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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

54:32

1134: Still Waters - The Art of Bass with Niklas...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/02/26

Niklas Lukassen is a German bassist, composer, and doctoral researcher splitting his time between London and Berlin. His bandleader debut album Still Waters releases February 20th on Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records with liner notes by Ron Carter. The quartet features Ben Van Gelder on saxophone, Kit Downes on piano, and Francesco Ciniglio on drums, with guest appearances from Rosenwinkel, Wanja Slavin, and Geoffroy De Masure. Niklas is also exploring the bass cello—a unique hybrid instrument—in

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41:15

1133: Bird Watching and Bass Lines - A Conversation...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/02/19

Jon Henriksson is a Stockholm-based double bassist and composer who has become one of the leading voices in the contemporary Scandinavian jazz scene. Born in 1996 in Gothenburg, his path to the bass started when a high school big band director gave him just two months to learn the instrument for a Christmas concert. His 2023 debut album Harmonia placed second in Orkesterjournalen's Golden Album readers' poll, and his new album Shapeshifter drops March 20th, 2026, featuring a quartet with pianist

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55:06

1132: Chris Jennings on Traveling the World with a...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/02/12

Chris Jennings is a Canadian left-handed double bassist who's been based in Paris since 2002, traveling extensively across jazz and world music projects to all corners of the globe. A D'Addario Orchestral Artist, Chris has carved out a unique niche playing in ensembles where there's often no bass part written, working with artists like Nguyên Lê, Dhafer Youssef, and exploring the rhythmic complexities of Gnawa music. In this episode, Chris shares the story of his game-changing Petite Double Bass

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54:54

1131: 8 Weeks to the Jam Session - First Notes to...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/02/05

Matt Rybicki is a jazz bassist, author, and educator who helps bassists of all levels master jazz bass. Through his online courses and YouTube channel, Matt makes jazz bass education accessible to students worldwide. His new course, 8 Weeks to the Jam Session: First Notes to Walking Like a Pro, takes beginners from their first notes to confidently walking bass lines at jam sessions. Check out the new course here and explore Matt's past podcast appearances. Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter

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51:47

1130: Bass is for everyone! Deep-Dive with Gaelen...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/01/29

Join us for a conversation with two frequent podcast guests, Gaelen McCormick and Michael Geib, as they discuss their recent article Bass Is for Everyone!, published in the American String Teacher journal. Gaelen is the Director of the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center and a passionate advocate for inclusive bass pedagogy. Michael teaches at the University of Central Oklahoma as a bass educator and is also President-Elect of his local ASTA chapter. Enjoy, and check out this cool article

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44:15

1129: Rohan Dasika - Exploring Heritage Through...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/01/22

Rohan Dasika has been a double bassist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2022. From a musical Melbourne family, Rohan started on piano, then played trombone and tuba before finding double bass in high school. He studied with Duncan Allen (Melbourne Opera, jazz), Sylvia Hoskin (MSO), Max McBride (Australian National University, Canberra), Damien Eckersley (Australian National Academy of Music), Hal Robinson (Philadelphia, 2015), Tim Dunin (Vienna Philharmonic), and completed a

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38:36

1128: Hannah Marks on Finding Her Voice

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/01/15

Hannah Marks is a bassist, composer, and educator living in New York City. She has performed at festivals including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and Kennedy Center, and currently leads an acoustic jazz quartet featuring NYC's most in-demand musicians. Hannah teaches at prestigious programs including Interlochen, Stanford Dance Workshop, and Jazz Camp West. In this episode, Hannah shares insights about her versatile playing style, her evolution from rock guitar to jazz bass,

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19:14

1127: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Antico

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/01/08

In this episode, San Francisco Symphony Assistant Principal Bassist Stephen Tramontozzi joins Jason to talk about his new solo album Basso Antico. Alongside his orchestral work, Steve has built a wide‑ranging career as a soloist and educator. He has released a series of solo recordings, including Walkabout, Home Bass, Urban Bass, and Basso Novo. In this conversation, Steve shares the musical and historical ideas behind Basso Antico, which traces the evolution of the cello and bass voice from

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54:01

1126: Adam Kubota on Postmodern Jukebox and beyond

Contrabass Conversations ·

2026/01/02

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Kubota, bassist and bandleader of the internationally acclaimed Postmodern Jukebox. Adam shares his musical journey—from studying bass with Barry Green to becoming a key figure in one of the most innovative ensembles reimagining modern pop hits with vintage flair. Enjoy, and be sure to give Adam a follow on Instagram! Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter Double Bass Resources Double Bass Sheet Music Double Bass Merch Gear used to record this podcast Zoom H6

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51:36

1125: From Double Bass to Viola - Navigating...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/12/26

In this inspiring episode, Stephanie Patterson returns to share a deeply personal journey of resilience and adaptation. After experiencing serious health challenges that made it impossible to continue playing the double bass, Stephanie made the courageous decision to return to the viola—an instrument she hadn't played in over 50 years. This conversation explores the physical demands of playing large instruments, the importance of fitness for musicians, and how community orchestras provide

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26:21

1124: The Journey of Creating a Bass Concerto with...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/12/18

In this episode, we dive deep into the creation of Memoirs in Time, a groundbreaking new bass concerto with composer Jim Beckel and Indianapolis Symphony Principal Bassist JuFang Liu . This commission represents a significant addition to the bass repertoire and showcases the incredible versatility of the double bass. Watch the world premiere performance with full orchestra of "Memoirs in Time: Concerto for Bass and Orchestra" featuring JuFang Liu and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and check

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53:23

1123: Exploring Tango and Ethnomusicology with Laura...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/12/11

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Camacho, a double bassist, tango composer, and ethnomusicologist originally from Buenos Aires and now based in Austin, Texas. Laura shares her fascinating journey from performing with the ensemble Las del Abasto in Argentina—including opening for tango legend Mariano Mores—to pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin. We dive deep into Laura's new album, Todo Tiempo Pasado, released in November of 2025 with her ensemble, the Laura

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01:00:04

1122: The Joys of Chamber Music with Uxía Martinez...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/12/04

Join us for a conversation with Spanish double bassist Uxía Martínez Botana, who shares her journey from facing skepticism as a woman in classical music to becoming a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Based in Amsterdam, she tours internationally with ensembles like the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Sol Gabetta's baroque ensemble, and is the first female double bass professor at a Spanish conservatory. We dig into topics like life on the road, work-life balance, her journey

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01:19:19

1121: In-depth with Gary Upton - The Craftsmanship...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/11/28

In this episode, Gary Upton, the founder of Upton Bass, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the craftsmanship, innovation, and business of building double basses. We explore a wide range of topics including the growing popularity of 5/8-sized basses, the development of Kay-inspired plywood models, the economics of bass-making, and Upton's ventures into creating strings, amplifiers, and rosin specifically designed for double bass players. Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter Double Bass

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39:41

1120: Kinda Out West - Aretha Tillotson's Tribute to...

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/11/20

In this episode, we sit down with Edmonton-based jazz bassist and composer Aretha Tillotson to discuss her highly anticipated second album, Kinda Out West, releasing on November 7th, 2025. Following her Western Canadian Music Award-winning debut, Introducing Aretha Tillotson, this new album pays tribute to the musicians and landscapes of Alberta and British Columbia. Aretha's chordless quartet channels the spirit of legendary groups led by Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman, creating a sound that's

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01:06:23

1119: Orchestral Insights with Andy Anderson

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/11/14

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Anderson, the newly appointed Clinical Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With over two decades of experience performing with some of Chicago's most prestigious ensembles, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his teaching role. Enjoy, and check out Andy's past podcast appearances here. Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter Double Bass Resources Double Bass Sheet Music Double Bass Merch Gear used to

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42:41

1118: Gaelen McCormick on Simandl's 30 Etudes

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/11/06

In this episode, renowned bassist and educator Gaelen McCormick joins us to discuss her newly released annotated edition of Franz Simandl's 30 Etudes, published by Carl Fischer. For over a century, these etudes have been a cornerstone of double bass pedagogy. Gaelen's fresh annotations bring new insights and perspectives to this essential collection. Check out Gaelen's past podcast appearances here and pick up a copy of her new Simandl edition here. Connect with DBHQ Join Our Newsletter Double

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43:30

1117: Darren Sacks on teaching double bass

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/10/30

In this episode, we chat with Darren Sacks, a double bass audition coach, UMass Boston Associate Lecturer, and Greater Boston freelance bassist, to discuss winning strategies for double bass auditions. Darren shares insights from his 9 years of coaching experience, during which he's helped students gain acceptance into major youth orchestras like the Boston Youth Symphony (BYSO) and NEC Prep, summer festivals including Interlochen and BUTI Tanglewood, and undergraduate programs such as

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51:11

1116: Rodney Slatford on publishing

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/10/23

In this episode, Jason Heath interviews Rodney Slatford. Rodney is joined by his friend Mike Coombs, who helped facilitate this conversation. Together, they explore Rodney's remarkable career as a performer, educator, publisher, and advocate for the double bass. As founding Chairman of the Yorke Trust, Rodney Slatford has established himself as a renowned double bass player and teacher. His career includes over 1000 performances worldwide, 30 years with the Nash Ensemble of London, 10 years as

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01:00:22

1115: Tim Rinehart on audition breakthroughs

Contrabass Conversations ·

2025/10/16

Tim Rinehart is the Principal Double Bassist of the Oregon Symphony. A graduate of Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Tim studied with Paul Ellison while also earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He is the winner of the 2025 International Society of Bassists Orchestral Division Competition and has performed with numerous prestigious orchestras including the Boston Symphony, London Symphony, and Houston Symphony. Tim shares his journey through multiple auditions in a single season,

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1,171 results

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