Archive for September 2009 - Page 6

Over the weekend, bassist Steve Lawson posted about a live performance he recorded with Michael Manring. 3 Live improvisations was recorded from the audience at Don Quixotes in Felton, Santa Cruz, California in January, 2008. It knocked me out. Steve is playing a fretless 6-string bass, and Michael is playing his 4-string basses, with looping. Steve and Michael’s next duo...

One of my Facebook friends raised the subject of remembering tunes, which led me to another thought: how do we learn tunes quickly? A seasoned bass player might not even know the tune you’re hearing him play. I used to go watch Bob Cranshaw play obscure tunes all night with Jimmy Rowles – nobody, I mean NOBODY knew all these...

Today’s video showcases the playing of Marco Rodi, a solo bassist from Montreal. The video shows various segments of a 35-minute live performance. You can get more information on Rodi from his web site or friend him on Facebook and Twitter.

In case you missed it, here are some of the most popular features from last week (September 6th through 12th). Jon Burr latest lesson covers the all important task of practicing chord changes. Damian Erskine answers a reader on the topic of a light vs. a hard touch. Evan Kepner provides a beginner’s guide to getting radio airplay. Bassist Darren...

Aguilar Amplification continues their Bass Master Class series with bassists Oskar Cartaya and Ruben Rodriguez leading a Latin Bass Master Class on Saturday, September 26, 2009. The event will take place at Aguilar’s New York City headquarters. Both bassists are mainstays in the Latin jazz world, and each will demonstrate their approach to playing as well as reviewing the history...

Essential Sound Products has built a better power cord and named it the MusicCord Pro. ESP’s approach stems from the idea that any bass amplifier needs a solid power connection to get the best tone. Under-powered amps yield “flat dynamics, thin harmonics, and gutless sound without a satisfyingly full and extended bass.” They’ve developed a complex cord that gives you...

Here we’ve got a great solo by Linley Marthe, during a performance with The Zawinul Syndicate at New Morning in Paris. You can also catch Marthe playing on Hadrien Feraud’s solo album.

Bassist Kelly Garni, one of the founding members of Quiet Riot, has started the RR Network, a new project in tribute to late guitarist Randy Rhoads. The RR Network is a social networking site dedicated to the late Ozzy Osbourne/Quiet Riot guitarist. “This site was created for several reasons! It is very important to the Rhoads family and friends that...

The Calgary Herald has done a nice spotlight piece on bassist Chris Brubeck, covering his early childhood start in music, through his current compositions. Brubeck is the son of pianist Dave Brubeck. “I play electric fretless bass, but I sound a lot like an upright bass…” Brubeck shares. “…If anyone knows anything about me, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s the one...

In this video, bassist Ric Fierabracci performs a solo in “The Rain Must Fall”, with Yanni in a 1993 performance in Greece. Fierabracci’s extensive musical resume includes having performed, recorded and run the gamut for artists like Chick Corea, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Mitchel Forman, Bill Evans, Brett Garsed, Phil Turcio, Scott Henderson, George Whitty, Tom Coster, Dave...

Rusted Root, the Pittsburgh based rock-jam band, is giving their fans a chance to hear some of the new music they’ve been working on for their upcoming CD with a special tour. “Our fans are the cream of the crop,” says band front man Michael Glabicki. “They have been critical to the music we have created. The songs on the...

As a player/teacher I have collected many books over the years, in fact I have two big bins in my garage full of various music books of all kinds. There are a hand full of books though that I find myself coming back to time and time again for reading studies, concepts and inspiration. One such book is Modal &...