Weekly Top 10: Paul Jackson Groove, Slap Bass, New Gear, Mike Kerr Interviewed and More

Another great week in the books, and we kick this top 10 list off with one of the deepest pockets around, by the one and only Paul Jackson.

We had a great discussion on the value of slap bass, thanks to Damian Erskine’s latest “Ask” column, plus we got a chance to connect with Mike Kerr, of the exciting duo known as Royal Blood.

Add some other terrific bass videos, some gear stories and more, and you have this week’s top 10 on No Treble.

Thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing.

Paul Jackson Trio: Midnight Is A Lonely Heart

1. Paul Jackson Trio: Midnight Is A Lonely Heart

Bass legend Paul Jackson reached out to us with this note: “Good people at No Treble, check our new video ‘Midnight is a Lonely Heart’ from our forthcoming ‘Groove or Die’.” This, ladies and gentlemen, is what it is all about…

Exploring the Value of Slap Bass

2. Exploring the Value of Slap Bass

A reader asked Damian Erskine this week about the value of slap bass. Damian delivered with some terrific – and practical advice, and one memorable quote for a lot of readers…

Janek Gwizdala Announces Ultimate Play Alongs App

3. Janek Gwizdala Announces Ultimate Play Alongs App

Practicing will be taken to a whole new level with Ultimate Play Alongs, a new app that will be available for iOS and Android devices. The app, created by bassist Janek Gwizdala and drummer Louie Palmer, is built around a play-along experience with the back catalog of some of the world’s greatest musicians…

Cory Henry and Michael League: “Yesterday” and “Looking Out For Me”

4. Cory Henry and Michael League: “Yesterday” and “Looking Out For Me”

Soul is pouring over in this video of Snarky Puppy members Cory Henry and Michael League playing a workshop at the Escola de Música Luciano Alf in Rio De Janeiro. The duo doesn’t need a drummer to get a fat groove going on a couple of classics…

Bass of the Week: M-Tone Guitars Boki

5. Bass of the Week: M-Tone Guitars Boki

M-Tone Guitars made their first bass earlier this year, and by the looks of it, they got it right the first time. The M-Tone Boki is a custom bass that was hand-built in Portland, Oregon with a “super light” one-piece swamp ash body finished in a gorgeous floral paint job…

Jimmi Clarke: Teen Town

6. Jimmi Clarke: Teen Town

Nigel Palmer sent us this video of his musical colleague, bassist Jimmi Clarke performing the Jaco Pastorius tune “Teen Town”. And he makes the Jaco/Weather Report tune ‘Teen Town’ “look like a walk in the park”…

Xotic Announces 6-String XJ-1T Bass

7. Xotic Announces 6-String XJ-1T Bass

Xotic has expanded their XJ-1T series with a 6-string bass, which the company describes as having the feel and tone of a traditional jazz-type bass with the addition of two more strings…

Zander Zon: “Single-Handed” Solo Bass

8. Zander Zon: “Single-Handed” Solo Bass

Last month, Zander Zon sent me a note with some bad news. The talented bassist injured his left hand and could barely move his thumb. As the days passed, Zander had a hard time not playing. So he wrote a tune that only requires his right hand and a looper…

Ibanez Adds New Color Finishes to SR Premium Series Basses

9. Ibanez Adds New Color Finishes to SR Premium Series Basses

Ibanez stepped up its SR series in 2011 with the SR Premium, which took the company’s flagship model and gave it upgraded features. The series has traditionally kept in the vein of boutique basses with only natural finishes, but Ibanez the SR Premium 1400E and 1405E will now be getting new color options…

Out of the Black: An Interview with Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr

10. Out of the Black: An Interview with Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr

Sometimes great things come in small packages. That’s true in the case of Royal Blood, a British rock duo that gets a gargantuan sound that rivals four or five-piece bands. One of the key ingredients to that sound is the massive bass tone delivered by Mike Kerr. Check out our interview with him…

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