Interviews - Page 14

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...

Veteran bassist and educator Todd Coolman has worked with a who’s who of the jazz world. His resumé includes work with Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Tommy Flanagan, Ahmad Jamal, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and James Moody (with whom he won Grammy), among others. In working with these incredible bandleaders, he’s gathered what it takes...

After dropping their Primal EP last year, Entheos is returning with their full-length release The Infinite Nothing on April 1st. The band – comprised of singer Chaney Crabb, guitarist Malcolm Pugh, drummer Navene Koperweis and bass wizard Evan Brewer – have spent the year refining their sound in the studio and on the road. Brewer’s top notch bass work is...

Alissia Benveniste has been turning heads with her fresh take on classic funk for a few years, starting with a viral hit of the video for her song “Let It Out”, but now she’s stepped it up by releasing her debut EP. Back to the Funkture is a six-song, feel-good album tied together by catchy hooks and top notch bass...

Rufus Philpot is a bassist that has perspective. Born in London, he cut his teeth in England before taking his career to New York City and all the adventures that entails. A move to L.A. several years ago has further cemented him into an in-demand musical director and session player. Along the way he’s seen the rest of the world...

Tim Lefebvre has a knack for bringing his voice to any musical situation, and it’s a skill that has brought him tons of incredible opportunities. He’s played with the world’s top artists from Elvis Costello to Donald Fagen to Wayne Krantz and more. He’s played in the house band for Saturday Night Live and a host of TV and movie...

As music progresses, genres have been blurring into wonderful collages of inspiration. One band that helps prove that point is Kung Fu, a band describes their songs as a “70’s funk-fusion meets modern dance party.” That party is anchored by monster bassist Chris DeAngelis. DeAngelis simultaneously draws from jazz, funk, hip-hop, and rock to create hypnotic bass lines. As a...

The bass is an incredible instrument. It’s never too late to start playing and there’s always something to learn for those who have already started. But sometimes we hit ruts in our growth that will wear us down. That’s why we’ve compiled advice for up-and-comers from ten of the world’s foremost bassists across a variety of styles. If you or...

As a member of the eclectic band Tune-Yards, Nate Brenner spent much of the past few years touring the world in a blur of tour busses, hotels, and planes. The experiences helped to shape the music in the bassist’s own project called Naytronix, culminating in the new release, . Trained in jazz at Oberlin Conservatory, Brenner has a deep understanding...

This year has been one of change for Finnish death metal outfit Children of Bodom. The band announced the departure of longtime guitarist Roope Latvala in May, leaving the group as a four-piece configuration. Their new album (due October 2nd) will be their first record created as a quartet, but their sound is just as huge thanks in part to...

It may be impossible to measure a musician’s influence on music as a whole, but when Jack Bruce passed away last year, the world felt it. Best known for his work in Cream and subsequent solo work, the legendary bassist was remembered by his fans and colleagues with outpourings of love and respect on every form of media. Bass players...

As the bass guitar has evolved, players have become more and more adept at making technically difficult passages sound musical. That goes especially for proponents of extended range basses, and Veil of Maya’s Danny Hauser is one of those players. Hailing from Northern Virginia, Hauser lays down the low (and high) end on a seven-string bass for a broader range...