Contrabass Conversations

What a pleasure to chat with Christian McBride for the podcast! Christian just won his sixth Grammy for the Christian McBride Big Band's new album Bringin' It, and he has a course available titled Fundamentals of Jazz Bass and Beyond.

Christian and I dig into all kinds of topics (including many suggestions from podcast listeners!), like:

• the story behind his Benedict Puglisi bass
• what Christian looks for in a bass setup
• hearing Ray Brown play live for the first time
• Christian's heartwarming story about James Brown from The Moth
• staying in shape on the road
• working his bow chops

…and much more!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, interview editors
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

Former Guildhall Strings solo double bassist Chris West has built a tremendous resource for learning thumb position, and he's finally unleashed it upon the world. Titled Reaching the Heights - Thumb Position on the Double Bass, it's chock full of useful exercises and pieces that will have you navigating the upper reaches fo the fingerboard in no time.

Chris and I dig into all kinds of cool concepts in this conversation, including the myelination process detailed in Daniel Coyle's book The Talent Code, the "secret spacing" that makes navigating thumb position much easier, and many other topics.

Chris is a great guy, and this book is a great read. Be sure to pick up a copy!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

When I heard that Danny Ziemann was filming courses for Discover Double Bass, I couldn't wait to sit down with Danny and Discover Double Bass founder Geoff Chalmers to learn more details about the project.

Both Danny and Geoff are past podcast guests, and they happen to be two of my favorite people in the bass world. This new course is called The Bass Player's Guide to the Trio. It's set to launch on April 24th, and you will be able to pick it up at disoverdoublebass.com.

Learn more about what's offered in this new course, what it's like filming a course like this, what both Geoff and Danny like about the online course learning environment, and more!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

Dan Carson is the latest member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's bass section. I've had the pleasure of knowing Dan for over a decade. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and worked with Andy Anderson and a few other teachers (including me!) during high school.

Dan attended Indiana University and won principal bass of the Alabama Symphony during his junior year. After a few years, he decided to return to Indiana University to finish his undergraduate degree.

He opted to not return to the Alabama Symphony and headed to the University of Southern California to study with David Allen Moore. Five months into his studies at USC, Dan won a position with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

We cover a lot of fascinating ground, including:

• making progress in school versus out of school
• his decision to quit the Alabama Symphony to continue his studies
• what it was like being back in school after several years playing professionally
• what he learned working with Paul Ellison, Andy Raciti, and David Allen Moore
• Dan's audition preparation routine for Lyric
• getting through moments of discouragement

…and much more!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

Dr. Jacqueline Pickett has built a remarkable career as a double bass performer, educator, and community activist. From managing nonprofits to launching programs in the public schools, Jacqueline has been a major force for good in the double bass world. She teaches bass at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia as well as serving as principal bass for the Columbus Symphony.

We dig deep into all sorts of interesting topics, like:

• why she brought Lauren Pierce in to work with students (it's a great story and a valuable lesson!)
• how music and community go hand in hand
• how her background set her up for success
• ways in which the arts present valuable employment opportunities for double bass players
• what a well-rounded education looks like

…and much more!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

I had the good pleasure of spending time with Oregon Symphony and Grant Park Symphony principal bassist Colin Corner recently. We did a deep-dive interview on auditioning, being a principal string player, and much more.

Colin and I also talked about getting some recent playing of his up on the podcast, and he shared this recital from the 2017 Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium.

You'll hear the following pieces on this episode:

• Romanze by Richard Strauss (originally for cello)
• Anderson Sonata No. 2 for Double Bass and Piano
• Weinberg Sonata for Solo Double Bass
• Chorale by Nicholas Walker

Enjoy, and a big shout-out to Colin for passing this along!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

Today's episode is a deep-dive into double bass strings. We take a look at D'Addario's Kaplan, Zyex, and Helicore strings and learn more about how these strings play, feel, and sound.

You'll hear perspectives on strings from the following D'Addario Orchestral Artists:

• Alexis Cuadrado - New York-based jazz bassist, composer, and educator
• Andres Martin - Mexico-based soloist and composer
• Barry Green - Inner Game of Music author and clinician
• Claus Freudenstein - Bassmonsters founder
• Daniel Kimbro - Grammy-nominated bassist for Jerry Douglas Band
• Danny Ziemann - jazz bassist and educator
• David Allen Moore - LA Phil bassist and University of Southern California faculty
• Jory Herman - LA Phil bassist
• Kieran Hanlon - SUNY Fredonia faculty

We're also joined by D'Addario Orchestral Strings Product Manager Lyris Hung as and Orchestral Strings Social Media Specialist Sabrina Brengel.

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

I've known Dan Chmielinski for over a decade, and it has been a real pleasure watching his career unfold. Dan grew up in metro Chicago, and I had the privilege of being his bass teacher through middle and high school.

Dan started playing bass at age 3 with Virginia Dixon, and he has one of the most natural and fluid approaches to the bass that I've ever seen. After high school, Dan attended Juilliard for for his bachelor's and master's degrees, where he studied with Ron Carter.

Dan has toured the world, performing with artists such as Joey Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. His main project right now is Four by Four. Here's a link to their trailer on YouTube.

We dig into all kinds of topics:

• what the Juilliard jazz studies audition is like (hint: it's intense!)
• the Richard Davis Foundation Conference - Dan attended as a student from ages 3-18, and he is now a faculty member
• teaching for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz for Young People Program
• the focus required to develop a career as a New York City jazz bassist
• advice for younger musicians

Be sure to follow Dan on Instagram to keep up to date with his latest activities!

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

Pascale Delache-Feldman has been a frequently requested podcast guest, and it was such a pleasure to get a chance to connect with her!

Pascale enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher. She is the founder of the Boston Bass Bash and is co-founder of the co-founder of Duo Cello e Basso (formerly the Axiom Duo) with cellist Emmanuel Feldman. She also teaches at Bard College, New England Conservatory, Tufts University, and Brown University.

We dig into all kinds of topics like:

• growing up in France
• attending the Paris Conservatory
• studying with Roger Scott at the Curtis Institute
• programming and commissioning music for Duo Cello e Basso
• differences between French and American double bass playing

Here's a list of material that Pascale uses with her undergraduate students:

• Fred Zimmermann: a Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique for the double bass
• Hal Robinson: Strokin' and Boardwalkin'
• Franco Petracchi: Simplified Higher Technique
• Marcos Machado: Tao of Bass
• Edouard Nanny: Caprice Etudes and Etudes of Virtuosity
• Storch-Hrabe: 57 Studies
• Kreutzer and Fiorillo Etudes
• Isaia Bille: 18 Studies
• Alain Weber: 10 Rhythmic and Melodic Etudes
• J.S Bach: Cello Suites
• Orchestral Excerpts by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss......
• Major Bass Concertos: Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Koussevitzky, Bottesini
• Sonatas by Vivaldi, Bach Viola da Gamba sonatas, Misek, Schubert Arpeggione, Hindemith
• Short pieces by Bottesini, Koussevitzky, Glière, Fauré......

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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

I was first introduced to Melody Chia by our mutual friend Lauren Pierce. Melody is located in Melbourne, Australia, and in addition to being an excellent bassist, she has worked for many years in marketing.

Melody has also begun making shoes, and you can follow along with this fascinating process and all of her other activities on her Instagram feed.

Melody and I talk about all kinds of topics:

• her journey from Beijing to Melbourne
• the recent visually provocative marketing campaign for the Victorian Youth Symphony
• stress, overwhelm, and burnout
• how creativity manifests itself

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

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton's Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long "Karr neck" has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

D'Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D'Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

A440 Violin Shop

An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440's commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

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