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What are you Currently Practicing? - Jazz Legends Q.1

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Legends of Jazz Bass Interview Series - Question 1

In May 2020, while much of the world was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a new project. Our aim was to create a free series of videos to educate, entertain and inspire the double bass community at a time when many of us were at home. As we have already interviewed and featured our own incredible faculty of tutors, we explored a new approach. So we reached out to ten of the world’s best jazz double bass players and asked them five questions. Their response to the first question is in the video below and we will be sharing more in the coming weeks. 

This series has been a huge undertaking. So, we want to thank everyone who helped us along the way with a special shout out to Jason Heath from the wonderful podcast, Contrabass Conversations. 

Most of all, thank you to all the artists who have taken part, and to each of you watching at home. We hope that everyone in the double bass community is keeping happy and healthy.

Scroll down for timecodes, artist mentions, and artist bios.

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Timecodes and Links


00:43 John Patitucci


06:56 John Clayton


11:42 Ron Carter

12:16 Chuck Israels

  • Bass Intentions by Miles Black

13:55 Brian Bromberg

23:46 Carlos Henriquez

  • Giovanni Bottesini



25:40 Larry Grenadier

  • Courante from Bach’s 3rd Cello Suite

  • The Élégie, Op. 24 by Gabriel Fauré

  • Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor by Johannes Brahms

  • Bobby Timmons, Dat Dere


30:33 Linda May Han Oh

33:33 Rufus Reid

36:58 Robert Hurst

Artist Biographies (in order of appearance)

John Patitucci
johnpatitucci.com

John Patitucci is an acclaimed bassist, educator and composer who has collaborated with many legendary musicians. He has received multiple grammy awards for compositions and recordings with Chick Corea and his own solo recordings. His playing career has also included playing with a variety of artists such as Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Nancy Wilson, Wynton Marsalis, Sting, Natalie Cole, Joni Mitchell, and Carole King. He has recently played world-wide with his trio ‘Children of the Light’ and currently teaches at various world-renowned schools.

 

John Clayton
johnclaytonjazz.com

Grammy-award winning bassist John Clayton has played with legendary artists such as Paul McCartney, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah and Charles Aznavour. He also has an illustrious career as a composer, arranger, and producer including arranging Whitney Houston’s 1991 Super Bowl performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’. Alongside drummer Jeff Hamilton, Clayton co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in 1986 and, with his brothers, The Clayton Brothers quintet. 

 

Ron Carter is a true legend of the jazz bass scene. A prolific bassist, Mr Carter has played on over 2200 albums, making him the most recorded bass player in the USA. From 1963 - 1968 he was part of the acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet, as well as playing with other renowned artists such as Bill Evans, B. B. King, Dexter Gordon, and Cannonball Adderley. Mr Carter has also released several popular method books and continues to tour the world with his trio, quartet, nonet, and big band.

 

Chuck Israels
chuckisraelsjazz.com

Chuck Israels is a bassist, composer and arranger who has worked with many of the legends of the jazz world including Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, and John Coltrane, among others. However, he is probably best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio in the 1960s and directing the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 - 1982. Here’s some wonderful footage of Chuck Israels in action with the Bill Evans Trio!

 

Brian Bromberg
brianbromberg.net

Legendary bassist Brian Bromberg has built a respected career as an electric and acoustic bassist and producer. He was part of Stan Getz’ group at just 19 and since then has played with artists such as Dave Grusin, Lee Konitz, Whitney Houston, and Bill Evans, among countless others. He has released over 20 critically-acclaimed albums including the groundbreaking solo double bass album ‘Wood’ in 2002.

 

Carlos Henriquez
jazz.org/carlos

Carlos Henriquez has played with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for nearly 20 years. He has recorded and toured the world with great artists such as Chucho Valdes, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Lenny Kravitz. He also performs regularly with his octet. His first album as a leader, ‘The Bronx Pyramid’ was released in 2015 and followed by ‘Dizzy Con Clave’ in 2018.

 

Larry Grenadier
larrygrenadier.com

Praised as a “deeply intuitive” musician by The New York Times, Larry Grenadier is an influential bassist and composer who has worked with icons such as Joe Henderson, Paul Motian and Stan Getz. For decades, he has played with the Brah Mehldau Trio, who have performed world-wide. Additionally, his solo album ‘The Gleaners’ was released by ECM in 2019 to critical acclaim and includes seven original solo pieces.

 

Linda May Han Oh
lindamayhanoh.com

Linda May Han Oh is a double bassist, electric bassist, and composer born in Malaysia and raised in Australia. Linda is currently playing and recording with guitarist Pat Metheny and has performed with musicians such as Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Vijay Iyer, and Dave Douglas. She has released four albums with her trio and quartet; the latest was the critically-acclaimed ‘Aventurine’ in 2019.

 

Rufus Reid
rufusreid.com

Rufus Reid is an internationally renowned bassist, educator and composer. His publication ‘The Evolving Bassist’ is a must-have method book for any serious student of the double bass. He has also written music for a variety of ensembles, including string orchestra, jazz ensembles, concert band, and solo double bass. Alongside leading his group, the Out Front Trio with Steve Allee (piano) and Duduka Da Donseca (drums), he has played and recorded with great performers such as Lee Konitz, J.J. Johnson, Stan Getz, and Eddie Harris, among many others.

 

Robert Hurst
roberthurst.com

Robert Hurst is a multi-grammy-award winning bassist, composer, educator and recording artist. He has performed on over 150 recordings with artists such as Dave Brubeck, Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, Diana Krall, and Michael Bublé alongside his own seven records as bandleader. Hurst was the inaugural bass player in the Emmy award-winning NBC program “The Late Show” where he played for eight seasons. Additionally, his original music has been featured on over 30 major motion film soundtracks including Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.