Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

395: Todd Parks on Nashville, technology, and the acoustic music scene

What is it about the energy of Nashville?

How has the technology surrounding us changed the way we musicians do what we do?

How does a person go from being down to their last pot of coffee to touring the world with the biggest names in their scene?

We answer these questions and much more on this episode featuring Todd Parks.

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354: Derek Jones on Cirque du Soleil, gear, and being fearless

Derek Jones is the bassist for Cirque du Soleil’s show KÀ. He joined Cirque after spending time playing with Chris Thile and Nickel Creek and then with Jerry Douglas, and he has played over 5,200 performances of this show at this point.

We dig into topics like:

  • challenges of dealing with the low humidity in Las Vegas
  • Derek’s unexpected chance to see Gary Karr play live in Las Vegas recently
  • his 12 1/2 years on the Cirque show
  • why it’s better to cut frequencies than boost
  • growing up in the Bay Area and getting his break on the salsa music scene
  • the decision to move to Nashville
  • the three ways to experience a culture (language, food, music)

…and much more!

You can get Derek’s albums Run With Me and Dusk ’til Dawn in hi res audio from Blue Coast Records!

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323: Daniel Kimbro on newgrass, crazy venues, and life on the road

I had a great time chatting with Daniel Kimbro for today’s episode. Daniel is a member of the Jerry Douglas Band and regularly collaborates with Martin Harley. His bio is a who’s who in the world of traditional music.

We cover a wide array of topics, including:

  • growing up in East Tennessee in a very musical family
  • his family bluegrass band playing venues like Cumberland Gap and Horton Store
  • some of the wackiest small venues he’s played (including a place with tanning beds and a hot dog bar)
  • how Daniel got from playing taking bed parlors to Telluride
  • Edgar Meyer being in the audience for his first gig with the Jerry Douglas Band
  • the gear that Daniel uses
  • the advantages of using the Chadwick folding bass while on the road
  • what Daniel likes about being on the road

We also dig into other newgrass players that Daniel digs:

It was great chatting with Daniel, and I can’t wait to see how his career continues to evolve!

Links to check out:

Thanks to our sponsor!

This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D’Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

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