NYC Bass Recital

[Ken Smith]

Bill Blossom, Bassist of the NY Philharmonic just turned 60. Yesterday he did a Recital for a select invited crowd of about 100+ which included the entire Bass section of the NY Phil including past Principal John Schaeffer, recently retired Lew Norton, Alvin Bream, Peter Lloyd (Minnesota Principal Bassist) and many others. Luthiers Arnold Schnitzer, Jeff Bollbach and Paul Biase were also amongst the invitees. The performance in itself was breath taking!

Note: Bill's Bass was made by Jeff Bollbach in 2001 and was #2 of the four variations of his Pallotta model made to date. The Bow he used was made by Giovanni Lucchi. His Bass is strung with Obligato G & D, Eudoxa A (silver wound on gut) and a Permanent E/C. The Fingered Extension was made and installed by Bill Blossom who is also a great Luthier and Bow maker as well as great Double Bassist.

Jon Deak wrote a special commissioned piece for the event ("Yamamba", 'The Mountain Crone' for Bass, Flute, Viola and Harp) as well as Bill opening up playing a Bach Concerto for Solo Violin (Preludio to the 3rd Partita) transcribed for Double Bass by Bill himself. One other modern piece by John Mooney (Poem for Double Bass and Piano but performed with Harp) was performed.

This was the most prestigious gathering of Bass talent I have ever witnessed in my life. I was fortunate to get invited myself having studied with Bill Blossom 35 years ago as well as Lew Norton 30 years ago.

I got to talk to all the Bassists mentioned above with the exception of Satoshi Okamoto who had to leave after the concert and before the reception (party).

I was kind of the in between guy coming for a Bass doubling career, turning Electric Bass maker and now retired Bassist playing in two Orchestras locally 'after the fact'. Try for a minute being in my shoes introducing yourself to Eugene Levinson (NY Phil Principal) and telling him you studied with both Bill and Lew but never worked in the classical field and then retired to make Electric Basses but is now playing in two orchestras to make up for lost time and keep your Basses tuned up.. OR... Just say "Hi", shake hands and smile..lol

It was actually pretty smooth in there at the reception getting to say hello to those you haven't seen in 30+ years, or only spoke on the phone 3 1/2 decades ago or only knew of each other by reputation.

The funniest thing were 3 luthiers (Arnold, Jeff and Paul) trading Ken Smith stories about me calling to check up on my Bass being repaired. That was one funny ribbing..... I warned Paul that although I still to this date had his home phone number from the '70s, I have not called him since then other than at the Shop! This, he was grateful for.