Archive for July 2013 - Page 2
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of July 21
This week’s top 10 list offers a great blend of bass goodness: new gear, new how-to’s, new music and some excellent bass videos. Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing. 1. Fender Announces Modern Player 2.0 Basses Fender has upgraded its Modern Player series of instruments including updates to the Jazz Basses in the line and the introduction of...
Federico Malaman: “Do I Do” Bass Cover
Federico Malaman just nails these all bass covers. Here’s a new one from him, performing his take on Stevie Wonder’s “Do I Do”. Federico is playing his Laurus bass through an MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter and a Boss RC3 Loop Station.
Lesser Key, Featuring Paul D’Amour, Announce Debut EP
Former and founding Tool bassist Paul D’Amour is gearing up on new project called Lesser Key. The group also includes Andrew Zamudio, Brett Fanger and Justin Hanson. The group describes themselves as “[representing] an exploration into personal artistic freedom,” and their sound centers around D’Amour’s steely bass tone and hard hitting lines. The Los Angeles based rockers have just announced...
Felix Pastorius Talks About Recording with Jaco’s Bass
When Felix Pastorius joined the Yellowjackets to fill in for Jimmy Haslip, the move was supposed to be temporary. When Haslip ultimately decided not to return, Pastorius stayed on and went into the studio for the group’s newest album, A Rise In The Road, which came out late last month. But the story is even bigger than that. Felix –...
Laszlo Demeter: Acoustic Bass Arrangement of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”
We love to see it when bassist get creative to tackle their favorite songs. Here’s Laszlo Demeter playing Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” using only his six-string acoustic bass. The bassist covers every part of the tune, from using the bass’s body for percussion to using the strings above the nut for sound effects. And of course, he lays down that sweet,...
SAM, Featuring Julie Slick, Releases Debut Album and EP
Bassist Julie Slick has teamed up with guitarist Peter Alexius and Chapman Stick player Marc Mennigmann to form SAM, a progressive-rock trio that bases all their music on improvisation. They’ve just released their first album, Another Life, and an accompanying EP entitled Yet Another Life. “This record contains some of the essence of one week in the studio,” the band...
Fodera Announces Monarch 4 Fretless Standard Bass
Fodera has once again added to their Standard line of basses with the Monarch 4 Fretless Standard. Initially limited to 15 pieces, the new model is the first fretless in the series, which offers batches of basses built in a single configuration with no options to keep wait time and prices to a minimum. The new bass features a walnut...
Roger Alcantara: Pinball Number Count Play-Along
Roger Alcantara sent us his play-along to the funky tune, “Pinball Number Count” – the song used by Sesame Street to teach kids how to count to twelve. The original features the Pointer Sisters on vocals. After researching this tune for 30 minutes or so, the bassist on the original is a mystery (at least to me!) If you know...
Victor Wooten Announces Two Day Music Theory Camp
Victor Wooten has added a Music Theory camp to his VixCamps schedule at the Wooten Woods Retreat in Only, Tennessee. Scheduled for September 23rd and 24th, the educational event offers classes for beginning, intermediate, and advanced players in addition to full group classes. The scheduled instructors are Victor Wooten, Anthony Wellington and Bob Franceschini, with more to be announced. Subjects...
Bass of the Week: Wahlbrink Kronos Black Ax 5-String
As part of Wahlbrink’s Art Line of basses, the Kronos is a distinct instrument. The bass’s unique body shape with its distinct bouts add form to its function while its visual aesthetic is upped by exotic woods and attention to detail. A great example of the model is the company’s Black Ax, a one-off creation with a dark theme. The...
Track By Track: Evan Brewer Talks “Your Itinerary”
Bassist Evan Brewer has returned with his second solo album, , out now. The effort represents a big change from his bass-only debut, Alone, and features eight full arrangements of original songs with drums, keyboard, guitar, and more. Each track on Your Itinerary stands on its own, but as a whole the album creates a unique sonic experience. Brewer’s genre-bending...
Earth, Wind, and Fire: “My Promise” Rehearsal Performance
Today is Verdine White’s birthday, and we’re celebrating with the band’s sneak preview of their album, Now, Then, and Forever. This clip is a rehearsal performance for its first single, “My Promise,” and Verdine is in his usual energetic form, grooving like only he can. Happy birthday, Verdine!