Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog

Jazz bassist Eric Hochberg sent me this obituary over the weekend for the great Art Davis, a musician who not only worked with John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, and Thelonious Monk but also with the New York Philharmonic and NBC and CBS Orchestras as well as earning a doctorate in clinical psychology.
You can visit the [...]

This is an essay by jazz bassist and Contrabass Conversations guest Eric Hochberg documenting his experiences with his new double bass and how many small factors can add up to cause a very difficult situation. Click here to read all of Eric’s bass blog contributions (or select him from the contributors menu in [...]

I’m currently doing some research for an upcoming article here on jazz bassists who have made noteworthy contributions to the music as composers. Obvious examples are Charles Mingus, Dave Holland and Jaco Pastorius, all of whom have penned significant tunes that are a permanent part of the modern jazz repertoire. I’m sticking with jazz here [...]

Philanthropic organizations in Chicago have been organizing themselves in a very interesting way when it comes to providing support for jazz, creating the Chicago Jazz Partnership in an effort to draw in new audiences for this music and find innovative ways to support the art form. Chicago Tribune arts critic Howard Reich reports:
Two years [...]

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A bassist takes a little break at a jazz festival:

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When I go to work, I generally leave my bow at home. When it’s time to make the low notes, I don’t bring rosin, a music stand, a music folder or pencils either. I am always the only bass player on the gig – it’s a beautiful thing.
Let me say it straight - I don’t [...]

Have you ever wondered if the upright bassist can effectively slap on their instrument like the electric bassist can? Well, check out this supremely funky solo by Charnett Moffett on “Return Expedition” with guitarist Stanley Jordan. Charnett’s bass solo happens at the top and is several minutes long.

The tune cuts off abruptly about [...]

Here is a photo of J.J. Wiggins with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra:
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Eric Hochberg (heard on Contrabass Conversations #21) passed along the news to me recently that jazz violinist Johnny Frigo just died at age 90. Johnny actually began his performing career as a bassist. This cover from Downbeat Magazine is a rare example of Johnny Frigo with the bass.
All About Jazz states in a [...]

 

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This week’s Contrabass Conversations podcast features the first part of our interview with double bassist Ranaan Meyer. John Grillo (a frequent guest and collaborator on the podcast) and I co-interviewed Ranaan, who is the bassist for the band Time for Three and has had a very interesting and multi-faceted career. In addition to [...]