Contrabass Conversations

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**Contrabass Conversations**

Contrabass Conversations features interviews and performances from top leaders in the world of the double bass. Podcast host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With 2 million downloads and counting, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum!

Latest Episodes:

344: what David Arend does to stand out from the crowd May 11, 2017

Show notes

David Arend is active as a classical, jazz, hip hop, singer/songwriter and electroacoustic musician.

We cover:

what David has done to stand out from the crowd
how his studies at Oberlin propelled him into unexpected musical paths
his compositional process
how he elicits creativity

Follow along with all of our jazz content at contrabassconversations.com/jazz!

Links to check out:

David's website
Ego is the Enemy (a book we reference)

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

343: why Matt Ulery started his own record label May 10, 2017

Show notes

Matt Ulery is a jazz bassist, bandleader, and composer based in Chicago, Illinois. He recently released his seventh album and has started his own record label.

We dig into:

the Chicago jazz scene
how Matt integrates various projects to make a living as a creative artist,
social media and its challenges

...and much more!

Follow along with all of our jazz content at contrabassconversations.com/jazz!

Links to check out:

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

342: where Normand Guilbeault's creativity has led him May 09, 2017

Show notes

Normand Guilbeault has been active on the Montreal jazz scene since the mid-80's and works in an incredibly wide variety of genres.

We dig into a ton of topics, like:

Normand's aboriginal music roots, French-Canadian plus aboriginal roots
Jack Kerouac and the beat generation spirit
how gravitating toward poets and writers changes your musical outlook
creativity and how it manifests itself

Follow along with all of our jazz content at contrabassconversations.com/jazz!

Links to check out:

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

341: how Bob Nieske teaches the bass May 08, 2017

Show notes

Bob Nieske teaches at Brandeis University and the New England Conservatory. He has worked with George Russell, Stephane Grappelli, and many other jazz luminaries. As bassist, composer, and bandleader, his projects include a suite for his jazz trio, and the Lydian String Quartet, documented on his critically acclaimed CD Simplicity.

We dig into many topics, including:

why we shouldn't be watching the left hand as we play
intonation and the jazz bassist
Bob's journey from bass to tuba to composition to classical guitar and finally back to bass
George Russell and how he looked at modes
linear lines through the chord changes and getting away from being so root-bound
Brandeis jazz band shirts - front says "what if?" and back says "why not?"

Follow along with all of our jazz content at contrabassconversations.com/jazz!

Links to check out:

Bob's Bass Book (free and full of great content)
Maine Jazz Camp (where Bob teaches in the summer)

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

340: Dr. Don Greene on peak performance May 04, 2017

Show notes

Dr. Don Greene is a sports psychologist and performance coach who has who has taught at The Juilliard School, New World Symphony, and The Colburn School.

In 2016, Dr. Greene's students won positions with the San Francisco Opera, Montreal Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, National Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, his clients won 14 medals including 5 gold.

We cover topics like:

Don's journey from the world of sports psychology into working with performing artists
the latest research in muscle memory and myelination
negative reinforcement and how it's baked into much of classical music training
mental rehearsal and visualization
the five pillars of centering

My longtime collaborator John Grillo and I chat with Don in this wide-ranging and fascinating conversation.

Links to check out:

Peak Performance Training School
Don's TED-Ed video (over 1.3 million views)

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

339: Inside the 2017 ISB Convention with Nicholas Walker May 02, 2017

Show notes

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

Links to check out:

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

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

338: Dr. Randy Kertz on injury prevention May 01, 2017

Show notes

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.

Links to check out:

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

337: Clair Condit on Marketing Yourself Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

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!

Links to check out:

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

336: Practicing Technique - Advice from the Masters Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

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.

Resources covered:

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

Past compilation episodes:

Past Guests Quoted:

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

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

335: Paul Cannon on contemporary music, Frank Zappa, and opportunities Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

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.

We dig into:

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

Links to check out:

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

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

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

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