Skip to main content

Archive for April 2015 - Page 9

Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: Teramobil’s “Molecular Spectrometry” Playthrough
Bass Videos

Dominic “Forest” Lapointe: Teramobil’s “Molecular Spectrometry” Playthrough

Dominic “Forest” Lapointe‘s playing never ceases to amaze me. Today’s featured video is the bassist’s latest face-melting playthrough for the song “Molecular Spectrometry” from his instrumental technical metal band Teramobil. Not one to simply play roots, Lapointe’s lines are a great example of a bass player taking the lead while still supporting the song. He rips through the track with...

Stellar Players Assemble Andy Galore’s “Out and About”
New Albums

Stellar Players Assemble Andy Galore’s “Out and About”

Jazz bass player Andy Galore has released his debut album as a bandleader, Out and About, which features both meaningful covers and original work from the electric bassist. Galore, known for his work with guitarist Mike Stern, has assembled an impressive group for the record, which is inspired by and reflects his affection for New York City. Guitarist Oz Noy...

Kala Introduces 5-String Solid Body U-Bass
Basses

Kala Introduces 5-String Solid Body U-Bass

This year marks Kala’s 10th anniversary, and they’re celebrating in part by introducing a 5-string version of their SUB solid body U-Bass. The ukelele-sized bass comes in four finishes – Sunburst, Cherryburst, Red, and Black – with a 2+3 tuner layout. The 5-string SUB bass features many of the same characteristics as the 4-string, including Kala’s polyurethane strings, a Hipshot...

Groove – Episode #4: Gary Willis
Groove Podcast

Groove – Episode #4: Gary Willis

From a commercial standpoint, Gary Willis is mostly known as the co-founder of Tribal Tech (the jazz fusion band that includes Scott Henderson). The life of a jazz musician is never easy… no matter how much hype and excitement there is surrounding your band (and, Gary had plenty of that with Tribal Tech). Like most bass players, Gary has paid...

Sharay Reed: What’s Going On Bass Solo
Bass Videos

Sharay Reed: What’s Going On Bass Solo

We often feature solo bass tunes, but this one is a little different. Sharay Reed channels the spirit of James Jamerson by playing a solo bass line to the Marvin Gaye hit “What’s Going On” in this clip from the One Mic show. Reed weaves his own bass line for the song while keeping the groove in the Motown vein....

Eberhard Weber Revitalizes Solos on “Encore”
New Albums

Eberhard Weber Revitalizes Solos on “Encore”

Double bassist Eberhard Weber has released his latest album, Encore. For it, the jazz player (known for his work on electric double bass) pulls from his live work with Jan Garbarek Group, turning solos into new pieces. “I became what you might call a composer of New Music,” Weber said, “with the proviso that I make use of old things.”...

Dealing with Different Environments and Bass Tone
Ask Damian Erskine

Dealing with Different Environments and Bass Tone

Q: In 25+ years playing, one problem has plagued and perplexed me the entire time… from one band practice to the next I swear the tone of my bass changes. One day my bass tone sounds like it’s dialed in right where it needs to be the next my strings sound dull or my amp tone isn’t punching they way...

FF KING: 4’33”
Bass Videos

FF KING: 4’33”

Skill. Courage. Raw talent. This is only half of what it takes to attempt John Cage’s masterpiece “4’33” on the bass guitar. Here’s a great performance of the piece by YouTube bassist FF KING, who bravely tackles the song in the wild. The anticipation that builds as he prepares to play will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Bill Laswell’s Latest Record Inspired by Hawaii
New Albums

Bill Laswell’s Latest Record Inspired by Hawaii

Eclectic, multi-genre bassist and producer Bill Laswell has turned his ever-prolific talents to the island of Hawaii with Kauai – The Arch Of Heaven. The album not only combines natural, environmental ambient sounds and traditional, tribal music of Kauai, but also incorporates Jamaican dancehall, dub and reggae. The five-song Kauai – The Arch of Heaven is available on and ....