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We have been fortunate enough to have some of the industry’s most influential jazz bassists on the Contrabass Conversations podcast. From Chicago bassist Eric Hochberg to University of North Texas bassist Lynn Seaton, we’ve been able to get some great podcast interviews with these great artists.

As mentioned before in these “best of” features, we have many more jazz artists featured on the podcast than we’re listing here. Want to hear more? Just head on over to the Contrabass Conversations website and poke around in the right sidebar. You’ll find dozens of performances and interviews with many other jazz bassists:

Eric Hochberg A mainstay of the Chicago music scene for more than twenty years, Eric Hochberg has lent his bass work — both upright and electric — and an occasional trumpet lick, to a variety of projects across the realms of jazz, folk, rock and blues.

He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of Pharoah Sanders, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, Von Freeman, Chico Freeman, Ken Nordine, Cannonball Adderly, David Bromberg, Johnny Frigo, Howard Levy Quartet, Kurt Elling, Trio New, Tierny Sutton, Patricia Barber, Jackie Allen, Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman Quartet, Sam Rivers, Bobby Broom, Rick Margitza, Grazyna Augucik, Sheila Jordan, Alan Pasqua, Bob Sheppard, Mark Murphy, Randy Brecker, Terry Callier, Don Ellis, Larry Coryell Trio, Sonny Fortune Quartet, Fareed Haque, Lew Tabackin, Kahil El Zabar, Brian Lynch, Jon Faddis, Lester Bowie, Don Moye, Henry Butler, Frank Catalano, Chevere de Chicago, Mark Colby, Anthony Molinaro, Bonnie Koloc, Michal Urbaniak Quartet, Bill Holman, Jon Faddis, Joshua Redman, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Sonia Dada.

(listen to Eric Hochberg episodes)

Rufus Reid Rufus Reid is, without a doubt, one of the most influential bassists working in jazz today, and he has had a significant impact on double bass performance and pedagogy throughout his career. His book The Evolving Bassist was one of the earliest of the contemporary generation of double bass method books, and it continues to be a foundational text for double bass students. I recommend it to all of my students who are interested in jazz, and I use many of his exercises for arco study and sight reading practice even with students who only study classical music.

(listen to Rufus Reid episodes)

Lynn Seaton Born in Oklahoma in 1957, Lynn started playing the bass at age 9. By the late 70’s he was performing around the state. From 1980 until 1984 he was the house bassist at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati, accompanying big name guest soloists every week. In 1984, he joined Woody Herman and in 1985 he played with the Count Basie Orchestra. After a two-year engagement with the Basie Band, he did extended tours with Tony Bennett and George Shearing. Most of 1991 and 1992 was spent touring with Monty Alexander. Lynn spent a lot of time on the road as a member of the Jeff Hamilton Trio from 1995-1999. Since 1993, Lynn has also had a busy career free-lancing with many of the great jazz musicians from many generations, including: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Monty Alexander, Ernestine Anderson, Buck Clayton, Al Cohn, Kenny Drew Jr., Blossom Dearie, Bob Dorough, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Herb Ellis, John Fedchock, Frank Foster, Freddy Green, Tim Hagans, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Wynard Harper, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Marian McPartland, Jay McShann, Mark Murphy, Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jimmy Raney, Emily Remler, Diane Schuur, Maria Schneider, Bud Shank, Carol Sloane, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Maxine Sullivan, Mel Torme, Frank Wess, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Mark Vinci, and Teddy Wilson.

(listen to Lynn Seaton episodes)

Steve Rodby Rodby has played bass on every Pat Metheny Group record since 1980, co-produced the group’s last five albums and won 10 Grammy Awards with the group. He has toured with jazz greats Joe Henderson and Tony Bennett, and also works regularly as a producer.

(listen to Steve Rodby episodes)

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