1144: John Goldsby on Big Band Bass
John Goldsby returns to the podcast to celebrate Big Band Bass, a project that spotlights the double bass at the front of the band alongside the legendary WDR Big Band and arranger/conductor Bob Mintzer. We talk about what it felt like to close a 30-year run in one of the world's rare full-time jazz ensemble jobs, and how stepping away has opened up space for hand-picked gigs, home projects, and new recordings.
We dig into the album's origin story—why Vince Mendoza's "Sonatinita" is the lone non-Goldsby composition, how Bob Mintzer turned John's "little ditties" into full-blown big band architecture, and what it's like hearing your writing amplified by master arrangers. We also get nerdy (in the best way) about gear and sound: Spirocore light gauge vs. Gerald Genssler's silk-core strings, recording with a Schoeps MK 41, using a Fishman Full Circle onstage, and the realities of earplugs and in-ears in a loud big band environment. Connect with John at john.goldsby.de and explore his work with Discover Double Bass.
Connect with DBHQ
Gear used to record this podcast
- Zoom H6 studio 8-Track 32-Bit Float Handy Recorder
- Rode Podmic
- Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
- Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens
- Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Lens
When you buy a product using a link on this page, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting DBHQ.
Theme music by Eric Hochberg
