Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

1072: Joyful Connections – The Power of Music with Roberto Cassani

In this episode, Roberto Cassani shares his journey into the world of improvised music and his latest project Music for the purpose of Joy, which provides group music sessions to children, young people and adults based on his improvisational approach. 

Initially focused on mastering his instrument and securing gigs, Roberto discovered a profound sense of joy and connection through improvisation. He discusses his academic research into the emotional and social benefits of music improvisation, highlighting the positive impacts on community building and personal interaction. 

Roberto also details his methods for engaging different groups, from children to university students, in creative music-making sessions. Additionally, he talks about his recent musical projects and the importance of fostering joy and connection through music.

Enjoy, and check out Roberto’s past podcast appearances here.

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsors!

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!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

975: Roberto Cassani of poet / shuts / clock

Roberto Cassani has recently released a duo album on Sunnyside Records. Titled poet / shuts / clock, it is a collaboration with saxophonist Fraser A. Campbell and is filled with a rich array of textures and sonic explorations.

Enjoy this new release from Roberto and Fraser, and check out our past conversations with Roberto here.

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

Thank you to our sponsor!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – CMU is dedicated to helping each student achieve their goals as a musician. Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.

793: Roberto Cassani on Ansema We Stand

Roberto Cassani has just released an intriguing new album titled Ansema We Stand.  This album is a mix of world and folk music, blending the cultures of Scotland and rural northern Italy, Roberto’s two main homes with some of Scotland’s finest musicians.

We talk about the new album, how the pandemic has been for him, his “other life” working in health care and what that has been like this past year, and much more.

Be sure to check out Roberto’s latest album on his website, Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Check out our Online Sheet Music Store with 100+ wide-ranging titles for bassists.

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Dorico – Dorico helps you to write music notation, automatically producing printed results of exceptional quality — and plays it back with breathtaking realism. It is easy enough for anyone to learn, yet has hundreds of advanced notations, features, options and sounds to satisfy even the most demanding professionals.  With its streamlined, natural user interface, students and those with less experience in scoring can compose and arrange straight into Dorico, making learning the language of music notation much faster and more intuitive. Editing and making changes — such as instrument, time signature or key — are straightforward, with the notation instantly and correctly adapting to include them, reinforcing the learning outcome.

Ear Trumpet Labs – They make hand-built mics out of Portland, OR and they have an excellent mic for upright bass called Nadine. The Nadine is a condenser mic with a clear natural sound and incredible feedback rejection. This mic is a completely new design — the head mounts in between the strings above the tailpiece with a rubber grommet, and the body securely straps to the tailpiece with velcro elastic. A 14-inch Mogami cable connects the two parts making it easy to place on any bass. It’s durable and holds up to the demanding needs of the instrument while offering excellent sound quality. Ear Trumpet Labs is offering a free t-shirt just for Contrabass listeners with the purchase of a mic, just visit EarTrumpetLabs.com/contrabass to claim yours and check out the Nadine!

Modacity – Are you a practice-savvy musician? Get Modacity – the music practice app that organizes, focuses, and tracks your progress.  Recorder… metronome… tone generator… timer… note taking… Do away with the random assortment of music practice apps in your arsenal. Modacity™ combines all the tools you need into one easy to use, music practice tool.  Organize, focus, and reflect on your practice – motivating you to increase retention in less time.  Modacity has a special offer for Contrabass Conversations listeners that includes lifetime access to the app.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

642: Roberto Cassani on folk music and fame

Roberto Cassani has had a fascinating path through the music world.  Originally from Milan, Italy, Roberto landed a record deal at a young age but walked away from it and moved to Scotland… without speaking any English!

Over the years, he has developed a strong following as a folk musician, and he moved from guitar to double bass as his primary instrument about 10 years ago.  Since then, he has toured extensively in many different guises, either solo or playing double bass in the world of folk, rockabilly, swing, and more.

In 2018, he started working with Danny Thompson, his bass idol, and we became friends, which led to his latest bass and voice monologue project called ROBERTOGRAFIA.

We talk about Roberto’s path through the music world, what it was like switching to the bass, how he composes, scheduling creativity, and much more.  Enjoy!

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle!

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

D’Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

Steve Swan String Bass

Steve Swan String Bass features the West Coast’s largest selection of double basses between Los Angeles and Canada.  Located in Burlingame, just south of San Francisco, their large retail showroom holds about 70 basses on display. Their new basses all feature professional setups and come with a cover at no additional cost. Used and consignment instruments receive any needed repairs and upgrades before getting a display position on the sales floor.

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton’s Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long “Karr neck” has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

The Bass Violin Shop

The Bass Violin Shop offers the Southeast’s largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome!

Modacity

Modacity is a practicing app that helps musicians be more effective at practice.  They help you get the results you want, while keeping you encouraged and motivated to stick with it and reach those goals – however big, or small, they may be.  

Kolstein Music

The Samuel Kolstein Violin Shop was founded by Samuel Kolstein in 1943 as a Violin and Bow making establishment in Brooklyn, New York. Now on Long Island, over 60 years later, Kolstein’s has built a proud reputation for quality, craftsmanship and expertise in both the manufacture and repair of a whole range of stringed instruments, and has expanded to a staff of twelve experts in restoration, marketing and production.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440‘s commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

nkoda

nkoda is a sheet music app for iOS, Android, and many platforms. It includes music from over 100 of the major music publishers like Boosey & Hawkes and Barenreiter. Practice, play and perform your sheet music, and mark up your parts as needed.  This subscription service has received praise from Sir Simon Rattle and Joyce DiDonato.  Start your free trial at nkoda.com.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!