Archive for June 2016 - Page 5
Jaco Pastorius Play-Along Book Published
Jaco Pastorius revolutionized bass playing over the course of a tragically short life, which has been depicted in the acclaimed documentary, “JACO,” produced by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. Now, some of Jaco’s most famous bass lines (from his solo work, tenure in Weather Report, and on songs by Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock) are part of the Hal Leonard Bass...
CStands Expands Electric Bass Guitar Stands Range
After launching last year, CStands has now introduced a new line of bass-specific guitar stands. The new range, which is described as more affordable and more suitable for the job, includes four models that feature iconic headstocks in their design. Each of the stands are made with 18mm birch plywood in 13 years with lacquer safe cork protection at touch...
Bass Transcription: Dee Murray’s Bass Line on Elton John’s “Amoreena”
“Amoreena” was Dee Murray’s first recording collaboration with Elton John, and from analyzing the transcription of his playing on this tune, it’s not hard to see why John and Murray had such a prolific career working together. Many different bassline approaches are employed to great affect in this song. The form of the bassline as a whole also demonstrates good...
Antonin Rubatat & Romain Chenard: Hungry Beats – Vol. 1
Antonin Rubatat is a professional bass player who recently teamed up with drummer Romain Chenard to form a bass and drum duo named Hungry Beats. He shared one of their first videos for a tune they call “Vol. 1”. We’re looking forward to hearing more from these guys!
Motörhead Shows from Late 2015 Released on CD/DVD
Two of the final shows performed by legendary metal bandleader and bassist Lemmy Kilmister have been released in audio and video formats. Lemmy led Motörhead for 40 years and continued performing even as his health began to fail him. The shows captured on Clean Your Clock occurred on Nov. 20 and 21, 2015, in Munich, Germany, just a bit more...
Roy Vogt Presents the 6th Annual Thunder Row Bass Invitational at Summer NAMM 2016
Roy Vogt’s Thunder Row Bass Invitational is back for its sixth year. The two-day event will be held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Douglas Corner Café on June 23rd and 24th to coincide with the annual Summer NAMM show. This year’s event will have an incredible roster of bassists. Thursday night will showcase Anthony “Smooth Groove” Joyner, The Interludes with...
Great Is Our Sin: An Interview with Brett Bamberger
When I had the pleasure of working on a Profiles in Tone interview with metal legend Alex Webster, he sent me a few examples of his favorite bass tones in metal. If I can trust anyone’s ear for metal bass, it’s Alex’s. One clip that particularly caught my ear was a video of a band doing a playthrough of their...
Rebecca Johnson Band: Come On Come Over
We’ve featured Rebecca Johnson before. In fact, we’ve featured her playing Jaco Pastorius’ “Come On Come Over” too. But this one is a newer version, with a new lineup – and a new bass. And it is too good not to share again. “Thought I’d send you a new link from a killer gig we did last week,” Rebecca shared...
Paul McCartney Releases 67-Song Set
Just a little before his 74th birthday, rock/pop icon Paul McCartney has released a retrospective set called simply, Pure McCartney. The set, in its deluxe form, includes 67 songs from all eras of the post-Beatles career of the bassist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer, featuring his work as a solo artist, member of Wings, and with the Fireman. However, deluxe...
In Memoriam: Mike Chapman
Nashville session bass ace Mike Chapman has passed away after battling an aggressive form of cancer. He was 63 years old. Chapman was an absolute staple of country music. Born in Alabama, he began his career playing in nightclubs “6 nights a week, 5 sets a night for the biggest part of a decade,” his biography states. He decided to...
String Gauge vs. Speed
Q: I had a major breakthrough in part inspired by our visit. For the first time in years I’m playing normal, not light strings. I guess I thought all the pro virtuosos used G=40 strings. Victor does I think. Anyway when I stopped feeling like that was my path I tried the stiffer strings and paradoxically I can play faster...
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra: This is the Last Hurrah
Jody Miller shoots some impressive videos. He shared this one with this note: “This is the second installment of Jonathan Scales Fourchestra from their stop through Chicago. I met Jonathan last year when I shot some video with bassist Cody Wright… Jonathan is an extremely talented Steel Pan player who is traveling the world with some of the baddest players...