GARY KARR - "G" like "Genius" (and transcriptions)

Thanks to Maestro and Harmon Lewis for free transcriptions

Maestro Karr on the left, Han Han Cho on the right. Enjoy!

NEW CD - Gary KARR, Han Han CHO & Harmon LEWIS play "SCHUMANN AT 39"

GARY KARR - Read what Maestro Karr says to us

by VITO LIUZZI

Thank you, Vito, for your very flattering compliment, but I don't consider myself worthy of such extraordinary praise! Of course, I am very pleased to be singled out by you, but I am also aware of the many great bassists who have had an enormous impact on the perceptions of our instrument during the past century. As to the second part of your question, I must admit that I am unaware of the kind of love that you mentioned. Although I've been in the public eye for four decades, I am basically very shy and somewhat of a loner (which is one reason I live on an island!). Probably for very human reasons, I am much more aware of my colleague's criticism of me than I am of their admiration. Having had so much public exposure, it made me feel like the sitting duck at the carnival. It seemed like everyone enjoyed taking pot shots at me! This situation made me even more shy and reclusive. However, the irony is that my own criticism of my playing was far more severe than that of anyone else and, to this day, I still follow my own drummer and I still hope to become a better bass player.

 

2) You have recorded an incredible numbers of Lps and Cds! Is there a sure numbers

of your published recording or have you got some materials never published?

I've never counted the amount of recordings that I've made, so I can't give you a number. Most of my recordings were done for King Records in Japan because the Japanese musical audience embraced my playing more than anywhere else. However, I do have a lot of recorded music that has not yet been released. The next two will be Japanese Songs with a marvelous singer, Kuniko Furuhata and an album of all Schumann, one of my favorite composers. Also, I am presently working on my two final bass books.

 

3) You have been the unique double bass player who lives only with recitals, recordings,

master classes all over  the world. Which is, in your opinion, the main reason of this

incredible success?

I imagine that the concept of success is in the mind, eye and ears of the beholder. Since, even at my old age, I have so much yet to accomplish that I don't consider myself successful at all! Because I want so much to do better, I feel ashamed of my playing over past years. Even as a teacher, I have made a lot of mistakes and I am aware of the fact that each summer when I have my Karr Kamp that I have grown a lot as a mentor. In my own mind, I don't think that I'll ever be successful, but I hope to keep trying to better myself until my dying day.

 

4) Mr. Karr you are considerated a "Singer with a Double Bass". Can you explain better this concept

to young students which begin their studies? And what other else?

All my strongest influences came from the vocal world, so my instrument became my voice. If I could sing, I would love to sound like a contrabass. When I was very young, I heard the voice of the contrabass in my head. I was aware of the fact that my concept was very different from my grandfather, father, uncle and cousins who all played the contrabass, but all I wanted to do was sing on the instrument. Even with Simandl (whose books I detest to this day!), I loved to play slowly the exercises in minor keys! They gave me an opportunity to express my passions which has always been my greatest source of satisfaction. As a teacher, when I work with students I try to strengthen their mental images of the sound of the contrabass. Each person has their own unique way of producing a sound and for me this is the most important aspect of playing. It is far more important than technical development. For me, sound is everything! Isn't that the way a singer thinks?

 

5) Mr Karr, you are developed an incredible technique on your famous double bass.

Do you think it's only a question of numbers of hours spent to study, or is it better the quality

of study.

Actually, I consider my technique to be very poor. I have a lot of problems which I have never been able to solve. However, what technique I do have was to realize my musical intent more than anything else. The musical idea always came first (before the technique) and it was my job to find a way to bring the musical idea to life. This is what inspired my technical development. I've been known to work on just eight measures in a slow piece for an hour until I was able to accomplish my musical goal. For me, there is no stronger impetus for technical development than a musical idea. 

 

7) Mr Karr, Harmon Lewis has been your principal pianist and organist! Today, what do you feel

to tell about "your pianist"?

More than anything else, I would advise pianists to pay more attention to their left hand. Most pianists learn to bring most of the music out of their right hand, but, as a bassist, I know that the music cannot exist without the musical foundation of the left hand! Also, because the bass is so low, it is important to give the player as much bottom support as possible, otherwise it will always sound like the bass is accompanying the right hand of the piano. 

 

6) Last thing. Mr Karr which are you main ideas for your incredible carreer in the future?

My career as a performer ended in 2001, but I still would like to produce a couple dozen more CDs, finish my bass books, make my editions of my arrangements of music available to all bassists, and I would like to make as many DVDs as possible in which I will perform and give lectures about playing. Also, I am presently working with Han Han Cho with whom I will make some CDs and DVDs of bass duets that we have arranged from 18th and 19th century repertoire written for other instruments. 

... first part

What Maestro watches from his house

A special gift for maestro KARR

Click on the cover to know more

... and last but not least !!

WWW.GARYKARR.COM

New photos: Gary Karr

Let's go on ....

Henze concerto with Gary Karr

Maestro Karr has been the unique soloist double bass player who has been able to record for the Deutcshe Grammophon (Germany).

If you like, listen to something of it!

maestro Karr playing his electric upright bass with a special guest!!

Click on the photos to enlarge

GARY KARR in the globalization!!

... lets go on with interview

Above: 1)Harmon Lewis and Gary Karr; 2) Gary & Rolls??

GARY KARR and HISTORY (Sergei and Olga Koussevitzky, Amati 1610 )

TRANSCRIPTIONS from HARMON LEWIS and GARY KARR

Directly from Karr/Lewis Archive

FREE DOWNLOAD.

then ....

from Han Han Cho