I recently found this great video online featuring a performance of bass soloist and Contrabass Conversations guest François Rabbath’s composition Poucha Dass. This is a home recording by a user named tonibottesini. Very nice playing and camera work–let’s hope that this user keeps posting videos up for the bass community!
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A remarkable rendition of this hauntingly beautiful composition – how come you always pick YouTube’s cherries first, Jason? I always think of that one as the Oud-cum-blues piece among Rabbath’s solos. Therefore, I found it highly informative to learn the other day that not only he’s got a general knowledge of that instrument (which is most likely the case with anybody who grew up in Syria), but that he actually plays it.
It’s really nice that the camera is positioned so close to the instrument, making it easy to follow the movement of the bow. From a technical viewpoint, „Poucha Dass“ is to a large extent about string crossing, after all. And it’s great that the fine, but anonymous player should give us an opportunity to check how he (or she 😉 ?) approached the intricacies of the composition. The quasi ponticello effect demanded by the composer – to create that Oud-like sonority, I conjecture – is also executed flawlessly!
It’s always inspiring to see how people hear certain rhythmic details. In this case, I was always used to phrasing the 3-against-4 displacement (when the 16ths come in after roughly one third of the piece) a little bit differently, but I do like this interpretation, it certainly swings!
Still, why the completely self-effacing presentation? This is excellent bass playing! I hope „tonibottesini“ comes up with more material in due time.
Very fine playing, but, I cannot see how close to the bridge, so the whole thing about SP was not established, however it’s a wonderful piece.