So I mentioned the NPR Monitor Mix bass solo contest a few months back. Whatever happened of this promised contest, you may ask? Who won, and what did it sound like? I’m guessing nobody knows, because the blog went on vacation in May and not a peep has been heard since. I guess I should be used to bassists being ignored or overlooked at this point (and it’s not about contests anyway) – it’s just cruel to raise hopes and then dash them again. Sigh . . .

My new iPad holds quite a bit of sheet music in PDF form, and so far it’s been a good resource for such storage. The resolution is high enough to be useful, and the screen is big enough to show the entire page in legible form. It’s still a little slower on the large files, and normal PDF files aren’t convenient to scan through (Real Book fans, take note). But it’s awfully convenient for storage, a quick touch changes the page, and it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper than the MusicPad Pro (a device designed just for sheet music, although it does come with a foot pedal for changing the page). I wouldn’t be surprised to see this showing up on tons of music stands soon.

And, as it turns out, there’s no Great American Trailer Park Musical show tomorrow due to actress injury, so my run with them is done. There’s going to be two more shows next week, though, so make the effort to see their last weekend in the run. Music rehearsals start Sunday for the next BobDirex production, so that’ll be more than enough to keep me busy.

1. Bad cable – lifetime warranty doesn’t beat the spare cable (or the Stage Ninja cable when I was told the backup cable was too long for the stage
2. Radio station in the amp – really? In a grounded bass amp with no other indication of issues? Managed some gain and EQ tweaks to minimize, and I’m not going through a PA anyway, so it’s not noticable
3. Lightbulb on music stand goes out – alright, that’s not my fault. Stage lights and a quick replacement carried the day.

I suppose that’s why I keep the spares around, but I’m moving on to another musical this weekend, and I wonder what’s going to break there . . .

The Vollrath just has a Saturday show listed for tomorrow with The Blakes, but I’d be surprised if they weren’t doing something tonight as well. Head on over.

Hassenpfeffer performs tonight at the the White Rabbit Cabaret, there’s live jazz at Maria’s Pizza, and the Brass Ring hosts lounge music all weekend long. And, if I may be so presumptuous – Fountain Square is a wonderful place from which to witness the downtown fireworks. I’m performing at Theater on the Square this weekend, but I’ll head back to the Square afterwards for all the festivities. Have a happy holiday!

Also, it looks like every weekend I have through the first weekend in August contains musical theater goodness. This weekend and the next, I’m subbing in for the extended run of the “Great American Trailer Park Musical” at Theater On The Square, and then after that comes the BOBDIREX production of “Something Funny Happened On The Way to the Forum” at the Athenaeum. Back into the world of weirdly reproduced scores and pencil notes.

I went ahead and signed up for a month of Booty Collins’ Funk University to see what it’s like – the “semester” begins July 1st, but I’ve received some exercises and practice tips to get started on before school begins. Nothing terribly groundbreaking in that material, so hopefully the interaction and access to the professors (including Collins and Meshell Ndegeocello!) will make up for it.

• Independent Music and Art Festival at the Harrison Center
• Circle City IN Pride Fest
• Talbot St. Art Fair
• LCi Art Fair

This all happens during the day, leaving most folks tired and full by the time the evening rolls around. However, this wouldn’t be much of a bass blog if I didn’t mention the visit of Stanley Clarke to our very own Jazz Kitchen this Saturday. The last couple times he came through town were stops at the Vogue and the Murat (with Return To Forever), so the small club visit is surprising and welcome.The fact that Hiromi Uehara holds down the keyboards on this show makes it even more appealing – she’s a headliner on her own. So, even with everything going on that day, this should still be on your bass calendar.

You don’t maintain a separate bass calendar.

Nevermind, that was silly.

It’s a good thing we taped this podcast ahead of time, because had we been taping now, I doubt I would be able to concentrate. NPR’s Monitor Mix blog (written by ex-Sleater-Kinney member Carrie Brownstein) is sponsoring a new contest – a BASS SOLO contest. Clearly, this is a subject fraught with peril. As I commented on the blog entry, how do you tailor a bass solo to win a contest voted on by NPR listeners? I’m torn between the shredfest and the obligatory Bon Iver cover. Neither appeal to me, so I’m a bit at a loss.

So please, lend me your support, won’t you? The contest ends on Friday, May 28th, and I’ll need some lead time to prepare the recordin’ (thankfully, they don’t require video). Send me some ideas, offer some guidance, and we’ll get this project off of the ground. How often do people ask for frickin’ bass solos, anyway? LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

Not that there are carburetors anymore. They’re just as non-existent as the original guitarist and drummer in a certain band playing Indianapolis later this summer.