Contrabass Conversations
Contrabass Conversations, produced by Double Bass HQ, features interviews and performances from leaders in the world of the double bass. Host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With over 3 million downloads, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum!
Episodes
Mark Bernat is a double bassist currently living in Austin, Texas. His groundbreaking recording and edition of the Six Bach Cello Suites were driving forces that led to their wider adoption in the double bass world.
Mark studied at Juilliard and is a former member of the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony, and the Seattle Symphony. He has taught at the Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Tex...
Margarethe Maierhofer-Lischka, born 1984 in Regensburg, is a double bassist, improviser, researcher, and sound artist. As an active ensemble musician, she collaborates with artists across disciplines to create performances, radio art, and sound installations. She is a member of several initiatives focusing on contemporary music, improvisation, and interdisciplinary art.
Nina Bernat is a double bass performer and educator based in New York City. In 2023, Nina was honored as a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the CAG Elmaleh Competition. Her recent first-prize awards include the Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition, the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the Juilliard Double Bass Competition, and the 2019 Inte...
Today's episode features a conversation with Gary Upton, the founder of Upton Bass. Since founding the company in 1999, Gary has built it into one of the most established and trusted names in the world of double bass.
Besides exploring the backstory of Upton Bass, we delve into their latest innovations, including amplifiers, strings, BuildBass.com and rosin. Enjoy...
Today's episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 International Society of Bassists Convention, taking place June 2-7 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU bass faculty members and convention hosts Rodney Jordan and George Speed join Jason to discuss organizing this event, share upcoming highlights, and preview what attendees can expect during the week. Enjoy!
Christopher Dammann is a Chicago-based composer and bassist whose sextet recently released its debut album.
Our conversation explores Christopher's journey from self-taught musician to Northwestern University bass student, examining how iconic Chicago venues like Velvet Lounge and Constellation shaped his artistry, ...
In today's podcast, we speak with Kathryn Schulmeister and Andrew Mell. Kathryn and Andrew joined the double bass faculty at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in fall 2023, where they recently hosted the inaugural Pacific Bass Day in January 2025.
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Today's podcast features a conversation with Nina DeCesare about The Artemis Bass Initiative, an organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women and nonbinary bassists through mentorship, orchestral training, and professional development.
We explore the origins of this project and discuss its key programs, i...
Adam Ben Ezra is a truly original voice on the double bass, and each new project of his is fascinating in its own right. His latest album, a collaboration with Cuban drummer Michael Olivera titled Heavy Drops, is no exception.
We explore Adam's life in the Portuguese countryside, the inspiration behind his latest al...
TianYang Liu currently teaches double bass at Beijing's Central Conservatory. He earned First Prize at the 2013 International Society of Bassists Competition and has garnered top honors in several other competitions, including Singapore's International Double Bass Competition and the San Francisco Conservatory's Concerto Competition. He regularly performs solo recitals across the United States and Asi...
Bruce Gertz is a jazz bassist, composer, and educator who has taught at the Berklee College of Music for nearly half a century. In addition to his numerous awards and recordings, Bruce developed musicsightreader.com, an Apple Books publication designed to develop sightreading skills through duets, trios, and quartets.
Javier Martin is a double bassist, teacher, and YouTuber based in Madrid, Spain. He began his double bass studies at age 8 at the Arturo Soria Professional Conservatory of Music with Professor José Antonio García Alamá.
He continued his advanced studies at the Katarina Gurska Higher Center with Professor Karen Marti...
Jake Thurston is a double bassist, educator, and YouTube content creator based in Boulder, Colorado. In this episode, we explore the story behind his YouTube channel, share insights about creating engaging content, and discuss how he balances content creation with performing and teaching.
Join Barry Green, Frank Proto, Debbie Taylor, and special guest Maggie Cox at their Bass Club Cincinnati live event honoring Francois Rabbath. This episode includes Zoom tributes from Gary Karr, Paul Ellison, Hal Robinson, Dennis Trembly, Patrick Neher, Johnny Hamil, and many more.
This episode also includes live performances from:
Today’s episode features Brazilian bassist and educator Alexandre Piazza. Alexandre was a bass teacher Saarbrücken, Germany and has a YouTube Channel with lessons on how to play acoustic and electric bass, equipment reviews, and videos about his life as a musician and music teacher in Germany and Brazil.
In today's episode, Yuka Tadano shares her musical journey. Starting with her current gigs, including a new Broadway show, "Swept Away,” and preparing for a cast album of "Suffs," she reflects on her extensive experience in musical theater.
Yuka discusses her involvement in several productions, including the Neil Diamond sho...
This episode is an in-depth and inspiring conversation with 2022 Sphinx Competition winner Kebra-Seyoun Charles (they/them), a classical bassist and composer renowned for overcoming barriers and diversifying the landscape of classical music.
As a modern virtuoso and composer of concerti, ballets, and pop ballads, Kebra's mus...
We take a look back at 2024 and discuss plans for 2025 in today’s episode.
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In this episode, acclaimed double bassist, composer, and arranger Sidney King discusses his busy fall filled with outreach events, master classes, and student recitals at the University of Louisville.
Sidney highlights his collaborations, notably with flamenco guitarist Gareth Jones, and shares insights into his compositions for orchestras, educational groups, a...
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