Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

The State of the Orchestra – new podcast with John Grillo

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Double bassist and Contrabass Conversations co-host John Grillo recently recorded in the first of a new series of audio programs about the past, present, and future of the professional symphony orchestra. In this first episode, John interviews me about my book Road Warrior Without an Expense Account, which I hope you’ll find interesting. I also recorded a screencast of my Keynote presentation about this book, which I did in Sioux Falls, South Dakota during the summer of 2008. I wrote the blog posts that this book is based upon in early 2007. Enjoy!

Eclectic Bass 7: Ben Jensen

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We’re featuring the Courante, Gavottes, and Gigue from the Sixth Cello Suite by J.S. Bach on Eclectic Bass this week, played impeccably by the wonderful bassist Ben Jensen, currently a student of Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. These were recorded live in a master class at Indiana University and are an outstanding example of bass playing. Enjoy!

We’ve featured Indiana University double bass professor Lawrence Hurst on Contrabass Conversations previously–if you haven’t checked out this interview before, I’d encourage you to check it out. Indiana University has an established reputation as one of the premier institutions for top-notch double bassists to perfect their craft, and if Ben’s example is any indication of the talents of the younger generation of bassists, we’re in good hands indeed!

CBC 115: Jeremy McCoy interview

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We’re featuring the complete recording of our interview with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Assistant Principal Bass Jeremy McCoy on this week’s Contrabass Conversations episode. Jeremy attended the Curtis Institute and was a member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada prior to his appointment with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Jeremy and I discuss a wide variety of topics, including his early experiences on the instrument, life in the Met, thoughts on teaching, recording a solo album, and much more. We also feature excerpts from Jeremy’s solo album Dialogues with Double Bass.

link to Jeremy’s website

link to Jeremy’s Manhattan School of Music page

link to Jeremy’s album Dialogues with Double Bass

CBC 114: Mark Morton interview

Mark Morton.pngWe’re featuring an interview with double bassist Mark Morton, who is currently professor of bass at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and has also served as Principal Bass of the Columbus Symphony. Mark was the first prize winner at the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, and he was the assistant double bass instructor for Gary Karr at the Hartt School of Music. He is well-known for writing and publishing the “Dr. Morton” series of books on the art of bass playing, and he is the founder of the American School of Double Bass.
We talk about double bass technique in great detail during this interview, particularly about Mark’s approach to left hand fingering systems and his Simandl-Plus® system of fingering. I’d recommend downloading Mark’s Simandl-Plus® packet and following along with our discussion to get a more complete idea of how he implements these concepts.

We’re also featuring a track from Haberdashery titled “Malbec” – learn more about this ensemble online at haberdasherymusic.com.

Links: American School of Double Bass, Trios for Deep Voices, Texas Tech School of Music