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Archive for April 2011 - Page 3

Les Claypool with Gov’t Mule: Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy
Bass Videos

Les Claypool with Gov’t Mule: Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy

After the passing of Allen Woody, Gov’t Mule played with a host of bassists, resulting in two albums and culminating an a 6+ hour concert that was released as The Deepest End. This performance is from that concert, and has Primus’s Les Claypool jamming with the group on “Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy” parts 1 and 2. Check out some of...

Rockin’ Your Stage Sound: A Musician’s Guide to Professional Live Audio
News

Rockin’ Your Stage Sound: A Musician’s Guide to Professional Live Audio

Hal Leonard’s latest book in their Music Pro Guides series is Rockin’ Your Stage Sound: A Musician’s Guide to Professional Live Audio, a step-by-step guide to improving your stage sound. The book, penned by professional live-sound engineer Rob Gainey, features over 170 stage tips, including 100 tops from players in nationally recognized acts. Topics including microphones and miking technique, monitor...

Carvin Releases Brian Bromberg Signature Bass
Bass Gear

Carvin Releases Brian Bromberg Signature Bass

After showing the prototype at NAMM, Carvin has released the Brian Bromberg Signature Bass series, available in 4 and 5-string versions. The new Bromberg B24 and B25 models feature neck through construction with alder bodies and maple necks. AAAA flamed maple tops come standard, though you can get a solid color finish. The fingerboard is ebony and has Bromberg’s logo...

Charles Mingus’s 89th Birthday Celebrated With Streaming Performance
Player News

Charles Mingus’s 89th Birthday Celebrated With Streaming Performance

Today marks the 89th year since Charles Mingus was born. The outspoken bassist/composer left a wealth of music in his wake, which is preserved through the work of the Charles Mingus Institute. Among the groups dedicated to keeping his music alive is the Mingus Orchestra, a 10-piece group held down by bassist Boris Kozlov. In addition to his role as...

Nathan Williams: Pick Up The Pieces
Bass Videos

Nathan Williams: Pick Up The Pieces

Yesterday, we featured a performance by Average White Band, performing “Cut the Cake” live. Today, another AWB tune – “Pick up the Pieces” – this time performed as a solo bass looper arrangement by Nathan Williams.

Harriet Tubman Releases “Ascension”, Featuring Melvin Gibbs
New Albums

Harriet Tubman Releases “Ascension”, Featuring Melvin Gibbs

Harriet Tubman, the group formed in 1998 by bassist Melvin Gibbs, guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer J.T. Lewis has released their latest effort, entitled . The album, recorded live in 2000, is an interpretation of John Coltrane’s 1966 release of the same name. True to form, the group pushes the musical boundaries with this release, expanding to a “Double Trio”...

Bakithi Kumalo to Tour with Paul Simon
Concerts & Tours

Bakithi Kumalo to Tour with Paul Simon

Bassist Bakithi Kumalo will be joining Paul Simon once again for a global tour in support of the new album So Beautiful or So What. The trek will take them from coast to coast in the U.S. before heading to Europe in June. Kumalo and Simon first worked together when the singer recruited a band for his classic album, Graceland....

Lessons Learned from Scott LaFaro: Playing the 1825 Abraham Prescott Bass
Columns

Lessons Learned from Scott LaFaro: Playing the 1825 Abraham Prescott Bass

Recently, I had an experience that changed the way I think about instruments. Years ago, I used to get nervous sitting in on other people’s gigs for fear of not being able get “my sound” out of their bass. You know what I’m taking about, right? You grab someone else’s bass, play a few notes, then think “uh-oh, this action...

Average White Band: Cut The Cake Live
Bass Videos

Average White Band: Cut The Cake Live

Here’s Average White Band, getting funky and getting the crowd going during Sinbad’s Summer Jam. Eliot Lewis is the bassist holding down the groove (and taking a quick solo break).

RIP: Gerard Smith
In Memoriam

RIP: Gerard Smith

TV On The Radio bassist Gerard Smith passed away yesterday, following his battle with lung cancer. He was 34. The news came via an announcement from the band. “We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer,” the band said in a statement. “Gerard passed away...

Phil Jones Pure Sound Releases D-600 Dual Channel Digital Bass Amp
Bass Gear

Phil Jones Pure Sound Releases D-600 Dual Channel Digital Bass Amp

Phil Jones Pure Sound has a new bass amp on the market, the D-600 Digital Amplifier. Taking after their D-200, the new model is rated at 600 watts while weighing in at merely 7 pounds. The dual channel setup give each path it’s own 5-band EQ and mute switch. Other features include an optical limiter and front-facing aux-in with separate...

Playing Pain Free
Ask Damian Erskine

Playing Pain Free

Q: As someone who wants to practice for hours each day, what advice would you give to prevent injury? Do you have any warm up routines or other advice? A: You know, I’ve been lucky. I’ve never consciously warmed up when practicing, and I’ve never had any pain issues. However, I’ve noticed more recently that it takes my hands and...