Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog

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What, exactly, is a “regional” orchestra? For the purposes of this article, regional orchestras will be defined as organizations that employ professional musicians but do not offer a salary and other benefits of full-time employment. The organizational structure is virtually identical to the full-time symphony orchestra and is quite different from the [...]

Most bassists who don’t hold the principal chair in a major symphony orchestra can count on one had the times that they get to play a solo in orchestra. Double bass is an instrument that does not usually fall into the solo spotlight during your typical orchestra concert, and any occasion to play [...]

There is a new bass ensemble that formed recently here in Chicago. It is an extremely high quality quartet composed of four people that I consider good friends and colleagues. The members of the new Chicago Bass Ensemble include Jacque Harper, who I have known for 12 years and who has been a [...]

As I was wrapping up my Masters degree from Northwestern University in 2000, reality started to set in. I needed to pay my bills as a musician! I had won a position in the Milwaukee Ballet and in the IRIS Chamber Orchestra (I ended up getting a position in the Elgin Symphony that [...]

In this second installment of my series on professional freelance life as a musician, I would like to offer some commentary on trends that I see in the world of professional classical music performance. This installment of the series is geared toward orchestral performance. Other musicians, educators, and industry professionals may find value [...]

I have decided to quit all of my orchestral work and start a Marimba Queens tribute band. Scott Kreger from the Milwaukee Symphony (and the new double bass instructor and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) sent me this video. Check out the bass player in this band. He has the most fabulous upright slap [...]

Every summer I think Chicago’s great. It’s sunny, warm, the beaches are filled with people, the city is bustling with activity, and the lake is beautiful and inviting. I am convinced that it’s the greatest city in the world. Then winter hits (in November, or perhaps October or maybe even in September [...]

I have another audition story I’d like to share. If you like this story, you may want to check out my stories about what to never bring into an audition, my disastrous audition for the San Jose Symphony, or any of my other gig tales.
A certain bassist (who shall remain nameless) in [...]

The most interesting thing about this week’s Elgin Symphony concerts is the use of the Hungarian Cimbalon (also spelled Cymbalum). This folk instrument is popular throughout eastern Europe and China, and each country has their own variant of this instrument. It is very much like a small piano without a lid, and felt [...]

We are playing Hungarian works by various composers this week in the Elgin Symphony. I have played all of these works in various groups in the past–in fact, I played a nearly identical concert with the Northbrook Symphony about four years ago. Click the seal (my late-night creation) to check out the Elgin [...]