Buzz Index
Ask Damian Erskine: I Can’t Hear Myself!
Q: I would love to know what you do when you can’t hear yourself on stage or at rehearsals and when you can’t change it.
Ansir Bass Build (part 2): the Bravura prize bass updates and upgrades
In part 2 of an ongoing video series, Ansir Music’s Jody Michael explains the build process for their basses, and specifically, the prize bass for the No Treble contest. This week’s installment discusses the updates to the body, neck and electronics.
Gear Watch: FEA Growler Pedal
FEA Labs has announced the FEA Growler pedal to their product line. The Growler is designed as an enhancement pedal that adds second harmonic warmth to add “growl and punch” to their tone. The pedal generates an analog harmonic octave tone to blend with your bass’s natural tone.
Player Spotlight: Lou Castro
Meet Lou Castro, our bassist in the spotlight for March 16th, 2010.
A Review of Stephan Crump with the Rosetta Trio’s “Reclamation”
Inventive, deeply melodic and resonant, Reclamation is a great record featuring strong writing and arrangements, a unique string trio line-up and three unique voices. Stephan Crump is a fabulous jazz bassist and is joined by Jamie Fox and Liberty Ellman on guitars in a trio which has been together for some time. This is their second album. The interplay, sensitivity and musicality reflects the fact that these three have spent a good while playing together and patently enjoy it. This is music without any whiff of cliché.
Vienna Art Orchestra: L’art goes funk
This is the swinging Vienna Art Orchestra playing “L’art goes funk” featuring the two amazing Austrian bass players Georg Breinschmid on double bass and Robert Riegler on electric 6-string bass.
Andy Fraser’s Bass Added to Rock Hall of Fame
Andy Fraser of the groundbreaking ’60s and ’70s band Free will have one of his basses put on exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fraser, who was a founding member of Free, was also the co-writer of their biggest hit, “All Right Now.”
Lenny White To Release First Solo Album in 10 Years, featuring Stanley Clarke and Victor Bailey
Return to Forever drummer Lenny White has announced his first solo album in a decade, Anomaly. White will be joined by bassists Stanley Clarke and Victor Bailey, and a host of others.
Rhythm Practice: Using Rhythms to Improve a Passage, Phrase or Lick
Every so often there is a passage, phrase or “lick” that we just can’t seem to execute as well as we would like, no matter how many times we practice it under tempo. This should be a sign that we need to change our approach.
