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Donovan Stokes Archives

Bass Coalition Announces Summer Workshop 2021 Featuring Three Guest Artists
Events

Bass Coalition Announces Summer Workshop 2021 Featuring Three Guest Artists

Calling all double bassists around the world! The Bass Coalition has announced their annual summer workshop will be held on June 26th and 27th. This year’s event will be virtual, allowing anyone around the globe to join in on the action.

Donovan Stokes: Upright Bass Cover of Cliff Burton’s “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)”
Bass Videos

Donovan Stokes: Upright Bass Cover of Cliff Burton’s “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)”

You may recognize Donovan Stokes from his No Treble column, The Lowdown With Dr. D, where he delivers tons of great insights for the double bass. What you may not know is that while he’s well versed in classical and jazz, he also has a background in heavy metal. Check out this unbelievable cover of legendary Metallica bassist Cliff Burton’s...

Lynn Seaton and Donovan Stokes: Patrician Commission
Bass Videos

Lynn Seaton and Donovan Stokes: Patrician Commission

Hold onto your hats, because this isn’t your typical jazz duo. The Bass Coalition Summer Workshop wrapped up this year with a stunning recital by guest artist and jazz legend Lynn Seaton. For the finale, he invited Donovan Stokes to join him for a special version of his song “Patrician Commission”. Both double bassists got gnarly with distortion pedals to...

Latin American Double Bass Workshop Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Events

Latin American Double Bass Workshop Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The 10th annual Encuentro Latinoamericano de Contrabajos will take place Saturday, November 22nd through Thursday, November 27th at the Tijuana Cultural Center in Tijuana, Mexico. The week-long Latin American bass workshop is presented by the Contrabajos de Baja California and will include quartets, group classes, masterclasses, a bass orchestra, and much more. This year’s guest artists include world-renowned bassists Catalin...

The Lowdown with Dr. D: A Call for Questions
The Lowdown with Dr. D

The Lowdown with Dr. D: A Call for Questions

Over the years, I’ve received questions from aspiring bassists, and many of those questions have turned into the Lowdown columns you read here. I’d love to do more of this. Please send me questions you’d like to see me cover in future Lowdown columns. You can send them to [email protected] or post them in the comments below. I look forward...

Best of 2013: The Top 10 Lowdown with Dr. D Columns
Best of 2013

Best of 2013: The Top 10 Lowdown with Dr. D Columns

Since September, 2009, Dr. Donovan Stokes has shared his expert advice through his “Lowdown with Dr. D” column here on No Treble. While all of his columns are worth a read, these ten were his most popular in 2013, based on readership. 1. Improving your Technique: Habits and Awareness for Bass Players Most bassists are looking to improve some aspect...

Fourth Annual Bass Coalition Summer Workshop Set for June 28-29
Events

Fourth Annual Bass Coalition Summer Workshop Set for June 28-29

The fourth annual Bass Coalition Summer Workshop is set for Friday, June 28th and Saturday, June 29th on the campus of the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. The two day educational event includes bass ensembles, masterclasses, clinician concerts, one-on-one instruction, and clinics that range from classical and jazz to alternative playing styles (upright slap bass, etc.), amplification, looping, and more....

New School: Donovan Stokes
New School

New School: Donovan Stokes

Regular No Treble readers will be familiar with Donovan Stokes from his column, The Lowdown with Dr. D, but you may not be as familiar with his playing. As a professor at Shenandoah University, Stokes is well versed in the classical realm of double bass playing, yet his own compositions draw on an array of genres. His stunning performances often...

Donovan Stokes: Solo Bass Arrangement of “Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfá
Bass Videos

Donovan Stokes: Solo Bass Arrangement of “Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfá

Donovan Stokes (aka Dr. D and a regular contributor here) recorded his solo bass arrangement of “Gentle Rain” by Luiz Bonfá for the upcoming Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Faculty Sampler CD. Luckily, Kevin Johnson was around to film it.

The 2nd Annual Bass Coalition Summer Workshop
Events

The 2nd Annual Bass Coalition Summer Workshop

The Bass Coalition will be holding its second annual Summer Workshop at Shenandoah University-Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia on July 9th and 10th, 2011. Faculty will include Oberlin bass professor Peter Dominguez, renowned bass educator Inez Wyrick, and Shenandoah Professor and No Treble columnist Dr. Donovan Stokes. The two-day event includes clinics covering classical, jazz and alternative styles, including use of...

Classical Pieces for Beginner to Intermediate Level Bassists
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Classical Pieces for Beginner to Intermediate Level Bassists

This week, Dr. D. tackles a reader’s question about incorporating classical music into his practice routine. Q: I have recently started the switch to upright bass, I have been practicing technique and working my scales (pissing off my roommates) but I want to bring a third portion to my practice and incorporate some beginner classical music. What good is practicing...

Flying with an Upright Bass
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Flying with an Upright Bass

Many bassists will, at some point, find it necessary to fly with their upright bass. Although a professional bassist should be able to play acceptably on any bass that is thrown at them, there are a number of reasons why we want to play our own instrument on the road. If you are doing anything other than the simplest of...