Contrabass Conversations

Today we catch up with International Society of Bassists convention chair and president-elect Nicholas Walker and talk through all sorts of offerings for the upcoming convention. I'll be at this event, and I hope to see you there as well!

Convention Dates: June 5-10, 2017 Location: Ithaca College Registration link

• ISBconnect.org (contains great information about all aspects of the event)
• Nicholas' past podcast interview
• list of presenters

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Thank you also to the Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Dr. Randy Kertz is the primary physician at Health Care Specialists, Ltd in suburban Chicago. He is also a bass player and has presented several times at the International Society of Bassists conventions.

Randy is the author of The Bassist's Guide to Injury Management, Prevention, and Better Health, and creates videos for the ISB's Body and Bass series.

We dig into injury prevention, keeping in good physical shape, how to practice intelligently to avoid injury, and much more.

• Randy's website
• The Bassist's Guide to Injury Management, Prevention, and Better Health
• Randy's Bass Scapes album
• ISB Body and Bass videos with Randy
• the bass stances article that we reference

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Thank you also to the Bass Violin Shop, which offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Clair Condit is the founder of The Marketed Musician, which is a service for musicians who are ready to up their impact and their income. Clair has worked in marketing for the National Repertory Orchestra and Houston Symphony, and she now works in the corporate world.

Clair also hosts the Marketed Musician podcast. Learn more about what she's up to in the links below, and enjoy this engaging conversation!

• themarketedmusician.com
• my Facebook Live session with Clair and Allie
• The Marketed Musician on iTunes

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Today's episode is a deep dive into the concept of abstract technique—what we work on each and every day on the instrument, both to stay in shape technically and keep moving forward in terms of skill.

• The Talent Code
• Max Dimoff's technique exercises (scroll down to the 'Technique' section)
• Galamian Technique book with bowing and rhythmic variations that Max references
• Michael Klinghoffer's Drive a Double Bass technique book
• Diana Gannett's website (great technique resource)
• Jeff Bradetich technique videos

• Fitness and Healthy Living
• Winning the Audition

• Cleveland Orchestra principal bassist Max Dimoff
• Houston Symphony principal bassist Robin Kesselman
• Indiana University bass professor Kurt Muroki
• Los Angeles Philharmonic bassist Jory Herman
• former Academy of St Martin in the Fields principal bassist Leon Bosch
• National Symphony bassist Ira Gold
• Lyric Opera of Chicago bassist Andrew Anderson
• University of Michigan professor emeritus Diana Gannett
• Chicago Symphony bassist Michael Hovnanian
• MET Orchestra percussionist Rob Knopper
• Butler University bass professor David Murray
• University of North Texas bass professor Jeff Bradetich
• Jerusalem Academy of Music faculty member Michael Klinghoffer
• New York Philharmonic bassist David Grossman
• Cincinnati Symphony principal bassist Owen Lee
• Berlin Philharmonic principal bassist Matthew McDonald
• University of Illinois professor Larry Gray
• Ithaca College bass professor Nicholas Walker

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Paul Cannon has been a member of the Frankfurt-based group Ensemble Modern since 2014. A graduate of Rice University, Paul spends his days performing contemporary music of all genres.

A couple months ago, I got two messages that led me to contact Paul for an interview. The first was a message from my wife with a YouTube video that had gone viral on Reddit.

I also got a message that same day from Rice University bass professor and past podcast guest Paul Ellison recommending that I connect with Paul Cannon. We scheduled an interview and had a fascinating conversation.

• not worrying too much about careers early on - leave room for unexpected opportunities
• if your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail
• how opportunities are useless unless you have the goods to back it up
• how Paul approaches a piece like Jacob Druckman's Valentine
• techniques for counting 5s and 7s and getting them organic
• challenges with finding audiences for contemporary music

• Paul's Ensemble Modern profile page
• Video about Paul from Ensemble Modern (YouTube)
• What it's like to rehearse with Ensemble Modern (YouTube)
• The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play by Ben Watson (quite a read!)
• Frank Zappa demoing the Sinclavier

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Ranaan Meyer is the bassist for the dynamic trio Time for Three. I had Ranaan on the podcast back in the early days of the show, almost ten years ago.

Time for Three was performing with the Modesto Symphony here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Ranaan had a chance to sit down for an in-person "round two" for the podcast.

• why Ranaan doesn't carry his own bass out… and why the old-schoolers give him grief about it
• starting to use the Laborie endpin
• changes that Ranaan has made to his technique over time
• staying in shape on the road
• how the group creates music while living in three separate cities
• Ranaan's focus on education
• advice that he'd give my former parents and students about a life in music

• Time for Three's website
• Social
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
• Their self-titled album
• Ranaan and Jason after the interview!
• Ranaan's first appearance on the podcast
• Ranaan on The Entrepreneurial Musician podcast
• our new and better CBC Twitter

This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Nick Villalobos is the bassist for Simply Three, a classical crossover trio that has which has garnered millions of YouTube views and praise from publications like Rolling Stone, the Huffington Post, and RyanSeacrest.com.

Nick spends his time during with the group, recording new covers, and shooting videos, and the group is now branching into original compositions with their first all-originals album in the works.

• how being direct with what you want can move your career forward
• what makes a good hook
• transitioning into original compositions
• how competition can be a good thing

Check out their first original song Maverick, which starts out with Nick playing his Eastman bass.

It was great to chat with Nick, and I can't wait to see how this exciting group's career evolves!

• Simply Three's website
• Simply Three on YouTube
• Simply Three on Instagram
• Chained to the Rhythm (Katy Perry cover)
• the Huffington Post article featuring Simply Three (their first really big video hit)
• Demons by Imagine Dragons (another cover that hit it big through a posting in Vietnam)

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made.

Rosin Saver is used by members of top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra among many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Steve Metcalf is the new principal bassist for the Colorado Symphony. I first became acquainted with Steve several years ago when he was an undergrad student at Indiana University creating cool cover videos of pop songs for his YouTube Channel.

Steve went on to study with Peter Lloyd at the Colburn School in Los Angeles and moved into a temporary contract with the Colorado Symphony before winning the principal job in 2017.

• breakthroughs in Steve's audition process
• why undergraduate degrees should have more of a business focus to them
• recording excerpts and putting them up on his Instagram account as he neared his Colorado Symphony audition
• playing his mock audition for a group of climbers

• Steve's website
• Steve's YouTube Channel
• Steve's Instagram
• Steve's Colorado Symphony profile
• YouTube videos:
  • Passione Amorosa
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers - C'mon Girl Cover
  • Smash Mouth - All Star Cover Feat. Evan Chapman
  • Semisonic - Closing Time Cover Feat. Sophie Bird
• Instagram videos:
  • Koussevitzsky
  • Arpeggione
  • Schubert 9

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Rosin Saver is a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. It was developed in Sweden by a pair professional bassists and Rice graduates. What makes bass rosin so soft and sticky is the addition of natural waxes and solvents. Basically, as these evaporate, your rosin becomes a dry, powdery and useless.

Rosin Saver prevents this evaporation by completely saturating the air surrounding your rosin, The result is rosin that always feels and sounds great regardless of the weather, temperature or venue and vastly extends the life of rosin.

Rosin Saver is used by members of top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra among many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

Artem Chirkov is the principal bassist of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and was the winner of the 2010 Bradetich International Double Bass Competition.

I got a chance to hear Artem play a wonderful recital while he was in San Francisco this March. Here's a great shot of Artem and San Francisco Opera principal bassist Joe Lescher as they performed Passione Amorosa together.

I headed over to San Francisco Opera bassist and former podcast guest Shinji Eshima's place the next day to chat with Artem.

• the origins of Bassiona Amorosa, the group that Artem has been a part of for the past two decades
• the fact that Artem always plays on a borrowed bass
  • how he does this and how it actually connects us together as bassists to do that
  • the routine that Artem goes through to acquaint him with new basses
• how the bass as a solo instrument has evolved and challenges still facing the bass as a solo instrument
• learning how to feel the freedom in your playing
• music and its connection to culture
• bass not as religion but as relation (this is a great topic that happens near the end of our chat)

• Artem's recordings
  • Impromptus of the Soul
  • Bassiona Amorosa (bass ensembles)
  • Reminiscence of the 20th Century
• Artem Chirkov LIVE in-studio performance (YouTube)
• Artem Master Class (YouTube)

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Rosin Saver is a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. It was developed in Sweden by a pair professional bassists and Rice graduates. What makes bass rosin so soft and sticky is the addition of natural waxes and solvents. Basically, as these evaporate, your rosin becomes a dry, powdery and useless.

Rosin Saver prevents this evaporation by completely saturating the air surrounding your rosin, The result is rosin that always feels and sounds great regardless of the weather, temperature or venue and vastly extends the life of rosin.

Rosin Saver is used by members of top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra among many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.

• 3 Sigma Audio - Upright Bass Impulses
• Jon McColough-Benner joins Roosevelt University faculty
• Curtis features Mary Javian
• Vivo el Bajo May 19-21 - South Texas Double Bass Festival
  • organized by George Amorim
  • Lloyd Goldstein will be a clinician

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Rosin Saver is a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. It was developed in Sweden by a pair professional bassists and Rice graduates. What makes bass rosin so soft and sticky is the addition of natural waxes and solvents. Basically, as these evaporate, your rosin becomes a dry, powdery and useless.

Rosin Saver prevents this evaporation by completely saturating the air surrounding your rosin, The result is rosin that always feels and sounds great regardless of the weather, temperature or venue and vastly extends the life of rosin.

Rosin Saver is used by members of top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra among many others.

Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com.