375: Jessica Valls on improvisation, emotion, and finding your voice

Jessica Valls has created a fascinating career as a double bass performer, educator, and free improvisor.

She performs regularly with the Austin Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and the vocal group Conspirare. She also plays chamber music, jazz gigs, and solo performances.

Jessica teaches at Southwestern University, Austin Community College, and Huston-Tillotson University. She is also the founder and director of the Austin Bass Workshop.

Jessica is a dedicated free improvisor, incorporating singing, bass playing, and other elements on a regular basis into her performances.

This episode is divided into three parts:

Part 1 – Being Onstage
Part 2 – Improvisation: The Hows and Whys
Part 3 – Reflection and Advice

374: being an adult amateur with Stuart Pearce

Stuart Pearce is an engineer by trade.

Three years ago, he sent his youngest child off to college and did a “rest of life” evaluation.

What do things look like for the next 20-30 years?

Golf and finishing would be fun… but it didn’t have the appeal to Stuart.

Playing an instrument came to mind. Inspired by hearing Edgar Meyer, he decided to pick up the bass.

He’s three years in and is loving it!

Our story today in three parts:

Part 1 – why the bass?
- the story of the aluminum bass
- being stewards of these instruments
Part 2 – the challenges
- what it’s like learning the bass as an adult
- what has been surprisingly difficult
Part 3 – advice for those thinking about picking up an instrument

Reach out to Stuart by emailing him.

Links from Stuart:

Stuart playing bass
- Ode to Joy
- Amazing Grace (A Flash Mob)
South Carolina Bass Musicians Association
The Late Starters Orchestra (a book Stuart has found encouraging)
Learn more about aluminum double basses

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

The 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.

Check out this video of David Murray “auditioning” his Upton Bass!

The Bass Violin Shop, which 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!

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

373: Rebecca Lawrence on the state of women in the bass world and life as a music student

What’s it like being a double bass student these days… and what’s it like being a female bass student?

These are two topics that should have come up a lot sooner on the podcast.

Even though I’ve put out nearly 400 podcast episodes at this point, I’ve only had students on the show once before.

During the 2017 International Society of Bassists Convention, I had the chance to meet Rebecca Lawrence. Rebecca is entering her senior year at the University of Southern California and is studying with David Allen Moore.

A few weeks after the convention, I had the chance to sit down and chat with her about her experiences as a bass student, where she sees herself going professionally, challenges and setbacks, and much more.

Our story today is in three parts:

Part 1 – the state of women in the bass world
Part 2 – undergraduate life – surprises, evolutions, and challenges
Part 3 – looking into the future – how Rebecca’s thinking has evolved during her time at USC

For more on the state of women in the orchestra world, be sure to check out Nina DeCesare‘s great post titled “That thing is bigger than you!”; Why We Need More Female Bassists in Professional Orchestras.

We also featured Nina on the podcast earlier in 2017.

372: finding your path with Louis Levitt

Playing outside of Aspen’s Paradise Bakery was both a low-stakes and high-stakes affair for Louis Levitt and his friends.

Low-stakes because… well, it was playing outside of a bakery.

High-stakes because folks like David Zinman, Gil Shaham, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg were walking by constantly.

Louis was on the orchestral path that so many of us take. But along the way, Louis started to ask “what if?”

What if it was possible to make a career as a chamber music double bassist?

371: when life throws you curveballs with Jennifer Bradbury

As a married guy with no children, the thought of even one kid makes me break into a cold sweat.

For bassist and educator Jennifer Bradbury, it wasn’t just one kid coming her way. It was triplets… and they came into this world 25 weeks early.

I can’t imagine what that experience must have been like.

The story of these three young children (dubbed the EduTriplets by Jennifer and her husband Jeff) is inspiring, heartwarming, and totally compelling. You’ll love what we cover in the podcast, and be sure to check out Jeff’s TEDx talk for the complete story.

Jennifer finally played her first gig after several years off.

What was that experience like?

We dig into this and much more!