“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:

In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Linda May Han Oh is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #129 – Linda May Han Oh.

Linda May Han Oh’s story is as global as it is musical. Born in Malaysia, raised in Australia and now a Grammy-winning bassist, composer and educator in New York/Boston, she has become one of the most distinctive and respected voices on the instrument today. Her journey began at the piano before the bass called her in, and that foundation of harmony and melody continues to shape her approach whether she’s anchoring the bands of Pat Metheny, Vijay Iyer, Kenny Barron, or Terri Lyne Carrington, leading her own acclaimed projects, or teaching the next generation as an Associate Professor at Berklee. In our conversation, Linda reflects on the intersections of culture, geography, and sound in her development, how classical training and jazz improvisation have always been in dialogue within her playing, and the delicate balance she strikes between performer, composer, and teacher. She shares stories about writing for chamber ensembles, percussion trios, and film projects, about stepping into Pixar’s Soul both musically and visually (the bassist “Miho” was modeled on her), and about why she still approaches each project with a spirit of curiosity rather than mastery. What makes Linda so compelling isn’t just her virtuosity, it’s the clarity with which she connects her instrument to broader ideas of imagination, resilience, and storytelling. And just as she pushes boundaries in conversation, she continues to do so in her music, with her latest project Strange Heavens – a chordless trio with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. The album wrestles with why we cling to familiar struggles even when they no longer serve us, and listeners can expect both intimacy and daring: music that is at once questioning and grounding, reflective and boldly unmoored. If you’ve ever wondered how the bass can be both foundation and frontier, this episode (and this artist) make a powerful case. This conversation was recorded live at the Montreal Jazz Festival – a stage that has welcomed some of the greatest bass players in the world. Each year, the festival gathers legends and innovators and we get the rare chance to sit down with them face-to-face, right in the heart of the music. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #129 – Linda May Han Oh.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends).