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You can hear Dan Anderson, noted player of the tuba and double bass, a lot closer to his Batavia home than his performances with the elite Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Chicago Brass Quintet. Each Sunday finds him featured on bass with a jazz trio happy to play requests and make brunch a special occasion at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. The trio lead by Ken Wocejk on clarinet includes guitarist Chester Tocha.
Which was your first instrument?
I started on tuba in the fifth grade in the Batavia band program. My (university) studies were interrupted by a two-year (stint) in Germany. I went over there to audition for an opera orchestra (seeking) someone who played both bass and tuba. I didn’t know anybody else who did. That never panned out. I just decided I wanted to stay there anyway, (and) wound up freelancing with a wide range of jazz and classical groups. I played with the bands at the Oktoberfest tents — everything from that to playing with the Nürnberg Philharmonic.
When did you pick up the bass?
I started playing the bass in high school. I saw the Woody Herman band when I was in high school. I knew that someday I wanted to play jazz. I thought that was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen.
What do you enjoy about mastering two so different instruments?
The fun (thing) about what I do is the variety. It’s very challenging and it always keeps it fresh. When I was younger, people told me I should pick one instrument. I just nodded and smiled.
Is it hard to switch between the two?
It’s a little bit of a balancing act. I’m a guest at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from time to time. When I get called to play with those guys, I have to get out the tuba and practice a lot. I play both of them every day. I work for a lot of different people around Chicago. One of the challenges is really knowing a lot of different music that I have to perform.
Is one instrument your favorite?
If I had to make a choice, I would choose the tuba. What I really love to do is play jazz on the tuba. In my opinion, that particular pursuit has not been explored as fully as I can conceive doing it.
Talk about your musical projects.
I’ve written music which has been performed on tours to Brazil and Taiwan for the Chicago Brass Quintet. We’re going to play my music … in Toronto coming up in October. I’ve had a chance to … play a lot of places in the world and with some pretty big name people. But I would really like to continue to cultivate music in the Fox Valley in the form of chamber concerts and particularly jazz.
You can hear Dan Anderson, noted player of the tuba and double bass, a lot closer to his Batavia home than his performances with the elite Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Chicago Brass Quintet. Each Sunday finds him featured on bass with a jazz trio happy to play requests and make brunch a special occasion at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. The trio lead by Ken Wocejk on clarinet includes guitarist Chester Tocha.
Which was your first instrument?
I started on tuba in the fifth grade in the Batavia band program. My (university) studies were interrupted by a two-year (stint) in Germany. I went over there to audition for an opera orchestra (seeking) someone who played both bass and tuba. I didn’t know anybody else who did. That never panned out. I just decided I wanted to stay there anyway, (and) wound up freelancing with a wide range of jazz and classical groups. I played with the bands at the Oktoberfest tents — everything from that to playing with the Nürnberg Philharmonic.
When did you pick up the bass?
I started playing the bass in high school. I saw the Woody Herman band when I was in high school. I knew that someday I wanted to play jazz. I thought that was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen.
What do you enjoy about mastering two so different instruments?
The fun (thing) about what I do is the variety. It’s very challenging and it always keeps it fresh. When I was younger, people told me I should pick one instrument. I just nodded and smiled.
Is it hard to switch between the two?
It’s a little bit of a balancing act. I’m a guest at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from time to time. When I get called to play with those guys, I have to get out the tuba and practice a lot. I play both of them every day. I work for a lot of different people around Chicago. One of the challenges is really knowing a lot of different music that I have to perform.
Is one instrument your favorite?
If I had to make a choice, I would choose the tuba. What I really love to do is play jazz on the tuba. In my opinion, that particular pursuit has not been explored as fully as I can conceive doing it.
Talk about your musical projects.
I’ve written music which has been performed on tours to Brazil and Taiwan for the Chicago Brass Quintet. We’re going to play my music … in Toronto coming up in October. I’ve had a chance to … play a lot of places in the world and with some pretty big name people. But I would really like to continue to cultivate music in the Fox Valley in the form of chamber concerts and particularly jazz.
