I’m sitting in San Francisco airport after two wonderful days at this year’s International Society of Bassists Convention.  As my flight back to Chicago is currently running three hours late, I figure this would be a good time to jot down some thoughts about what I experienced.

This is my third ISB convention, after Northwestern University in 1984 and Western Michigan in 2005.  I really love these things, they open the window to all that is going on in the double bass world and are so entertaining and informative.  Connecting with old friends is an added bonus.

Tuesday afternoon was filled with concerts.  Brazilian bassist Nilsson Matta put on a fine set of Brazilian flavored sounds with jazz guitarist, Roni Ben-Hur.  Nilsson is a very fluid and melodic player with big tone.  He is the bassist with the  New York based Trio La Paz.

Next up, Berklee bass professor Bruce Gertz, who played an adventurous set of challenging originals with pianist Bill Mays and drummer, Tim Froncek, the house rhythm team.  Bruce is a very fine player with a dark and punchy sound.  His soloing is first class in every way.  He was also joined by  a trumpet player whose name I didn’t catch.

Bassist Eric Hansen brought in a larger ensemble featuring a wonderful young soprano sax player .  This was very interesting and complex new music, a cross between jazz and classical.

Next, I went to Marcos Machado’s recital of music by composer Frank Proto.  Marcos has studied with Francois Rabbath, and it shows.  He is an amazing technician, fluid and swift with a colorful sound.  I was blown away by his accomplishment on the instrument. 

At this point, time for dinner with old friend and new Nebraska State U bass professor Hans Sturm, and Oberlin jazz bass professor, Peter Dominguez.

Evening concert #1, Fausto Borem with Trio Musa Brasilis.  Borem is another amazing player, lyrical, great improvisational ability, a good singer, too, interweaving vocal and bass lines with ease.  He was joined by a pianist, and singer Ana Taglianietti, who brought an operatic touch to the procedings.  Interesting and varied performance coming out of many bags, including more than a touch of theatrics.

The day’s finale was by John and Gerald Clayton.  They both played beautifully and put together a program of standards and originals that featured some really fine arco work by John, playing on Ray Brown’s lovely, old German, bass.  A wonderful ending to an incredible day.

More to come...