1089: Gary Upton on double bass innovation

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 and rosin. Enjoy!

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Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

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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 week. Enjoy!

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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 she’s made along the way.

We’ll reconnect with Melody as her book nears publication. Meanwhile, follow her journey on Instagram!

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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 from Christopher’s sextet!

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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 day, and delve into their plans for the future, among other topics. Enjoy!

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