Contrabass Conversations

 

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It is a real pleasure to be able to put out this interview with University of North Texas and Cleveland Institute of Music faculty member Jeff Bradetich. Jeff was a huge influence on my early development, and I continue to use the principles he taught me in my own teaching and performing each and every day.

We get really “inside baseball” on some technical considerations for the bass in this interview, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy, and we also feature a track of Jeff performing the Czardas by Vittorio Monti from his excellent album Portraits. We’ll conclude this interview in the next few weeks and really get into Jeff’s exciting new double bass foundation, which you can learn more about at www.bradetichfoundation.org. Enjoy!

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We’ve finally reached 100 episodes of Contrabass Conversations! In this special episode, we hear how many of our guests from our first two years of podcasting began playing the bass.

Today, you’ll be hearing excerpts from the following guests. Complete episodes featuring all of these guests (and many more!) can be found at the Contrabass Conversations website, along with complete biographies and links to guest websites:

1. Andy Anderson - Lyric Opera of Chicago

2. Phillip Serna - teacher and early music specialist

3. John Grillo - former New World Symphony, co-host of CBC

4. Bjorn Berkhout - composer

5. Kate Nettleman - principal bass of Hong Kong Philharmonic, newest member of Minnesota Orchestra

6. Weldon Anderson - freelance bassist and composer

7. Ira Gold - National Symphony

8. Francois Rabbath - soloist

9. Greg Sarchet - Lyric Opera of Chicago

10. Lawrence Hurst - Indiana University bass professor

11. Eric Hochberg - jazz bassist

12. Michael Hovnanian - Chicago Symphony

13. Rob Kassinger - Chicago Symphony

14. Jeff Turner - Pittsburgh Symphony

15. Ranaan Meyer - Time for Three

16. Guy Tuneh - soloist and chamber musician

17. Peter Tambroni - teacher and author

18. Colin Corner - former member Minnesota Orchestra

19. Brad Opland - Chicago Symphony

20. Scott Rosenthal - Theater/Broadway musician

21. Donovan Stokes - soloist and professor

22. Virginia Dixon - Suzuki bass

23. Peter Seymour - Project bassist, former New World Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra

24. Steve Reinfranck - luthier and teacher

25. Owen Lee - Cincinnati Symphony

26. Steve Rodby - Pat Metheney bassist

27. Lynn Seaton - jazz bassist, UNT jazz bass professor

28. Anthony Stoops - soloist and professor

29. Chris Threlkeld-Weigand - luthier

30. Barrie Kolstein - luthier

31. Dave Anderson - Louisiana Philharmonic, composer

32. Kristin Korb - jazz bassist and vocalist

33. Barry Lieberman - University of Washington, former L.A. Philharmonic

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We’re featuring an interview with San Diego Symphony Principal Bass Jeremy Kurtz on this week’s episode. Jeremy was a student of Hal Robinson at Curtis and Tim Pitts at Rice University, and he also spent two years in the New World Symphony prior to his appointment with the San Diego Symphony. His solo album Sonatas and Meditations, which will be will be available by the time you hear this episode, can be purchased through the new International Society of Bassists store at www.ISBstore.com. You can learn more about Jeremy at his website jeremykurtz.com.

Tracks from Sonatas and Meditations featured:

David Anderson Sonata for Double Bass and Piano Luis Prado Meditation 1

About Our Sponsor:

The String Emporium specializes in upright, double basses. They pride themselves on offering only the very best upright basses. Whether you are looking for the finest antique bass, a new carved bass, or even entry level student basses, they have the best basses and the most affordable prices found anywhere. They also sell bass covers, flight cases, bows and bass related accessories. Check them out online at www.stringemporium.com.

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This fascinating bass sonata clocks in at almost 40 minutes (!) and was written by Marshall Fine for double bassist John Chiego.

John Chiego, bass

Deborah Heath, piano

recorded live at the University of Memphis

2/14/98

1. Homage to A.T. (13:06)

2. Scherzo: La Vendetta (5:12)

3. Warrington-Variations (20:55)

About Marshall Fine:

Currently Assistant Principal Violist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Marshall Fine is a versatile composer/performer who plays both violin and viola with equal facility. His output includes three symphonies, an oratorio, La Dolorosa, a violin concerto, and many sonatas (six for viola, three for violin). He received his DMA in 1990 from the University of Memphis. In addition to his orchestra position, he also arranges for his string quartet, the Bluff City String Quartet, and for other ensembles.

This sonata was written for John Chiego, former principal bass of the Memphis Symphony, who is currently professor of double bass at the University of Memphis.

About John Chiego:

Mr. John Chiego, is Professor of Double Bass and the Associate Director for Curriculum and Instruction in the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. Mr. Chiego currently serves as the Principal Bass of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and is the bassist for the Orpheum Theatre Orchestra in Memphis, playing for touring Broadway shows. He was the long time Principal Bass of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and served on the faculties of the Hot Springs Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, the Allegheny Summer Music Festival, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts. He has also been an Artist-in-Residence at the Bay View Chamber Music Festival. As a recitalist and clinician, Mr. Chiego has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, with featured solo recitals at the Edinburgh International Double Bass Festival and The International Society of Bassists’ worldwide convention in Houston, Texas. A champion of modern instruments, Mr. Chiego recorded his first CD, It’s a Bass Thing, featuring a double bass built by Thomas Kelischek. Mr. Chiego currently plays instruments made by American bass maker Rumano Solano exclusively. Mr. Chiego has been a member of the editorial board for The American String Teacher magazine, a journal for which he has written articles on double bass pedagogy and technique, and has served as Tennessee Chapter President of the American String Teachers Association. Mr. Chiego is the author of The Musical Experience, a popular textbook for introductory music courses currently being used by colleges and universities across the United States.

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We’ve got a real treat for you this week on Contrabass Conversations. I got this great footage from the CBS archives from bassist Eric Rath. This is a special from Camera 3 filmed in 1969 about Gary Karr. You’ll get a chance to hear Gary perform, chat about the bass, and play in some truly unusual contexts, including the most unique version of the Eccles Sonata that I’ve ever heard with bass legend Richard Davis!

Video Download Link - (MP4 160 MB)

This episode is sponsored by The String Emporium

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We’re featuring two tracks from Contrabass Conversations contributor Kells Nollenberger and his new album with the Kaleidoscope Trio. Kells also has a podcast called The Jazz Exchange and guest hosted an interview with Steve Rodby for us in the past.

We’ll be hearing the first and last tracks from their new album Map to the Ocean, which is available as a free download on the Jazz Exchange website here. If you enjoy this music, please consider making a donation to the Kaleidoscope Trio, which you can do on the page where you download the album. This model of distribution is going to become more and more common in the coming years, and the way to ensure that artists like these continue to great new material is to give them some support, both with a little cash and by checking them out when they perform live.

Tracks performed:

• Horizon
• 19th Century Photograph

This episode is sponsored by The String Emporium

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We hope you enjoyed last week’s episode featuring the music of bassist Matt Weiner and ukulele player Del Rey. I think that this duo rocks, and I hope you enjoyed hearing those tracks from them.

This week, we’re featuring another all-music episode. I’m pleased to bring you some tracks from The Bass Gang, one of the most virtuosic, astounding, and entertaining bass quarters of all time.

Before we get into the music, we’d like to mention our sponsor for this show:

The String Emporium specializes in upright, double basses. They pride themselves on offering only the very best upright basses. Whether you are looking for the finest antique bass, a new carved bass, or even entry level student basses, they have the best basses and the most affordable prices found anywhere. They also sell bass covers, flight cases, bows and bass related accessories. Check them out online at www.stringemporium.com.

1. Jump (Van Halen)
2. Whiter Shade of… Bach (Procol Harum)
3. Pulp Bass
4. Black Cat White Cat

Be sure to visit them online at thebassgang.org, where you can check out even more tunes from them on their site.

We’ll be recording an interview with San Diego Symphony principal bassist Jeremy Kurtz this week. Jeremy is releasing his first solo album this fall, and we’ll we chatting about this release, life in the San Diego Symphony, and much more, so stay tuned for that in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

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Eclectic Bass 3 - bass and ukulele music

Today we’re featuring some tracks by Matt Weiner on double bass and Del Ray on ukulele from their album At The Ukeshack #1. We’ll first hear Pixie Trance, followed by Brazilian Tune, and wrap up the show today with Doin’ The Frog. Check them out online at myspace.com/matthewweiner, and stay tuned next week for some listner feedback and more content from Contrabass Conversations.

Musical Guest: Matthew Weiner

visit him online at www.myspace.com/matthewweiner

Music Performed (order album here):

• Pixie Trance
• Brazilian Tune
• Doin’ The Frog

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We’re concluding our interview with double bass soloist and University of Texas-Austin bass professorDaXun Zhang today, as well as featuring more tracks from this stellar musician. Check out episode 92 for the first part of this interview.

Along with the conclusion of our interview, we’ll be featuring DaXun performing a very cool Chinese piece for bass called Sun SHines on Taxkorgan. It’s available on his self-titled solo album, which you can learn more about at his website. DaXun is also professor of double bass at the University of Texas-Austin, so check out their website if you’d like to learn more about studying with him, and be sure to visit daxunzhang.com for more about this great artist. Enjoy!

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