KCBASSFEST 2025 featured Lloyd Goldstein with Brian Steevers. Just an amazing concert that had Lloyd spontaneously play the German bow. The other performers were Mikyung and Sandor both German bow players.
Lloyd is a very special Lifetime faculty member. Lloyd goes back to the George Vance workshops in Washington D.C. where he was inspired to really change his life. He was a long time member of the Tampa bay symphony and when he met Francois Rabbath and the others at George’s workshop he felt a great need to change. Not just adapting Francois technique and sound concepts but, Francois and George’s life philosophy. “Do Not Stay Alone” and more. He decided to start his real life work in the hospitals helping those who need music the most. This was inspirational for all those who knew him at the time. We are all Lucky to know him.
Lloyd came to the second year the KCBassworkshop happened. It was then that he helped Johnny know that what they were building wasn’t just a kc version of George’s camp but, to continue on George’s and Francois life work. It really helped that Lloyd just came without any monetary compensation or commitment. This started a long line of faculty members showing up just because they wanted to see this event occur. George’s workshop had stopped existing because George wasn’t around to run it. There was no young bass teacher in the DC area to take over. This was a problem. There was a hole in all of our hearts Because when George passed away so did our yearly gathering and our key creator of that space. It takes a young bass teacher to recreate that space. So Lloyd had pointed out that it had moved to KC. He has come back as a featured guest every year since. Sometimes he gets monetary compensation and others he doesn’t. He maybe one of the most cherished of the faculty members. He definitely is the one who nobody can replace as there are not many that do what Lloyd does as a professional bassists. Lloyd helped build KCBASS workshop and if a lifetime faculty member. KCBass would not be what it is today if Lloyd didn’t arrive here 10 years ago.
Our lifetime kcbass faculty member Lloyd Goldstein has been diagnosed with Terminal Brain Cancer after kcbass 2026 and given limited amount of life expectancy. You can follow his journey thru his Facebook page (he has been posting daily) So we are dedicating 2026 as a big we love Lloyd and his music celebration. Lloyd has long inspired all of us to use the power of music to heal not just our hearts but the actual body. We will highlight his music and his arrangements for bass at this year’s workshop. The faculty will all play something that relates to Lloyd. We hope that you decide to play something by him as well for your performance at the workshop (not required of course). We also hope he can be with us in person and of course maybe our efforts will provide a miracle….
KCBass is hosting a zoom online Celebration March 21st 11 am (Central Standard time aka KC time). We have over 50 performances by the Bass family of Lloyd’s pieces or pieces dedicated to him. Some are written for Lloyd for his amazing spirit and love of music healing aspects. The List of performers is staggering from all over the world such as Mikyung Sung, Barry Green, Jason Heath, Etienne LaFrance, as well as students who just love Lloyd and his message of Healing music. All the videos will be put up on his Youtube Page along with his amazing videos of his performances.
Please join us on 21st as Lloyd, Francois Rabbath, Johnny Hamil, Andres Martin, Desmond Bratton, Martha Vance, Barry Green, Christian Chesanek, Hans Sturm, and so many more will be in the chat room watching Lloyd’s face when he gets to watch these videos and messages in real time. We will post the zoom meeting recording after the event as well. Note: this may take longer than Lloyd is ready to manage at this point. If so we will take a break and resume at the time he is ready (either that day or the following). Here is the link to the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6455658149
The reason is two fold. 1) to return the favor of playing music for people who are sick to Lloyd himself. He is fighting his sickness and this event and videos will help him greatly understand how many of us are inspired by him and his art/work. We hope the music and messages all give Lloyd’s body a lift to fight off his cancer.
2) to inspire all of us to play for people who are sick. Lloyd has pointed the way for bass players to make this a viable occupation and has inspired many to do the same occupation ( ex. Desmond Bratton). He also has inspired many to play for various hospitals, Old folk homes, and dementia care. This type of performance take the musician to a completely different place and Lloyd’s amazing books and videos are a great way for anyone to learn how to share in this capacity. So we hope the videos of so many will inspire you to venture into doing it yourself. Please note: We would be happy to post your video on Lloyd Youtube page anytime after March 21st. The interpretation of Lloyd’s material is very important to the future musicians that will find this path. So don’t hesitate to send us yours. You can also just send a verbal part and we will post it. Just remember if you can put the music first in the video.
This is setup to help all of us Celebrate Lloyd across the world so you can share the videos and rewatch them as long as you can. Lloyd’s Youtube will go on for future generations to enjoy these and His performances.
Please read more about this extraordinary human being here:
KCBASSFEST performance at The Record Bar with the amazing banjo player Joshua Paul.
Lloyd having fun after a hard days work at KCBASS 2025 with “Teddy” Leon’s skeleton on Johnny’s front porch.
Lloyd’s sense of humor is pretty great. He loved sending me pics of him and various pieces of art that hang in Johnny’s house.
Lloyd after his stroke needed some assistance getting around. Just for you all to know he couldn’t play the bass.
Here are some text that may help you enjoy more about Lloyd.
I arrived home on Sunday night from the Kansas City Bass Workshop. There are a bunch of these summer workshops for bassists around the country but I keep returning year after year to this one. The KC Bass Workshop really began its life about 25 years ago with the Summer Bass Workshop created by George Vance and Martha Vance in Sliver Spring Maryland. The idea behind the workshop was to offer an intensive yet non-competitive environment, provide a curriculum inclusive at all levels of ability and teachers dedicated to building good human beings as well as good bass players.
As the years passed students became teachers and a strong family of dedicated teachers and students developed and thrived for over a decade. People returned over and over again to be part of a supportive and nurturing family of people who love music and double bass, but also love lifting one another up, celebrating each other’s progress and reveling in the moments of shared beauty and inspiration that music can bring.
When George Vance died he had already identified a longtime student and teacher who was following in his footsteps teaching dozens of young bassists each week in Kansas City. Johnny Hamil took up the challenge to provide the opportunity for this amazing family to continue its work and progress toward friendship, love, music and inspiration into the future. This is truly a monumental task, to move a philosophy, a culture, a family across the country and have not just a few, but nearly all the faculty and participants from a decade of workshops follow. People came, supported the effort, contributing wholeheartedly to the continuation and the growth of something they deeply value.
Johnny has been truly courageous, fearless even, in his determination to preserve the philosophy of George Vance, based on Suzuki’s ideals of Talent Education. Every student matters, no matter the level of talent or development, people matter above all. The purpose of music making is love, joy and uplifting. Johnny Hamil insists on driving every Artist faculty to the airport, one at a time when the workshop is over so that they have time to talk. To share their experiences and generate ideas for the future. And that is no easy task as The Kansas City Bass Workshop attracts around a dozen faculty each year!!! Most of us don’t really know what our paycheck will look like, but we come anyway. There has never been a workshop when I didn’t come away with something vital and unprecedented for my bass playing and never a year when I didn’t come back just a bit better at being human.
With Great Love for George Vance, Martha Vance, Johnny Hamil, Hans Sturm, Kate Jones, Shawn Conley, Tracy Rowell, Jessica Gilliam-Valls, Jeff Harshbarger, Brian Steever, Ted Botsford, Nina DeCesare, Gerald Spaits, Teppo Hauta Aho, Etienne Lafrance, Nicholas Walker, François Rabbath, and so many others who have helped us to grow and learn and love.
Vibrations are Forever (J. Hamil)
Lloyd Goldstein post on FB sometime the past decade.
Lloyd, you are one of a handful of guys I know whose love for life and for people comes out in everything you do. I’ve had so much fun learning a couple of your solo arrangements, and am continually inspired by the opportunities I have had to hear you play, and watch you teach. One thing I’ll always appreciate is that you live to build others up. You can tell by talking to a musician whether they want to talk about themselves and how cool they are, or whether they want to talk about others and constantly build others up. You’re the second type, Lloyd. I think there is a character in the Bible whose nickname is Son of Encouragement. (Barnabas, maybe?) I think that’s my personal nickname for you. There’s a lot I appreciate about you, but I think the #1 thing for me is that you are a real encourager. The way you have encouraged me in my playing and teaching when we have gotten to have long gabs, and when I have heard you building up other students and professionals, is a thing I think I will carry with me for life.
-Sam Copeland. I am a jazz bass player, friend of KC Bass Workshop, middle school orchestra director, and big fan of Lloyd!
Dear Lloyd,
While practicing this piece, I found myself thinking about some family members around me who have been going through difficult times recently. Playing your music reminded me how precious and important they are in my life.
You are a wonderful composer and bassist, and I truly believe that many people have found healing through your music. I hope you stay strong, and I will keep you in my prayers.
Mikyung Song
“I had heard about Lloyd’s wonderful work and music many years before we met in person.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet Lloyd in person at several ISB conventions and at the KC workshop. During these meetings, I not only heard his outstanding playing and experienced his dedication to teaching. Moreover, I am very happy to say that we are friends.”
Claus Freudenstein __Germany
Dearest Johnny & Lloyd,
I wanted to share that I cherish the memories of the 3 of us meeting at one of the earliest George Vance summer programs for the Rabbath International Institute in DC some 25 years ago. We had all traveled a great distance to be there and were thrown together in an ‘adult’ section that spent a week taking classes together — each of us having had some exposure to George’s books (yet to be published with the teal paper covers!) and eager to learn more about the Rabbath Technique. I recall Lloyd and I struggling mightily with François’ super-flexible son premiere bow stroke (the reason for the creation of the Art of the Bow DVD) and the two of us going off into a corner at every opportune moment to share our insights and slow progress.
Lloyd, you’ve always been your authentic self and I am very grateful for our friendship and all the gifts you have given to the bass world and beyond. The beautiful duet projects you created with your banjo and hammer-dulcimer friends are remarkable works of creativity. Your inspiring unaccompanied bass music has become a beautiful part of the double bass canon of the double bass repertoire — for students of the instrument at every level. Your Inside Yoga book is a revelation and my bedside companion for daily rejuvenation. And then there is your life affirming work at the Moffitt Cancer Center for 18 years — BRAVO!!
I love you Lloyd and I look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks!
Bass love to all,
Hans Sturm (Nebraska)
Lloyd,
Since 2001, your friendship and support have meant a lot to me, and you’ve inspired me to take better care of my body and mind.
At the time of the meeting, I’ll be rehearsing Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, playing each note with you in my thoughts. One line always comes to mind: “O believe, my heart: nothing is lost to you.” The good you’ve shared and our friendship stays with me.
With gratitude and love.
Marcos Machado (Mississippi)