Contrabass Conversations

We’re talking with International Society of Bassists President Nicholas Walker about new directions for the organization.  A lot has been happening behind the scenes at the ISB, and I’ve been privil…

I spoke with South African double bassist Zanelle Britz about her launching of the first ever double bass course in South Africa, which will take place December 9-12, 2018 in Cape Town.  Learn more a…

When Jay Starkes of the Neo Bass Ensemble called me up to let me know about an upcoming performance, I knew that I had to check out this group.  Lisle Atkinson, the group’s founder, has been on the j…

When I heard from Rice University bass professor Tim Pitts that his former student Alanna Jones had won a spot in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, I immediately dropped her a line and asked if she…

Kenny Davis is one of the most in-demand bassists in New York.  You name it—he’s played it.  From playing in the Tonight Show Band for several years to recording, touring, and performing with artists…

Blake Hinson serves as Assistant Principal Bass of the New York Philharmonic and teaches bass at Stony Brook University.  He previously served as principal bass of the Grand Rapids Symphony and was …

Ron Wasserman has been a frequently-requested podcast guest over the years, and it was such a pleasure to be able to sit down with him in person and dig into all kinds of topics.  In addition to bein…

I first spoke with Barrie Kolstein for the podcast back in 2008 with my frequent co-host John Grillo.  Barrie has been in the double bass business for nearly 50 years, and Kolstein Music is celebra…

One of my all-time top interview requests has been to chat with Gary Upton and Eric Roy of Upton Bass.  As I was booking my trip to New York City, I knew that spending a day at the Upton barn in Myst…

Kieran Hanlon, bass professor at The State University of New York at Fredonia and also a past podcast guest, has been hard at work putting together a Bach project.

Titled Practical Bach for the Doub…

Michel Taddei likes to keep busy with a wide variety of musical roles.  Michel is Principal Bassist of the Berkeley, Fremont, Symphony Napa Valley, and Pacific Chamber Symphonies, as well as the Mend…

Kristin Zoernig is one of the country’s most in-demand early music double bassists.  In addition to being the bassist for the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Kristin performs with the American Bach S…

We did a panel discussion at the 2018 European Bass Congress in Lucca  all about technology and the bass: what things looked like ten years ago, where we are now, and where we might be headed in the …

Today we’re covering the great double bass pedagogue George Vance and the influence he has had on bass education.  We’re featuring clips from these past podcast guests on the topic:

• Ira Gold - Nati…

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Principal Bass David Daly has released a true epic debut album with a great title: Titanic Double Bass.  The title track of the album is an Irish air my Great Uncle Eug…

Amy Baltzell is a sports psychologist that serves as Clinical Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Sport Psychology Specialization at Boston University.  The author of Living in the Sweet Spot…

Herbert Smith has had a remarkable career spanning a variety of musical genres.  Originally from Chicago, Herbert spent many years in Southern California prior to his move to São Paulo, Brazil eight …

One of my all-time favorite podcast guests is Leon Bosch, and it was great to get a chance to sit down with him in person at the 2018 European Bass Congress and dig into some deep topics.  Leon is th…

Anima Nova carbon fiber sound posts have been getting a lot of attention recently in the double bass world.  I had the chance to sit down with Pal Molnar of Anima Nova at the 2018 European Bass Congr…