Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog » events

Golden Gate Bass Camp Skype Masterclasses – great idea!

Jason — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

I got the opportunity this past Friday to participate as a clinician in a Skype master class for the Golden Gate Bass Camp in San Francisco. I was the fourth of five master classes, and the line-up was as follows:

TUESDAY: July 20th: 4:00 p.m. (check in 3:00 p.m.) Sonia Ray: Brazil
WEDNESDAY: July 21st: 1:30 (check in 1:00 p.m.) Diana Gannett: Michigan
THURSDAY: July 22st: 1:30 p.m. (check in 1:00) Lu Yuan: China
FRIDAY : July 23rd 2:00 p.m. (check in 1:00) Jason Heath: Chicago
SATURDAY: July 24th 11:30 a.m. (check in 11:00) Michael Klinghofer: Israel

What a cool idea to incorporate this into a bass camp! We did some live blogging and virtual master classes for the 2009 International Society of Bassists Convention, but if the ambition of these sessions is any indicator, we’ll be having a whole lot more of this at the 2011 convention in San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bass Camp is a very cool event, and if you’d like to learn more about it (or about Barry Green, the director for the camp), check out the interview with Barry Green that I did for Contrabass Conversations earlier this year. While you’re at it, check out this mini-episode with Barry covering some details about the 2011 ISB convention.

New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago performs July 25

Jason — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:00:00 +0000

The New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago will be at The Morton Arboretum for two performances July 25 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is a great setting for a concert, and it’s great to see a new orchestra doing performances in these “troubled economic times,” right?

They’ll be performing the opening movement of Beethoven’s 5th symphony, opera arias from Carmen, a Rossini overture, and more.The innovative orchestra, a performing partner with the Chicago Cultural Center, will present an exciting guest cellist: the critically-acclaimed, Naumburg Award-winning Clancy Newman, who has performed as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, and others. He is traveling from New York specifically for the Arboretum concert.

Also performing with NMOC is special guest vocalist, Grammy-nominated artist Matthew Santos, who just released a brand new album, “This Burning Ship of Fools.” One of the hottest acts on the Chicago music scene, Santos gained international fame for his recent collaboration with hip-hop star Lupe Fiasco. Billboard magazine raves of Santos: “the soulful underpinnings of his voice are what remain consistent; containing versatility suitable for his singer/songwriter styling as well as R&B.” Tickets are $28 in advance; $30 Day-of.

Tickets and information are available at www.mortonarb.org/summerconcerts.

Results from Bradetich International Double Bass Competition

Jason — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:00:53 +0000

Jack Unzicker sent me the following information from the recently completed Bradetich International Double Bass Competition:

Attached is a photo of Artem Chirkov.

The winner of the inaugural Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition is Artem Chirkov from Russia, principal bass of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

Photo credit: Jack Unzicker

Mr. Chirkov wins a prize of $10,000 cash, a New York debut, a CD recording and numerous engagements worldwide. His first performance will be October 9th at the Berlin 2010 Bass Festival.

The Second prize of $5000 and a CD recording goes to Namgyun Kim from Korea.
The Third prize winner is Rex Surany from the United States, receiving $2500 and a CD recording.

Honorable Mention runner up is Tian Yang Liu from China.

Audience Favorite at the Finals was Tian Yang Liu.

Special Mention for the best performance of Bach goes to Friedemann Schneeweiss
from Germany.

Special Mention for the best performance of an original bass work post 1970 goes to Chunyang Wang from China.

Mark Dresser NYC concert on Sunday, June 27

Jason — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:17:06 +0000

Mark Dresser
Solo Contrabass
the Stone
corner 2nd St and Ave C
NYC
10pm
n$10

Mark Dresser will present his most recent solo works for electro-acoustic contrabass in celebration of the soon to be released CD/DVD/Booklet release of GUTS: Bass Explorations, Investigations, and Explanations. (Kadima Collective)

Stanford Jazz Workshop this summer

Jason — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:00:00 +0000

More cool stuff to do this summer–now’s the time of year when this news starts really piling up in my blog inbox. It’s from the International Society of Bassists E-Bass Line. You’re an ISB member, aren’t you? If not, join! Here’s the link.

Study and play with leading jazz bassists in the industry at Stanford Jazz Workshop’s jazz camp programs for youth and adults. SJW’s 2010 bass faculty include Larry Grenadier (Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau), Reuben Rogers (Joshua Redman, Dianne Reeves, Nicholas Payton), Harish Raghavan (Taylor Eigsti) and Ruth Davies (John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, Elvin Bishop). Programs include Jazz Camp (youths age 12-17; July 18-23, July 25-30) and Jazz Residency (adults, plus advanced youth by audition, August 1-6). Private lessons, small ensemble performance opportunities, masterclasses and daily instruction in theory, ear training, musicianship and more. On campus housing available. For more information or to register online, visit www.stanfordjazz.org or call 650/736-0324.

Viva el Bajo – South Texas Double Bass Master Class

Jason — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:00:00 +0000

George Amorim, one of the 2010 Chicago Bass Festival clinicians and Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the University of Texas-Pan American, will be hosting the third edition of Viva el Bajo later this week. Check it out if you can! I see that Jeff Eckels will be appearing–he’s a great jazz bassist, and I took over his job at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater back in 2002 (that feels like eons ago!):

Registration Form – Viva el Bajo 2010.pdf

Dear Orchestra Director/Bassist,

It is my pleasure to invite you and your students to attend the third edition of ¡Viva el Bajo! South Texas Double Bass Master Class, which will be held at the University of Texas-Pan American on Friday May 21 (college) and Saturday May 22 (all bassists).

It is with great honor that I welcome once more to the Valley Jeff Bradetich, Professor of Double Bass at the University of North Texas and Cleveland Institute of Music. Jeff Bradetich will work closely with our bassists in master classes and individual lessons and will perform in our closing recital on Saturday evening.

I am also thrilled to host Jeffry Eckels as our first jazz artist to ¡Viva el Bajo! 2010. Jeffry is one of the most sought-after jazz bassists in America today and has just been appointed Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Eckels will work with pre-formed jazz combos as well as individual lessons and improvisation sessions.

And as for the Young Bassist Program I am happy to welcome one of our own local talents, Ms. Sonya Martinez who since Fall 2009 has been teaching the ¡Viva el Bajo! Mini Bass Project. Ms. Martinez is a certified Suzuki Instructor by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and was trained at the Colorado, Chicago and Stevens Point Suzuki Institutes. Ms. Martinez studied with the pedagogues Virginia Dixon and John Kennedy and is a candidate for a Masters Degree at UTPA. The Young Bassist Program will include classes in technique, repertoire, and ensemble playing suited just for the developing young bass player, including beginners.

In the next couple of days you will be able to check a detailed schedule for ¡Viva el Bajo!2010 on our website www.vivaelbajo.org. In the meantime, please encourage your students to apply before the deadline for arrangements will be made according to the number of students enrolled. Registration fee for ¡Viva el Bajo! 2010 is $40.00 per participant, which will include admission to all events for each division, lunch and an afternoon snack on Saturday May 22.

Since this year jazz students and combos will be able to participate, I would ask you to forward this notice to your fellow band directors. The first two editions of ¡Viva el Bajo! were very successful because of your support and participation, and I believe that this year’s edition will be even better! I know that you will welcome our guests with open arms and join me in making this another memorable event. Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to seeing you and working with your students in a few weeks!

Should you have any questions or concerns, please, do not hesitate in contacting me.

¡Viva el Bajo!,
George Amorim

check out Michael Cameron in recital

Jason — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:00:38 +0000

Check out University of Illinois bass professor Michael Cameron (a great bass performer and teacher who was quite involved in this year’s Chicago Bass Festival as well):

Rufus Reid at Jazz Showcase in Chicago 4/8-11

Jason — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Double bassist Greg Sarchet (former Contrabass Conversations guest, member of Lyric Opera, bass teacher at Roosevelt and Northeastern Illinois) mentioned to me that Rufus Reid (also a former Contrabass Conversations guest) will be at the Jazz Showcase this month. Check him out if you can, and learn more about the event through this link (featuring a pretty wild Flash info video!).

Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium

Jason — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Bassist Jeff Turner (also a former Contrabass Conversations interview guest) is hosting the Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium this month. Jeff writes:

Dear Friends,

I am very excited about the upcoming Pittsburgh Double Bass Symposium at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University, and want to be sure you know about it. The Symposium will take place on April 24th and 25th, 2010 with special guests Max Dimoff, Lawrence Hurst, Paul Ellison, Rob Nairn and the Pittsburgh Symphony Double Bass Section. Throughout both days you will have ample time to visit the exhibits of our sponsors: Shank’s Strings, Michael Magee, Steve Rieley, Bob’s House of Basses and the Cincinnati Bass Cellar.

This year we will hold both an orchestral and a concerto competition on the first day. The winner of each competition will receive $500, and the winner of the concerto competition will play his/her entire concerto in recital on the second day of the symposium. Please tell all of your students about this great opportunity!

Please visit our website at www.duq.edu/music/pdbs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or Micah Howard micahbhoward@comcast.net or www.micahbhoward.com.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Turner

20th International double bass festival of Saubrigues-Capbreton

Jason — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Former International Society of Bassists fellow board member Thierry Barbe asked me to pass along the following information about the Saubrigues-Capbreton Bass Festival this August:

20th International double bass festival of Saubrigues-Capbreton
August 2010

The 20th international double bass Capbreton festival includes:

12 august to 20 august 2010 master classes classical, levels A,B
14 august to 20 august 2010 master class Jazz
16 august to 19 august 2010 Edouard Nanny classical competition

——Master Classes with professors with Thierry Barbé, Alberto Bocini, Jeff Bradetich, Evgheny Kolossov, Miloslav Jelineck, Catalin Rotaru, Dan Styffe, Jean-Marc Faucher, Bernard Salles for classical in level A (professional, advanced) and B ( lower level), and Albert Regèffe, mini bass classes for kids.
Hein Van de Geyn, Julien Duthu for Jazz Classes.
And others……

Highlights:
Solo master class, professor recitals, student concerts with pianist Marina Pacowski and Marcella Jelineck
Technique Workshop
One lesson per day with one different professor.
3 concerts in the Festival international des contrebasses
with classical and Jazz styles.
Basses available during the master classes in case of impossibilities to bring yours.