Archive for January 2010

Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman’s supergroup side project, “Apparatjik,” featuring Magne Furuholmen from A-Ha, producer Martin Terefe and Jonas Bjerre from Mew, will be releasing a new as-yet-untitled album and making their first public appearance on February 1st. The name Apparatjik comes from the Swedish language and is used to describe people who “create bottlenecks in otherwise efficient organizations.” The group...

This one seemed fitting for a relaxing Sunday afternoon… the great Ray Brown and his trio performing “Blue Monk”. Happy Sunday.

If your dream is to become the next rock star, you might want to consider attending this year’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles. The camp, now in its 12th year, allows musicians to jam with legendary rock stars and play major concert venues. This year, bassists Michael Anthony (Van Halen, Chickenfoot), Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead), and Rudy Sarzo...

Jeff Beck has put together a new rhythm section for his upcoming tour dates in Europe and the U.S. Bassist Rhonda Smith and drummer Narada Michael Walden take the spot filled by Tal Wilkenfeld and Vinnie Colaiuta for the last few years for this part of the tour. Smith is best known for her work with Prince, and her funky...

We’re still digging up videos from NAMM here and there… Here’s Michael Manring, playing his Signature Bass at the Zon booth during NAMM 2010. Crank up your speakers a little, the audio is a little light.

The new Red Ripper Fuzz for bass from Tech 21 is more than your ordinary distortion box. It actually responds to the dynamics of your touch, so if you play harder you get more fuzz and higher harmonics, and if you play softer you get less fuzz and enhanced lower harmonics. Very nice for dynamic contrast. The Red Ripper’s “R.I.P.”...

Missouri State University’s Bachelor of Music performance degree now includes a jazz studies program. To help kick off the program in a big way, bass legend Charlie Haden has agreed to join the faculty as the 2010-11 artist-in-residence. “This comprehensive Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance degree will prepare young musicians for careers as professional performers, composers, and arrangers in...

Velvet Revolver and ex-Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is reportedly writing and recording with the group Jane’s Addiction, according to fan web site Xiola.org. The news following a twitter post from original J.A. bassist Eric Avery, saying “fyi, to answer the question directly, i am not writing with janes addiction.” Jane’s Addiction reunited with the original lineup in late...

Here’s bass great Alain Caron – and one big acoustic bass guitar – taking a solo during the tune “Scrapper” … or is it “Scrapple for the Apple”?

Three years ago, keyboardist Alan Pasqua put together a band to honor drummer Tony Williams, who passed away. Pasqua recruited Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip along with drummer Chad Wackerman and guitarist Allan Holdsworth to the project, and the group recorded throughout their tour. Blues for Tony, originally released on DVD, is now available as a double CD. From the editorial...

Les Claypool has just updated his 2010 tour schedule to include some dates in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas in April: 4/19 at Stubb’s in Austin, TX 4/20 at House Of Blues in Houston, TX 4/21 at Lakewood Theatre in Dallas, TX 4/23 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK 4/24 at The Village in Little Rock, AR Pre-sale tickets are available....

The upright bass is frequently classified as a “single-line” instrument. In other words, the bass produces a single line of tones and does not play polyphonically. This is certainly the rule in many cases, but there are times where adding additional chord tones to your playing, especially in solos, can add a new dimension of depth to your sound. Given...