Interview Guests – Page 153

CBC 126: Art Davis retrospective

Art Davis.png We’re featuring a guest interview by bassist Tim Wolfe, Jr. interviewing his former teacher Jim Miller about Art Davis. Tim and Jim discuss Art Davis’ life, career, and pedagogical approach. They discuss Art’s book and his four-finger approach to the double bass, among other subjects.

We’re also featuring excerpts from “Duo,” a track from the Art Davis Quartet album Life and featuring Art Davis, John Hicks, Idris Muhammad & Pharoah Sanders. This album (along with other music from Art’s considerable career) is available through iTunes.

Tim also created a timeline (PDF) detailing milestones in Art’s career:

Art Davis Timeline

CBC 123: Klauss Stoll interview

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This week, we’re featuring an interview with Klauss Stoll, the recently retired Principal Bass of the Berlin Philharmonic. He has taught for many years in Berlin, Salzburg, and in master classes worldwide, and is regarded as one of the finest teachers of the double bass alive today.

This interview was conducted by Jonathan Stefaniak, a former member of the Civic Orchestra who is now playing in an orchestra in Japan. Jonathan was recently working with Professor Stoll in a master class setting and had the opportunity to sit down and chat with him for the podcast.

In this interview, Jonathan and Klaus discuss Klaus’ early years on the instrument, his time spent in the Berlin Philharmonic, auditioning for co-principal and eventually first principal chair, his chamber duo, orchestral style, developments in eduction and the decline of the despotic maestro, the unique characteristics of the Berlin Philharmonic, and specifics about his teaching.

Learn more about Klaus at his website: klausstoll.com

Klaus also has a DVD for sale.

About Klaus Stoll:

Klaus Stoll, born in May 1943 in Rheydt / Germany, first played the violin, but at the age of twelve started playing the double bass which he was taught by his father Karl Stoll . During studies with Heinz Detering in Cologne he became a member of the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker in 1959. Six years later he joined the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, became co – principal bassist in 1967 and finally, in 1992 he became first soloist of this world famous orchestra.

In addition to his frequent appearances as soloist he has a long and worldwide career as chamber musician. Stoll premiered more than sixty new works for double bass solo and appeared at many renowned festivals (in Salzburg, Lucerne, Aldeburgh, Helsinki, Echternach, Santander, Rheingau, Tokyo, etc.). Klaus Stoll works with the Berlin Philharmonic Ensemble ” Berliner Barocksolisten ” and periodically together with great musicians like Heinz Holliger, Maurice Bourgue, Emanuel Pahud, Andras Schiff, Bruno Canino, Rainer Kussmaul, Christiane Jaccotet, Thomas Zehetmair, and Nicolaus Harnoncourt.

He has taught at the “Hochschule der Kuenste” ( HdK / UdK ) in Berlin from 1980 to 2000, as professor at the Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburg from 1991 to 1998 and since 1992 he exclusively teaches at the ” Academy of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He regulary held courses and masterclasses in Italy ( Milano , Ferrara , Fiesole ) , in Japan ( PMF) , for ten years between 1988 and 2004 at the Carl – Flesch – Academy in Baden – Baden , from 1991 to 1997 the summer academies in Salzburg and since 2003 he teaches at the Instrumenta in Puebla and Oaxaca / Mexico . Klaus Stoll is appointed professor h.c. of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music since 2005 and has taught in 18 countries of Europe , Asia and North and South America.

Since 2002 Klaus Stoll and his wife Ofelia hold courses and classes together in both main techniques, the French and the German Bow and in their languages German, English and Spanish for professional and junior bassists.

CBC 120: Ed Barker interview

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We’re featuring Boston Symphony Principal Bassist Ed Barker on this week’s Contrabass Conversations episode. Conducted by Contrabass Conversations co-host John Grillo, this episode features John chatting with Ed about his early years on the bass, his schooling and time spent in the Chicago Symphony prior to his appointment with the Boston Symphony, and in-depth look at articulation on the bass, and a discussion on practicing. We hope you enjoy this conversation with this modern master performer and teacher of the double bass!

About Ed Barker:

Edwin Barker is recognized as one of the most gifted bassists on the American concert scene. Acknowledged as an accomplished solo and ensemble player, Mr. Barker has concertized in North America, Europe, and the Far East.

Edwin Barker has performed and recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and with the contemporary music ensemble Collage, a Boston – based contemporary music ensemble, and is a frequent guest performer with the Boston Chamber Music Society. Mr. Barker gave the world premiere of James Yannatos’ Concerto for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra and of Theodore Antoniou’s Concertino for Contrabass and Chamber Orchestra ; he was the featured soloist in the New England premiere of Gunther Schuller’s Concerto for Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the composer with The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Barker graduated with honors from the New England Conservatory in 1976, where he studied double bass with Henry Portnoi. That same year, while a member of the Chicago Symphony, he was appointed at age 22 to the position of principal double bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His other double bass teachers included Peter Mercurio, Richard Stephan, Angelo LaMariana, and David Perleman.

Mr. Barker was invited to inaugurate the 100th anniversary season of the Boston Symphony Orchestra with a solo performance of the Koussevitzky Bass Concerto; other solo engagements have included appearances at Ozawa Hall (Tanglewood), Carnegie Recital Hall’s “Sweet and Low” series, and at major universities and conferences throughout the world, as well as concerto performances with the Boston Classical Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra (Greece) and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Boston and Europe. He was a featured premiere soloist with the Boston Symphony of John Harbison’s Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra at Tanglewood’s 2007 Festival of Contemporary Music.

Mr. Barker is an Associate Professor at the Boston University College of Fine Arts where he teaches double bass, orchestral techniques, and chamber music. His other major teaching affiliations include the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Music Center, where he is Chairman of Instrumental and Orchestral Studies.

Edwin Barker’s solo CD recordings include Three Sonatas for Double Bass, on Boston Records, James Yannatos’ Variations for Solo Contrabass, on Albany Records, and Concerti for Double Bass, on GM Recordings, which includes bass concerti by Gunther Schuller and Theodore Antoniou. Concerti for Contrabass also includes his highly praised performance of Tom Johnson’s Failing , which was recorded live at Harvard University’s Sanders Theater. Edwin Barker’s latest solo offering on CD is a recently released performance of James Yannatos’ Concerto for Contrabass with Collage.

More from John Grillo:

CBC 117: Mark Morton interview 2

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We’re concluding the interview that we began on CBC 114 with double bassist Mark Morton, who is currently professor of bass at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and has also served as Principal Bass of the Columbus Symphony. Mark was the first prize winner at the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, and he was the assistant double bass instructor for Gary Karr at the Hartt School of Music. He is well-known for writing and publishing the “Dr. Morton” series of books on the art of bass playing, and he is the founder of the American School of Double Bass.

We start this segment of our interview discussing Mark’s Simandl-Plus® approach and how it increases the number of techniques available to the modern bassist, as well as some specific examples in orchestra repertoire where these kind of techniques can be used. We also talk about when Mark starts using the third finger and the thumb on the neck, adopting a more flexible approach than advocated in Simandl technique. We also discuss melodic gestures and when to shift according to a particular gesture, lyrical and technical fingerings and when to use them, shifting strategies, the value of Simandl and how it teaches the “grid” of the fingerboard, Mark’s fingerboard mapping system, and some of his upcoming projects.
We also feature a recording this week of Mark playing the Gliere Tarantella from his album Russian Rendezvous, which is available from CD Baby or the iTunes Music Store.

I recommend downloading Mark’s Simandl-Plus® packet and following along with our discussion to get a more complete idea of how he implements these concepts.

This week, we discuss

Links: American School of Double Bass, Texas Tech School of Music

CBC 116: Lawrence Wolfe interview 3

Lawrence Wolfe.png We’re featuring the third and final part of our interview with Boston Symphony Assistant Principal Bass Lawrence Wolfe this week on Contrabass Conversations. I had a chance to check out a wonderful master class that Mr. Wolfe did at Northwestern in the fall of 2008, and I did a summary/synopsis of some of the concepts and ideas covered in this class as well. I’m really looking forward to chatting with Larry–he’s one of my favorite bassists, and listening endlessly to his solo record really shaped how I approach the double bass when I was in college.

Larry is one of the most influential bass players in the United States, having taught countless players during his years at New England Conservatory and other Boston academic institutions who are now in major orchestras or pursuing other successful musical endeavors.

We’re also featuring Jacob Druckman’s piece Valentine, one of the tracks from Larry’s solo album which was added upon the CD release and one which you’re really going to enjoy. Larry will be doing a presentation at this summer’s International Society of Bassists convention, which I am definitely looking forward to checking out. Be sure to check out Larry’s website as well!