Esteemed double bassist Gary Karr is all about that bass, no treble Thu., Oct. 10, 2019 By Don Chareunsy Acclaimed double bassist Gary Karr is 77 years old, but his nearly life-long love affair with the musical instrument is as strong as ever. “I think I’m sexually attracted to it,” Karr said during a phone interview from his home in Victoria, British Columbia, on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a very sensual experience. You lean against the double bass and it vibrates (laughs). It creates a bond between the player and instrument.” The engaging and young-at-heart Karr talked about the sexy double bass, Gonzaga University, Spokane and more ahead of his guest-solo appearance at Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center on the Gonzaga campus Monday evening: You’re performing with the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra next Monday. What are you looking forward to most with the concert? Two things. The audiences the two times before, they were so great and enthusiastic and supportive. And most of all working with director Kevin Hekmatpanah and the symphony. They are a really great group. Their spirit is wonderful and caressing. It makes me want to play better than ever. It is such a delightful experience. I feel like I’m coming home to family. Do you know your setlist? When you were last here 1 1/2 years ago, it was under celebrated circumstances, including a world premiere piece. I’m going to be doing what the audience likes. They like to have a lot of fun, and they expect a lot of fun from me. My first piece is the 18th century Dragonetti Concerto for Double Bass. I’ll give the conductor a rough time with it (laughs). It has a gorgeous, slow movement. Then for my encore, “Fantasia” from Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “La Sonnambula” about sleepwalking. A woman by mistake goes to the room of the wrong person instead of her fiancé. The melodies come from arias, and my variations are a lot of fun. I try to enact the drama while playing. This is your third time playing with Gonzaga in the past five years or so? I love the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra. I don’t often play concerts anymore because I’m retired, so I can pick and choose. I love Spokane, the orchestra and Kevin. How could I say no? How did you start playing the double bass? I come from a family of seven generations of musicians. I also am a chocoholic. If chocolate could sing, it would sound like a double bass – dark, warm, mellow and sweet (laughs). You’re known as a legend in the double bass world. What do you think of the accolade? I guess if you get old enough, you’d be a legend in any field (laughs). I even started a bass society 50 years ago to draw attention to the double bass and get us out of the shadows. And Leonard Bernstein introduced you as a master in your craft at the ripe old age of 20? If you can believe it, that was my first orchestra, my first appearance. It was the New York Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein in front of 7 million TV viewers. Talk about diving into the cold pool! I recently saw Diana Krall in Spokane, and I was obsessed with her double bassist John Clayton. Was is the allure of the instrument for you after all this time? I was in a class at a girls school demonstrating the double bass, and I was asked the same question. My response was, “I think I’m sexually attracted to it.” After the girls stopped laughing, one of them followed up with, “How long have you had this problem?” It was the first time I’ve been speechless. It’s a very sensual experience. You lean against the double bass and it vibrates (laughs). It creates a bond between the player and instrument. It’s as if I’m singing through the instrument. I’ve always considered myself a lyrical artist. My first desire was to be a singer, so I have always been determined to sing on the bass. What else are you doing with your time in retirement in Victoria? Victoria is the Garden City, and I’m a gardener. There is even a rose named after me. I have a large garden that I designed. I also am a train addict, a toy train addict, and I have a room in the house. I really enjoy doing that, and I’m a clock and watch collector. There is a clock club here. I have lots to keep me busy. Boredom is not part of my philosophy. Anything else you’d like to add, Mr. Karr? No, you’ve covered a lot of … bases (laughs). Have you made that joke before? No, actually I haven’t!
It’s more of a function of age and having too much stuff. However, I might go for the Au Club St. Germain. The copy I have is really old.
It's Thursday 9/28 at 8:33 am EST and I just went to Amazon and a CD is now $3.00! When it first came up it read Vinyl for $199 but when I clicked to open it the good price was there! Good Luck!
Listening now on Apple Music in lossless hi-res, for those who swing that way... Thanks, all, for the heads up on this gem. The Ellington Album "All Too Soon" - Remastered (Instrumental) by Joe Pass, Mickey Roker, Milt Jackson & Ray Brown
If anyone enjoys framing selected album covers, this one is quite beautiful framed. It is typically very inexpensive. If you wish to frame album covers, look for used square frames in charity shops with 14 inch X 14 inch (or 16 x 16) dimensions. They look far better than 12.5 inch frames made for LPs. You can just place the album on top of whatever mat exists in the used frame, and the LP cover holds in position without any adhesive.
1991 I'm listening to this album for the first time in years and then I read a news article that he just suffered a heart attack on stage in Romania. Apparently he's in stable condition.
I received an email yesterday from a T-shirt manufacturer adverting John Coltrane T-shirts and the sales pitch was that it was to celebrate his 97th birthday . I found it weird to consider that Coltrane's birth was 97 years ago. He seems so relevant and present in my life that I still think of him as my age
It’s hard to conceive that some of these artists are dead because we listen to them all the time and they are living for us. People like Bud and Bird were born around the same time my parents were. Both my father and Bird were born in 1920 and my mother in 1922. Nw, that’s a weird feeling.
I am just learning this as well. I have the mono/stereo SACD from some years ago and an OG mono lp so I’m good though I am now intrigued about those overdubbed tracks.
On one of the recent Yacht Or Nyacht Podcast episodes, John was brought up, and JD Ryznar made the joke that he'd likely be one of the earliest musicians to be "canceled" simply because of his last name. I dunno, it made me laugh.
You have the over-dubbed tracks, most releases are, that SACD Verve edition does have the overdubbed version both in mono and stereo. The briefly released original non-over-dubbed version is rarer--the Verve Original cd edition has it, as well as the disc in the Impulse album Vol. 2 set. The quick test is if "You Are Too Beautiful" has any tenor on it, you have the over-dubbed edition.
Mohini Day - Introverted Soul (2023) I just found this wild thing by accident! Jazz fusion with some very proggy elements and wild playing. Total energy boost for my night.
Very Tribal Tech. Not surprising to see Gary Willis with them. No Scott Henderson, but they do have Guthrie Govan as one of the guitarists. Nice find.
Jason Palmer "Songbook" Jason Palmer: trumpet; Greg Osby: alto saxophone; Ravi Coltrane: tenor saxophone; Warren Wolf: vibes; Leo Genovese: Fender Rhodes, piano; Matt Brewer: bass; Tommy Crane: drums.
