Music Episodes

CBC 92: DaXun Zhang interview part 1

DaXun Zhang double bass 1.png

We’re featuring an interview with and music from double bass soloist DaXun Zhang this week on Contrabass Conversations. The winner of numerous prestigious solo competitions, DaXun is a true virtuoso, capable of a level of musical expression and technical dexterity rarely seen on the instrument.

In this first segment of our interview (which we will conclude next week), we discuss DaXun’s early years on the instrument, his studies at the Central Conservatory in Beijing, and his relocation to the Interlochen Arts Academy in high school. We intersperse musical selections from DaXun’s recent self-titled solo album into the interview in the following order:

Invention No. 6 by J.S. Bach
Invention No. 11 by J.S. Bach
Capriccio di Bravura by Giovanni Bottesini

Learn more about DaXun on his website at daxunzhang.com. Enjoy!

Eclectic Bass Episode 1 – a new podcast offering from Contrabass Conversations

The first episode of our new all-music series Eclectic Bass is now available! Listen to it with the player above (click the play button, or click ‘play in popup’ to keep browsing while you listen), download the episode (right click and choose ‘save as…’), or subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get all these episodes downloaded directly. Enjoy!

Featured Artists:

Frederick Charlton

Sarabande and Double from the Partita No. 1 from Bach on Fire

Lila Horovitz

La Casa Nueva by Lila Horovitz and Contrebajeando by Piazolla from Preludio Del Primer Dia

Bill Koehler

The Mirror from Journey2gether

Theme song: ‘Don’t Break It’ by Antonin Bastian

CBC 65: Peter Seymour interview 2 and music from Project

We’re wrapping up our interview with double bassist Peter Seymour this week on Contrabass Conversations. We began this interview on episode 53, so be sure to check this episode out if you missed it! Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at projecttrio.com.

This episode, we discuss:

how Project (which is both a group and a nonprofit organization) came to be
playing in the style of today
their upcoming Brooklyn Philharmonic presentation
how although classical musicians are some of the most creative people out there, we can be very passive professionally
how Project for Peter is a full-on business
how the wide network of contacts he’s made over the years in professional orchestras across the country are paying off now with Project
similarities between the orchestral path and what Peter’s doing with Project in terms of outlook and work ethic
balancing the administration of Project with practicing and finding time to continue to grow musically

Although Peter has focused on obtaining a position in a major orchestra for many years, he is now focused on creating new creative outlets with Project, and his decision to strike out on his own with this great trio is an example of musical entrepreneurship at its finest. Be sure to pick up a copy of Winter in June, the new release from this killer trio. Enjoy!

CBC 59: Jeff Turner interview 2 and Leon Bosch music

We’re wrapping up the interview with Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Bassist Jeff Turner that we began on episode 26 of the podcast, plus featuring music from U.K.-based bassist Leon Bosch’s new album titled The British Double Bass on this week’s episode of the podcast.

We also feature bass news, listener feedback, shout-outs to members of the Facebook group, and a link of the week. Enjoy!

CBC 53: Peter Seymour interview and music from Project

This week we feature the first half of an interview with double bassist Peter Seymour. Peter has performed for the New World Symphony and spent a season playing with the Cleveland Orchestra, and he is now involved with an exciting new trio called Project. This group is made up of Peter on bass, Eric Stephenson on cello, and Greg Patillo on flute. Learn more about Project at www.whatisproject.org and stay tuned for the conclusion of this interview in the next few weeks.