Archive for September 2011 - Page 7

We all have strategies on how to practice when time is short. There are times, however, when even a short practice session is not feasible. In times such as this, mental practice can be a valuable tool. Mental practice is also valuable as a regular part of your sessions. For such practice to be valuable, your visualizations will need to...

British jazz bassist and composer Graham Collier has passed away at the age of 74. After three years as a musician in the British Army, he won a Down Beat magazine scholarship to Berklee School of Music, where he became it’s first British graduate in 1963. Collier’s lifelong career included 19 albums of his original works, his last being 2009’s...

Gail Ann Dorsey doesn’t need much to wow an audience… just a bass and a microphone. Here, the bassist performs “Stop On By”.

Last week, No Treble readers really dug the Steely Dan instrumental version of “Peg”, with Chuck Rainey laying it down. Other top videos included A Taste of Honey’s “Boogie Oogie Oogie” and Richard Bona’s performance of “Bright Size Life” with Pat Metheny. Gear, gear and more gear! Our top 10 includes some new basses, plus the bass of the week...

Bassist Julie Slick is set to release her latest album, Bahner / Slick Duo: Live at Slick Sound Studios. The bassist, best known for her work in the Adrian Belew Power Trio, teamed up with drummer Carl Bahner, thanks to an introduction from her mother. “He’s a local musician who reached out to me after he met my mom (ha),”...

Annie sent us this new video of BassGirl, who we’ve featured before to rave reviews. Annie says, “[Here’s BassGirl’s cover of Jaco Pastorius’s] “Amerika”. Not sure if you’re posting any special [videos on 9/11], but thought this might be appropriate.” We agree. On this 10th anniversary of 9/11, we’re reminded of the tragedy we faced here in the U.S., and...

Guitarist Pat Metheny has just announced a tour with bassist Larry Grenadier. Dubbed “An Evening with Pat Metheny with Larry Grenadier”, the duo will tour the U.S. through October, and then add Bill Stewart for their European tour. The U.S. tour ends with a week-long engagement at the Blue Note in New York. This will be Metheny’s first appearance at...

Skjold Design Guitars will be reintroducing JP Basses, beginning this fall. Luthier Pete Skjold worked closely with JP proprietor Jean-Philippe Ferreira to keep the basses in the same spirit of their predecessors. As the new moniker suggests, JP Basses USA instruments will be handmade in the USA. Familiar features on the basses will include custom preamps by John East, custom...

Bassist Robert Lemas has released two new bass instructional videos. Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping covers tapping techniques using common jazz and pop chords, using the chords in common progressions, plus Latin styles. Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping Preview: Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping Chapters: Introduction and tuning Tapping the seventh chords cycle of fourths Tapping 2-5-1...

Here’s a great, laid back bass solo by Tony Grey, during a concert with Hiromi and her Sonicbloom band. The clip comes from the 2008 release, Hiromi’s Sonicbloom Live In Concert.

A five-string version of Squier’s Vintage Modified Jazz Bass is now available. Similar to the four-string model, the Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V is styled after Fender’s mid-70’s Jazz basses and features a natural finish, soft maple body with a maple neck. The neck has black binding, block inlays, and 20 medium jumbo frets. Pickups on the bass are Duncan...

The Big 4 tour will be making its second U.S. stop at Yankee’s Stadium in Bronx, New York on September 14th. The show, which has been hyped for the last four years, brings together four of the biggest metal bands – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. The groups, of course, are in turn held down by four of the strongest...