226: ISB 2017 Convention Preview

This is a special episode featuring International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention Chair and Artistic Director Nicholas Walker discussing plans for the upcoming convention.  This 50th anniversary convention looks like it will be outstanding, with several new developments unique to this event.  Enjoy! International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention June 5-10 at Ithaca College, New York Other… Continue reading 226: ISB 2017 Convention Preview

225: Nicholas Walker on musical influences, performing, and Domaine Forget

Today’s episode features Ithaca College professor and International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention Chair and Artistic Director Nicholas Walker. In addition to teaching at Ithaca College, Nicholas performs over 170 concerts a year in a wide variety of musical genres, he is a prolific composer, and he has taught for many years along with Paul Ellison and… Continue reading 225: Nicholas Walker on musical influences, performing, and Domaine Forget

224: Peter Tambroni on Student-Centered Teaching and Life Planning

Today’s podcast features an in-depth conversation with Peter Tambroni.  This is a “round two” conversation that builds upon the topics that we covered in our previous talk on episode 204.  Today we dig into fallacies surrounding public school teaching, instrument setup, life planning, instrument insurance, practicing ideas, teaching philosophies, and much more.  This episode is a… Continue reading 224: Peter Tambroni on Student-Centered Teaching and Life Planning

223: Katie Ernst on Singing, Jazz Bass, and Creativity

Today’s episode features jazz bassist and vocalist Katie Ernst.  Katie was recently featured in the Chicago Reader, and Jason Moran describes her as “a great bassist, composer, and lyricist, she has an uncanny ability to mix traditions… following her voice is like reading a great novel.”  She is one of Chicago’s most active young bassists, with two… Continue reading 223: Katie Ernst on Singing, Jazz Bass, and Creativity

222: Lucy and the Count: Love Dreams from Transylvania

Today’s episode is a live performance of Jon Deak’s quirky quintet Lucy and the Count: Love Dreams from Transylvania.  Written in 1981, this is a theater piece divided into three scenes featuring the solo bass in a dramatic, virtuoso role.  In the first scene, you can hear the creaking of the ship morph into a… Continue reading 222: Lucy and the Count: Love Dreams from Transylvania