double bass podcast
Playing outside of Aspen’s Paradise Bakery was both a low-stakes and high-stakes affair for Louis Levitt and his friends.
Low-stakes because… well, it was playing outside of a bakery.
High-stakes because folks like David Zinman, Gil Shaham, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg were walking by constantly.
Louis was on the orchestral path that so many of us take. But along the way, Louis started to ask “what if?”
As a married guy with no children, the thought of even one kid makes me break into a cold sweat.
For bassist and educator Jennifer Bradbury, it wasn’t just one kid coming her way. It was triplets… and they came into this world 25 weeks early.
I can’t imagine what that experience must have been like.
The story of these three young children (dubbed the EduTriplets by Jennifer and her husband Jeff) is inspiring, heartwarming, and totally compelling. You’ll love what we cover in the podcast, and be sure to check out Jeff’s TEDx talk for the complete story.
Jennifer finally played her first gig after several years off.
We dig into this and much more!
I’ve been meaning to chat with Gahlord Dewald on the podcast for years. He is forging new ground by fusing double bass playing with modular synthesis and is a unique voice in our community.
He and I were both at the 2017 International Society of Bassists Convention, and we took a few moments to chat about:
Be sure to check out what Gahlord is up to on the bass–great stuff! Also, here’s a link for a free download of some of the modular+double bass music Gahlord talks about in the interview.
Kieran Hanlon is Assistant Professor of String Bass and Jazz at The State University of New York at Fredonia. In addition to his teaching, Kieran is a first call performer in both the classical and jazz idioms, and enjoys a diverse performing career in both genres across Upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
John Davis is a great example of how musicians in smaller markets can create a vibrant career. John runs his own business, providing string instrument rentals and repairs. He also restrings tennis rackets!
Additionally, John serves as principal bass of the Salina Symphony. He teaches at Kansas Wesleyan University and maintains a private studio as well.
John’s background in radio, television, and film along with his background in business give him a valuable perspective on how to make a career as a musician regardless of where you live. This episode is filled with great advice!