Contrabass Conversations

Kevin "Brandino" Brandon is a seven-time Grammy and three-time Emmy award winner. He has performed with an incredible array of artists, including:

• Aretha Franklin
• OutKast (won Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album of the Year)
• Justin Timberlake (won Grammy for Best R&B Song)
• Mary J. Blige (won Grammy for Best R&B Album of the Year)

The list of artists he has worked with is incredible.

Brandino has achieved considerable success as a solo artist as well, and his recent album The Many Faces of Brandino 2 has received enthusiastic critical acclaim.

• what it's like playing with artists like Aretha Franklin, will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, and OutKast
• the steps that go into applying for the Grammys
• the rise of synth bass
• being a five-string bass pioneer
• building a studio and getting into record production

...and much more!

• Brandino's website
• The Many Faces of Brandino 2 (Brandino's new album)
• Brandino's Cello Bass by Eastman Music (using D'Addario Kaplans)

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

Today's episode is a short conversation between Jason and Jeff Bradetich about the upcoming 2nd International Double Bass Solo Competition taking place September 1-5, 2017. The application deadline is February 1, and all details can be found here.

Contrabass Conversations will be live on location at the event in September, so expect great coverage of this event in the fall!

Check out Jeff's previous podcast appearances here.

The Bradetich Foundation is proud to announce the 2nd International Double Bass Solo Competition, September 1-5, 2017, hosted by the University of North Texas College of Music, in Denton, Texas, USA. The finest solo performers in the world are invited to compete for the most generous awards in double bass history with a first prize valued at more than $30,000 US. The Competition is open to anyone under the age of 35 as of the first day of the competition September 1, 2017, and who has not given a formal New York City debut recital.

The Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition endeavors to identify emerging international artists to provide career advancement and leadership opportunities. A maximum of twenty performers will be invited to participate in the competition including automatic bids to winners of the 2015 ISB, 2016 Sperger and 2016 Koussevitzky Competitions.

The Bradetich Foundation was established in 2008 with the sole purpose of advancing the performing, teaching and knowledge of the double bass. It represents the vision of founder Jeff Bradetich and the culmination of his 35 years of service to the profession.

The Foundation is dedicated to identifying the top performers in the world and helping to develop their careers through major competitions, debut concerts in New York and London, CD recordings and concert tours.

The educational outreach of the Foundation is a cornerstone of its work. Through instructional and performance DVD's, concerts for children and older adults, and the promotion of the instrument through traditional and non-traditional media, the Foundation will work to raise the standard of the double bass and improve its standing in the general public.

The Bradetich Foundation will continue to establish and promote workshops and conferences throughout the world, bringing together the top minds in the field to share their artistry, philosophies and experience to the next generation of bass players.

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

Here's the latest Weekly Update episode! Check out all past episodes at contrabassconversations.com/news, and send me any stories you'd like shared at [email protected].

• Fredonia 2017 BassFest - February 11, 2017
• Galicia Graves Festival and Competition - February 17-19, 2017
• Chicago Bass Festival - March 5, 2017
• International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention - June 5-10, 2017
  • Rufus Reid video (YouTube)
  • Rufus Reid on Contrabass Conversations
• Bradetich 2nd International Solo Competition - September 1-5, 2017
  • documentary of 2010 competition

• NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA - January 19-22, 2017
• Svetozar Vujic world premiere of Concierto No. 3 for Double Bass and Orchestra by Mauricio Annunziata - February 17, 2017
• Eric Steffens Nino Rota Concerto with Philharmonie Südwestfalen - March 17, 2017

• Adam Booker
• Best of 2016
• 10th Anniversary Show

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

Ever wonder what it's like to be transplanted from balmy Texas and Louisiana to the coldest city in the continental United States?

Ask Adam Booker. Here's a recent weather report from Duluth in case you're curious.

How did he go from the gigging life in Texas to the US Navy and finally into a life in academia?

• traditional jazz bass lines and what notes were really being played
• confessions from a former string neurotic
• what surprised Adam the most about academia
• Stefon Harris and his description of scales as a collection of emotions
• hanging up on Milt Hinton... and then watching Jeopardy with him
• not just creating great bassists, but creating great people

I had a great time hanging out with Adam at BASS2016 in Prague, and it was a real pleasure to sit down with him and do an interview! Here's a shot of Adam, Geoff Chalmers, and me in Prague.

• Adam's website
• gear reviews from Adam
• Unraveled Rival (Adam's album) on iTunes
• Adam's University of Minnesota Duluth faculty page

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

Here's the latest Weekly Update episode! Check out all past episodes at contrabassconversations.com/news, and send me any stories you'd like shared at [email protected].

• Giovanni Bottesini Double Bass Competition - April 18-24, 2017
• Chautauqua Institution is accepting applications - deadline is 2/1/17
• Brevard is accepting applications - deadline is 2/17/17
• 30-Day Music Studio Refresh from Nicola Cantan
• 24th Annual Richard Davis Foundation Bass Conference - April 14-15, 2017
• How to Advance at an Orchestra Audition 101

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

Really, I don't know what else to say.

Thank you to each and every one of you who have taken your precious time these past ten years to listen to these episodes. You've written in. You've suggested guests. You've shared your passion and energy with me and with the wider community.

Thank you to the hundreds of guests who have lent their valuable time to this crazy project. Through the gift of your time, energy, and experience, you've helped thousands of people across the globe.

Thank you to John Grillo, who co-hosted this and so many other episodes with me. John, Win Hinkle, Jonathan Stefaniak, Kells Nollenberger, other folks have guest interviewed people for the podcast, for which I am so grateful.

Thank you to D'Addario Strings, Bass Capos, Discover Double Bass, Upton Bass, The String Emporium, Riccardi's Violin Shop, Classic Contrabass, and Douglas Mapp Music for their support as sponsors over this past decade. I am grateful to each and every one of you for your support with keeping this juggernaut going.

And finally, thank you to Lloyd Goldstein, Mitch Moehring, Szymon Marciniak, Tracy Friedlander, Jay Stark, Adam Booker, and Justin Locke for calling in and contributing to this 10th anniversary episode!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

I had a blast reconnecting with my old friend Tracy Friedlander!

Tracy is the host of Crushing Classical, a new podcast about creating a career you love as a classical musician in today's world. I was fortunate to be one of her first guests!

Tracy and I used to play together in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago nearly 20 years ago, and it has been a lot of fun reconnecting with her through the podcasting world.

We talk about her motivation for launching this podcast and her vision for the show going forward. She's had some wonderful guests on so far, and I can't wait to see where she goes from here.

Be sure to subscribe to her show in iTunes and follow her Facebook page!

• Crushing Classical on Facebook
• Crushing Classical on iTunes
• Jason on Crushing Classical podcast

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

This is an inside baseball episode for sure.

I love talking podcasting, whether its talking interview techniques or my biggest podcasting mistakes. I also love talking with other podcasters about the nitty-gritty details concerning their craft.

James is the host of the MusicPreneur and Trumpet Dynamics podcasts. Like me, he has made podcasting the core of his business, and he's doing it in really interesting ways.

• providing value to listeners
• coming up with new ideas
• figuring out the "next step" as a solo entrepreneur
• why he chose to podcast
• his experiences working with EOFire host John Lee Dumas
• where he sees his MusicPreneur podcast heading

This was a super-fun conversation, and if you want a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of podcasting, this is the perfect episode for you!

• Trumpet Dynamics podcast
• MusicPreneur podcast
• Jason on Trumpet Dynamics podcast

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

What a year 2016 has been!

This past year is when I kicked the podcast into overdrive, and the stats bear this out:

• 125 total podcasts released
• 907,231 podcasts downloaded this year
• average of 2.4 shows released per week
• average daily listens: 2,486

This episode takes a look back at the guests featured this year and features a short quote from my conversation with them.

• Paul Ellison - http://contrabassconversations.com/paul
• Lauren Pierce and Geoff Chalmers - http://contrabassconversations.com/laurenpierce
• Marc Ramirez - http://contrabassconversations.com/marcramirez
• Ju-Fang Liu - http://contrabassconversations.com/jufangliu
• Andrew Raciti - http://contrabassconversations.com/andrewraciti
• Bruce Bransby - http://contrabassconversations.com/brucebransby
• Douglas Mapp - http://contrabassconversations.com/douglasmapp
• Ian Hallas - http://contrabassconversations.com/ianhallas
• Carlos Henriquez - http://contrabassconversations.com/carloshenriquez
• Brent Edmondson - http://contrabassconversations.com/brentedmondson
• Susan Lipkins - http://contrabassconversations.com/susanlipkins
• Nick Lloyd - http://contrabassconversations.com/nicklloyd
• George Martin - http://contrabassconversations.com/georgemartin
• Ron Carter - http://contrabassconversations.com/roncarter
• Barry Green and Jeff Bradetich - http://contrabassconversations.com/barrygreen
• David Murray - http://contrabassconversations.com/davidmurray
• Michael Klinghoffer - http://contrabassconversations.com/michaelklinghoffer
• Inez Wyrick - http://contrabassconversations.com/inezwyrick
• Gaelen McCormick - http://contrabassconversations.com/gaelenmccormick
• Andres Martin - http://contrabassconversations.com/andresmartin
• Bert Turetzky - http://contrabassconversations.com/turetzky
• Ira Gold - http://contrabassconversations.com/iragold
• Chuck Israels - http://contrabassconversations.com/chuckisraels
• Adam Ben Ezra - http://contrabassconversations.com/adambenezra
• Peter Tambroni - http://contrabassconversations.com/petertambroni
• Trevor Jones - http://contrabassconversations.com/trevorjones
• Claus Freudenstein - http://contrabassconversations.com/clausfreudenstein
• Guy Tuneh - http://contrabassconversations.com/guytuneh
• Joe Conyers - http://contrabassconversations.com/joeconyers
• Madeleine Crouch - http://contrabassconversations.com/madeleinecrouch
• Justin Locke - http://contrabassconversations.com/justinlocke
• Leon Bosch - http://contrabassconversations.com/leonbosch
• Robin Kesselman - http://contrabassconversations.com/robinkesselman
• Jerry Fuller - http://contrabassconversations.com/jerryfuller
• Arnold Schnitzer - http://contrabassconversations.com/arnoldschnitzer
• Gjorgji Cincievski - http://contrabassconversations.com/gjorgjicincievski
• Gabe Katz - http://contrabassconversations.com/gabekatz
• Brandon McLean - http://contrabassconversations.com/brandonmclean
• Katie Ernst - http://contrabassconversations.com/katieernst
• Nicholas Walker - http://contrabassconversations.com/nicholaswalker
• Lloyd Goldstein - http://contrabassconversations.com/lloydgoldstein
• David White - http://contrabassconversations.com/davidwhite
• Jory Herman - http://contrabassconversations.com/joryherman
• Matthew McDonald - http://contrabassconversations.com/matthewmcdonald
• Thomas Martin - http://contrabassconversations.com/thomasmartin
• Thierry Barbe - http://contrabassconversations.com/thierrybarbe
• Sam Suggs - http://contrabassconversations.com/samsuggs
• Pablo Aslan - http://contrabassconversations.com/pabloaslan
• Christine Hoock - http://contrabassconversations.com/christinehoock
• Emilio Guarino - http://contrabassconversations.com/emilioguarino
• Danny Ziemann - http://contrabassconversations.com/dannyziemann
• Peter Seymour - http://contrabassconversations.com/peterseymour
• Hugh Sung - http://contrabassconversations.com/hughsung
• Diana Gannett - http://contrabassconversations.com/dianagannett
• Hans Sturm - http://contrabassconversations.com/hanssturm
• Nina DeCesare - http://contrabassconversations.com/ninadecesare
• Corey Brown - http://contrabassconversations.com/coreybrown
• Craig Butterfield - http://contrabassconversations.com/craigbutterfield
• Frank Proto - http://contrabassconversations.com/frankproto
• Shinji Eshima - http://contrabassconversations.com/shinjieshima
• Sandor Ostlund - http://contrabassconversations.com/sandorostlund
• Trevor Davis - http://contrabassconversations.com/trevordavis
• Seth Hanes - http://contrabassconversations.com/sethhanes
• Rob Knopper - http://contrabassconversations.com/robknopper
• Allan Santos - http://contrabassconversations.com/allansantos
• Jonathan Haskell - http://contrabassconversations.com/jonathanhaskell
• David Heyes - http://contrabassconversations.com/davidheyes
• Szymon Marciniak - http://contrabassconversations.com/szymonmarciniak
• Garrett Hope - http://contrabassconversations.com/garretthope
• Johnny Hamil - http://contrabassconversations.com/johnnyhamil
• Cornelia Watkins - http://contrabassconversations.com/corneliawatkins
• Dennis Bergevin - http://contrabassconversations.com/dennisbergevin
• Alex Ritter - http://contrabassconversations.com/alexritter
• George Amorim - http://contrabassconversations.com/georgeamorim
• Reuben Rogers - http://contrabassconversations.com/reubenrogers
• Yung-Chiao Wei - http://contrabassconversations.com/yungchiaowei
• Petia Bagovska - http://contrabassconversations.com/petiabagovska
• Florian Pertzborn - http://contrabassconversations.com/florianpertzborn
• Rob Anzellotti - http://contrabassconversations.com/robanzellotti
• David Allen Moore - http://contrabassconversations.com/davidallenmoore
• Dave Swift - http://contrabassconversations.com/daveswift
• Scott Devine - http://contrabassconversations.com/scottdevine
• Ben Allison - http://contrabassconversations.com/benallison
• Bill Merchant - http://contrabassconversations.com/billmerchant
• Chris Hanulik - http://contrabassconversations.com/chrishanulik
• Caleb Quillen - http://contrabassconversations.com/calebquillen
• James Newcomb - http://contrabassconversations.com/jamesnewcomb
• Tracy Friedlander - http://contrabassconversations.com/tracyfriedlander

Most downloaded episodes of 2016:

1. Gjorgji Cincievski
2. Matthew McDonald
3. Peter Tambroni
4. Lloyd Goldstein
5. Nicholas Walker

Most-viewed interviews on Facebook of 2016:

1. Reuben Rogers
2. Johnny Hamil
3. Sandor Ostlund
4. Yung-Chiao Wei
5. Dennis Bergevin

Multiple Appearances:

• Lauren Pierce (twice)
• Peter Tambroni (twice)
• Justin Locke (twice)

Bass Festival Previews:

• ISB
• BASS2016
• RCM

Thematic Weeks:

• Luthier Week
• Gary Karr Week
• A Passion for Teaching
• Entrepreneur Week
• Teaching Week
• Memories from Prague

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.

Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

I love talking with audiiton winners.

Learning about how they designed and implemented a long-term plan is fascinating. What went right? What went wrong? How did they adjust course? What did they do to get through the low points? When did things start to click?

Caleb is the most recent addition to the bass section of the Kansas City Symphony. He studied at New England Conservatory and Rice University prior to winning the Kansas City job.

• Caleb's long-term audiiton plan
• getting out of the "bass culture" when playing excerpts
• concept of cognitive shifting and mental replacement
• how running helped Caleb with auditioning
• managing frustration and discouragement in audiiton preparation

It was such fun connecting with Caleb and talking auditioning with him. He and I had actually met years ago at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago when his high school orchestra performed. Caleb was principal bassist of his orchestra and had a solo in a piece, and I went up to the stage and congratulated him after the performance. Small world!

• previous audition winner conversations:
  • Robin Kesselman (Houston Symphony)
  • Joe Conyers (Philadelphia Orchestra)
  • Brandon McLean (Pittsburgh Symphony)
  • Ian Hallas (Lyric Opera of Chicago)
• Winning the Audition (podcast series)
  • Part 1 – Preparing for Audition Success
  • Part 2 – Practicing Techniques for Peak Auditions
  • Part 3 – Preparation Routines That Work
  • Part 4 – Sealing the Deal
• Winning the Audition (the book!)
• Orchestra Excerpt Breakdown with John Grillo
• Opera Excerpt Breakdown with John Grillo

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

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.

Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos. Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.