Interview Guests – Page 119

266: Garrett Hope on portfolio careers

Garrett Hope composer

I love episodes like this.

Garrett Hope of The Portfolio Composer and I wanted to feature each other on our podcasts.

But we couldn’t figure out the best way to do it.

So we chucked the script, flipped on the mic, and riffed for an hour on the subjects that interest us the most.

We’re both bass players. We’re both podcasters. We’re both building our careers around this crazy podcast model.

Already, we have a lot in common.

Garrett and Jason talking about music, podcasting, business, careers, and much more!

But that’s only the beginning.

We’re both constantly thinking about what it really means to build a career in music.

How does that even work these days?
How do income streams for musicians work?
Where are things headed?
What can today’s musician do?

We dig into all this and much more!

By the way, if you don’t subscribe to Garrett’s podcast, stop reading this right now and go subscribe. And get on his email list while you’re at it. Garrett has figured a lot of things out on the career front, and he has tremendous value to offer all of us.

I love listening to Garrett’s podcast. It’s one of the shows that I immediately click on when I see a new episode. You’ll love it too.

Thanks to our sponsor!

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265: Szymon Marciniak on DVDs, travel, and freelance life

Szymon Marciniak double bass

Szymon Marciniak played a killer recital in Prague for BASS2016.

The centerpiece of this recital was Frank Proto‘s compelling new Sonata No. 3.

Frank wrote this piece expressly for Szymon, and it is–to say the least–epic in scope.

Here’s a great photo from that standing-room-only event. Isn’t that a cool pose? We talk about that in the interview!

Along with pianist Evan Mitchell, Szymon recorded a CD and DVD called New Music for Double Bass for Liben Music.

This new release includes Proto’s Sonata No. 3 along with the 2009 Sonata by Richard Dubugnon, Lu Shang’s Fantasy Higgs Boson, and Chiel Meijering’s The Ultimate Workout (Part 1).

We talk about:

this feature-packed new release (check it out!)
Szymon’s decision to leave his principal bass position with The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra and embark on a freelance career
strings, endpins, balance, sound, and much more!

Check out this YouTube video with the complete first movement of the Proto Sonata No. 3. This will give you a feel for the incredibly musicianship and high production quality on this CD/DVD release:

Links to Check Out:

Szymon’s YouTube channel
Szymon plays Proto Sonata No. 3 mvt 1 (complete movement from DVD)
Omega – Hungarian rock band we talk about
New Music for Double Bass (CD/DVD)

Thanks to our sponsor!

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

264: David Heyes on leaving a legacy

David Heyes double bass

David Heyes needs no introduction.

Since founding Recital Music over 20 years ago, David has brought the music of composers like Tony Osborne, Teppo Hauta-aho, and Simón García to countless bass players.

David has also commissioned over 500 double bass compositions. Talk about an impact on the bass world!

In recent years, David has become a prolific composer.

In only three years, his compositions have been performed in eight different countries. He is constantly thinking of new ideas for pieces. In fact, he’s even writing a piece for me!

It was such a pleasure to meet David in person in Prague for BASS2016. Here’s a favorite photo of us meeting in the airport–talk about a warm welcome to the Czech Republic!

David is also a prolific writer. In addition to writing for publications like The Strad, David has created A History of the Double Bass in 100 Pieces and BASS NOTES. He is constantly finding new ways to synthesize double bass knowledge and provide value to the community.

By the way, his recital in Prague was awesome. Here’s a bit of it on YouTube. Check it out, and enjoy this interview with Davide Heyes!

Links to check out:

Listener Feedback Link:

Crafting a Music Career

Thanks to our sponsor!

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

263: the intriguing Jonathan Haskell

Jonathan Haskell

Jonathan Haskell may very well be the world’s most interesting man.

He’s a bassist. In a great orchestra: L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande in Switzerland.

Also, he’s the president of the musician’s union. An accomplished conductor. Fluent in multiple languages.

He is also the author of three murder mysteries centered around the orchestra.

Here’s a link to the first five chapters of On the beat, a murder mystery involving an orchestra, a sadistic, villainous, and diabolical conductor, an undercover cop in the percussion section, and a Pirastro Flexocor E string as a murder weapon!

Set in Chicago and downstate Illinois, this book vividly brings back memories of my “old life” Road Warrioring it around Chicagoland.

Interested in reading more? Send Jonathan an email and let him know!

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Resources we covered in this interview:

On the beat by Jonathan Haskell (PDF – 5 chapter preview)

L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (website)

L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (YouTube)

Jonathan Haskell on Discogs

The Compleat Conductor by Gunther Schuller

Twin Cities Bass Camp (from listener feedback)

Thanks to our sponsor!

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

262: Allan Santos on finding your purpose

Allan Santos

Allan Santos and I met 15 years ago at the Britt Festival in Oregon. I vividly recall drinking beer with him at the bar while Dave Anderson shot pool in the corner.

After studying with players like Shinji Eshima and John Hood, Allan had landed an orchestra gig in the Toledo Symphony.

The goal had been reached.

But Allan felt like things were at an 8 in his life. Not a 10.

What would a 10 look like?

Fast forward to the present, and Allan is on a totally different path. Allan left the Toledo Symphony several years ago. He became the #7 ranked yoga competitor in the nation (yes, we talk about this!).

He has now moved into Life Coaching. After reading my manifesto about my new direction in life, he reached out to me and we started talking.

He was tremendously helpful in helping me gain clarity about the next steps in my life. I’d never had conversations like this. He gave me strategies to obtain clarity and focus on what’s actually important in any given moment.

The is a deep conversation for sure. I’ve never really put anything like this out on the podcast. My conversation with Trevor Jones might be the closest thing. But I know you’ll enjoy it!