Contrabass Conversations

Anne Luna recently launched a series on her YouTube Channel called Bass Bites, which explore various aspects of double bass technique. Anne is an experienced performer and educator with an extensive background in bluegrass, and these videos are a great exploration into her approach to teaching the bass.

We talk about her aspiration for the channel, living in rural New Mexico, the world of bluegrass, and much more in this engaging conversation. Enjoy!

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Matt Rybicki has performed with renowned artists like Wynton Marsalis and played at esteemed venues from The Village Vanguard to international concert halls. He balances an active performance schedule with his roles as a faculty member at The Juilliard School and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Matt recently started a YouTube Channel titled Learn Jazz Bass with Matt Rybicki, which digs into all kinds of insights into jazz bass for players of all levels.

We talk about the inspiration for starting this channel, what it has been like making weekly videos, and much more. Enjoy!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Dominik Wagner is one of the world's leading double bassists and has built a remarkable career as a soloist and educator. He has begun hosting long-form interviews on his YouTube Channel with bassists such as Christoph Wimmer and Jeff Bradetich.

We cover Dominik's latest projects, the inspiration for these long-form interviews, working through focal dystonia, and much more. Enjoy!

photo credit: Maria Frodl

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Bassists Ari Folman-Cohen, Michael Isvara Montgomery, Ran Livneh, and Scott Colberg make up the Adnata Ensemble, which has just released their debut album Oku. We dig into the story behind this bass quartet, coming together in the park in 2020, how these collaborations led to this album, and much more.

Check out Oku here, and be sure to give this quartet a follow on Instagram!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Sam Loeck has recently been appointed Principal Bass of Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra. Prior to this position, he served as Principal Bass of the Calgary Philharmonic. He was also a finalist and trialist for Principal Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra.

We dig into Sam's path into the world of double bass and his auditioning journey, exploring the twists and turns and lessons learned. Enjoy!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Stephen Tramontozzi's new solo double bass album, Basso Novo. Tramontozzi shares the three-fold mission behind the album: to uncover and bring to light underappreciated works for the double bass, to transcribe works from other instruments for the double bass, and to commission new works for the instrument.

This is his fourth, and most ambitious recording project to date, with all tracks designed for solo double bass and featuring contemporary works. Among the highlights, Tramontozzi commissioned Larry Wolfe from the Boston Symphony Orchestra for a suite, "Blomidon Set", inspired by Bach suites but adding a twist from Celtic, Scottish, Irish, and Acadian fiddler traditions.

An exciting addition to the album is "The Earth and Stars", a piece written by talented composition student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, José Vargas. This piece, which Tramontozzi premiered in the previous year, stands out as the only track where he used his orchestra tuned bass.

The album also features other important works like "Ballade" by Ranjbaran, written for the 1999 International Society of Bassists solo competition, "Hommage a J.S. Bach" by Zbinden, and Berio's short gem "Psy". Join us as we explore the rich sounds and captivating stories behind Basso Novo.

Check out the sheet music for Blomidon Set here, and be sure to check out the latest album on Apple Music and Spotify!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Lauren Pierce recently released Basstudes, a series of 16 etudes organized around bowing, left hand technique, and right and left-hand coordination.

We dig into the inspiration behind this project, her accompanying audio guides, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to check out more titles from Lauren on DBHQ and also give her a follow on Instagram.

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Sean Michael Casey has just released A Progressive Guide to Orchestral Excerpts for the Double Bass, which is a step-by-step method for teaching the fundamentals of good orchestral double bass playing.

Sean Michael Casey is a bass teacher in the greater Seattle-Tacoma region, offering lessons to students of all ages and experience. After ten years teaching in Texas, Mr. Casey and his wife relocated to Washington state in 2024 to be nearer family.

Learn more about Sean on his website, and pick up a copy of his book in our DBHQ sheet music store!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

Jordyn Davis, a multi-talented bassist, composer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, MI, is the first African-American woman to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from Michigan State University.

She also earned a Master's in Jazz Studies from the same university. In 2021, after moving to Brooklyn, NY, she was honored as one of the inaugural Jazz Leader Fellowship recipients by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Recently, she has worked on the Tony-Winning Broadway Musical "New York, New York: A new musical and had a residency at Brown University collaborating with Craig Harris & the contemporary dance company Urban Bush Women.

We talk about her journey into bass, studies with Rodney Whittaker, life in New York City, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to follow along with her work on her website, Facebook, and Instagram!

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

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Dorico - This podcast episode is sponsored by Dorico: the next-generation music notation software from Steinberg, that's packed with smart, time-saving features to help you spend less time in front of your computer and more time doing what you love: making music.

The latest version of Dorico 5, includes Iconica Sketch, a new orchestral sound library, bringing more expressive playback, and making it easy to produce more life-like performances with a dynamic stereo soundstage. Try Dorico Now For 60 Days For Free: visit dorico.com

• theme music by Eric Hochberg