Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

265: Szymon Marciniak on DVDs, travel, and freelance life

Szymon Marciniak double bass

Szymon Marciniak played a killer recital in Prague for BASS2016.

The centerpiece of this recital was Frank Proto‘s compelling new Sonata No. 3.

Frank wrote this piece expressly for Szymon, and it is–to say the least–epic in scope.

Here’s a great photo from that standing-room-only event.  Isn’t that a cool pose?  We talk about that in the interview!

Along with pianist Evan Mitchell, Szymon recorded a CD and DVD called New Music for Double Bass for Liben Music.

This new release includes Proto’s Sonata No. 3 along with the 2009 Sonata by Richard Dubugnon, Lu Shang’s Fantasy Higgs Boson, and  Chiel Meijering’s The Ultimate Workout (Part 1).

We talk about:

  • this feature-packed new release (check it out!)
  • Szymon’s decision to leave his principal bass position with The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra and embark on a freelance career
  • strings, endpins, balance, sound, and much more!

Check out this YouTube video with the complete first movement of the Proto Sonata No. 3.  This will give you a feel for the incredibly musicianship and high production quality on this CD/DVD release:

Links to Check Out:

Thanks to our sponsor!

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.

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

264: David Heyes on leaving a legacy

David Heyes double bass

David Heyes needs no introduction.

Since founding Recital Music over 20 years ago, David has brought the music of composers like Tony Osborne, Teppo Hauta-aho, and Simón García to countless bass players.

David has also commissioned over 500 double bass compositions.  Talk about an impact on the bass world!

In recent years, David has become a prolific composer.

In only three years, his compositions have been performed in eight different countries.  He is constantly thinking of new ideas for pieces.  In fact, he’s even writing a piece for me!

It was such a pleasure to meet David in person in Prague for BASS2016. Here’s a favorite photo of us meeting in the airport–talk about a warm welcome to the Czech Republic!

david-petya-jason-and-company-at-bass2016-prague

David is also a prolific writer.  In addition to writing for publications like The Strad, David has created A History of the Double Bass in 100 Pieces and BASS NOTES.  He is constantly finding new ways to synthesize double bass knowledge and provide value to the community.

By the way, his recital in Prague was awesome. Here’s a bit of it on YouTube.  Check it out, and enjoy this interview with Davide Heyes!

Links to check out:

Listener Feedback Link:

Thanks to our sponsor!

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.

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

263: the intriguing Jonathan Haskell

Jonathan Haskell

Jonathan Haskell may very well be the world’s most interesting man.

He’s a bassist. In a great orchestra: L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande in Switzerland.

Also, he’s the president of the musician’s union. An accomplished conductor. Fluent in multiple languages.

He is also the author of three murder mysteries centered around the orchestra.

Here’s a link to the first five chapters of On the beat, a murder mystery involving an orchestra, a sadistic, villainous, and diabolical conductor, an undercover cop in the percussion section, and a Pirastro Flexocor E string as a murder weapon!

Set in Chicago and downstate Illinois, this book vividly brings back memories of my “old life” Road Warrioring it around Chicagoland.

Interested in reading more? Send Jonathan an email and let him know!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

Resources we covered in this interview:

On the beat by Jonathan Haskell (PDF – 5 chapter preview)

L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (website)

L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (YouTube)

Jonathan Haskell on Discogs

The Compleat Conductor by Gunther Schuller

Twin Cities Bass Camp (from listener feedback)

Thanks to our sponsor!

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.

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

262: Allan Santos on finding your purpose

Allan Santos

Allan Santos and I met 15 years ago at the Britt Festival in Oregon. I vividly recall drinking beer with him at the bar while Dave Anderson shot pool in the corner.

After studying with players like Shinji Eshima and John Hood, Allan had landed an orchestra gig in the Toledo Symphony.

The goal had been reached.

But Allan felt like things were at an 8 in his life. Not a 10.

What would a 10 look like?

Fast forward to the present, and Allan is on a totally different path. Allan left the Toledo Symphony several years ago. He became the #7 ranked yoga competitor in the nation (yes, we talk about this!).

He has now moved into Life Coaching. After reading my manifesto about my new direction in life, he reached out to me and we started talking.

He was tremendously helpful in helping me gain clarity about the next steps in my life. I’d never had conversations like this. He gave me strategies to obtain clarity and focus on what’s actually important in any given moment.

The is a deep conversation for sure. I’ve never really put anything like this out on the podcast. My conversation with Trevor Jones might be the closest thing. But I know you’ll enjoy it!

Resources we covered in this interview:

Allan Santos (Facebook)

Allan’s email: allan@allanjaysantos.com

Documentary on Marshal Hawkins (Allan’s first bass teacher)

Allan’s yoga competition video

Martha Beck Institute (where Allan studied as a Life Coach)

Unemployment Never Sounded So Sweet (the post I wrote that put us back in touch)

Two book recommendations from Allan:

leave a review for Contrabass Conversations in iTunes!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

Thanks to our sponsor!

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.

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

261: rob knopper is the auditionhacker

Rob Knopper

it would be sacrilege to use capital letters when writing about auditionhacker founder rob knopper.

rob plays percussion in the metropolitan opera orchestra. which is quite cool.

but rob also started auditionhacker, a site devoted to mastering the systems and processes required to win an audition.

we talk about:

this was a great conversation!  you’ll walk away loaded with new strategies for your next audition!

Subscribe to the podcast and get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

From listener feedback:

10 Preparation Strategies I’ve Learned from Audition Winners (My AuditionCafe.org post)

Thanks to our sponsor!

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.

Enter the D’Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!