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Archive for January 2012 - Page 7

Birsen Tezer with Bassist Mümtaz Solmaz: De?irmenler
Bass Videos

Birsen Tezer with Bassist Mümtaz Solmaz: De?irmenler

Here’s one to chill out to on a Saturday afternoon (or whatever time you’re watching this). This video features Turkish singer Birsen Tezer performing “De?irmenler”. Bassist Mümtaz Solmaz sets up the groove with some high-register playing, then takes a solo at the 2:34 mark.

Tom Kennedy: Just for the Record
New Albums

Tom Kennedy: Just for the Record

Every once in a while, we miss an important release by a notable bassist. With Tom Kennedy’s latest release, we did just that. Released in October 2011, Kennedy’s Just For The Record is his third album as a leader and features a wide spectrum of music, from bop and Latin, to fusion and funk. Kennedy, who has performed with Tania...

Fender Introduces New Bassman Pro Series Heads and Cabinets
Amps

Fender Introduces New Bassman Pro Series Heads and Cabinets

Fender’s Bass Amplification group has introduced two new Bassman heads and four new cabinets in a new Pro Series. The heads include the 300-watt Super Bassman and the 100-watt Bassman 100T. Cabinets include the new Bassman 8×10 Neo, 6×10 Neo, 4×10 Neo and 1×15 Neo. Super Bassman Dubbed the “stadium-level 300-watt tube head designed for the biggest shows and the...

New School: Sylvain “Sly” Audet
New School

New School: Sylvain “Sly” Audet

After picking up on some of Victor Wooten’s techniques, Sylvain “Sly” Audet slowly began his own style. While experimenting with double thumbing, the Canadian bassist began what he calls thumbpicking. Audet also incorporates a Kahler tremolo bridge in for some cool effects. Not relegated to being a sideman, Audet has released his own CD, with half of the proceeds going...

Stanley Clarke Band, Featuring Hiromi: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Bass Videos

Stanley Clarke Band, Featuring Hiromi: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Not one to bow to standards, Stanley Clarke and his band made a funked up version of the typically solemn Mingus tune “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” which was originally written in memory of saxophonist Lester Young. This clip was taken from the Heineken Jazzaldia in 2010 and features world-class pianist Hiromi, drummer Ronald Bruner Jr. and keyboardist Ruslan Sirota.

Charlie Haden’s and Hank Jones’ Final Collaboration: Come Sunday
New Albums

Charlie Haden’s and Hank Jones’ Final Collaboration: Come Sunday

Bassist Charlie Haden and the late pianist Hank Jones teamed up one last time in 2010 to record a new album, nearly sixteen years following the release of their first collaboration, Steal Away. The new album, Come Sunday, is a collection of classic spirituals, hymns and folk songs. The title track is their remake of Duke Ellington’s classic tune of...

Bass of the Week: Laurus T900-XR
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Laurus T900-XR

This week we’re taking a look at the Laurus Quasar T900-XR, a bass that takes a step away from the norm without losing its style and sensibility. Hand-made in Italy, the T900-XR is available in 4, 5, and 6-string models as well as fretted or fretless. One of the bass’s most identifiable features is it’s unique headstock and “end of...

Dirty Deeds: A Conversation with Mark Evans
Interviews

Dirty Deeds: A Conversation with Mark Evans

In 1975, Mark Evans took the opportunity of a lifetime and joined an Australian pub band that would go on to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time: AC/DC. Just a week after joining, the band was gigging regularly, and within a year they were making the rounds in Europe. Evans’ turbulent years in the band included...

Ojay: Street Performance Awesomeness
Bass Videos

Ojay: Street Performance Awesomeness

Check this awesome video of Ojay, a bassist from Newcastle in the UK. Armed with a pair of looping pedals and a couple more effects, Ojay takes it to the streets to bring the funk to the people. It really begs the question: Why can’t more street performers be like this?

Phil Lesh to Open Terrapin Crossroads in February
Player News

Phil Lesh to Open Terrapin Crossroads in February

After some debate over the location, former Grateful Dead and current Furthur bassist Phil Lesh will be opening up a restaurant and performance venue called Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. The dining portion of the new venue will open in February with the “intimate” performance hall to begin shows soon there after. Though his original plan was to launch...

Squier Announces Mikey Way Signature Mustang Bass
Basses

Squier Announces Mikey Way Signature Mustang Bass

Squier’s latest in their Artist Model Series is the Mikey Way Signature Mustang Bass, a short-scale bass made with input by the Chemical Romance bassist. The bass take on the class Mustang features and adds some flair, with a large-flake Silver Sparkle finish with black racing stripes, with a black headstock with a silver Squier logo on the front, and...

Lazy Horns and Keeping Time
Ask Damian Erskine

Lazy Horns and Keeping Time

Q: I’ve started rehearsing with a big band and while I’m finding it a lot of fun and a good challenge, I’ve been having a hard time keeping the time. The horns seem to play way behind the beat much of the time and it just feels uncomfortable no matter what I do. If I try and lay back for...