double bass podcast
Pablo Aslan breaks bow hairs.
In fact, he rivals the guys in the Met for most-frequent rehair at his NYC bow shop.
He also makes killer bass lines. He’s truly the Ray Brown of marcato tango bass lines.
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Resources we covered in this interview:
AvantangoMedia (Pablo’s YouTube channel)
Piazzolla in Brooklyn (album)
Tango Grill (album)
Sam Suggs calls himself an omnivorous musician.
I feel like I’m eating at a fantastic fusion restaurant when I hear Sam’s music. I’m not expecting these flavors to work, but they are so good together.
First, he takes a little 1750s galant style.
Next, he adds a dash of Verdi.
He finally tops it off with—I kid you not—Skrillex and Daft Punk.
Then he marches over to a bar and gives it a battle test in front of the patrons.
Learn more about how he works his magic in this interview.
Sam is also kicking off the upcoming International Society of Bassists convention. We dig into what he’s planning in our chat, and I know you’ll love what he’s got in the works.
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Study with Sam at James Madison University
Music in the Galant Style by Robert Gjerdingen (book recommendation)
Thierry Barbé is a man in constant motion.
When he’s not performing as principal bass of the Paris National Opera or teaching at the Paris Conservatory, Thierry can be found in all corners of the globe, performing lesser-known gems from the bass repertoire and giving clinics along the way.
He is a technical synthesizer, pulling from many different schools of playing, even incorporating German bow into his bag of techniques.
Thierry is a pioneer in uniting the European double bass community. He organized the first European Bass Conference in 2008 and started the European Society of Bassists shortly after that.
He also has a new CD/DVD, which are must-haves for any bassist. It’s available from the Triton label and as an MP3 download on Amazon.
Best of all, Thierry is a warm and caring person who brightens the day of anyone he runs into. I had the good fortune to work with him on the International Society of Bassists board a few years ago, and he brought a marvelous energy to the organization.
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French Impressions on Amazon (MP3 download)
Today’s episode features Thomas Martin. Tom has worn many hats throughout his career, working as an orchestra principal bass, soloist, champion of Bottesini’s music, luthier, teacher, and conductor. We cover a wide variety of topics, including Tom’s early years, playing in the Army Orchestra, studying with Roger Scott, the process of uncovering the music of Bottesini and reconstructing how Bottesini approached the instrument, making basses, and the bass revolution that’s currently taking place. Enjoy!
Links:
Listener feedback links:
Berlin Philharmonic principal bassist Matthew McDonald is today’s featured guest!
Today’s episode features Berlin Philharmonic principal bassist Matthew McDonald. Originally from Australia, Matthew joined the Philharmonic in 2008 after spending time in orchestras in Denmark and Germany. We cover bow distribution, resonance, the performers mindset, practicing, advice for students, and several other topics.
We also feature excerpts of Matthew performing pieces by Hindemith, Bruch, Bottesini, and Koussevitzky. Check out these complete recordings and more on Matthew’s YouTube channel. Enjoy!
Tracks featured: