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Contrabass Conversations

Jason Heath
Double Bass
Jazz
Carnegie Mellon University
Music Education
Upton Bass
Youtube
Classical Music
Tango Music
Improvisation
Contemporary Music
Double Bass Pedagogy
San Francisco Symphony
Gary Karr
Intonation
Composition
Xavier Foley
Music Community
Online Education
Orchestral Excerpts
Thelma Terry

Contrabass Conversations features interviews and performances from top leaders in the world of the double bass. Podcast host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With 2 million downloads and counting, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1154Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusic InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for Contrabass Conversations

Latest Episodes

Rosie Moon joins us today to share the story behind *Twelve Bees In A Jar, her* multi-year Dragonetti project exploring his music on gut strings, a three-string bass, and a convex "Dragonetti" bow. Rosie talks about how a chance encounter with a bow ... more

Bowen Ha joined the San Francisco Symphony at the start of the 2024–25 season after training at Juilliard with Timothy Cobb and Harold Robinson, and appearing as a substitute with major orchestras.

Born in Shanghai, Bowen's path ran from piano to c... more

John Goldsby returns to the podcast to celebrate Big Band Bass, a project that spotlights the double bass at the front of the band alongside the legendary WDR Big Band and arranger/conductor Bob Mintzer. We talk about what it felt like to close a 30-... more

Valentina Ciardelli , double bass professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and an active performer/educator, returns to the podcast to talk about a project that goes way beyond the practice room: fixing the chaos of traveling with... more

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Recent Guests

John Goldsby
Jazz bassist and longtime member of the WDR Big Band
WDR Big Band (former)
Episode: 1144: John Goldsby on Big Band Bass
Valentina Ciardelli
Advocate for clearer instrument travel standards
Independent musician/advocate
Episode: 1143: Professional Instruments Aren't Luggage with Valentina Ciardelli
Stephan Crump
Bassist, composer, educator based in Brooklyn
Independent artist
Episode: 1142: Slow Water, Deep Grooves with Stephan Crump
Michał Bylina
Bassist and composer based in Poland, bridging early music and new music
Poland-based artist
Episode: 1141: Gut Strings and Time Travel - Michał Bylina on Early Music
Isaac Trapkus
Bassist with the New York Philharmonic and IMSLP contributor
New York Philharmonic; IMSLP
Episode: 1140: Isaac Trapkus on Rosin, Hidden Manuscripts, and Open-Source Music Tools
Thomas Zera
Conductor/ bassist involved with the Sub Pool project
Utah Symphony / The Sub Pool
Episode: 1139: Building The Sub Pool with Thomas Zera
Casey Lipka
Bassist, singer, songwriter, founder of Women in Music initiatives
Independent artist
Episode: 1138: Seasons of Creativity with Casey Lipka
Johnny Hamil
Longtime friend and colleague of Lloyd, organizer of the celebration
KC Bass Workshop / Lloyd Goldstein circle
Episode: 1137: Lloyd Goldstein celebration podcast
Darryl Hunter
Student of Johnny, Lloyd's student attendee of the celebration
KC Bass Workshop participant
Episode: 1137: Lloyd Goldstein celebration podcast

Host

Jason Heath
Host of Contrabass Conversations

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 194 ratings
  • Great !!!😊

    Thanks so much for that omg I’m so happy !!! Thanks thanks thanks šŸ™šŸ„³šŸ„³šŸ„³šŸ„³

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1049837
    Taiwana year ago
  • The Podcast

    Of all the educational accoutrements available to bassists, this is one that should be in your ā€œbag.ā€

    Jason’s high-energy approach to virtually everything he does (check out his You Tube channel) coupled with solid production values makes his podcast series rewarding to all listeners—

    No hyperbole—you will learn something valuable as a bass player in virtually every interview in ā€œContrebass Conversationsā€ā€”make a point of checking it out.

    Phil

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr. Baugh
    United States5 years ago
  • This is a must listen to podcast

    Contrabass Conversations is a very informative source for bassists and all music enthusiasts. Jason’s interview style will make you want to listen to each episode again and again.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BassGBN
    United States5 years ago
  • The greatest

    Jason Heath is a pillar of the online (and in person) bass community. I’ve literally been listening to the podcast for over a decade and it was one of the resources that got me fired up about music and bass before I went to college.

    The interviews are always interesting and Jason has a way of connecting with the guests and guiding the conversation toward new ideas and fascinating paths.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Euttalve
    United States5 years ago
  • The Humble Leader

    Jason has amassed perhaps the largest collection of interviews, articles, reviews, and blogs on the double bass in the world beyond the International Society of Bassists. He is our favorite ā€œman on the streetā€ colleague who delights in sharing what the world has to offer rather than promote his own fine bass playing and teaching. He brings humor, creativity, enthusiasm, humility and a wealth of knowledge to all his publications. His contributions are endless and invaluable. Bravo Jason.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Inner Game Guy
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is praised for its accessibility, engaging interview style, and the breadth of guests, from classical to jazz and world music.
The host brings high energy and solid production values, making each interview rewarding for bass players and general music enthusiasts alike.
Some feedback notes occasional audio quality issues with remote guests, but overall consistency and depth are highlighted as strengths.
Listeners describe it as an essential resource for bassists with strong interviews and valuable practice and career insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

1138: Seasons of Creativity with Casey Lipka
Q: What drew you to coaching, and how has your coaching work influenced your artistic path?
Casey talks about a year-long certification and evolving into a coach for other creatives, using coaching to help musicians, filmmakers, and authors better understand themselves and their creative processes, though she is currently focusing more on her artistry.
1138: Seasons of Creativity with Casey Lipka
Q: How did you discover the International Society of Bassists (ISB) and get involved?
Casey explains she joined through community connections, specifically being invited by a bassist (Mike Forfia) to participate and experience ISB firsthand, which led to meaningful interactions and opportunities at the convention and retreat.
1135: John Mietus and the World-First "Butterfly Lovers" on Double Bass
Q: When and where did the world's first double-bass Butterfly Lovers premiere with orchestra take place?
The world premiere took place on January 1st, 2026, marking a historic first for the instrument alongside an orchestra.
1135: John Mietus and the World-First "Butterfly Lovers" on Double Bass
Q: What was the hardest part of transcribing and performing this concerto on bass?
The hardest part was deciding on tuning and then making a faithful adaptation that still sounded true to the original violin lines, which required extensive trial, tuning adjustments, and print-ready arrangement chunks.
1135: John Mietus and the World-First "Butterfly Lovers" on Double Bass
Q: How did you approach tuning and adaptation for the piece?
I weighed orchestra tuning against solo tuning and ultimately settled on fifths tuning to preserve the tonal structure and pentatonic feel, while documenting the process to help others understand the transcription challenges.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Contrabass Conversations

What is Contrabass Conversations about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Deep-dive interviews and performances centered on the double bass, featuring top players, composers, and educators from around the world. Episodes explore repertoire expansion, performance practice, education, and the cultural context of the instrument—ranging from world premieres and premiere arrangements to jazz, contemporary, and ethnomusicology connections. Listeners can expect technical insights on tuning, instrument design, orchestral adaptation, and pedagogy, blended with personal stories, career paths, and cross-genre collaborations. The show often highlights inclusive approaches to teaching and performing, and it frequently surfaces projects that broaden the instrument's repertoire and community. A standout element is the host's ab... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Contrabass Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Contrabass Conversations:

1. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. Upright Citizens
3. You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians
4. Wong Notes
5. Twenty Thousand Hertz

How many episodes of Contrabass Conversations are there?

Contrabass Conversations launched 19 years ago and published 1154 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Contrabass Conversations?

Recent guests on Contrabass Conversations include:

1. John Goldsby
2. Valentina Ciardelli
3. Stephan Crump
4. Michał Bylina
5. Isaac Trapkus
6. Thomas Zera
7. Casey Lipka
8. Johnny Hamil

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