CBC 146: Music in the Digital Age • 12.12.09
The following podcast is a recording of a panel discussion on the future of music from the 2009 International Society of Bassists Convention. It features:
Enjoy!
CBC 145 – David Cutler and The Savvy Musician • 11.21.09
We’re chatting with David Cutler, the author of The Savvy Musician, this week on Contrabass Conversations.
This new book is filled with excellent and informative about musical entrepreneurship, product development, branding, marketing, networking, and much more. I hope that you enjoy this interview and check out David’s book, and be sure to also visit his blog, which is a great supplement to the book and quite entertaining.
CBC 144: advice from James Knabe • 10.31.09
This week’s podcast features an interview with James Knabe, a trumpet performer and teacher who also runs a web consulting service for musicians. Learn more about what musicians can do to effectively market themselves by listening to this short interview, and check out musicianadvice.com for more information about the services James provides. Enjoy!
CBC 143: Jeff Weisner interview • 10.24.09
This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with National Symphony bassist and Peabody Conservatory faculty member Jeff Weisner. In addition to performing and teaching, Jeff is a prolific blogger, writing about all kinds of subjects on PeabodyDoubleBass. Jeff also cross-posts many of these posts on doublebassblog.org, adding his own perspective and enhancing this site.
After the interview, we feature a live recording from the 2007 International Society of Bassists Convention of Jeff performing the Ostinato from Tom Schnauber’s Alba and Ostinato. Enjoy!
Peabody Double Bass Faculty:
Paul Johnson, Jeffrey Weisner (classical). Michael Formanek (jazz). Artist in Residence Hal Robinson.
Follow the Peabody Double Bass Studio on Twitter
About Jeff:
B.M., Boston University School for the Arts; M.M. , Peabody Conservatory. Bass instruction with Lawrence Wolfe, Edwin Barker, and Hal Robinson. Member, National Symphony Orchestra, Washington DC, since 1995. Active chamber musician and solo performer, with recitals and masterclasses at venues including San Francisco Conservatory, the Colburn School for the Performing Arts, and Interlochen Arts Academy.
CBC 142: Alan Steiner and audition tapes • 10.17.09
We’re featuring double bassist Alan Steiner on this week’s episode of Contrabass Conversations. A graduate of the Curtis Institute, Alan performs regularly with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Lake Forest Symphony. In addition to maintaining a private double bass studio, Alan teaches bass each summer at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin.
The topic of discussion for today’s brief (15 min) episode focuses on tips for helping students to make quality audition tapes. Alan listens to many audition tapes each year when choosing bassists for the Birch Creek Symphony, and he offers advice to help students make better tapes and get more out of the process. Enjoy!
CBC 141: David Grossman interview • 10.03.09
This week’s episode of Contrabass Conversations features an interview with double bassist David Grossman, a member of the New York Philharmonic bass section and an active jazz bassist. Hosted by John Grillo, this interview covers David’s early musical experiences, his dual interest in jazz and classical music, current projects, his philosophy and approach as a teacher, and a variety of other topics.
About David:
Bassist David J. Grossman began playing with the New York Philharmonic as its youngest member in December 1999 before graduating from The Juilliard School in May 2000. Born and educated in New York City, Mr. Grossman has performed as double bassist and pianist in orchestral, chamber, and jazz venues worldwide. He is a member of the double bass faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, and regularly gives master classes across the country. (view complete bio)
Tracks featured:
- Thirds The Charm – from The Bass Of Both Worlds Jazz (iTunes link)
- Janacek: Pohadka (Fairy Tale) Mvt. 3 – from The Bass Of Both Worlds Classical (iTunes link)
More information on David’s recordings is available on his website davidjgrossman.com.
Other John Grillo-hosted podcasts:
- Ed Barker interview
- The State of the Orchestra
- Differences in Opera and Orchestra Playing
- Opera Excerpt Breakdown
- Orchestral Excerpt Breakdown
- Owen Lee interview
- Max Dimoff interview
- Dan Krekeler interview
- Ranaan Meyer interview
- Lawrence Hurst interview
- Jack Budrow interview
- Barrie Kolstein interview
- John Grillo Recital Showcase
- John Grillo interview
CBC 140: The American String Project – The Process of Collaboration • 09.29.09
The following video (25 min.) is a behind-the-scenes documentary about The American String Project, the innovative string ensemble which we have profiled previously on the podcast and blog.
Artistic director (and former Contrabass Conversations guest) Barry Lieberman describes the documentary as follows:
We have produced a documentary about the Project, created from extensive film footage of our May 2009 concert week. Being able to show how we work, rehearse, and perform to those who have never experienced the Project in person will be a very valuable tool for us. There are many sequences showing our rehearsal process as well as interviews with some of our musicians.
Enjoy the following video, and be sure to visit the website for more extensive information:
CBC 139: The American String Project • 09.26.09
This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features a follow-up interview with bassist Barry Lieberman, double bass faculty at the University of Washington and artistic director of The American String Project, an ensemble that specializes in performing string chamber orchestra arrangements of quartet literature.
Barry was previously interviewed on Contrabass Conversations in 2008, and on that occasion we discussed his early years on the instrument, his career in the Los Angeles Philharmonic and subsequent move to Seattle, and many other topics. We focus on recent developments with The American String Project in this episode, including their recent selection as “Pick of the Month” for all North American releases of classical music discs in the August issue of the BBC Music Magazine (more details on the String Project website).
This fascinating and virtuosic ensemble also recently produced a documentary detailing what happens behind the scenes each year with the String Project, and it is a well-produced and highly engaging glimpse into the workings of some of the world’s finest leaders in the string world in a rare collaborative setting. You can see it now on the TASP website, and we will be releasing the entire video on the podcast next week as well.
One of our most popular offerings on Contrabass Conversations since its inception has been Barry’s interview with Gary Karr for his Barry Lieberman and Friends series at the University of Washington. You’re in for a real treat if you haven’t seen this in the past–check it out!
We’ve featured a great deal of String Project music on both the blog and the podcast–so much in fact, that I decided to put together a PDF listing everything that we’ve used (in some fashion) here:
American String Project music featured on doublebassblog.org.pdf
Today’s episode features an excerpt from the String Quartet Op. 18, No. 4 Mvt. 4 (Allegro) by Beethoven and the complete Allegro Non Troppo movement from the String Quartet #3 In F, Op. 73 by Shostakovich. You can also check out all the works that the String Project has performed on their page within doublebassblog.org.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Barry has a passion for mid-20th century furniture, and we’ve included several photos below that show his furnishings from this period (click “read more” if you don’t see the photos):
CBC 138: Donovan Stokes videos • 09.16.09
We’re featuring videos from double bassist Donovan Stokes on Contrabass Conversations this week. A former guest of the podcast, Donovan performs a diverse range of styles and is always surprising me every time I hear him. The following video features Donovan’s own composition Marine Layer and his quartet version of Purple Haze. Enjoy!
CBC 137: Todd Coolman interview • 09.12.09
We’re featuring an interview with jazz bassist Todd Coolman on the podcast. This episode is guest hosted by double bassist Win Hinkle, who interviewed Rufus Reid previously for Contrabass Conversations as well.
After listening to this interview, I went out and downloaded Perfect Strangers, Todd’s newest album, and I highly recommend it to listeners. Truly top-notch and extremely enjoyable playing all around! We’ll begin today’s episode with a brief excerpt from Crescent City Ditty, and well conclude with Todd’s bass solo from Connotation. Both excerpts are from Todd’s new album and you can find it on iTunes here.
