Jazz bassist Walter Booker died at his Manhattan, New York home on Friday. He was 72. The double bass legend performed with a number of jazz greats and mentored young musicians at his Boogie Woogie Studio in New York City. He began his music career after leaving the US Army and joined a quintet which caught the attention of jazz legend Cannonball Adderly.

Booker’s playing was marked by voice-like inflections, glissandos and tremolo techniques. In his long career, Booker played with a long list of jazz giants including Sonny Rollins, Ray Bryant, Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Chick Corea, Thelonius Monk, Sarah Vaughan, and John Hicks. For 15 years, he also ran a free studio where young musicians were able to learn and were free to explore their creativity. He was married to pianist Bertha Hope. Source: PR Inside.

Acoustic guitarist Alex de Grassi, bassist Michael Manring and percussionist Chris Garcia (of Zappa alum group The Grandmothers fame) have released their debut album. With influences from India to Appalachia to Latin America and the Blues, this trio fuses new sounds together with their original compositions and unlikely arrangements.

Track listing:

1. This Side Up (Alex de Grassi)
2. Homestyle (Michael Manring)
3. Para Mi Alegria (Christopher Garcia)
4. Yet Again (Christopher Garcia)
5. Paint it Black (Jagger/Richards)
6. McCoy (Alex de Grassi)
7. Black Hand (Michael Manring)
8. With His Hat in Hand (Christopher Garcia)
9. Curan Brujo (Christopher Garcia)
10. The Water is Wide (traditional)

Cliff Engel’s Institute of Bass has a lot in store this month, including an exclusive interview with Bass Central’s Beaver Felton, an advanced slap bass lesson by Ray Riendeau, some great new bass tips of the week, and the monthly contest giveaway.

Sue Mingus, the widow of bassist Charles Mingus, in her effort to maintain her late husband’s legacy has written a book and simultaneously released two new live discs on her new label.

Jazz News reports legendary bassist Stanley Clarke was presented with this year’s Bass Player Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rock group Van Halen has a new bass player.    Fifteen year old Wolfgang Van Halen, son of guitarist Edward Van Halen has replaced longtime bassist Michael Anthony, who left the band earlier this year.
I think that brings us to 3 Van Halens, and one singer, but I have no idea who that is these days.

Bassist and Grateful Dead founding member Phil Lesh has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to several reports.

“I have decided to have it removed in early December with da Vinci robotic surgery,” Lesh, 66, said in a statement on his website. “Since we’ve caught it very early, and it’s small and slow-growing, I fully expect to have a rapid and complete recovery.”