Author Archives: Jonas

Cremona Mondomusica

1 Reply

Last weekend, I was at the Mondomusica music show at Cremona, Italia. Of course, I didn’t miss to visit the Stradivari Museum at Cremona. Photographing the antique master instruments (Guaneri del Gesu, Stradivari, Bergonzi, etc.) isn’t allowed, but I was able to took some photos of Stradivari’s tools, moulds and plans.

EMG

3 Replies

4SW

EMG 4SWType: magnetic
Mode: active
Preamp: incl.

The 4SW is a magnetic pickup system designed for Electric Upright Bass. The system was initially designed for Ned Steinberger and is still used on the NS Instruments. Included in the system are 4 individual pickups (5 or 6 also available) and preamp for low impedance output. But there isn’t a “standard” mounting setup for the 4SW.

www.emginc.com

Charlie Haden – Rambling Boy

1 Reply

Rambling Boy

“Charlie Haden – Rambling Boy”: the feature legth documentary presents the life and work of Charlie Haden. The film is set to be released in Europe by the end of 2008. An airdate for TV in Switzerland, Germany and Austria will be follow soon. After three years in production, the filmmakers are currently in the final stages of editing and adding the appropriate music to the documentary.

From the get-go it was clear for both director Reto Caduff and subject that the film has to go beyond the generic filmed music story: an intimate look at the music and life of one of Jazz’ most inspiring and influential musicians. With access to Haden’s own personal archive, film sequences shot during concerts and recording sessions, interviews with an incredible  selection of friends and collaborators and great archival footage, the documentary will please diehard jazz fans as well as the newly initiated.

The new album Rambling Boy will be released on Sept. 23.

Steve Rodby on bass gear

1 Reply

Jazz double bassist Kells Nollenberger has conducted an interesting interview on double bass gear with Steve Rodby. Rodby has played bass on every Pat Metheny Group record since 1980, co-produced the group’s last five albums and won 10 Grammy Awards with the group. He has toured with jazz greats Joe Henderson and Tony Bennett, and also works regularly as a producer.

In this interview, Rodby shares his experience in amplifying the double bass, and talks about pickups’s impedance, phase cancelling, feedback, and bass sound in general. Rodby really has in-depth knowledge about amplifying techniques, so I absolutely recommend to listen to this podcast, which can be accessed through Jason Heath’s Contrabass Conversations or iTunes.

Brandi Disterheft

1 Reply

Brandi DisterheftWhile I’m looking forward to see bassist/singer Esperanza Spaldings (mentioned in my blog before several times …) on her concert tour in Germany next month, I just stumpled upon another young and promising female jazz bassist this morning: Brandi Disterheft from Canada. Oscar Peterson said about her: “She has the same lope or rhythmic pulse as my bass player, Ray Brown. She is what we call serious.” So I listened to some tracks of her first CD Debut (Superfran Records, 2007; samples availabale at Brandi’s website), and she really sounds great! On Debut, Brandi Disterheft not only plays bass, she also wrote the music, influenced by Charles Mingus and Bjørk. “They are not just original, but appear to have come from a voice so distinctive that one can safely say, ‘You’ve never heard anything like this before.’”, says Raul d’Gama Rose at AllAboutJazz about Brandi’s music.

Washtub Bass Page

6 Replies

The Washtub Bass Page is a focal point and clearinghouse for information on all aspects of the washtub bass – who plays one, where to hear one, how to make one, and so on. The page offers links, building tips, sound clips, picture galleries amd many more. “We’re not narrow-minded (washtub bass people can’t afford to be), so our scope includes the tea-chest bass, the gas-tank bass and the like, and even the occasional cigarbox guitar or fiddle.“