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.
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.”
If I will ever visit Japan, I would like to drive on the Melody Road. (Click on Movie links …)
Christian McBride was born on this day in 1972 in Philadelphia. Happy Birthday!
This YouTube video shows a concert performance, featuring a double bass repair …
Today, Johannes has sent me the link to Daryl Johns’ website. Daryl is a 12-years-old double bassist from New Jersey/USA, and a real cat. Unbelievable!
More from Daryl and his great fellow musicians can be found at YouTube (this link is his pianist’s channel, scroll down for videos with Daryl on bass).
II International Masters Music Review at Pila/Poland. With Vitold Rek (db) and Dariusz Mizera (db).
“Master Class gives the opportunity to discover new, interesting and fresh looks at music. It is worth to emphasize that the students of the Review will have an unusual and unique chance to listen to and enjoy the sound of the epochal, original instrument Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù from 1727, which I will play during concerts and consultations.”
If you don’t use the traditional, S-shaped sounpost setting tool very often, setting the soundpost can really be a big challenge. The new Gemini sounpost setting tool holds the soundpost securely against the saddle at the tip of the tool, in order to make it easier to insert the soundpost through the f-hole and into proper position without the risk of the soundpost becoming dislodged as could happen with a traditional sound post tool. During the setting procedure, the soundpost is held by a nylon rope. The release mechanism gently releases the tool from the soundpost once it is in position.
Jazz Bass Artists of the 1950s
H: One of my students at CalArts asked me why I close my eyes when I play. The obvious answer is for concentration, but I told him, “The first night we opened at the Five Spot, I looked across at the bar and there was Charlie Mingus, Wilbur Ware, Percy Heath, Paul Chambers, and just about every great bass player in New York, looking right at me. And from that moment on, I closed my eyes!”
F: Is that true?
H: Yeah! Not really, but . . . . [Laughs all around.]