It was great to chat with Marlene Rosenberg for the podcast!  Marlene is a Chicago-based jazz bassist and educator and is one of the most active players in the local scene. More About Marlene: Marlene Rosenberg has emerged as one of the most talented and multi-faceted bass players on the scene today. She has played professionally throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and Japan, performing with innumerable jazz luminaries, such as Kenny Barron, Frank Foster, Stan Getz, Albert “Tootie” Health, Joe Henderson, Marian McPartland, Cedar Walton,Wallace Roney, David “Fathead” Newman, Monty Alexander, Kevin Mahogony, Frank Morgan Frank Wess, Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson, to name a few. Her stylistic range encompasses everything from traditional Big Band to intimate experimental ensembles. Rosenberg was featured on the recording of the Ed Thigpen Quartet entitled “Easy Flight.” Thigpen believes, “What makes Marlene special is her strength and depth of understanding of music. In a world of clones, she has managed to emerge as her own person with her own sound and feel… her time feel is steady and swings like mad.” Rosenberg, who grew up in Illinois, began clarinet studies at the age of ten and took up the electric bass in high school, playing in the jazz band. She began acoustic bass in college at the University of Illinois, where she received the Smith Memorial Women’s Scholarship in 1977, and the University of Illinois Bass-Violas Scholarship two years in a row. Well versed in both the classical and jazz aspects of her instrument, she performed with the University’s main symphony orchestra as well as the prestigious U of Jazz Band, the top of six bands in University of Illinois, and a Masters of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from North western University in June of 1999. In 1985, Rosenberg received an National Endownment of The Arts Jazz fellowship grant,which she used for intensive private study with Ron Carter, Hal Galper, Milk Richmond and Jim Mcneeley. She also counts among her teachers Warren Benfield (Chicago Symphony), Jeff Bradetich (Northwestern University), Ed Krolick and John Gravey (University Of Illinois), and Karl Fruh (Roosevelt University).She also Studied for a 9 month period with Rob Kassinger from the Chicago Symphony (2010) Also, as mentors, Rosenberg counts Rufus Reid and Ray Brown,John Clayton and Buster Williams. In Addition to her versatility as a bassist, Rosenberg has developed a keen interest and capability in the performance of ethnic music. She has performed and recorded with the Balkan Rhythm Band, which focuses on traditional music from Yugoslavia, Serbia and Greece. Her enthusiasm for the drumming and dance of West Africa has promoted study with master drummers from Ghana as well as participation in an African drumming group in Chicago. Rosenberg has worked with numerous modern dance troupes, improvising on both bass and percussion. All this experience have added an extra dimension to Rosenberg’s Jazz work giving it a rare depth and range. Committed to imparting her knowledge to others, Rosenberg currently teaches privately in the Chicago area. She has given special workshops in high schools throughout the Chicago area and has been a clinician at the Saskatchewan School of the Arts in Canada. She has been involved with the Ravinia Jazz Mentors program in the Chicago public high schools.Rosenberg has given workshops on creating melodic bass lines at the International Society of Bassists conference.She was Adjunct Professor at Northern Illinois for 13 years University (1994-2007),teaching Bass Studio and Jazz History (1 Semester). Rosenberg was a full time professor at Western Illinois University, in Macomb, IL for 3 years from 2007-2010 (Teaching Bass, World Music, Popular Music & Jazz Combos)and currently is music faculty teaching jazz combos at Northwestern University (2009-current),in Evanston,Illinois. She also is on the Music Faculty at Roosevelt University, in Chicago.She has been working wi