Archive for February 2014
Makers of the Melody: Part 3 – Time to Take that Solo
It’s official. You’ve been given the nod from the guitar player and called out by the vocalist… time for a solo. Against your better judgment, you accept and try to switch your thinking from root notes and walking to playing the lead, expressing your thoughts, and showing off your musicality. You’re stepping out of your comfort zone, ready to play...
Igor Saavedra and Junior Ribeiro Braguinha: Footprints
Marie Takahashi shared this awesome video of South American bass heavyweights Igor Saavedra and Junior Ribeiro Braguinha getting down on Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints.” The video was filmed during a workshop at the Escola de Música e Tecnologia in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Saavedra kicks off the solos on his custom 8-string extended range bass and knocks the crowd out at the...
Bass of the Week: Brubaker Brute MJX Series
This week we check out the Brubaker Brute MJX series. A production version of luthier Kevin Brubaker’s design, the MJX hints at classic basses with a modern take. The Brute MJX series is available in 4- and 5-string versions. Each bass is built with an alder body, maple neck, and maple fretboard with 22 frets. They sport an MM/J pickup...
Song Exclusive: BFI’s “Sugar”, with Miles Mosley
If you’ve been reading No Treble for a while, you’ve seen the incredibly talented and forward thinking Miles Mosley rip it up on upright. Mosley brings together elements of jazz, rock, pop, and R&B into his style, which he accents with off the wall techniques and effects. The bassist has a new duo with drummer Tony Austin called BFI. The...
Jaco Pastorius Documentary and Unreleased Compilation to be Celebrated on Record Store Day
Jaco, the much anticipated documentary film about Jaco Pastorius is in the news once again. The film, produced by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and directed by Stephen Kijak and Paul Marchand has been selected as the Official Film of Record Store Day 2014. The one day event takes place on April 19, 2014. “Record Store Day is a celebration of...
Snarky Puppy Releases “We Like It Here”
Grammy-winning instrumental fusion band Snarky Puppy, led by bassist/composer/producer Michael League is hot right now. And if you want to hear what the group sounded like pre-Grammy (Best R&B Performance for its work with Lalah Hathaway) the DVD/CD set We Like It Here might just be the place to start. Recorded live in Kytopia Studios in Utrecht, Holland from Oct....
Bartolini Announces NTMB+ Preamp Module
Bartolini Pickups and Electronics has introduced the NTMB+ 3-band preamp module. The new model takes the place of the NTMB/918, which was comprised of two modules. The new preamp module is also 30% smaller than its predecessor. “The NTMB+ reduces the pre-amp size by 30%, which will better fit guitars and basses that have small cavities,” says Bartolini president Clyde...
On Stage Monitor Mix Advice for Bass Players
Q: I play on a weekly gig and I use in-ear monitors. Things sound fine during sound check, but I don’t realize I need something until I’m lost in the middle of a song and find myself unable to find the keys or guitar in my monitor. This happens fairly regularly. I’ve even had most of my bass taken out...
Uriah Duffy: NAMM 2014 Bass Bash
You know, I’m really missing the NAMM Show (and the Bass Bash events that go with it). So here’s something to ease the pain… Uriah Duffy’s performance at the best event happening in Anaheim during the annual Winter NAMM Show. Uriah kicks things off with a killer solo bass version of Lorde’s “Royals“ before the whole band kicks in… and...
Beck Releases “Morning Phase”, Featuring Justin Meldal-Johnsen
Fans of Beck’s 2002 classic album Sea Change will feel right at home with the intimate psychedelia of , which reunites the singer/songwriter with the band that backed him in the studio and on the road from 1996-2000 and 2003-2003. The players on Beck’s 12th studio album include bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen (also known for work with Nine Inch Nails, Air,...
Reader Spotlight: Bambo Kino
Meet Bambo Kino, a musician from Ohio who was bitten by the bass bug in 1970 and never looked back. He also has one of the coolest stage names I can recall, and an interesting list in response to the “influences” question. Bambo is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of February 24, 2014. Bio: The music...
Hartke Unveils HD Bass Combo Series
Hartke’s new HD Series of bass combos loads the company’s HyDrive speakers into four models aimed at the beginning or intermediate player. Starting with the 25-watt HD25, each model steps up in speaker size, wattage, and features. Common features to the series include a built-in limiter, an 1/8″ auxiliary input, and a 1/4″ headphone output. The HD25 is built with...