Archive for January 2013 - Page 6

The Bradetich Foundation shared this video of bassist Shannon Birchall performing a beautiful duet with pianist Jeremy Woolhouse, which was recorded last year at Baker Street Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Birchall provides an introspective arco melody to set the tone of the song before the duo share a flowing improvisation over the song’s changes. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Or...

Fender has announced four new models in the company’s eccentric Pawn Shop series, one they describe as “guitars that never were but should have been.” The new lineup includes two basses: The Pawn Shop Bass VI and the Pawn Shop Mustang Bass. Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI Originally produced from 1961 to 1975, the Fender Bass VI is a six-string...

Here’s a great performance of what turned out to be Weather Report’s last official lineup. The group is performing the tune “Where The Moon Goes”, originally recorded on the album, Procession. Victor Bailey is laying down the groove and the song features drummer Omar Hakim quite heavily (we’re okay with that.)

Hot Tuna has announced a boatload of new tour dates for 2013 that will take them across the U.S. with a special four night stay at The Breezes Grand Negril Resort in Jamaica. The duo of Jorma Kaukonen and bass legend Jack Casady will be playing their acoustic sets for the majority of the dates and will be joined by...

T-Rex Effects has updated their Sweeper 2 bass chorus pedal with easier-to-read graphics and a new algorithm that the company says gives a warmer and more vintage sounding effect no matter what depth or rate the pedal is set at. The Sweeper 2 is designed to be intuitive with Depth, Volume, and Rate controls. Though it can be used in...

Here’s a new bass lick lesson for you. This time around, we’ll work up a fill in E minor, using the B minor pentatonic to start, then adding the E minor Dorian scale with some chromatic notes thrown in. This is handy for those one bar fills you’ll want to incorporate in your playing, including your solos. The first part...

Maree Erkkila Palma suggested we check out some videos by Brazilian bassist Valter Kabas, and we’re glad she did. Here’s a great Funk/Jazz groove he put up that is full of tasty licks and delicious tone.

The Emerald Guitars Flow Bass is quite a unique instrument. The body is built with a singular exoskeleton made of carbon fiber that’s then filled with the company’s “acoustic tone compound,” which they say can be tailored to create different fundamental tones just like different tone woods. “Our specially developed compound contains tiny air pockets which reduces the density,” they...

Twelve years after leaving the ranks of Metallica, Jason Newsted has again stepped into the spotlight. Late last year he launched his online presence with a brand new website and Facebook page, from which he announced his new band and a brand new EP, Metal. The four-song album, available now through iTunes, is packed with in-your-face riffs and raw thrash...

Juan Alderete shared this on his Facebook page a while back, saying only “this leaves me speechless.” I feel about the same way. Filmed in Montreux in 1976, this clip captures the kind of energy you just don’t see in every band. Alphonso Johnson holds down the low end with tight yet lyrical playing before taking a tasty solo at...

N-Audio has unveiled the Powerbox Mk2, an isolated and filtered stompbox power supply. The new tool is based on a quality transformer with a reduced flux density and 5 independent isolated output groups that reduce noise and group loop issues. The Mk2 has ten outputs: four with 9 or 12 volts and up to 500mA, two with 9, 12, or...

Q: I have recently begun playing with a pop artist who writes what I would call “chord heavy” songs. These are not your typical I-IV-V tunes, and they definitely aren’t “riffy”; they are tunes with intricate verse and chorus progressions and extended bridges. I have been going off the lead sheets for now, but my question is how can I...