UPPER LAKE — A combination of two world-class musicians, Bob Culbertson and Michael Manring, and two unique instruments, the Chapman Stick and the Hypobass, will be featured on Saturday as part of the Tallman Hotel”s annual “Concerts With Conversation” series. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the informal concert will take place in the intimate Meeting House next to the Hotel in Upper Lake.
“If you haven”t seen or heard the Chapman Stick, you”re in for a real treat,” Tallman owner Bernie Butcher said. “We”re lucky that one of the world”s true masters of the instrument lives right here in Lake County. And because of Bob, we were able to attract Michael Manring ? who travels the world giving solo bass concerts ? to our series. I”m really looking forward to the evening.”
Culbertson was an early adaptor of the 12-stringed instrument developed in the 1970s by Emmett Chapman. Culbertson is famous not only for compositional talent but for his technique, which allows him to play several parts simultaneously (e.g. bass line, chords and melody).
Together with Emmett Chapman and luthier Craig Anderson, Culbertson has developed an acoustic version of the Chapman Stick and was the first ever to record a CD on the instrument. Inventor Chapman calls Culbertson “the Segovia of the Stick.”
“I”ve played a couple of gigs with Michael Manring,” Culbertson said, “and they”ve always been great fun. He”s a wonderful entertainer and an absolutely one-of-a-kind bass player.”
Manring has developed a new approach to the bass guitar that includes unorthodox tunings and techniques. He has honed his skills on hundreds of session and solo recordings and thousands of concerts throughout the world.
Like Culbertson, Manring developed his own unique instrument, the Hyperbass, together with master guitar maker Joe Zon in 1990. “It has a custom bridge that allows for instant re-tuning of all four strings simultaneously,” he says, “and it”s an absolute joy to play.”
The Tallman series continues on March 26 with country music favorite Rita Hosking together with Sean Feder on banjo and dobro guitar.
Reed instrument master Paul McCandless and jazz cellist Motoshi Kosako will appear on April 24 and the series concludes on May 21 with Kelly Park and his KT3 Jazz Trio from San Francisco.
Concert tickets are $25 plus tax and include coffee and cookies served at the concert venue.
Tickets and information on the series can be obtained at the Tallman Hotel reception desk at 275-2244 or by checking the web site at www.TallmanHotel.com.
