Contrabass Conversations

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Music
**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:

263: the intriguing Jonathan Haskell Oct 21, 2016

Show notes

Jonathan Haskell may very well be the world's most interesting man.

He's a bassist. In a great orchestra: L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande in Switzerland.

Also, he's the president of the musician's union. An accomplished conductor. Fluent in multiple languages.

He is also the author of three murder mysteries centered around the orchestra.

Here's a link to the first five chapters of On the beat, a murder mystery involving an orchestra, a sadistic, villainous, and diabolical conductor, an undercover cop in the percussion section, and a Pirastro Flexocor E string as a murder weapon!

Set in Chicago and downstate Illinois, this book vividly brings back memories of my "old life" Road Warrioring it around Chicagoland.

Interested in reading more? Send Jonathan an email and let him know!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

Resources we covered in this interview:

On the beat by Jonathan Haskell (PDF - 5 chapter preview)

L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (website)

L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande (YouTube)

Jonathan Haskell on Discogs

The Compleat Conductor by Gunther Schuller

Twin Cities Bass Camp (from listener feedback)

Thanks to our sponsor!

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!

262: Allan Santos on finding your purpose Oct 19, 2016

Show notes

Allan Santos and I met 15 years ago at the Britt Festival in Oregon. I vividly recall drinking beer with him at the bar while Dave Anderson shot pool in the corner.

After studying with players like Shinji Eshima and John Hood, Allan had landed an orchestra gig in the Toledo Symphony.

The goal had been reached.

But Allan felt like things were at an 8 in his life. Not a 10.

What would a 10 look like?

Fast forward to the present, and Allan is on a totally different path. Allan left the Toledo Symphony several years ago. He became the #7 ranked yoga competitor in the nation (yes, we talk about this!).

He has now moved into Life Coaching. After reading my manifesto about my new direction in life, he reached out to me and we started talking.

He was tremendously helpful in helping me gain clarity about the next steps in my life. I'd never had conversations like this. He gave me strategies to obtain clarity and focus on what's actually important in any given moment.

The is a deep conversation for sure. I've never really put anything like this out on the podcast. My conversation with Trevor Jones might be the closest thing. But I know you'll enjoy it!

Resources we covered in this interview:

Allan Santos (Facebook)

Allan's email: allan@allanjaysantos.com

Documentary on Marshal Hawkins (Allan's first bass teacher)

Allan's yoga competition video

Martha Beck Institute (where Allan studied as a Life Coach)

Unemployment Never Sounded So Sweet (the post I wrote that put us back in touch)

Two book recommendations from Allan:

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Big Leap by Hendricks Gay

leave a review for Contrabass Conversations in iTunes!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

Thanks to our sponsor!

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

261: rob knopper is the auditionhacker Oct 17, 2016

Show notes

it would be sacrilege to use capital letters when writing about auditionhacker founder rob knopper.

rob plays percussion in the metropolitan opera orchestra. which is quite cool.

but rob also started auditionhacker, a site devoted to mastering the systems and processes required to win an audition.

we talk about:

rob's own auditioning experiences
his super-cool practice journal system
how to advance at an orchestra audition 101 (rob's free mini-course)
the audiitonhacker formula (8 module course)

this was a great conversation! you'll walk away loaded with new strategies for your next audition!

Subscribe to the podcast and get these interviews delivered to your mobile device!

From listener feedback:

10 Preparation Strategies I've Learned from Audition Winners (My AuditionCafe.org post)

Thanks to our sponsor!

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

260: Break into the Scene with Seth Hanes Oct 14, 2016

Show notes

Seth Hanes is a horn player, digital marketing consultant, and the author of the new book, Break into the Scene: A Musician's Guide to Making Connections, Creating Opportunities, and Launching a Career, which is available now on Amazon. If you want to check out some free email templates that will help you pick up gigs and some other bonuses, visit breakintothescene.com.

We talk:

how to get more gigs
working with contractors
how to market and self-promote
working for free as a tactic

Break into the Scene hit #1 in Amazon's music business category within days of its launch. Check it out--it's a great read and full of actionable advice!

Thanks to our sponsor!

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

259: Trevor Davis on his luthier path Oct 13, 2016

Show notes

Spread and focus.

That's what Trevor Davis thinks about as he makes his basses.

It's all in the arching. That's what makes an instrument sound great.

But Trevor didn't just magically know this from the start.

His tale is one of persistence and grit.

Carving scrolls during the night shift at 7-Eleven. Dragging his half-made first double bass back and forth across country. Making violins during the day and sleeping on the floor by his workbench at night.

But then...

Winning a certificate of workmanship at the 2013 International Society of Bassists Convention.

Getting hired at a luthier at Robertson & Sons Violin Shop.

How did he get from the night shift at 7-Eleven to making award-winning basses and working at one of the world's great instrument shops?

Listen and find out!

Thanks to our sponsor!

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

258: RCM International Double Bass Festival Preview Oct 12, 2016

Show notes

The first Royal College of Music International Double Bass Festival will be taking place on October 16, 2016. Gabriele Ragghianti, Dan Styffe, and Alberto Bocini discuss this exciting new event on today's episode.

This event is free and requires no tickets, so be sure to check it out if you can!

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

257: Sandor Ostlund on musical influences, practicing, and career possibilities Oct 10, 2016

Show notes

Our teachers shape us more than we realize. Having the right teacher is critical for achieving our goals.

Sandor Ostlund has had a staggering set of quality teachers throughout his life journey.

First, he studied with Hans Sturm. Then he worked with Richard Davis. From there, he found his way to Paris to study with François Rabbath. In Paris, he met Paul Ellison, with whom Sandor would study with for his DMA. In fact, Sandor was the first student to every receive his DMA with Paul at Rice University.

Talk about a great set of musical role models!

Sandor has gone on to have a major impact in the world of the double bass. He teaches bass at Baylor University, works as a clinician across the United States, and has released a fantastic solo album of new works for the double bass.

We dig into all kinds of topics:

how Sandor continues to find inspiration
lessons Sandor learned from Paul, François, Richard, and Hans
what to do if you only have an hour to practice
finding your path in the music world

…and much more!

Links:

Sandor's website

Leap of Faith (album)

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

256: Shinji Eshima on pit experiences, David Walter, and composing for the ballet Oct 06, 2016

Show notes

Most musicians don't have a day dedicated to them in their hometown.

Shinji Eshima does. In 2011, the city of Berkeley, California named the day December 6th Shinji Eshima Day, in his honor for his contributions to the arts.

Even fewer musicians play an instrument featured in a Degas painting.

But Shinji Eshima does. His Plumerel bass is the very same instrument painted by Degas in L'Orchestre de l'Opera.

Shinji's impact on the double bass world has been tremendous. He has performed with the San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera Orchestras for decades.

He teaches at San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His students have gone on to perform with the San Francisco Symphony, Utah Symphony, London Philharmonia, Montreal Symphony and the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam.

But Shinji is also a composer… and what a composer!

In 2011, the San Francisco Ballet commissioned him to write a ballet. RAkU was the result, and it has been performed across the globe by the San Francisco Ballet. RAkU has also joined the repertoire of The Joffrey Ballet. Swimmer, his third ballet for the San Francisco Ballet, premiered in 2015.

We talk about Shinji's early years on the instrument, studying with David Walter, performing in the pit, getting into composing, and much more!

Links to check out

If It's Tuesday it Must be Up-Bow from Soliloquy album (performed by Patrick Neher)

San Francisco Ballet in RAkU (YouTube)

RAkU: A Conversation with Shinji Eshima (YouTube)

Swimmer - ballet composed by Shinji Eshima (YouTube)

Shinji's 1843 Plumerl double bass as portrayed by Degas in Orchestra of the Opera

Listener feedback links:

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

255: Frank Proto on jazz influences, bebop violin, and deadlines Oct 03, 2016

Show notes

Jazz is Frank Proto's native language.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Frank spent his days studying with Fred Zimmermann and his nights hanging out at Birdland.

I love hearing Frank describe what it was like studying with Fred. In fact, Frank's lesson slot was right after Charles Mingus.

Talk about being a part of jazz history!

Frank's journey from the jazz clubs of New York City to the Cincinnati Symphony is remarkable...and that's putting it mildly!

Here are just a few of his many career highlights:

Bassist and composer-in-residence for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Over 20 large-scale works premiered by CSO
Countless shorter works and arrangements premiered by CSO
Over 400 performances of Carmen Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra
Over 500 performances of Casey at the Bat
Composed music for Dave Brubeck, Eddie Daniels, Duke Ellington, Cleo Laine, Benjamin Luxon, Sherill Milnes, Gerry Mulligan, Roberta Peters, François Rabbath, Ruggerio Ricci, Doc Severinsen, Richard Stoltzman and Lucero Tena

I could go on and on.

Frank has impacted the world of the double bass immensely.

But he has gone way beyond that.

Best of all, he hasn't slowed down. In fact, he is continuing to explore new ideas and unexpected collaborations.

I can't wait to see what he does next.

Links to check out:

Frank Proto on Wikipedia

Liben Music (Frank's publishing company)

Brandeis Jazz Festival - Fred Zimmermann, Charles Mingus, Gunther Schuller, George Russell

Brandeis Jazz Festival (YouTube)

All About Rosie (YouTube)

Harry Lookofsky: Stringsville

'Round Midnight - Harry Lakoofsky performance (YouTube)

Music featured in this episode (all written by Frank)

Sonata No. 2 - with Catalin Rotaru
Sonata No. 3 - with Szymon Marciniak
Sketches of Gershwin - with Eddie Daniels
String Quartet No. 1
Duo for Viola and Double Bass
My Name is Citizen Soldier
Variations on Dixie
Ghost in Machine

Thanks to our sponsor!

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

254: Craig Butterfield on careers, ProTools, and American roots music Sep 29, 2016

Show notes

Craig Butterfield loved Edgar Meyer's bass playing ever since discovering it.

Lately, he has been following in Edger's footsteps. Performing American roots music with mandolinist Jesse Jones is now a key creative outlet.

Craig also teaches at the University of South Carolina. He shows young bassists how to hone their technique to explore creative new paths.

But that's not it.

Craig also loves recording. He mixes and masters his own recordings in ProTools. His popular YouTube overdub videos have gotten tens of thousands of views.

We talk about: