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Archive for January 2010 - Page 2

Bass Videos

Gerald Veasley & Wolfgang Puschnig: Long Time No See

Here’s a cool improvisation by Gerald Veasley and Wolfgang Puschnig performing an Ornette Coleman piece, re-composed by Paul Urbanek. Does anyone make playing the bass look easier than Gerald? Wow.

Bass Gear

Gear Watch: New affordable Zon Standard Series

Zon Guitars has announced a new affordable line of bass guitars called the Standard Series. Featuring the Mosaic, Sonus, and Legacy models, the new basses are handcrafted in Korea to Zon’s rigid quality requirements and then inspected for finish and setup at Zon’s facility in Redwood City. “There are a lot of players out there who want to own a...

New Albums

Dave Holland Octet debuts with “Pathways”

The debut recording for the Dave Holland Octet has been announced, with a release date of March 23, 2010. Pathways features Holland along with Chris Potter (tenor, soprano), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Steve Nelson (vibes, marimba), and Nate Smith (drums). Added to the front-line are other Holland collaborators Antonio Hart (alto saxophone), Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), and Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone). The...

Ask Damian Erskine

Ask Damian Erskine: Best way to Shine?

Q: When you are presented with an opportunity to play with people you look up to, what is your approach? To you try and blow everyone away? A: Great question! The first thing I would say is to be yourself! Don’t try and play like this guy or that guy you’ve seen them with, don’t try and do anything that...

Edmond Gilmore: Havona Play-Along
Bass Videos

Edmond Gilmore: Havona Play-Along

Bassist Edmond Gilmore set out to demo his gear with this performance of Jaco Pastorius’s “Havona”, which is cool. But we had a hard time focusing on the rig, since he nailed the tune. Edmond shares, “This is My FBASS VF-5 with my Markbass classic 300 rig. I’m playing Jaco’s Havona to show that you can get that dream sound...

New Albums

New Release: Michael Janisch’s “Purpose Built”

Jazz bassist Michael Janisch has just released his new album, Purpose Built on Whirlwind Recordings. This is his first album as a bandleader and features Aaron Goldberg (piano), Jim Hart (vibraphone), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Paul Booth (Tenor Saxophone), Mike Moreno (guitar), Patrick Cornelius (alto saxophone), Phil Robson (guitar), Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), and Johnathan Blake (drums). Preview and download...

Reader Spotlight: Ronnie Penque
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Ronnie Penque

Meet Ronnie Penque, our bassist in the spotlight for January 26, 2010. Bio: Ronnie Penque has been playing music for over 30 years. When not working with NRPS or his band RONNIE PENQUE BAND, which includes his brother Chris Penque on guitar, Ron is busy as a session player. Ronnie started out as the original bass player in the popular...

Reviews

A review of “Seabrook Power Plant”

Brandon Seabrook’s Seabrook Power Plant is a brutal, take-no-prisoners record. The music sits between free jazz and Black Sabbath-influenced sounds but places the banjo firmly at the center of the music. It is quite engaging despite a forbidding exterior. For sure you will hear things in this record you have never heard before. Seabrook is the leader, a Brooklyn-based guitarist...

Bass Jam: Tal Wilkenfeld, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Oteil Burbridge, J.D. Blair
Bass Videos

Bass Jam: Tal Wilkenfeld, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Oteil Burbridge, J.D. Blair

Here’s a great clip from a Victor Wooten / J.D. Blair concert, where the group is joined by Tal Wilkenfeld, Steve Bailey, and Oteil Burbridge. As Vic says, Bailey is playing an original 6-string Carl Thompson bass for the first time.

Player News

James Jamerson’s widow sues La Bella Strings

According to the Detroit Free Press, the widow of Motown’s master bassist James Jamerson is suing La Bella Strings for using his name and image in its marketing. The suit is seeking at least $25,000. Annie Jamerson, 68, is filing the suit against La Bella, which “touts James Jamerson in the packaging and ads for a set of bass strings.”...

Events

Coachella Festival line up announced

The massive line up for the three day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has been announced, boasting over 120 performing artists. The headlining artists for each night are scheduled to be Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz. Bass players will be happy to hear from the likes of Les Claypool, Them Crooked Vultures, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more....

Bass Gear

Gear Watch: Korg Wi-Tune Wireless Tuner

Korg has released a new addition to their expansive selection of tuners called the Wi-Tune Chromatic Tuner. Utilizing the Korg’s new “Wireless Tuning System,” it allows players freedom from swapping cables and needing to patch in and out of a tuner during performance. The tuner is made up of two pieces: a transmitter module that attaches to the instrument, and...