Contrabass Conversations

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We’re featuring two tracks from Contrabass Conversations contributor Kells Nollenberger and his new album with the Kaleidoscope Trio. Kells also has a podcast called The Jazz Exchange and guest hosted an interview with Steve Rodby for us in the past.

We’ll be hearing the first and last tracks from their new album Map to the Ocean, which is available as a free download on the Jazz Exchange website here. If you enjoy this music, please consider making a donation to the Kaleidoscope Trio, which you can do on the page where you download the album. This model of distribution is going to become more and more common in the coming years, and the way to ensure that artists like these continue to great new material is to give them some support, both with a little cash and by checking them out when they perform live.

Tracks performed:

• Horizon
• 19th Century Photograph

This episode is sponsored by The String Emporium

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We’re featuring an interview with jazz bassist Rufus Reid on this week’s episode of Contrabass Conversations. This interview was conducted by guest host Win Hinkle, a former member of the Florida Symphony Orchestra (this orchestra dissolved in 1993) who also worked in Florida as a trombonist, electric bassist, and double bassist, including a lot of time at Walt Disney World.

Rufus Reid is, without a doubt, one of the most influential bassists working in jazz today, and he has had a significant impact on double bass performance and pedagogy throughout his career. His book The Evolving Bassist was one of the earliest of the contemporary generation of double bass method books, and it continues to be a foundational text for double bass students. I recommend it to all of my students who are interested in jazz, and I use many of his exercises for arco study and sight reading practice even with students who only study classical music.

We’re also featuring Rufus Reid and bassist Michael Moore performing All Blues from their album Double Bass Delights, as well as some listener feedback, bass news, a link of the week, and much more. Check out more recordings of Rufus in various settings on his website’s recordings page. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s episode concludes the interview with jazz bass legend Steve Rodby that we featured on episodes 58 and 78 of the podcast. Rodby has played bass on every Pat Metheny Group record since 1980, co-produced the group’s last five albums and won 10 Grammy Awards with the group. He has toured with jazz greats Joe Henderson and Tony Bennett, and also works regularly as a producer.

This interview was conducted by jazz double bassist Kells Nollenberger. Kells has launched a new podcast called the Jazz Exchange, which can be found at www.jazzexchange.org. This podcast features interviews with and performances from a wide array of jazz artists, and I encourage listeners to check out the great things that Kells is doing over there.

We also feature bass news, listener voicemail and e-mail, and a link of the week. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s episode continues the interview with jazz bass legend Steve Rodby that we began on episode 58 of the podcast. Rodby has played bass on every Pat Metheny Group record since 1980, co-produced the group’s last five albums and won 10 Grammy Awards with the group. He has toured with jazz greats Joe Henderson and Tony Bennett, and also works regularly as a producer.

This interview was conducted by jazz double bassist Kells Nollenberger. Kells has launched a new podcast called the Jazz Exchange, which can be found at www.jazzexchange.org. This podcast features interviews with and performances from a wide array of jazz artists, and I encourage listeners to check out the great things that Kells is doing over there.

We also feature bass news, listener voicemail and e-mail, and a link of the week. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s episode features an interview with and music from jazz bassist Lynn Seaton. Lynn teaches at the University of North Texas, and he maintains an active performing career. He was a member of the Woody Herman Band and Count Basie Orchestra, and he played extended tours with Tony Bennett and George Shearing, as well a wide array of many other jazz luminaries. We also feature music from the Lynn Seaton Trio with Bill Mays on piano and Tim Froncek on drums, plus listener feedback, shout-outs to members of the Facebook group, and a link of the week. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s episode features an interview with jazz bass legend Steve Rodby. Rodby has played bass on every Pat Metheny Group record since 1980, co-produced the group’s last five albums and won 10 Grammy Awards with the group. He has toured with jazz greats Joe Henderson and Tony Bennett, and also works regularly as a producer.

This interview was conducted by jazz double bassist Kells Nollenberger. Kells has launched a new podcast called the Jazz Exchange, which can be found at www.jazzexchange.org. This podcast features interviews with and performances from a wide array of jazz artists, and I encourage listeners to check out the great things that Kells is doing over there.

We also feature bass news, listener feedback, shout-outs to members of the Facebook group, and a link of the week. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week we feature the first half of an interview with double bassist Peter Seymour. Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at www.whatisproject.org and stay tuned for the conclusion of this interview in the next few weeks.

Although Peter has focused on obtaining a position in a major orchestra for many years, he is now focused on creating new creative outlets with Project, and his decision to strike out on his own with this great trio is an example of musical entrepreneurship at its finest. Be sure to pick up a copy of Winter in June, the new release from this killer trio. Enjoy!

(more…)

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode concludes our chat with Time for Three bassist Ranaan Meyer. CBC guest and co-host John Grillo joins us in this interview, and the three of us had a very engaging conversation. You can check out the first part of our interview plus CBC video episodes featuring Ranaan on his Contrabass Conversations page here, and visit Time for Three’s website at www.tf3.com.

You can hear more from co-host John Grillo on his new blog www.classicalmusicnews.tv. Enjoy!

visit the show notes

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This Contrabass Conversations special episode features the second part of our interview with Chicago-based jazz bassist Eric Hochberg. Eric first appeared on episode 21 of the podcast, and listeners should really enjoy hearing the conclusion to this interview. Following the interview is a track featuring Eric titled Mr. Bar Locrian. Learn more about Eric and his various musical endeavors at www.erichochberg.com. Enjoy!

visit the show notes

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features the second half of our interview with double bassist Guy Tuneh, conducted over a distance of thousands of miles. It was a real pleasure to get to sit down and chat with Guy–he’s a warm, intelligent, and passionate individual, and these traits come through in his speaking just like they do in his bass playing. You can visit him online at www.guytuneh.com. You will also get a chance to hear the great jazz bassist Brian Bromberg perform and hear some bass playing from L.A. bassist Nam Chi Vu. Enjoy!

visit the show notes