Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog

Matthew Mullenweg created the content management system WordPress (which is what I use to blog).  He is also a jazzer, and he has created a great compendium of jazz quotes–quite likely the only comprehensive online resource available for this topic.  Check out the complete index on Matt’s site here.  Here are some selected quotes [...]

 

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This week’s episode features an interview with and music from jazz bassist Lynn Seaton. Lynn teaches at the University of North Texas, and he maintains an active performing career. He was a member of the Woody Herman Band and Count Basie Orchestra, and he played extended tours with Tony Bennett and [...]

 

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This week’s episode features an interview with jazz bass legend 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 [...]

My extensive research into the area of influential and prolific jazz composers who happen to be bass players has been something of a bust. Much as I wanted to shill for my fellow low note creators, the [...]

Here’s a great video of a veteran jazz trio in top form. I can’t help but be reminded of Keith’s crazy rant against fans recording segments of his concert on their cell phones, but I still love these guys.

Here’s the second part of the magnificent new video series with Rufus Reid and Tom Hill. This new site from Tyrone Bishop is a really great new destination for jazz double bassists, with forums, videos, and much more to come. Check out our Contrabass Conversations forums here (leave us some ideas for incorporating [...]

Over the summer we blogged about JazzDoubleBass.com, a new project started by Tyrone Bishop. This site features forums, interviews, and other resources for the jazz bassist. The Contrabass Conversations podcasts has a dedicated forum at this site as well, so check it out if you get a chance and chat with other jazz [...]

This month’s issue of Bass Musician magazine just launched, and as usual you can check out our Contrabass Conversations offering in this publication. We featured Chicago area jazz bassist Eric Hochberg in this issue of the magazine, merging the two halves of Eric’s episode together into one feature.
Check out the Bass Musician Magazine [...]

A recent comment from Carol on my Advice for Aspiring Music Performance Majors post sparked my interest in creating a similar list for top-tier schools for jazz bass study. Commenting on Karl Olsen’s Orchestra Audition Winners List, Carol writes:
Jason, congratulations on your wedding (what a handsome couple!). I love your advice to bass performance [...]

Bill Harrison (PlayJazzNow.com, Jazz Underneath) just released a new set of play along tracks for jazz standards. Visit his site to check them out, and remember that you can always get some free sample bass tracks here on the blog through this link.
Bill has also been putting out some great jazz bass lessons recently. [...]