The AmsterBass bass meeting takes place at the Conservatorium Amsterdam, and offers performanes and workshops with Dominique Di Piazza, Reggie Washington, and others. (Mostly Electric Bassguitar relates, not Doublebass.)
The European Bass Day is held at Viersen/Germany, and features a trade show and performances. (Mostly electric bassguitar, not doublebass related.) Festhalle Viersen, Hermann-Hülser-Platz, 41747 Viersen, Germany. Headliner: Richard Bona Group.
The Encuentro Internacional de Contrabajo, a double bass festival, will take place in october at Bogota (Columbia). “We are extremly honoured and happy since Maestro Gary Karr will not only be among our invited Doublebassists but we will be dedicating the encouter to him!” says Moisès Bertran, Director Conservatorio de Música/Universidad Nacional de Colombia. The Filarmonic Orchestra of Bogotá will host the National Doublebass Competition during that time, too. Beside Gary Karr, the Universtity of Bogota has invited the double bassists Ivan Sztankov, Bernard Cazauran, Ilko Rusev, Hernando Segura and Jonathan Camps.
Next weekend, a great double bass event will take place at Scandinavia: the 1. Swedish Bass Days. From Sept. 5.–6., many basses (e. g. Christopher and Eminence), strings (Presto and others), pickups and amps can be tried and compared at Torsåkers Bygdegård (near Gävle). Visitors can register at the website of Nils Palm/Bontracasso.
On Wednesday, the Frankfurt Musikmesse will open the doors. I’ll be there, too: hall 1.2, booth B40. I’m looking forward to meet you there!
In 2009 the topic will be: “The Double Bass in the 19th Century”
From Beethoven recitals to Wagner’s Parzifal, from the Trout Quintet to Otello, and also from the “Schrumm-schrumm-Bass” to the most challenging virtuoso works, double bass playing in the 19th century saw some exciting developments with regard to innovations in the construction of instruments and the establishment of playing techniques. The topic is further explored in lectures, teachers’ and participants’ concerts and in the teaching sessions. Of course many other aspects of double bass playing are discussed besides this special topic. The closing concert is organised by the participants. The Double Bass Kaleidoscope is aimed in the first place at music students and professional musicians. There are 40 places available for those wishing to participate actively. Passive participation is also possible, which could be of interest to ambitious lay people. Owing to the anticipated huge demand it is recommended that you register in good time.
More Info at the website of Kontrabass Kaleidoskop.
The focus of Drew’s workshop will be Bottomlands Architecture: Introducing Shape and Range to the Bassline, WITHOUT Sacrificing Sound … PLUS other issues.
As a New York staple, he is one of the hardest working guys in the business. He has been awarded grants from major arts institutions such as The National Endowment for the Arts and Meet The Composer. And, Jagged Sky and Spin & Drift, album titles that also serve as band names, have both received rave reviews. The New York Times called Jagged Sky, “One of downtown’s most promising bands.” The Village Voice described Spin & Drift as “an intimidating brood whose sundry skills are likely to forge a sense of grand abstraction and disarming cogency. Pregnant with possibility, this is a first-time grouping you hope will sustain itself.”
Workshop Information: David Gage String Instruments and Drew Gress will present this Workshop one night only at David Gage String Instruments, 36 Walker Street, New York, NY. Tickets: $20.00 ($15.00 students and seniors). Mike’s Master Classes will be streaming every minute of this workshop.
Additionally, David Gage has starting to post video clips from the workshops on youtube.com. Clips from Mimi Fox and Harvie S Art of the Duo workshop and Ben Wolfe – Bass Line Construction workshop are already up and available for viewing.
From July 14th to 19th Mark Dresser will be teaching his unique techniqes at JIMS. JIMS is a high-level summer academy with focus on avantgarde and new music. www.jims.at
Dresser took part in the Los Angeles avant-garde jazz scene of the early 70’s. He has composed chamber music, music for silent film, and solo music. In 2003 he was nominated for the Grammy and today he’s is a lecturer at the faculty of University of California, San Diego. A chapter on his extended techniques for contrabass, “A Personal Pedogogy”, appears in the book ARCANA.
The Spring 2008 Workshop Series at David Gage String Instruments continues with Francois Rabbath. He will take questions and will discuss aspects of his playing and musical concept as part of the event. David Gage String Instruments and Francois Rabbath will present this Workshop one night only at David Gage String Instruments, 36 Walker Street, New York, NY. Tickets are priced at $20.00, $15.00 for students and seniors.
Mike’s Master Classes will be streaming every minute of this Workshop. This interactive live online workshop format allows access to master musicians and creates an environment where musicians can network with one another anywhere with a computer and a high-speed internet connection.
Bassist Dennis Irwing needs help: he is battling cancer and has no health insurance. Joe Lovano and John Scofield team up with Jazz at Lincoln Center and Wynton Marsalis to bring together an incredible lineup of performers in a benefit concert for beloved bassist Dennis Irwin at The Allen Room (Broadway at 60th Street / NYC).
Mose Allison, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Jim Hall, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Motian, John Patitucci, John Scofield and Sultans of Swing, with David Berger are donating their services and Jazz at Lincoln Center is donating its venue and staff to raise much-needed funds for Irwin through The Jazz Foundation of America. We invite the jazz community and music fans to come together in support of Dennis Irwin.
All tickets at $150 are available at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office on Broadway at 60th St., by calling CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500 or via www.jalc.org. All proceeds from this concert will go to the Jazz Foundation of America for the Jazz Musicians’ Emergency Fund in support of Dennis Irwin’s emergency financial and medical support.