Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

1128: Hannah Marks on Finding Her Voice

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, and what it’s like to balance classical training with a thriving jazz career. Enjoy and be sure to connect with Hannah and her cool projects on her website.

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1127: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Antico

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 17th?century Italy through the world of J. S. Bach. He discusses approaching ricercari, early sonatas, and Bach’s Suite No. 4 on the modern double bass, and how elements such as improvisation, counterpoint, and dance inform his interpretation. Download Steve’s sheet music edition of Gabrielli: 7 Ricercari for solo double bass.

Enjoy, and check out Basso Antico on Spotify or wherever you listen to music! 

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Gear used to record this podcast

When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

1126: Adam Kubota on Postmodern Jukebox and beyond

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

Gear used to record this podcast

When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

1125: From Double Bass to Viola – Navigating Musicianship with Stephanie Patterson

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 invaluable support during life’s unexpected transitions.

Enjoy and check out Stephanie’s past podcast appearances here.

Connect with DBHQ

Gear used to record this podcast

When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

1124: The Journey of Creating a Bass Concerto with Jim Beckel and JuFang Liu

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 out this behind-the-scenes video on the creation of this piece.

For those interested in performing this work, a piano reduction is also available on YouTube and can be purchased online here.

Connect with DBHQ

Gear used to record this podcast

When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!