Contrabass Conversations

Glasgow-based bassist David Bowden joins the show on release day for Unsung Songs, a solo double bass record shaped by years of gigging and arranging. David talks about coming up in London before moving to Glasgow for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, finding a creative home in Scotland's close-knit jazz scene, and how folk music and "sounding like yourself" became central to the way he thinks about writing and playing.
We also talk solo bass, favorite recordings, right-hand technique, gear, touring, teaching, and new-parent life. Enjoy, and be sure to follow David on Instagram and YouTube!
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Gear used to record this podcast
Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
Rode Podmic
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
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Theme music by Eric Hochberg

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 at a UK bass shop kicked off a deep dive into historical equipment, technique, and the surprisingly big that happens when you take a string off the instrument.
Enjoy, and be sure to follow Rosie on her website, Instagram, and Facebook!
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Join Our Newsletter
Double Bass Resources
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Double Bass Merch
Gear used to record this podcast
Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
Rode Podmic
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
 
When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.
Theme music by Eric Hochberg

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 cello and finally to bass, through Interlochen, the Shanghai Conservatory's affiliated program, and Juilliard.
We dig into the nuts-and-bolts of what changed between Bowen's early pro auditions and his San Francisco win: obsessing over details and doing daily metronome work.
Enjoy, and connect with Bowen on Instagram and YouTube!
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Join Our Newsletter
Double Bass Resources
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Double Bass Merch
Gear used to record this podcast
Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
Rode Podmic
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.
Theme music by Eric Hochberg

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-year run in one of the world's rare full-time jazz ensemble jobs, and how stepping away has opened up space for hand-picked gigs, home projects, and new recordings.
We dig into the album's origin story—why Vince Mendoza's "Sonatinita" is the lone non-Goldsby composition, how Bob Mintzer turned John's "little ditties" into full-blown big band architecture, and what it's like hearing your writing amplified by master arrangers. We also get nerdy (in the best way) about gear and sound: Spirocore light gauge vs. Gerald Genssler's silk-core strings, recording with a Schoeps MK 41, using a Fishman Full Circle onstage, and the realities of earplugs and in-ears in a loud big band environment. Connect with John at john.goldsby.de and explore his work with Discover Double Bass.
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Join Our Newsletter
Double Bass Resources
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Double Bass Merch
Gear used to record this podcast
Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
Rode Podmic
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
 
When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.
Theme music by Eric Hochberg

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 large instruments. Check out Valentina's work and latest updates on her website .
We dig into Valentina's advocacy work to create clearer, non-discretionary standards for transporting professional musical instruments, sparked by real-world experiences (including those "crying in the airport" moments many traveling musicians know all too well).
Jason shares a few horror stories from the bass-travel trenches, and Valentina describes the progress being made through dialogue with airlines, airports, and policymakers, including her recent speech in Brussels and why signatures matter even outside the EU.
You can sign the petition here , follow Valentina on Instagram and Facebook , and visit her YouTube channel !
 
Connect with DBHQ
Join Our Newsletter
Double Bass Resources
Double Bass Sheet Music
Double Bass Merch
Gear used to record this podcast
Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
Rode Podmic
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
 
When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.
 
Theme music by Eric Hochberg