Blake Branch: “Raspberry Heaven” Solo Bass Arrangement

In response to the NPR Bass Solo contest, bassist Blake Branch submitted his arrangement of “Raspberry Heaven” by Masumi It? and Y?ko Ueno. The tune comes from the anime series “Azumanga Daioh”.

Thanks to Alex Kalicinski for sharing this video with us.

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Leave a Reply to Cadkins Cancel reply

  1. SmartArseBassPlayer

    Thanks, dad…for the $5,000 fodera…dang. I don’t know what is more impressive, the playing or the fact he got his parents to drop that kind of cash on a bass for him.

  2. SmartArse,

    You realize he’s almost 30 yrs old and a Berkeley graduate, right? However he got the bass, I think he deserves it. Plus, that bass was probably closer to 7 grand…

  3. Nick

    That was so gorgeous! Mad props! I felt the soul in it :)

  4. Thanks for the kind words, guys! Like Chris said, I’m 29; I guess its just b/c I practice a healthy lifestyle for the most part! Just for the record, I worked hard and saved my own money for the Fodera, which I got used and I paid much less than $7000 for.

  5. Cadkins

    Regardless where the Bass came from or what kind it is, I believe it was just reverberating the notes chosen by the player. Excellent job Blake.

  6. Jim Duey

    Thanks for sharing!

  7. Peter L Dominey

    sweet!

  8. He musta’ mowed a A.. LOT.. of lawns for that baby!

  9. super smooth…much respect!

  10. […] first time we featured Blake, he’d put together an incredible all-bass arrangement of “Raspberry Heaven“. This time around, he’s taken Yoko Kanno’s composition “Space Lion”, […]

  11. Great playing, beautiful Fodera!

  12. Sweet playing and beautiful song!