The Bass of Operations in L.A. Music Festival

More than 225 jazz and classical bassists are due in Los Angeles this week for the opening of the L.A. ’88 Music Festival, a cornucopia of concerts, competitions and seminars being held today through Saturday at UCLA.

The fourth biannual convention of the International Society of Bassists will feature performances by leading bass players, including the Paris Opera’s controversial avant-garde musician, Francois Rabbath, and Milt Hinton, who has been a top-flight jazz bassist since the Swing Era.

All convention events are open to the public, by registration. Ticket prices range from $75 for a one-day admission to $225 for all week.

Events take place in UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall, unless otherwise noted:

Classical performances include Dennis Trembly, today, noon; Bertram Turetzky, Tuesday, noon; Chris Hanulik, noon, and Lawrence Wolfe, 8 p.m., both Wednesday; and Francois Rabbath, Saturday, 8 p.m.

Jazz performances include the Red Mitchell-Herb Mickman duo, today, 4:30 p.m.; Milt Hinton and Ray Brown, Tuesday, 8 p.m.; and a Jazz Bass Summit, with Rufus Reid, Andy Simpkins and others, Friday, Royce Hall, 8 p.m.

Seminars: David Walter’s “How to Become a Master Bassist in One Easy Lesson,” today, 9 a.m.; “New Technique Workshop” with Francois Rabbath, today 1:30 p.m.; Milt Hinton’s “Early Slap Bass,” Tuesday, 9 a.m.; “Playing in Tune” with Buell Neidlinger, Wednesday, 9 a.m.; “Communication” with Red Mitchell, Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.; and “Electronic Synthesis and MIDI” with Brian Bromberg, Friday, 10:30 a.m.

A Mass Bass Concert, with more than 100 bassists participating, will be held at Disneyland’s Main Street Plaza Gardens 1 p.m. Thursday.

For more information, call the convention hot line: (213) 433-4190.