Contrabass Conversations
life at the low end of the spectrum
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CBC 144: advice from James Knabe
This weeks podcast features an interview with James Knabe, a trumpet performer and teacher who also runs a web consulting service for musicians. Learn more about what musicians can do to effectively market themselves by listening to this short interview, and check out musicianadvice.com for more in …
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CBC 143: Jeff Weisner interview
This weeks Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with National Symphony bassist and Peabody Conservatory faculty member Jeff Weisner. In addition to performing and teaching, Jeff is a prolific blogger, writing about all kinds of subjects on PeabodyDoubleBass. Jeff also cross-posts …
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CBC 142: Alan Steiner and audition tapes
Were featuring double bassist Alan Steiner on this weeks episode of Contrabass Conversations. A graduate of the Curtis Institute, Alan performs regularly with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Lake Forest Symphony. In addition to maintaining a private double bass studio, Alan teaches bass each summer at …
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CBC 141: David Grossman interview
This weeks episode of Contrabass Conversations features an interview with double bassist David Grossman, a member of the New York Philharmonic bass section and an active jazz bassist. Hosted by John Grillo, this interview covers Davids early musical experiences, his dual interest in jazz and classi …
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CBC 140: The American String Project – The Process of Collaboration
The following video (25 min.) is a behind-the-scenes documentary about The American String Project, the innovative string ensemble which we have profiled previously on the podcast and blog. Artistic director (and former Contrabass Conversations guest) Barry Lieberman describes the documentary as fol …
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CBC 139: The American String Project
This weeks Contrabass Conversations episode features a follow-up interview with bassist Barry Lieberman, double bass faculty at the University of Washington and artistic director of The American String Project, an ensemble that specializes in performing string chamber orchestra arrangements of quart …
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CBC 138: Donovan Stokes videos
Were featuring videos from double bassist Donovan Stokes on Contrabass Conversations this week. A former guest of the podcast, Donovan performs a diverse range of styles and is always surprising me every time I hear him. The following video features Donovans own composition Marine Layer and his qu …
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CBC 137: Todd Coolman interview
Were featuring an interview with jazz bassist Todd Coolman on the podcast. This episode is guest hosted by double bassist Win Hinkle, who interviewed Rufus Reid previously for Contrabass Conversations as well. After listening to this interview, I went out and downloaded Perfect Strangers, Todds n …
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CBC 136: Joel Quarrington interview
Were featuring an interview with and music from Joel Quarrington this week of Contrabass Conversations. Joel is the former Principal Bass of the Toronto Symphony and currently serves as Principal Bass for the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada. In addition to his orchestral duties, Joel main …
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CBC 135: Matt Heller interview
Were featuring a brief (10 minute) interview with Calgary Philharmonic bassist Matt Heller. Matt is an old friend of mine who, in addition to being an excellent bassist, is the author of the always interesting blog hella frisch. Matt also did extensive coverage of the 2009 International Society of …
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CBC 134: Colin Corner update
Were featuring a quick update and some performances from from double bassist Colin Corner, a previous CBC guest. When we first interviewed Colin back in 2007 he was performing in the Minnesota Orchestra, but he now serves as principal bass of the Rochester Philharmonic. In addition to his orchestra …
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CBC 133: Scott Best interview
Were chatting with Memphis Symphony Principal Bass Scott Best on this weeks episode of Contrabass Conversations. Scott is a close personal friend of mine and an outstanding double bassist in both solo and ensemble settings. We played together in the IRIS Orchestra of Memphis, Tennessee, and it is …
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CBC 132: The Intriguing Dean Ferrell
Heres another video of double bassist Dean Ferrell performing a set of assorted pieces from the 2009 International Society of Bassists Convention. Check out Deans Captain Tobias performance from 2007 or Ode to Per Questa from this years convention for more content from this excellent and multifacet …
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CBC 131: Jiri Slavik interview
Were featuring an interview with double bassist Jiri Slavik on Contrabass Conversations this week. Jiri is an extremely accomplished bassist in both jazz and classical styles, as you can see from his biography below, and he gave a truly mesmerizing performance at the 2009 International Society of Ba …
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CBC 130: P. Kellach Waddle interview
Were featuring composer and bassist P. Kellach Waddle on this weeks Contrabass Conversations episode. Actually, we have chatted about doing an interview since 2007, and we got a chance to do so at the 2009 International Society of Bassists Convention. P. Kellach Waddle has had a great deal of recogn …
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CBC 129: Steve LaSpina (video)
I got a chance to record double bassist Steve LaSpinas performance at the 2009 International Society of Bassists Convention, and I was really blown away by his great bass playing and te energy of his trio. About Steve: Steve LaSpina has been a prominent bassist on the New York and national scene for …
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CBC 128: David Allen Moore interview
Were featuring an interview with Los Angeles Philharmonic bassist and University of Southern California bass instructor David Allen Moore on the podcast this week. David also teaches bass during the summer at the Domaine Forget program in Quebec. In this interview, we chat about his early years on t …
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CBC 127: Harbison Concerto (video)
Were featuring a live performance of the Concerto for Bass Viol (sheet music link) by John Harbison. This piece was co-commissioned by 15 different orchestras and universities, all of which did a premiere of the work with their principal bassist or bass faculty member. This co-commissioning process …
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CBC 126: Art Davis retrospective
Were featuring a guest interview by bassist Tim Wolfe, Jr. interviewing his former teacher Jim Miller about Art Davis. Tim and Jim discuss Art Davis life, career, and pedagogical approach. They discuss Arts book and his four-finger approach to the double bass, among other subjects. Were also featuri …
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CBC 125: Dean Ferrell – Ode to Per Questa (video)
Double bassist Dean Ferrell is a performer that youve got to see to believe. Putting a label on what Dean does in simply impossiblethe best I can do is to call his performances historically informed alternate tuning performance art. Dean did an hour-long performance at the 2007 ISB Convention featur …
Contrabass Conversations
