Michael had to cancel a recent show due to a bout with pneumonia. We wish him a speedy recovery!

Michael is doing a live online masterclass, in conjunction with Bass Player Magazine, on Wednesday March 12 us at 9 pm Eastern/6 pm Pacific. See Bass Player Magazines’s site for more details.

Here’s the rest of the concert schedule:

March 13
Performing with singer-songwriter John Gorka
Electronic House Expo
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

March 28-30
Instruction and solo performances
Gerald Veasley’s Bass Bootcamp
Part of the Berks Jazz Fest, Reading, PA

March 31 at 7pm
Performing with guitarist David Cullen
Gerald Veasley’s JazzBase
Sheraton Reading Hotel, 1741 Paper Mill Road, Reading, PA 19610

April 11 at 9:30pm
Improvised music with percussionist Mika Scott and others
Dance Jam
Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th Street, Berkeley, CA, 510-594-4021

May 15 at 8pm
Solo bass
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
1111 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94702, (510) 548-1761
also appearing: Jeff Schmidt, Jean Beaudin, Dave Grossman

May 20-24
Performances to be announced
Acoustic Guitar International Meeting
Fortezza Firmafede, Sarzana (SP), ITALY

May 27
Solo Master Class
Music Academy International
12 Avenue du XXe Corps, BP 637 - 54010 NANCY CEDEX, Tel: 03 83 39 70 70

May 28
Solo Master Class
Basscool
Lille, FRANCE

May 29
Solo performance
Le Triton
11, Rue du Coq Français, 93260 Les Lilas, France, Paris, FRANCE, Tel: +33 1 49 72 83 13

May 30
Solo performance, details to be announced
Bordeaux, FRANCE

May 31
Solo performance
Rock et Chansons
Talence, France

June 27-29
Solo performance and instruction
New Hampshire Bass Fest
Manchester, NH

July 5
Accompanying singer-songwriter John Gorka
Mariposa Folk Festival
Tudhope Park, Orillia, ON, CANADA

July 17
As part of the Perry Mills Project, and solo performance
Third Thursday Jazz Series
Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA

July 18
Solo performance
Nissi’s
2675 North Park Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026, 303-665-2757

Sept. 27
Solo performance
Details to be announced
Guatemala City, GUATEMALA

Oct 24
Solo performance
Godfrey Daniel’s Coffeehouse
7 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015-1601, (610) 867-2390

Oct 25
Solo and with guitarists Rudy Perrone and William Ackerman
Workshop 1pm, Concert 8pm
Five Towns Music College
Dix Hills, Long Island, NY 11746

Oct. 31 - Nov. 1
Solo performance
Euro Bass Day
Verona, ITALY, tel: 045 8205716

Chicago residents can now dress like a rock star, thanks to Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy’s bassist. Wentz started selling clothes online a few years ago and decided to open “Clandestine Industries” in Wrigleyville.

Bass Player magazine’s Bass Player LIVE! is happening on October 27-28, in New York City. Bass clinics will be presented by Steve Bailey, Oskar Cartaya, Stanley Clarke, J.D. DeServio, Jimmy Earl, David Ellefson, Matt Garrison, James Genus, Andrew Gouché with Chaka Khan, Stuart Hamm, Jimmy Haslip, Jonas Hellborg, Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Levin, Wojtek Pilichowski, Dave Pomeroy, Chuck Rainey, Leland Sklar, Gary Willis, Doug Wimbish, Gerald Veasley and more.

Finally, we can’t resist…
Aren’t we all bass players?

Jaco Pastorius, Inc. & the Broward Center have announced the 20th Anniversary Tribute to Jaco Pastorius.

The event will feature live performances by the Jaco Pastorius Big Band with special guest appearances by Peter Erskine, Randy Brecker, Bobby Mintzer, David Bargeron, Jimmy Haslip, Gerald Veasley, Felix Pastorius, Mary Pastorius, Ira Sullivan, Bobby Thomas, Jr., and Dana Paul.

Rare home movies and concert footage will be shown, as well as video appearances by Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell and others from Jaco’s life and career.

The event will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 8pm at the Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. VIP tickets, including a pre-show reception and commemorative CD, are $85. Adult tickets are $35 & $50.

Legendary spoof band Spinal Tap reunited for Live Earth’s SOS event on July 7th at Wembley Stadium.

Wouldn’t you know it, the show’s highlight was “Big Bottom”, featuring “every bass player in the known universe”.

Yeah, bass saves the day.

Check it out:

The United States Army Field Band is holding auditions through August 22, 2007 for a string/electric bassist. To apply, submit a recent resume and high-quality recording, CD preferred, by August 22, 2007. The recording should contain solos or excerpts of various styles that demonstrate the depth and breadth of your playing ability, with an emphasis on classical music.

Applicants selected from screening of recordings will be invited for a personal interview and audition. Travel expenses will be paid by the United States Army. Military personnel must be eligible for permanent change of station and must submit a letter from their unit commander recommending the candidate for reassignment, if offered the position.

More info on the Army’s Field Band web site.

Michael Manring joins an all-star cast of bassists, including Rufus Reid, Steve Bailey, Seth Horan and Bruce Gertz at the New Hampshire Bass Fest. The four day festival starts on June 20th and features lectures, concerts and master classes. Several luthiers, vendors, and manufacturers will be exhibiting.

Registration is $400. Check out the event’s web site for details.