Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

724: Jonathan Haskell reflects on new directions

I had a wonderful conversation with Jonathan Haskell a few years ago, and a lot has changed in his life since then.

He recently retired from L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande in Switzerland, and he has been diving deep into the world of contemporary music.  He also wrote a thoughtful article for the Chicago Tribune about the conflicting emotions surrounding retiring after 40 years on the job.

We talk about a wide range of topics, including diving into contemporary music, how he approaches learning a piece, the bass’ role in contemporary ensembles, how he has been handling the pandemic, and much more.

I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversations from one of the most interesting musicians I know!

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723: T. Alan Stewart on his musical journey

T. Alan Stewart wears many musical hats in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.  

In addition to serving as principal bass with the Williamsburg Symphony and Roanoke Symphony, Alan has performed with the Baltimore Opera, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Spoleto Festival, Alexander Schnieder String Orchestra; and many other ensembles in the area.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, digging into topics like Alan’s path through the music world, his time in the New World Symphony and subsequently working with Mstislav Rostropovich and the National Symphony, audition preparation, The Artist’s Way, diversity and inclusion in classical music, freelance life, and much more.

I hope you enjoy Alan’s thoughtful insights and perspectives, and I can’t wait to spend some more time with him in the future!

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Contrabass Conversations production team:

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718: Brendan Fitzgerald on audition prep

Brendan Fitzgerald has come up with an audition preparation strategy that has upped his level of consistency.  Brendan joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2019 after spending two seasons with the Seattle Symphony, and he is set to do a trial with the Minnesota Orchestra.

We talk through his audition prep method extensively, and we also feature excerpts from Brendan that he recorded while preparing an audition tape.  Enjoy, and be sure to also check him out on this recent podcast by Ryan Beach.  

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Contrabass Conversations production team:

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698: Miles Perkin on extended techniques

Miles Perkin is exploring fascinating musical territory with the double bass.  Originally from Canada and now living in Berlin, he recently released a solo bass album called Subtones that mixes voice, bass and extended techniques in unexpected and compelling ways.

In this conversation, recorded in March just before the pandemic fully shut down the globe, we talk about his background, the Berlin experimental music scene, and much more.  Enjoy, and be sure to follow Miles on Facebook and Instagram!

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I’d also like to thank the sponsors who have supported us over the months and years. If you’d like to help the bass community recover as quickly as possible, consider visiting their site and making a purchase: 

Contrabass Conversations production team:

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697: Susan Cahill on staying inspired under quarantine

Susan Cahill has been finding all kinds of ways to keep herself inspired musically during the pandemic.  She had finished filming an episode for the PBS Series Now Hear This prior to the lockdown, and she has been immersing herself in several music at-home projects.

We talk about these projects, how practicing other instruments fits into her musicianship, thoughts on small and large group performances going forward, and much more.  

Enjoy, and check out her appearance on the podcast from 2017 here!

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle!

I’d also like to thank the sponsors who have supported us over the months and years. If you’d like to help the bass community recover as quickly as possible, consider visiting their site and making a purchase: 

Contrabass Conversations production team:

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