Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

1090: Nina Bernat Interview and Recital

photo credit: Titilayo Ayangade

Nina Bernat is a double bass performer and educator based in New York City. In 2023, Nina was honored as a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the CAG Elmaleh Competition. Her recent first-prize awards include the Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition, the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Juilliard Double Bass Competition, and the 2019 International Society of Bassists Solo Competition.

In this episode, recorded live in San Francisco in 2025, Nina shares her background and discusses the program she performed at the 2025 San Francisco Winter Bass Bash. Enjoy!

Recital program: Nina Bernat, double bass Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano

  • Bach Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BV 1011 Prelude, Allemande, Courante
  • Pantomime by Sofia Gubaidulina
  • Prayer by Enrst Bloch
  • Sonata for Violin by Aaron Copland

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1089: Gary Upton on double bass innovation

Today’s episode features a conversation with Gary Upton, the founder of Upton Bass. Since founding the company in 1999, Gary has built it into one of the most established and trusted names in the world of double bass.

Besides exploring the backstory of Upton Bass, we delve into their latest innovations, including amplifiers, strings, BuildBass.com and rosin. Enjoy!

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Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME 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!

1088: ISB Convention Preview with Rodney Jordan and George Speed

Today’s episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 International Society of Bassists Convention, taking place June 2-7 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU bass faculty members and convention hosts Rodney Jordan and George Speed join Jason to discuss organizing this event, share upcoming highlights, and preview what attendees can expect during the week. Enjoy!

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Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME 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!

1087: Melody Ruiz on Thelma Terry

Melody Ruiz is writing a book about Thelma Terry, a double bassist and bandleader in 1920s Chicago. She documents her research process on Instagram and is crowdfunding the project through gofundme and Etsy.

We discuss how Melody discovered Thelma’s story, the challenges and rewards of researching someone from a century ago, and the fascinating discoveries she’s made along the way.

We’ll reconnect with Melody as her book nears publication. Meanwhile, follow her journey on Instagram!

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Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME 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!

1086: Christopher Dammann on the Chicago jazz scene

Christopher Dammann is a Chicago-based composer and bassist whose sextet recently released its debut album.

Our conversation explores Christopher’s journey from self-taught musician to Northwestern University bass student, examining how iconic Chicago venues like Velvet Lounge and Constellation shaped his artistry, his practice methodology, and much more.

Enjoy, and don’t miss this excellent debut album from Christopher’s sextet!

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Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME 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!