Author Archives: Jonas

2010 Fifth Beijing International Double Bass Music Festival

Supported by the Beijing municipal government, cosponsored by the Double Bass Society under the Chinese Musician Association and China Conservatory of Music, this year’s 2010 Fifth Beijing International Double Bass Music Festival will take place in Beijing starting from Nov. 15 to Nov. 20, 2010. The world famous Bassiona Amorosa ensemble and eight renowned double bass players from Germany, the United States, Russia and other countries will be invited to hold special concerts and have master classes during the festival. Meanwhile, in order to further the cultural exchange between China and the abroad double bass field as well as promote the composition, education, and performance of Chinese musical works for double bass, the first Chinese Double Bass Works Performance Show will also be held during the festival. As an important part of the festival, the Chinese Works Performance Show will officially be held regularly from this year forward.
The Beijing International Double Bass Music Festival organization committee and the arts council shall be responsible for organizing and planning the event while the performance show jury committee will be responsible for judging.
The performance show awards include a Performance Award (comprised of an Excellent Performance Award and Performance Award), the Best Teacher Award (given to the tutors who have guided and encouraged the outstanding performers), and the Best Chinese Double Bass Works Award (categorized according to the different forms of double bass compositions and arrangements). Each year’s performance show trophy will be named after the senior generation bass players and educators who have greatly contributed to the Chinese double bass community.

Venue: China Conservatory of Music
Requirements: Play a piece of Chinese work, any form is accepted (i.e. solo, un-accompaniment, ensemble, etc.). No age restriction.

Website: www.ccmusic.edu.cn

Download Application Form (Word doc.)

Live from New York’s jazz clubs

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Unfortunately, I can’t afford and don’t have time to visit New York frequently.
So I was very happy to discover that the Smalls Club’s website features a live webcam with real time video and sound. Broadcasting times is from 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Which is usually too late, or too early for me: due to the time shift, the shows end at my breakfast time.

The legendary Village Vanguard, world-known for many great recordings that have been made there, has a live radio show at WBGO. Some of the concerts are available for download as podcast.

Milt Hinton

100 years ago, on June 23., 1910, Milt “The Judge” Hinton was born. And 20 years ago, “a choir of first-call bassists canceled whatever to come together“ – and celebrate Milt’s  80. birthday at Town Hall, New York: Lynn Seaton, Lonnie Plaxico, Charnett Moffett, Jack Lesberg, Bob Haggart, Milt Hinton, John Clayton, Eddie Gomez, Richard Davis, Bill Crow, Major Holley, Ron Carter and Rufus Reid.
… photo and live recording at the WBGO weblog.

AAJ Jazz Awards 2010

The Jazz Journalists Association has announced this year’s winners of the Jazz Awards 2010. Bassist of the year 2010 is Dave Holland; other nominees in this category are Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Christian McBride and John Patitucci. In the category “Up & Coming Artist of the Year”, composer Darcy James Argue won the award – but: two young bassplayers are among the nominees: Linda Oh and Esperanza Spalding.

Azola Basses has closed doors

After 15 years and 1200 basses, Steve Azola announces “with great sadness that the doors of Azola Basses are closed”.

Steve Azola started bass making as the maker of a modern version of the Ampeg Baby Bass: “About sixteen years ago, Steve mentioned to his wife, Jill, that if he ever came across a vintage Ampeg Baby Bass, he’d sell one of his motorcycles to make it his. He’d seen one in a store window as a kid, and just thought it was too cool. Sure enough, he got his hands on a black five-string (and yes, there was a motorcycle involved). Once he’d had the Baby a while, and he started to really talk to people about it, he decided that there just might be some demand for a modern version of the classic Baby Bass. He thought the proper thing to do first was to obtain Ampeg’s authorization. After that was done, he worked out his design concept, built a prototype and took it to a NAMM show – to the delight of many bassists who also remembered the vintage Ampeg. And so the Azola Baby Bass was born.”

CAD Audio

DB510 MkII

Type: combo amp
Power rating: 500 watts 4 ohms, 250 watts 8 ohms RMS.
Drivers: 10″ neodym
Features: hi input 2 mOhm/lo input 100 kOhm
size: 35 x 38 x 30 cm (13″ x 15″ x 12″), weight 9 kgs. External speaker output.

DB500-210
same as above, but 2 x 10″ neodym drivers. Size 49 x 49 x 37 cm, (19,5″ x 19,5″ x 14,6″).

DB500-210T
same as above, but with 1,5″ 300W dome tweeter for extended high freq output.

www.cadaudio.dk