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Artwork for Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

Jason Heath
Double Bass
Music Education
Jazz
Carnegie Mellon University
Orchestral Excerpts
Classical Music
Lutoslawski
Cello Sonata
Teaching Methods
Pedagogy
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco
Beaux Jours
Little Wichita Concerto For Double Bass and Chamber Orchestra
Debussy
George Vance Method
Orin O'brien
Oslo Philharmonic
Learning Techniques
Deliberate Practice

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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1153Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic CommentaryMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Contrabass Conversations

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Camacho, a double bassist, tango composer, and ethnomusicologist originally from Buenos Aires and now based in Austin, Texas.

Laura shares her fascinating journey from performing with the ensemble Las del Ab... more

Join us for a conversation with Spanish double bassist Uxía Martínez Botana, who shares her journey from facing skepticism as a woman in classical music to becoming a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Based in Amsterdam, she tours i... more

In this episode, Gary Upton, the founder of Upton Bass, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the craftsmanship, innovation, and business of building double basses.

We explore a wide range of topics including the growing popularity of 5/8-si... more

In this episode, we sit down with Edmonton-based jazz bassist and composer Aretha Tillotson to discuss her highly anticipated second album, Kinda Out West, releasing on November 7th, 2025.

Following her Western Canadian Music Award-winning debut, ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Uxía Martinez Botana
An incredible and well-rounded bassist, soloist, chamber musician, and educator from Spain, now based in Amsterdam.
Episode: 1122: The Joys of Chamber Music with Uxía Martinez Botana
Aretha Tillotson
Edmonton-based musician and theater artist
Episode: 1120: Kinda Out West - Aretha Tillotson's Tribute to Western Canada
Andy Anderson
Clinical assistant professor of double bass at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and member of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Grant Park Symphony.
University of Illinois
Episode: 1119: Orchestral Insights with Andy Anderson
Gaelen McCormick
A long-time fan and expert in double bass pedagogy, focusing on Simandl's work.
Episode: 1118: Gaelen McCormick on Simandl's 30 Etudes
Charles Gambetta
Double bass educator and innovator of a new position system
Episode: 1113: Charles Gambetta on rethinking double bass positions
Trevor Jones
Bassist and contractor for the Lincolnshire Marriott Theater
Lincolnshire Marriott Theater
Episode: 1110: What it takes to make it as a theater musician
David Cutler
Author and educator, recently released The Savvy Musician 2.0
Episode: 1106: David Cutler on The Savvy Musician 2.0
Renée-Paule Gauthier
Host of the Mind Over Finger podcast and recently appointed musician in the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago
Mind Over Finger
Episode: 1105: Renée-Paule Gauthier on auditions and podcasting
James VanDemark
Renowned double bassist and faculty member at Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
Episode: 1104: James VanDemark on playing in Ukraine

Host

Jason Heath
Host with a significant presence in the double bass community, known for engaging interviews and insightful conversations with musicians and educators.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 193 ratings
  • Great !!!😊

    Thanks so much for that omg I’m so happy !!! Thanks thanks thanks 🙏🥳🥳🥳🥳

    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 “bag.”

    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 “Contrebass Conversations”—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 “man on the street” 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.

Listeners appreciate the educational and accessible nature of the content, which provides valuable insights for musicians at all levels.
Listeners find the podcast to be an essential resource, connecting them with the broader double bass community and enriching their understanding of the instrument.
Many reviews highlight the engaging interview style of the host, making the episodes enjoyable and informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

1123: Exploring Tango and Ethnomusicology with Laura Camacho
Q: What inspired your new album and how was the recording process?
The album "Todo Tiempo Pasado" was inspired by my journey and relationships with other musicians, and recording took place across various locations, culminating in a hard deadline to get it out.
1123: Exploring Tango and Ethnomusicology with Laura Camacho
Q: How's the ethnomusicology journey going for you?
It's very exciting, I love it so much. I've had the opportunity to meet great professors and musicians, and I'm learning a lot.
1117: Darren Sacks on teaching double bass
Q: How much college audition prep is on your plate these days?
Darren mentions that most of his students are auditioning for youth orchestras and summer festivals, with a significant focus on district and all-state auditions.
1117: Darren Sacks on teaching double bass
Q: What happened after we talked? Like what were those first couple of years out of conservatory like?
Darren shares that he worked part-time while building his teaching career and quickly transitioned to union gigs, reflecting on the surreal experience of playing alongside former teachers.
1113: Charles Gambetta on rethinking double bass positions
Q: How do you come up with this position system? What inspired it?
Gambetta explains that he was dissatisfied with traditional positions, which were verbose, and he sought to create a system that clearly identified each position and improved students' understanding of shifting on the bass.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Contrabass Conversations

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

Content primarily focuses on the world of double bass through interviews with accomplished musicians, educators, and innovators in the field. Episodes explore a variety of themes, including the intricacies of double bass craftsmanship, performance techniques, music education, and the evolution of playing styles. Additionally, the show delves into the personal journeys of its guests, offering insights into their artistic processes, challenges, and experiences within both the music industry and academia. This strong emphasis on professional advice, personal anecdotes, and educational insights makes it a valuable resource for both aspiring and seasoned musicians.

Where can I find podcast stats for Contrabass Conversations?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Contrabass Conversations. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Contrabass Conversations and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Contrabass Conversations get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Contrabass Conversations, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Contrabass Conversations?

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How many subscribers and views does Contrabass Conversations have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Contrabass Conversations has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Contrabass Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Contrabass Conversations:

1. You'll Hear It
2. The Intercept Briefing
3. Upright Citizens
4. Strong Songs
5. Planet Money

How many episodes of Contrabass Conversations are there?

Contrabass Conversations launched 19 years ago and published 1153 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Contrabass Conversations?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Contrabass Conversations?

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What guests have appeared on Contrabass Conversations?

Recent guests on Contrabass Conversations include:

1. Uxía Martinez Botana
2. Aretha Tillotson
3. Andy Anderson
4. Gaelen McCormick
5. Charles Gambetta
6. Trevor Jones
7. David Cutler
8. Renée-Paule Gauthier

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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