NEWS OF NOTE
Yann Dubost, winner of the 2005 ISB solo competition, will be in the U.S. in January for two concert appearances. The first is a recital of Telemann, Henze, Wilson, Ginastera, Gubaidulina and Gliere with pianist Noreen Polera at the Kosciuszko Foundation, 15 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10021, on January 21 at 7 PM. Yann will also appear at Vassar College's ModFest on January 26th at 8 PM, Skinner Hall of Music, where he will play solo pieces by Henze and Wilson. While in the U.S., Yann will also record Gravitas for Solo bass (Seven Pieces for Double Bass) by Richard Wilson, which he performed as a world premiere at the 2007 ISB convention at Oklahoma City University.
Kiyoe Wellington, winner of the 2007 ISB Double Bass Competition age 14 and under division, will be a featured performer on National Public Radio's "From the Top" program. Tune in on January 26, check your local NPR station for broadcast time, or go to www.fromthetop.org.
Dan Ouellette has shared these insider notes from his biography of legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter, now in progress: "As I'm working on my chapter on Ron's triumphant Carnegie Hall concert in June 2007-with four different bands: his trio, his quartet, his duo partnership with Jim Hall and a special quartet with former Miles alums Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Billy Cobham - I'm transcribing interviews I had with him about the event-his reflections before, during and after. One question I asked him was, prior to the show, did he worry about how the large, heralded hall would fill up? In other words, what if a small crowd showed up instead of the near sellout that he attracted?" Read the full story at http://www.isbworldoffice.com/news/announcements.html.
After a decade of research, Murray Grodner has completed Volume 2 and an updated version of Volume 1 of his Comprehensive Catalog of Music, Books, Recordings and Videos for the Double Bass. Grodner has donated his publications to the International Society of Bassists, and both volumes will soon be available in CD-ROM format from the ISB. One disc will contain the combined content of the updated Volume I and the new Volume II. For those who already own Volume 1 as a paperback book, the second disc will contain only the newly completed Volume 2. The total information in both volumes equals more than 700 pages, and sales will benefit the ISB. Murray Grodner was professor of double bass at Indiana University from 1955-1986. He also served as principal or assistant principal bass with the Pittsburgh, Houston and Sacramento symphonies, and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and Baroque Chamber Players, and in the sections of the Louisville Orchestra, Danish National Radio Symphony, Ballet Theatre Orchestra Ballet and Russe Orchestra, as well as appearing as a guest artist with several prominent string quartets.
Coming in January, 2008, is the new book, Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs, by Milt Hinton, David G. Berger and Holly Maxson. There is no better view of 20th-century jazz and the people who made it than through the life and camera of legendary bassist Milt Hinton. On the road, in the studio, at work and at play, Milt's photos and stories provide an all-access pass into the real world of a jazz titan and his celebrated colleagues. This collector's edition also includes a CD of Milt telling stories and performing music. "A permanent, vividly multi-dimensional contribution to jazz history by 'The Judge' Milt Hinton, a singular creator of that history," says jazz critic Nat Hentoff. The book with CD will be $75, and available at bookstores, by calling 1-800-627-7377, or by going to www.VanderbiltUniversityPress.com.
Gina Schwarz of the Bass Instinct ensemble, which wowed everyone at the 2007 ISB convention, won Austria's "Hans Koller Sidewoman of the Year" prize for 2007. Congratulations, Gina!
The great photographer Herman Leonard has a new website. Go to http://www.hermanleonard.com to learn about books of his collected photos for sale, and view images of many of your favorite jazz personalities.
Virginia Dixon is excited to announce the Suzuki Bass Teacher Training courses that she will be teaching in 2008. She'll be presenting Book 1 at the XXIII Festival Internacional De Musica in Lima, Peru, January 16-22, www.suzukimusica.com.pe. With this course, there will be Suzuki bass teachers on three continents. Bass Book 1 will also be offered July 13-20, at the Alberta Suzuki Institute in Edmonton, www.albertasuzuki.org. The Book 2 course will be at the American Suzuki Institute at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, August 3-8. They can be contacted at www.uwsp.edu/cofac/suzuki or at (715) 346-3033. Book 3 will be presented amidst scenic splendor at the Colorado Suzuki Institute at Beaver Creek, Colorado, June 16-21. Go to www.coloradosuzuki.org or call (303) 399-5764. If you have any questions about Suzuki courses for double bass, check with Stan Haskin's blog, Glued to the String at www.gluedtothestring.blogspot.com/2007/07/steps-to-suzuki-training-for-bassists.html. Jason Heath interviewed Virginia on his Double Bass Blog, Conversation No. 52, at www.contrabassconversations.com.
Upcoming performances of John Harbison's Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra: Minnesota Orchestra, withsoloist and principal bass Fora Baltacigil, February 7-9, 2008; Memphis Symphony with soloist and principal bass Scott Best, February 9-10, 2008; Florida Orchestra withsoloist and principal bass Dee Moses, February 8-10, 2008; Greenville Symphony Orchestra withguest soloist Timothy Pitts, April 11-13, 2008.
The music of bassist/vocalist Jim Ferguson will be featured on the January 20, 2008, broadcast of Jazz From The Archives, produced by The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/IJS/JazzFromTheArchives. The show airs on radio station WBGO in Newark, and will stream on the station's website at http://wbgo.org/listennow/ at 11pm EST, 10pm CST, and 9pm MST, that evening.
The historically informed performance ensemble Ars Antigua will launch free monthly Internet broadcasts beginning in January 2008, featuring modern premieres of Baroque works by Johann Schmelzer and Christoph Graupner as well as music by Telemann and Boccherini. Ars Antigua continues live concerts in the Chicago area and at music festivals. For a schedule of upcoming events go to www.arsantigua.net. Ars Antigua director Jerry Fuller will also be performing with the Baroque Band, The Janus Ensemble, Midwest Young Artists Early Music Ensemble, the Chicago Opera Theater and the Apollo Chorus in a number of upcoming events. For more information go to www.earlybass.com.
COMPETITIONS AND FESTIVALS (apply now!)
The first annual Arizona Bass Players, Inc. Festival and Workshop will be held March 6-9, 2008, at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, co-sponsored by the ASU School of Music, the University of Arizona School of Music, and the Northern Arizona University School of Music. Featured guest artists will include Catalin Rotaru, Patrick Neher, Joel DiBartolo, Rufus Reid, Robert Kassinger and Miloslav Jelinek. Robertson and Sons Violin Shop of Albuquerque, NM, is sponsoring a competition for bassists ages 16 to 22 years, and donating an instrument as first prize. For more information go to www.arizonabassplayers.org.
The 5th Biennial Hawaii Contrabass Festival will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 23-31, 2008. Guest artists will include Hal Robinson, John Clayton, Mark Dresser, Paul Ellison, Todd Seeber, David Gage, and George Rubino. For information go to www.hawaiicbfest.org.
The International Performers' Competition, hosted by the Czech Society of Bassists and the Brno International Music Festival, will be held September 14-20, 2008 in Brno, Czech Republic. For information and application go to www.mhf-brno.cz/mis/en/, or email jelinekmilos@volny.cz.
