Weekly Top 10: Snow Owl Interview, Remembering Jaco, Regaining Inspiration, Intonation vs. Feel, Plus Top Bass Gear and Videos
Yet another exciting week in the land of the low end.
Things started of with a tribute to Jaco, on a sad anniversary. The master is still inspiring most of us after all these years.
The bassist known as Snow Owl (Juan Garcia-Herreros) shared his interesting life and approach to music in our interview with him.
Dr. D and Damian Erskine both shared their insights in their new columns… Dr. D focuses on suggestions for regaining inspiration in the practice room while Damian answers a reader’s question on intonation vs. feel and practicing scales purposefully.
We also got a look at a beauty – Matteo Rufini’s Precision IV Custom Vintage Series – as the bass of the week.
Plus some more great bass videos, some new gear, and this week’s reader in the spotlight.
It all adds up to yet another fantastic list every bassist will want to check out.
Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing.
1. Jaco Pastorius: 1976 Montreux Solo
Shortly after Jaco Pastorius joined Weather Report, the band performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The date was July 8, 1976. During that performance, Jaco performed a solo piece which included “Portrait of Tracy”. He was just 24 years old at the time of this performance. We miss you, Jaco…
![Postmodern Jukebox with Kate Davis: All About That [Upright] Bass](http://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/iyTTX6Wlf1Y-200x200.jpg "Postmodern Jukebox with Kate Davis: All About That [Upright] Bass")
2. Postmodern Jukebox with Kate Davis: All About That [Upright] Bass
Ever since Meghan Trainor released her single “All About That Bass,” we’ve been getting tons of email about it. Postmodern Jukebox took things a step further with this swing version of the song with singer/multi-instrumentalist Kate Davis laying it down on bass…
3. Bass of the Week: Matteo Rufini Precision IV Custom Vintage Series
A few months ago, Jordan Brown sent us some pictures of a bass he was having made. I knew even before it was finished that it was going to be a killer bass, and it looks like I was right. Check out the bass of the week…
4. Getting Back in the Practice Room: Regaining Inspiration
Everyone who stays at this music thing for a time will likely find themselves lacking in motivation at some point or another. If practicing has become a chore, or if you can’t even bring yourself to pick up the instrument, perhaps some of these strategies from Dr. D will bring some fire back into your musical life…
5. Intonation or Feel? Practicing Scales Purposefully
This week, Damian answers a question about determining focus while practicing when it comes to scales, chord tones and more…
The last time we featured bassist Mats Ödahl, he knocked us out with the video of him playing along to a Charlie Parker solo. Mats just shared a new video with us, which is quite different and shows the bassist’s diversity…
7. Snow Owl: An Interview with Juan Garcia-Herreros
If you haven’t caught on to the incredible playing of Snow Owl, it’s high time you did. We caught up with the bassist (real name Juan Garcia-Herreros) to get the story behind his creativity, his album, and the challenges faced by modern musicians…
8. Reader Spotlight: Sean Fairchild
Meet Sean Fairchild, a well-traveled bassist who says he didn’t decide to play bass, rather the bass decided on him. Sean keeps busy playing in bands, including “funkifying the clave” in one of them. He is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight…
9. Reunion Blues Introduces RBX Double Bass Guitar Gig Bag
Reunion Blues is doubling down on their RBX series with the introduction of the RBX Double Bass Guitar Gig Bag. Designed to carry two bass guitars, the new bag features the company’s RBX protection system that includes a multi-layer foam surround, a strategically placed impact panels, a multilayer foam neck cradle and end-pin rest…
10. Nate Watts to Join Stevie Wonder on “Songs in the Key of Life” Tour
Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life is one of the most brilliant albums ever made. The music legend will be presenting the album in its entirety on an 11-date North American tour from November to December – with bassist Nate Watts joining him…
