Hello from Columbus

[Tom Howard]

Hey all

I've been playing bass guitar for 25+ years and have taken up double bass in the last year and a half. My current basses are an American Fender Jazz Deluxe 5 string and a Carvin fretless 5'er (both with Ken Smith strings, of course ) and a rental Shen SB80.

I'm enjoying the upright a great deal, playing in a volunteer chamber orchestra sponsored by my employer and taking jazz DB lessons from Doug Richeson.

The biggest issue I'm having is with improvisation. Having played rock bass for so many years, writing many bass lines but doing almost no improvisation, I'm finding it very difficult to "let go". I will be attending the Summer Jazz Workshop in Louisville this July, so I'm hoping that will help.

Take care
-tom