Best Stringbass Podcasts (2024)

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1058: Into the Light with Sasha Witteveen 38:02

1h ago38:02

38:02

photo credit: Marco Borggreve This episode features a conversation with Sasha Witteveen, who recently released her debut album titled ‘…Into the Light.’ We dig into the creative process behind the album, upcoming concerts, including her upcoming Concertgebouw recital featuring the 'Alice in Wonderland Suite' and Bottesini pieces with a mix of visua…

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1057: From Naples to Berlin with Giuseppe Bottiglieri 47:41

5d ago47:41

47:41

Giuseppe Bottiglieri's musical journey spans from his early years in Naples, Italy, where he transitioned from guitar to double bass, to his career development playing on cruise ships and exploring jazz and contemporary music. Currently based in Berlin, Bottiglieri focuses on solo bass performances and experiments with electronics, drawing inspirat…

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1056: Mark Morton and his awesome books 28:58

36m ago28:58

28:58

In this engaging conversation, Mark Morton shares updates on his well-known educational series for bass, including revisions to his study books on scales, arpeggios, and technical exercises. We reflect on the evolution of bass pedagogy, the influence of past mentors, and the importance of making instructional materials accessible. We also delve int…

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1055: Audition prep with Brendan Fitzgerald 1:06:24

9m ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Join Brendan Fitzgerald, Assistant Principal Double Bass for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as he shares his comprehensive approach to preparing for and succeeding in orchestra auditions. From practicing at half tempo and balancing practice with a full-time job to managing nerves with beta-blockers, Brendan covers all aspects of his preparation …

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1054: Exploring the Rhythms of Tango with Pascale Delache Feldman, Emmanuel Feldman, and Victor Cayres 28:20

13d ago28:20

28:20

In this episode, Pascale Delache Feldman, Emmanuel Feldman, and Victor Cayres discuss their newly released tango album, 'Let's Tango.' The conversation dives into the intricacies of tango music, its cultural roots, and the creative process behind their collaboration. With stories about their musical journeys, unique tango techniques, and the joy of…

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1053: Exploring Jazz Innovations with Bassist Richard Andersson 27:29

1M ago27:29

27:29

In this conversation, Richard Andersson discusses his new album WAW!, recent touring experiences, and his unique collaborations with Carl Winther and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts. He recounts his musical journey from starting with the piano to becoming a professional bassist following a life-changing accident. Highlighting his interdisciplinary projects, such…

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1052: Daniel Kimbro's solo album 'Carpet in the Kitchen' 56:01

23d ago56:01

56:01

In this episode, acclaimed bassist Daniel Kimbro reflects on his experiences as a touring artist and the challenges of maintaining routine and mental well-being on the road. Daniel recalls significant moments from his musical journey, including his collaborations with Jerry Douglas and Tommy Emmanuel. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounde…

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1051: Alessandro Fongaro on his journey from Italy to the Netherlands 41:09

22d ago41:09

41:09

In this episode, Alessandro Fongaro shares his fascinating journey from Italy to the Netherlands, where he fell in love with the vibrant jazz scene. He discusses his extensive experience with orchestral and jazz music, his shift from playing bass guitar to double bass, and his passion for composing. Alessandro also touches upon his involvement in R…

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1050: Ben Ticknor on Never Come Down 57:46

2M ago57:46

57:46

We’re excited to introduce our podcast guest for today, Ben Ticknor! A versatile artist, Ben is the bassist for the band Never Come Down who recently released their new album. He's not just an accomplished musician but also an educator, having studied bass under Jeff Johnson at Portland State University. Currently, he's the Principal Bass of the Or…

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1049: Renata Soares Caceres on Bass Bites 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

In this episode, we're excited to bring you a conversation with Dr. Renata Soares Cáceres. Originally from Brazil, Renata began her journey in music as an electric bassist at age 11. She has since studied and performed in the US, obtaining a Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, an Artist Diploma Certificate from Texas Christ…

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1048: Peter Dominguez on The Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

On this episode, we welcome accomplished bassist and Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Peter Dominguez. Peter started his career in Milwaukee and has also taught at Michigan State University, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and performed with various artists globally. Peter's contributions include …

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1047: Mike Gaisbacher on bowmaking 42:10

2M ago42:10

42:10

Our guest, Mike Gaisbacher, is a Nashville-based bow maker who specializes in bass bows. He started his journey in bow making in 2022 after graduating from Berklee in 2015 and learning how to rehair from Sue Lipkins. Mike has since dedicated himself to perfecting the craft, studying with experts like Sue Lipkins, Matt Wheling, and attending Rodney …

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1046: Sam Suggs on his double bass journey 39:38

2M ago39:38

39:38

Sam Suggs is the first solo bassist in 36 years to join the Concert Artists Guild roster, and was recently recognized with an award for Extraordinary Creativity at the 2017 Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Competition. We dig into his unique path from a strong piano background in Buffalo, through Northwestern University, where he stud…

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1045: Stephanie Patterson on the value of community orchestras 1:09:28

2M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

Stephanie Patterson specializes in teaching adult learners and has been playing in community orchestras for decades. We talk about the joys and community benefits of participating in community orchestras, Stephanie's role in the Abington Festival Strings, and highlight various community orchestra activities and events, including rehearsals, concert…

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1044: Robin Kesselman on Bow Speed Geography 49:42

3M ago49:42

49:42

Robin Kesselman is the author of Bow Speed Geography, which elegantly explores concepts of bow speed geography in string playing, focusing on the importance of evenness in bow speed, control, and the application of bow speed. We dig into life for Robin in the eight years since our past interview, the inspiration behind the book, and all kinds of to…

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1043: Paul Thompson on the evolution of pdbass 53:05

3M ago53:05

53:05

Paul Thompson is a bassist and educator in the Pittsburgh metro area. He also runs a successful YouTube Channel under the name pdbass. This interview discusses content creation challenges, audience management, social media usage, balancing creative goals with audience expectations, and YouTube's influence on careers. It emphasizes music passion, co…

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1042: Carlos Pino and Dana Saba on Between the Bass 44:07

4M ago44:07

44:07

In this episode, we delve into a fascinating conversation with Dana Saba David from Israel and Carlos Pino from Colombia, the duo behind the bass duet Between the Bass. They share their unique approach to the double bass and electric bass, blending tradition with innovation in a way that redefines the possibilities of these instruments. Thank…

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1041: Peter Doubrovsky and Brandino on 5 string double basses 47:05

3M ago47:05

47:05

Peter Doubrovsky and Brandino are both renowned musicians and fans of the 5-string double bass. Peter Doubrovsky, aside from his work with the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestra, is a highly sought-after recording musician. His illustrious career spans over twenty years, during which he has recorded for countless feature film soundtracks. Some no…

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1040: Alejandro Arenas on jazz gigging and teaching 45:10

4M ago45:10

45:10

Alejandro Arenas is a versatile musician, composer, producer, and educator who has performed with various bands and genres, co-founded award-winning Jazz ensemble La Lucha and World Music ensemble Orilla, and worked as a freelance bassist for numerous artists. He also serves as an adjunct professor of bass at St. Petersburg College for the Music In…

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1039: Mark Dresser on Tines of Change 43:01

4M ago43:01

43:01

Mark Dresser is a Grammy-nominated, internationally renowned bass player, improviser, composer, and interdisciplinary collaborator. At the core of his music is an artistic obsession and commitment to expanding the sonic, musical, and expressive possibilities of the contrabass. He has recorded over one hundred forty CDs including three solo CDs and …

1
1038: Gustavo Lorenzatti on tango bass and composition 36:45

4M ago36:45

36:45

Gustavo Lorenzatti is an Argentine double bass player, composer and long standing member of the Symphony Orchestra of Córdoba. He has a background in jazz, improvised and classical music, tango and Argentine folklore. He formally studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory of music with the soloist of the Netherlands Philharmonic, Hans Roelofsen. We dig …

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1037: Anne Luna on bluegrass bass 55:02

5M ago55:02

55:02

Anne Luna recently launched a series on her YouTube Channel called Bass Bites, which explore various aspects of double bass technique. Anne is an experienced performer and educator with an extensive background in bluegrass, and these videos are a great exploration into her approach to teaching the bass. We talk about her aspiration for the channel,…

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1036: Matt Rybicki on learning jazz bass 1:02:09

5M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Matt Rybicki has performed with renowned artists like Wynton Marsalis and played at esteemed venues from The Village Vanguard to international concert halls. He balances an active performance schedule with his roles as a faculty member at The Juilliard School and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Matt recently started a YouTube Channel …

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1035: Dominik Wagner on his double bass journey 58:21

5M ago58:21

58:21

Dominik Wagner is one of the world’s leading double bassists and has built a remarkable career as a soloist and educator. He has begun hosting long-form interviews on his YouTube Channel with bassists such as Christoph Wimmer and Jeff Bradetich. We cover Dominik’s latest projects, the inspiration for these long-form interviews, working through foca…

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1034: Adnata Ensemble on their bass quartet album 39:52

5M ago39:52

39:52

Bassists Ari Folman-Cohen, Michael Isvara Montgomery, Ran Livneh, and Scott Colberg make up the Adnata Ensemble, which has just released their debut album Oku. We dig into the story behind this bass quartet, coming together in the park in 2020, how these collaborations led to this album, and much more. Check out Oku here, and be sure to give this q…

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1033: Sam Loeck on his audition path 1:01:56

5M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Sam Loeck has recently been appointed Principal Bass of Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra. Prior to this position, he served as Principal Bass of the Calgary Philharmonic. He was also a finalist and trialist for Principal Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. We dig into Sam’s path into the world of double bass and his auditioning journey, e…

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1032: Stephen Tramontozzi on Basso Novo 18:26

5M ago18:26

18:26

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Stephen Tramontozzi's new solo double bass album, Basso Novo. Tramontozzi shares the three-fold mission behind the album: to uncover and bring to light underappreciated works for the double bass, to transcribe works from other instruments for the double bass, and to commission new works for the inst…

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Bonus: Szymon Marciniak on The Hertl Project 22:12

6M ago22:12

22:12

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1031: Lauren Pierce on Basstudes 30:06

6M ago30:06

30:06

Lauren Pierce recently released Basstudes, a series of 16 etudes organized around bowing, left hand technique, and right and left-hand coordination. We dig into the inspiration behind this project, her accompanying audio guides, and much more. Enjoy, and be sure to check out more titles from Lauren on DBHQ and also give her a follow on Instagram. S…

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1030: Sean Michael Casey on Progressive Orchestral Excerpts 44:10

6M ago44:10

44:10

Sean Michael Casey has just released A Progressive Guide to Orchestral Excerpts for the Double Bass, which is a step-by-step method for teaching the fundamentals of good orchestral double bass playing. Sean Michael Casey is a bass teacher in the greater Seattle-Tacoma region, offering lessons to students of all ages and experience. After ten years …

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1029: Jordyn Davis on Compose the Way 49:09

7M ago49:09

49:09

Jordyn Davis, a multi-talented bassist, composer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, MI, is the first African-American woman to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from Michigan State University. She also earned a Master's in Jazz Studies from the same university. In 2021, after moving to Brooklyn, NY, she was hono…

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1028: Jacob Warren on his Debussy Cello Sonata transcription 38:08

6M ago38:08

38:08

Jacob Warren has just released his transcription of the Debussy Cello Sonata, which was the main piece on his competition winning program at the 2023 International Society of Bassists Convention. This transcription is a notable new addition to the double bass repertoire and a great opportunity to explore the music of this great composer. We talk ab…

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1027: Mark Foley on his Double Bass Concerto 35:30

7M ago35:30

35:30

Dr. Mark Foley is Professor of Double Bass and Electric Bass at Wichita State University is the Principal Double Bass for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He's also a key figure in Wichita's jazz scene, collaborating with local and national artists, and has performed as a concerto soloist. Mark also engages in rock gigs, bluegrass sessions at the Wa…

1
1026: Only Girl in the Orchestra 26:52

7M ago26:52

26:52

In this episode, we delve into Only Girl in the Orchestra, a new documentary directed by Molly O’Brien about the life and career of trailblazer Orin O’Brien, the first female musician in the New York Philharmonic. Despite the spotlight her unique position brought, Orin always preferred playing a supporting role to her family, students, friends, and…

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1025: Michael Bates on Lutoslawski 44:11

8M ago44:11

44:11

Michael Bates recently released an album titled Metamorphosis: Variations on Lutoskawski. This album contains Michael’s arrangements and is based on arrangements of the composer Witold Lutoslawski, with music for clarinet, violin, bassoon, double bass, drums, plus string quartet. It’s a hybrid of jazz, classical, and improvisation and is a wild rid…

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1024: Hein Van de Geyn on his jazz bass journey 55:25

8M ago55:25

55:25

Hein van de Geyn is jazz double bassist, composer, teacher and band leader from the Netherlands. His groundbreaking Comprehensive Bass Method has influenced a generation of bassists and is widely regarded as one of the leading pedagogical works for jazz double bass. We talk about Hein’s remarkable career, his time in San Francisco, writing his bass…

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1023: Thoughts on 2023 and beyond 19:03

8M ago19:03

19:03

Jason selects on 2023 and plans for 2024 in this “solo rant.” Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Connect with us: all things double bass double bass merch double bass sheet music Overview theme music by Eric Hochberg 00:00 Introduction and Reflections on Solo Shows 01:35 Moving to California and Weather…

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1022: Steve Husted on San Francisco, Austin, and his new album 1:05:01

8M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

Steve Husted began his musical journey at the ripe old age of 6. From there he was always involved in everything musical from school band to private instruction to playing local parties for friends. At age 15, Steven moved from CT. to San Francisco, where he jumped head first into the study of jazz. By the time Steven was 23, he was one of the top …

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1021: Sonia Ray on her creative double bass career 43:10

9M ago43:10

43:10

Sonia Ray is titular professor of double bass at the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil). She holds an undergraduate degree in Conducting and Composition from the State University of São Paulo and master's and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Iowa, both in Double Bass Performance under Dr. Gannett. Ray performs regularly performing both Bra…

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1020: Gregg Goodhart on practicing and improvement 51:29

9M ago51:29

51:29

Gregg Goodhart has a passion for teaching others how to learn so they can surpass their perceived limitations. This passion led to an intense interest in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience and psychology as they relate to teaching. By putting these principles into practical use in the classroom over many years, he has come to an understanding of…

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1019: Cécile-Laure Kouassi on her EP Beaux Jours 20:03

9M ago20:03

20:03

Oslo Philharmonic bassist Cécile-Laure Kouassi recently released an EP titled Beaux Jours. This album features two arrangements by Cécile-Laure as well as two original works for double bass and piano. We talk about this project and much more in this engaging conversation. Check out the new album on Spotify and visit her website for her arrangements…

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1018: Drew Banzhaf on his audition path to the Malmö Symphony 1:12:13

10M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Drew Banzhaf won the audition for Associate Principal Bass Malmö Symphony in 2023. He spent three years as a guest musician of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has regularly appeared with renowned orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra. Drew was also a New World Symphony Fellow for…

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1017: Gregg August on balancing jazz, classical, and composition 1:08:17

10M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Gregg August is a New York double bassist who successfully balances careers in classical and jazz music, as well as composition. He is member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Associate), the American Composers Orchestra, Westchester Philharmonic and Orchestra of St. Luke’s. He is also an active composer and performer in avant-garde, jazz and Latin…

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1016: Kostas Patsiotis on Greece and October 45:56

10M ago45:56

45:56

Greek bassist Kostas Patsiotis recently released his solo debut album October, which was recorded in a single day at Antart Studios in Athens and features Yiannis Papadopoulos on piano, Michael Tsiftis on guitar and Dimitris Klonis on drums. We talk about what it’s like being a jazz bassist in Greece, how Kostas got into bass playing, his gear, wha…

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1015: Jesse Dietschi on balancing jazz and classical playing 1:01:38

10M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Jesse Dietschi recently released Gradient, his debut album with fellow Toronto musicians Ethan Ardelli (drums) and Ewen Farncombe (piano). This album has been getting considerable acclaim and will be featured in the Debut Album Reviews section of the December 2023 edition of DownBeat Magazine, along with numerous radio programs throughout North Ame…

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1014: Joseph Whitt on a career as a military bassist 59:00

11M ago59:00

59:00

Technical Sergeant Joseph Whitt is the bassist for the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to joining the Band of the Pacific, he was stationed at the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and at the United States Air Forces in Europe Band at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. We di…

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1013: Marty Isenberg on "The Way I Feel Inside" - Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson 54:29

11M ago54:29

54:29

Marty Isenberg recently released his debut album "The Way I Feel Inside" - Inspired by the films of Wes Anderson, and it has been getting great press. In this interview, we chat with Marty about his life in music, his career as a jazz bassist, the inspiration for this album, and much more. We also bring up a great interview that Marty also did for …

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1012: Phoebe Russell on Smash Your Audition 50:26

11M ago50:26

50:26

Phoebe Russell is Principal Bass for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She recently released a course on Discover Double Bass titled Smash Your Audition. We released a YouTube video digging into this course, and in this podcast we cover Phoebe’s tips for preparing orchestral excerpts, what it was like to put all of her knowledge into a video cours…

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1011: Bobby Scharmann on winning an orchestra audition 1:03:02

11M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Bobby Scharmann is Associate Principal Bass with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and has been documenting his audition journey and what he has learned through the 24 professional orchestra auditions he took. We last had Bobby on the podcast in 2020, and it was great to catch up with him and dig into his preparation process and what it was like landing…

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1010: Lorraine Chai on music theory for young double bassists 38:25

11M ago38:25

38:25

Lorraine Chai is the author of Stringstastic, a set of music theory books for double bass and the other string instruments. We talk about these cool books, both of which are available through Amazon. Enjoy! Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Connect with us: all things double bass double bass merch doub…

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