzicker - University of Texas at Arlington Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle

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10:34

554: Section Bassists

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/07

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on life in the bass section and how to play well in it: Susan Wulff - San Diego Symphony Todd Coolman - Indiana University Michael Hovnanian - Chicago Symphony Brent Edmondson - substitute bassist for Philadelphia Orchestra Tom Zera - Utah Symphony Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is

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14:44

553: Musicality vs Technique

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/04

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the role of musicality and technique: Mark Dresser - University of San Diego David Murray - Butler University Michael Klinghoffer - Conservatory Orchestra at JAMD Todd Coolman - Indiana University Miles Mosley - jazz artist Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: A440

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18:02

552: Principal Bassists

Contrabass Conversations ·

2019/01/02

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the role of the principal bassist in an orchestra: Alex Hanna - Chicago Symphony Orchestra Ju-Fang Liu - Indianapolis Symphony Chris Hanulik - LA Phil Colin Corner - Oregon Symphony and Grant Park Symphony Orchestra Orin O’Brien - New York Philharmonic Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass

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14:02

551: Gary Karr new course!

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/28

I had the chance to chat recently with Denis Chang, who has produced a new four-part double bass course featuring Gary Karr! This course rocks. I’ve been using it for my own playing and with my students with great results. Here are links and details: In The Style Of Gary Karr, Vol.1 Lessons Warm-up Exercise 1 Warm-up Exercise 2 Warm-up Exercise 3 Warm-up Exercise 4 Holding The Bass Purpose Of Vomit Exercise Fingerings For Vomit Exercise Vomit Exercise Holding The Bow Role Of Fingers In The

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54:39

550: Scott Dixon on rebuilding your playing

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/26

I also had the opportunity to spend some time with Cleveland Orchestra bassist and Cleveland Institute of Music Strings Chair Scott Dixon during this recent trip. Scott has been on my “to interview” list for nearly a decade, and we finally made it happen! We cover what it was like growing up in Idaho, driving to Spokane for lessons, “ah ha” moments, rebuilding his entire way of playing bass while at the New World Symphony, what it’s like playing in the Cleveland Orchestra, and much more. After

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01:01:19

549: Bradley Lovelace on touring life

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/20

A funny thing happened to me in Cleveland this November during the Violin Society of America Convention. I had been chatting with bass luthier legend Arnold Schnitzer about the presentation that he was going to be doing on new double bass developments. Arnold mentioned that he was going to be meeting Bradley Lovelace, who was in Cleveland that week playing Les Miserables. As I was leaving the hotel to go grab some food, I ran smack dab into Bradley, who was wheeling his Arnold Schnitzer Ergonomic

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13:40

548: iDouble Bass

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/17

Micah Howard has just released a cool new app called iDouble Bass. This app is free (!) and has an in-app purchase ($.99) of Micah’s excellent scale and technique books. It’s filled with fantastic and clear step-by-step lessons on all aspects of double bass playing like standing, sitting, left hand, right hand, thumb position, and much more! Check it out on the App Store or at iDoubleBass.com! Check out our in-depth interview with Micah from earlier in 2018 here. Listen to Contrabass

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14:38

547: Persistence

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/13

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of persistence: Karl Fenner - Atlanta Symphony Kristin Korb - jazz artist James Oesi - soloist, chamber musician, and organizer Caleb Quillen - Kansas City Symphony Leon Bosch - soloist, chamber musician, and conductor Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: A440

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27:05

546 - Expat Adventures

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/10

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of expat adventures: John Goldsby - WDR Big Band Marc Ramirez - Metropolitana Academy Jennifer Downing Olsson - Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra Charlie DeRamus - Gothenburg Symphony Kristin Zoernig - Philharmonia Baroque Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored

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12:25

545: Traveling with a Bass

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/06

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of traveling with a bass: Ron Carter - jazz legend Diego Zecharies - Galicia Symphony Orchestra principal solo bass Nick Lloyd - luthier Kevin Smith - Willie Nelson Band Marco Panascia - New York City jazz bassist Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: A440

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17:10

544: Bass Humor

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/12/03

Today’s episode features the following past podcast guests on the topic of bass humor: Joel Reist - Nashville Symphony principal bass Leigh Mesh - MET Opera Orchestra associate principal bass Lucia Turino - The Devil Makes Three Kevin Smith - Willie Nelson Band Derek Jones - bassist for Cirque du Soleil’s show KÀ Listen to more “best of” episodes at contrabassconversations.com/highlights. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass

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11:49

543: Yung-Ho Fu on Bach

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/11/29

I had the chance to spend time in person with Yung-Ho Fu during a recent tour to San Francisco with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, where he serves as principal bass. Our mutual friend Cielito de Jesus connected us, and we had a wonderful time talking about his recent edition of the Bach Cello Suites as well as his recording of these wonderful works. Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by: A440 Violin

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38:57

542: Valentina Ciardelli on Frank Zappa and chamber...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/11/26

Valentina Ciardelli is one of my favorite young double bass artists. She’s on a mission to showcase the double bass in a chamber music setting and elevate its prominence outside of the bass world. She’s also a huge fan of Frank Zappa, and she has arranged many of his works for solo double bass. You can learn more on her YouTube Channel and in this engaging and wide-ranging conversation! Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle! Contrabass Conversations is

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48:28

541: Sean Conly on being a working jazz musician

Contrabass Conversations ·

2018/11/21

I had a great time chatting with bassist, composer, and educator Sean Conly during my recent trip to New York City. Sean studied with Rufus Reid and Todd Coolman at William Paterson University and has worked with Freddie Hubbard, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, and many other prominent jazz artists. Sean also teaches for The Bass Collective in New York, which emphasizes learning by doing and faculty performing alongside students. We talk about this approach to education and its benefits, life on

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1,168 results

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