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Archive for February 2014 - Page 8

Reader Spotlight: Jonny Southern
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Jonny Southern

This week, the spotlight is on a musician named Jonny Southern. Jonny is a man of few words, as you’ll see. But his words cracked us up. His attitude impressed us too. So this was an easy choice for us to make him the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of February 3, 2014. Bio: My name...

Funky Slap Bass Lesson
Bass Lessons

Funky Slap Bass Lesson

Today we’re going to dive in to some more intermediate level slap bass techniques. This lesson builds upon topics we’ve covered in the past, including beginning slap bass patterns and techniques, the double thumb technique and shakes. Follow along with the video and the transcription – standard notation and tab included. For the gear heads, I’m playing my Sandberg MarloweDK...

Alissia Benveniste: Let it Out
Bass Videos

Alissia Benveniste: Let it Out

Our Facebook friend Ricardo Franco sent us this killer video of bassist Alissia Benveniste leading a band with her song “Let it Out.” The super catchy tune features her on bass and vocals. Alissia has got some serious groove!

Care Fund Set Up for New Orleans Bassist Left in Coma
News

Care Fund Set Up for New Orleans Bassist Left in Coma

The music community is coming to the aid of jazz bassist Doug Potter, who was left in a coma after a brutal attack in New Orleans. Potter had just finished playing a gig at Cafe Beignet on Bourbon Street when two men assaulted him as he carried his bass back to his car. The incident was caught on video and...

Yamaha Now Shipping TRBX Basses
Basses

Yamaha Now Shipping TRBX Basses

Yamaha was showing off their new TRBX series of basses at this year’s Winter NAMM show. Combining elements of their former TRB and RBX lines, the new basses come in 300 and 500 levels with differing controls and pickups. All of the instruments sport a mahogany body and a five-piece maple/mahogany neck. The 500-level basses include the TRBX504 and TRBX505,...

Manuel Jiménez Gastélum: “Fine China” Bass Cover
Bass Videos

Manuel Jiménez Gastélum: “Fine China” Bass Cover

It’s always great to discover cool bass lines that you wouldn’t normally hear. I don’t listen to much pop, but Manuel Jiménez Gastélum sent in this cover of Chris Brown’s “Fine China,” and I dig it. The song has a funky distorted bass line that he absolutely nails and his tone is killer.

Etienne Mbappe Returns with “Pater Noster”
New Albums

Etienne Mbappe Returns with “Pater Noster”

Silk-gloved bassist Etienne Mbappe’s album combines the Duala language of his native Cameroon, a huge groove and blazing bass. Mbappe, known for his work with legendary guitarist John McLaughlin, as well as his own solo music, is also the vocalist on the collection of joyous, danceable tunes. The groove on “Wondja” from Pater Noster is worth checking out, even if...

Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of January 26th
Weekly Top 10

Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of January 26th

This week’s top 10 features more gear news and videos from the NAMM Show. But it was Damian Erskine’s new column that reigned supreme. One person asked about modes and scales thousands of bassists apparently wanted to know more about the topic as well. One of our favorites here at NT HQ also made the list: the latest Profiles in...

Rickenbacker Announces 4003W Bass
Basses

Rickenbacker Announces 4003W Bass

Rickenbacker has introduced the W Series of guitars and basses for 2014. The lineup is a spin on their classic models, including the 4003 bass, but are made with walnut bodies. Though the company states that it’s careful not to change too much from the formulas they use to make instrument, they say the walnut adds strength and natural character....

Doug Johns: Booty Groove
Bass Videos

Doug Johns: Booty Groove

When Doug Johns got together with drummer Jordan Simmons, he described it as “just groovin’.” Here’s some of that groovin’, titled “Booty Groove”. Oh yeah.

Arild Andersen Releases “Mira”
New Albums

Arild Andersen Releases “Mira”

Norwegian jazz bass great Arild Andersen has produced a studio album of ballads with drummer Paolo Vinaccia and tenor sax player Tommy Smith – the same trio responsible for the Live at Belleville album. features mostly work written by Andersen, but it does include a cover of Burt Bacharach’s classic, “Alfie.” In an interview with Jazz Times reproduced on his...

Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in January
Gear Roundup

Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in January

Thanks to the Winter NAMM Show, January is always a huge month for new gear stories. (So much so, we’ll still be covering the NAMM news into February). Here are the top 10 most popular gear stories in January, based on readership. Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing. And here’s to lots more gear news! 1. Cort Jeff...