Greetings Talkbass!
First my question. I am a returning bassist (after decades away) and need a teacher in Seattle. I want to concentrate for now on classical playing. Teacher recommendations please and thank you.
My name is Gus Blazek. I was principal of my university orchestra for four years, but after graduation concentrated on my other major area, classical voice. That was in part because I never owned a bass of my own, always playing on crappy school instruments. Over the years I have done the occasional combo gig on electric bass, but it was never something I concentrated on.
Skip forward 30 years from my college graduation and I marry into a family of professional bass players. You may have heard of my late father-in-law Ted Hughart, or his brother, Jim Hughart.
Ted Hughart was an incredible man. Even though I hadn’t played in 30 years, when we were together, we would invariably start talking bass, and, even though I was asking most of the questions, he would treat me like I knew what I was talking about. I’ve had a couple of opportunities to converse with Uncle Jim, and he has done the same. What a blessing.
My wife inherited Ted’s Xavier Jacquet, which was bought by his father, also a professional bassist, in the 1940’s. It is in perfect playing condition. When Ted’s health declined, he sent the Jacquet to Lisa Goss at LA Bassworks to be gone through, to make it ready for the next player.
I drove the Jacquet up from San Diego over the weekend and started playing it today. Even with my rudimentary skills I can tell what an incredible instrument this is. The sound got noticeably warmer after about 45 minutes of slow scales. Ted always said the Jacquet needed to be played every day to keep the tone opened up. I think I can do that.
First my question. I am a returning bassist (after decades away) and need a teacher in Seattle. I want to concentrate for now on classical playing. Teacher recommendations please and thank you.
My name is Gus Blazek. I was principal of my university orchestra for four years, but after graduation concentrated on my other major area, classical voice. That was in part because I never owned a bass of my own, always playing on crappy school instruments. Over the years I have done the occasional combo gig on electric bass, but it was never something I concentrated on.
Skip forward 30 years from my college graduation and I marry into a family of professional bass players. You may have heard of my late father-in-law Ted Hughart, or his brother, Jim Hughart.
Ted Hughart was an incredible man. Even though I hadn’t played in 30 years, when we were together, we would invariably start talking bass, and, even though I was asking most of the questions, he would treat me like I knew what I was talking about. I’ve had a couple of opportunities to converse with Uncle Jim, and he has done the same. What a blessing.
My wife inherited Ted’s Xavier Jacquet, which was bought by his father, also a professional bassist, in the 1940’s. It is in perfect playing condition. When Ted’s health declined, he sent the Jacquet to Lisa Goss at LA Bassworks to be gone through, to make it ready for the next player.
I drove the Jacquet up from San Diego over the weekend and started playing it today. Even with my rudimentary skills I can tell what an incredible instrument this is. The sound got noticeably warmer after about 45 minutes of slow scales. Ted always said the Jacquet needed to be played every day to keep the tone opened up. I think I can do that.
