News - Page 282

Tim Wolfe Jr., who we featured in our Reader Spotlight in 2013, has released his first album as a band leader and composer, . As jazz bassist working and teaching in central/southeast Pennsylvania (as well as the grandson of two jazz musicians, including one bassist), Wolfe’s album nods to the East Coast hard-bop tradition. His band on the record hails...

Brazilian bassist and composer Isaias Elpes has released a self-titled album that reflects both his Latin heritage (one track is even titled “Born in Brazil”) and his continuing education as a jazz/jazz fusion player. Elpes finished his master’s degree in music from Shepherd University in Los Angeles last year, where he studied under legendary session bassist Abraham Laboriel, who was...

You wanna get funky? Then it might be time to check out the latest album from Freekbass, Everybody’s Feelin’ Real. The album’s being billed as offering retro-modern funktronica grooves, and Freekbass cites everyone from David Bowie to Sly & the Family Stone to Dr. Dre as inspiration for the record’s sonic qualities. Horns on the record are handled by Les...

Legendary metal vocalist and band leader Ronnie James Dio died in 2010 after a battle with stomach cancer, but his legacy lives on, through not only his music, but also the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Both have come together in the the compilation album, , which features metal luminaries performing Dio’s songs from all eras...

Asia’s 14th studio album, , is a pure expression of the progressive rock band, according to lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson). “It conveys the spectrum of emotion and color from real life agonies to ecstatic fantasy of escapism. Great songs, fabulous performance. Gravitas is ASIA by ASIA. At last.” Asia is best known for its...

The Bad Plus has redefined Stravinsky’s classical piece for ballet, , as a work for an acoustic jazz trio of piano, bass and drums. The group’s version of Stravinsky’s composition debuted in 2011 and the trio has performed it live in the years since. Now the interpretation from the group — known for its inventiveness and predilection for the avant...

Last year, we reported that Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia was once again battling serious health issues. The bassist has now issued an update about his condition on the band’s website. “First off I’d like to thank everyone who has either donated to my medical fund or given their time and energy,” he stated. “It is greatly appreciated to...

presents the fully unedited version of the live experience of Davis and his band at a turning point in the legendary trumpeter’s career. This music comes from the Bitches Brew era, in which Davis worked with a band that included bassist Dave Holland, regarded as a jazz great in his own right. The 4-CD box set features 100 minutes of...

Nathan East. You know him. You most likely love him. He’s the bass sideman to the stars — over his 40-year career, he played with everyone Barry White to Eric Clapton to Phil Collins to George Harrison to Michael Jackson. He’s also a member of Fourplay and bassist Daft Punk (that’s his line you hear on “Get Lucky”). Now he...

The Rockies will be rumbling this spring at the 7th Annual Rocky Mountain Bass Slam. The day of bass celebration is set for Sunday, May 18th from 1pm to 6pm at the historic Oriental Theatre in Denver, Colorado. The Bass Slam will include solo bass and bass duo performances with a jam session at the end of the show. Performers...

Phish has announced their summer 2014 tour agenda. The iconic jam band will spend the season covering the East Coast from Massachusetts to Georgia from July to August. They’ve also stated that there will be no more East Coast dates for the rest of the summer and fall. The band will be playing at several new venues along the way...

Taking Back Sunday’s sixth album isn’t just the rock group’s sixth album — it’s also the second with its revived original lineup, which features bassist Shaun Cooper. The album, which was made with no record label involvement (a first since the band’s debut album) is on that reveals the band’s shared experiences, some of which are harrowing, according to Cooper....