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… Continue reading 1089: Gary Upton on double bass innovation
Category: Podcast
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… Continue reading 1088: ISB Convention Preview with Rodney Jordan and George Speed
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… Continue reading 1087: Melody Ruiz on Thelma Terry
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… Continue reading 1086: Christopher Dammann on the Chicago jazz scene
1085: Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell on starting a double bass event
In today’s podcast, we speak with Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell. Kathryn and Andrew joined the double bass faculty at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in fall 2023, where they recently hosted the inaugural Pacific Bass Day in January 2025. We explore their backgrounds, discuss the experience of launching their first bass… Continue reading 1085: Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell on starting a double bass event