Special Features

Story Time: Cabs

Welcome to Story Time with the Contrabass Conversations podcast! This new venture was inspired by the great podcast Digital Flotsam (along with a healthy dose of This American Life), and it features me narrating my story about fitting basses in cabs, along with topical songs, sound effects, and more.

CBC 41: Orchestral Excerpts Breakdown with John Grillo

This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an in-depth analysis of the double bass orchestral excerpts most commonly requested at auditions. Double bassist (and regular Contrabass Conversations guest and co-host) John Grillo discusses each of these excerpts–stylistic considerations, differences in articulation and bow strokes, and suggestions for effectively learning them–and then performs them. I believe that this project will be a highly valuable resource for bassists worldwide, and I’d love your feedback on this project!

Excerpts covered (click below to hear individual tracks):

Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Brahms Symphony No. 1 and 2
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5
Mozart Symphony No. 35 and 39
Mahler Symphony No. 2
Schubert Symphony No. 9
Strauss Ein Heldenleben
Britten Young Person’s Guide
Verdi Otello

Peter Lawson Recital Showcase

This is a Contrabass Conversations special episode featuring a complete recital performance by Civic Orchestra of Chicago double bassist Peter Lawson. If you’d like to get in touch with Pete, you can always e-mail him at ptklawson@gmail.com. Enjoy!

Phillip Serna Recital Showcase 1

This is a special Contrabass Conversations bonus episode featuring a full-length recital from double bassist Phillip Serna. Phillip was our guest on episodes 5 and 8, and it is a pleasure to present this recital to listeners. Enjoy!

CBC 11: Andrew Anderson Recital Showcase

Contrabass Conversations Episode 11 just got wrapped up, and I think that you all will really enjoy this one. It is a series of tracks performed by double bassist Andy Anderson with commentary between each track. Andy uses a wide array of set-ups on these tracks, and he gives listeners some info and background for each individual track. Enjoy!