Archive for July 2016 - Page 7

When Sound Struggle’s new video hit my radar, it blew me away. Their song “Rise” starts out in a way that makes you think you know what the song is all about. Then something pretty epic happens. Then it changes again, and then it really gets epic. Anchored by bassist Joe Calderone, here’s the band in a performance backed by...

Weather Report founding bassist Miroslav Vitous is revisiting his old band’s work on his latest album, Music of Weather Report. Czech bassist Vitous assembled a sextet to play the music of the famed fusion band, which he left in 1973. (His replacement was Alfonso Johnson, who was in turn, replaced by Jaco Pastorius). The result is a set shimmering with...

After releasing the prototype last year, Ryan Hyde of R. Hyde Guitars has created a new full-sized version of the Nuvo. The sleek and seductive revamp is our bass of the week. Hyde built the new Nuvo with a full 34-inch scale and added a few improvements to the design. “This new version features a fully adjustable bridge,” the luthier...

Whether you are a beginning bassist, or an accomplished musician who is simply accustomed to reading written music, it can be daunting when first asked to improvise a bass line. Some people stumble, others freeze. Some think they need to be well versed in college level theory. However, there is no reason to fear even if you know only a...

Here’s episode #15 of Anthony Vitti‘s Groove Yard, with Tom Appleman joining Vitti for what they call a “little Acid Jazz duo”. Dig it!

Chevelle’s latest album, The North Corridor, marks a bit of a departure for the band. “I think this record was designed in a way to be more aggressive and more fun to play onstage, and that’s just going off the reactions we see from our perspective. You can tell when a crowd is into what you’re doing—I think that drove...

Time for another round of the weekly top 10, where we celebrate the most reader favorite stories, how-to’s, videos and more. Thanks as always for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Talking Technique: Beautiful Practice This lesson is called “Beautiful Practice” for a reason. Our exercise this week creates a lush harmony and texture all while working out our theory...

After 40 years holding down the low end for AC/DC, bassist Cliff Williams has announced he will retire after the band’s current tour. Williams, who replaced Mark Evans in mid-1977, cites the recent departure of other longtime members guitarist Malcolm Young, drummer Phil Rudd, and vocalist Brian Johnson as part of the reason for stepping down. “It’s been what I’ve...

Franklin Peredo never ceases to amaze me. His latest video is for the song “Funktopia Robotica” and it features the bassist’s crazy right hand technique to make the music sound like the title suggests. It’s not that he’s strumming, thumping, popping and tapping – it’s that he does it so fluidly you forget about the techniques and listen to the...

Longstanding jazz-funk outfit Incognito — the band’s been around for 37 years — features not only the work of its bassist, Francis Hylton, on its 17th studio album, In Search of Better Days, but also original Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender. Zender guests on the album’s opening track, “Love Born in Flames” (you’ll see Hylton on keyboards in the video below)....

Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson and Gretsch teamed up to announce a pair of signature basses at this year’s Summer NAMM show in Nashville, Tennessee. The models include the USA Custom Shop Tom Petersson Signature 12-String Falcon Bass and the G6136B-TP-AWT Tom Petersson Signature 4-String Bass. Petersson has been testing the 12-string prototype live on the road. Available in Vintage White,...

Musicians around the world have been paying tribute to the Purple One since his untimely passing in April, and they have yielded some incredible moments. Here’s a great clip from a live Prince tribute hosted by Bootsy Collins that features Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers, drummer John Blackwell from New Power Generation and bassist MonoNeon, who was one of the last...