Bassists: News, Spotlights, Interviews
Bassists - Page 108
Lee Rocker to Join Cast of “Million Dollar Quartet”
Former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker will be joining the cast of the Broadway show “Million Dollar Quartet”, portraying Jay Perkins for twelve shows, from January 21st through the 31st, 2011. The musical is inspired by the recording sessions of December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios, which included a jam session among Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl...
Phil Palombi Recording Album with Scott LaFaro’s 1825 Prescott Bass
Jazz bassist Phil Palombi was given the opportunity of a lifetime. For a week, he was able to borrow Scott LaFaro’s 1825 Prescott bass to record a tribute album to the groundbreaking player. Palombi, who is an expert on LaFaro, realized there has not been a tribute album to the late bassist and decided to make one with Don Friedman...
Lemmy Reveals How He Started Playing Bass
In a recent interview with the Quietus, Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister revealed how he got his start on bass. Though he was originally a guitar player, a chance opportunity came up with the band Hawkwind after their bassist no-showed. ”I was mediocre at guitar,” Lemmy explained. “I couldn’t play lead to save my life, or yours. I went for a...
Reader Spotlight: Brandon Puckett
Meet Brandon Puckett, a bassist from Linton, Indiana, and our player in the spotlight for December 14, 2010. Bio: I grew up in a small town in Southern Indiana, where at the age of 10 started playing bass. We didn’t have a lot to do living out in a rural area, so also having the luxury of a guitarist and...
Bootsy Collins Foundation Raising Money for Music Education
Bootsy Collins is reaching out to the community for donations in order to help children play music. The funk legend is asking for dollar donations to his Bootsy Collins Foundation, which is working to get instruments into the hands of children who want to play music. “I am asking my funkateer fans to make a dollar donation (or more) for...
Stanley Clarke’s Record Label Debuts New Releases
Bass legend Stanley Clarke has started a new role in the music industry as his record label, Roxboro Entertainment Group, unveiled its first two releases this month. Guitarist Lloyd Gregory’s self-titled CD and multi-instrumentalist Kennard Ramsey’s Somos are available now for download from Amazon, with physical copies coming later this month. Though grounded in jazz, the label’s musicians come from...
Deftones Release “Diamond Eyes” Remix to Benefit Chi Cheng
Deftones has announced their latest fundraiser effort for their bassist Chi Cheng, who remains in a semi-comatose state following an automobile accident in November 2008. The band is offering a new and exclusive remix of the title track from the latest album, Diamond Eyes. The track is available through the One Love for Chi website, for $0.99. All of the...
Reader Spotlight: Keith “KDubbs” Williams
Meet Keith “KDubbs” Williams, a bassist from San Jose, California and our player in the spotlight for December 7, 2010. Bio: I’m the former bass player for Maranatha Christian Center, San Jose, Ca. (1992-2002). I’ve worked with Ruff House/Columbia/Emi recording artist Keith Martin (toured with MC Hammer in the mid 90’s), and with the Black Panther of Hip Hop, Paris....
Grammy Nominations 2011: The Bass List
The 53rd Annual Grammy Award Nominations are in, and once again it’s been a good year for bassists. Some notable bassists have hit it big this year, including Esperanza Spalding, who is up for Best New Artist, and bass legend Stanley Clarke, whose latest release has garnered him two nominations. This is a historic year for the Grammy Awards, as...
Bootsy Collins Reveals New “Eye-Funk” Artwork
After a month of anticipation, Bootsy Collins has revealed his limited edition artwork, which he labels as “eye-funk.” The two pieces released are labeled “The Monument” and “The Legacy”, both depicting a larger than life Bootsy towering over Cincinnati, with hidden images scattered throughout the scene. The art is numbered and signed by Bootsy, who also adds a “funk mantra”...
Reader Spotlight: Rick Reese
Meet Rick Reese, a bassist from Nashville, TN and our player in the spotlight for November 30, 2010. Bio: Born in Baltimore, MD in 1969, Rick has been playing bass for 27 years. His innovative style is a unique blend of jazz improvisation, funk punctuation with driving energy of rock and roll. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Rick...
An Interview with Percy Jones
Percy Jones is one of the definitive figures who carved out a role for the fretless bass and helped establish its place on the contemporary music scene. Best known for his work with jazz-fusion band Brand X, Percy collaborated with likes of Phil Collins and Robin Lumley. Brand X’s early 70’s debut Unorthodox Behaviour established the band as one of...











