Archive for March 2011 - Page 6

The Yellowjackets, formed 30 years ago by bassist Jimmy Haslip and keyboardist Russell Ferrante, is celebrating their anniversary with the release of Timeline. The album is the band’s 21st release, and features the return of drummer Will Kennedy after a dozen years away from the band. The 11-track album includes music penned mostly by Ferrante and saxophonist Bob Mintzer with...

The Experience Hendrix Tour, which pays homage to the life and works of Jimi Hendrix, is being reprised for 2011, as the first eight dates have been announced. The performances are set in the West Coast, bouncing between Nevada, California, and Arizona. The Santa Rosa, California stop has already been sold out. Bassist Billy Cox, who was played in the...

Steve Bunker sent in this request: “Can you talk about the best way to amplify the upright to avoid feedback and the best way to record the bass. I play mostly rockabilly.” Hi Steve! I’ll get to the recording part of the question another week. For today, let’s talk feedback. Feedback is a real problem for anyone amplifying the double...

Esperanza Spalding came up with the idea for her album, , as “an intimate experience, a close musical exchange between a small group of friends”. So, NPR gave her the opportunity to get really cozy, asking the group to perform in Bob Boilen’s workspace at NPR. (I wonder how we can get them to stop by No Treble HQ.) The...

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of March 6-12, 2011. 1. RIP Mark Adams Mark Adams, the bassist from the popular ’70’s Ohio funk band Slave, has passed away. Adams, who co-wrote the band’s first hit “Slide,” was an influence to many budding bassists. Anthony Wellington shared his thoughts: “My...

Warwick unveiled their limited edition model for the year, the Streamer LX LTD 2011. Available in 4 and 5-string versions, the bass is a variant of their Streamer design with woods they use less often. The 2011 edition sports a Maple body with a plain Blackwood on top. The bolt-on neck is made of Blackwood with Maple stripes and is...

In a recent interview with Metal Messiah Radio, KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons spoke on the band and the possibility of a reunion with original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. “There will be one more time when we play together,” he said. “Sometime in the future there’s going to be a last show. Sometime in the future we’ll...

Recorded live at the Jazz Voyeur Festival in 2009, Richard Bona performs his tune “Invocation” before the band kicks in on “Te Misea”.

Mr. Big has announced an extensive world tour in support of their latest release, What If, featuring the group’s original lineup including bassist Billy Sheehan, guitarist Paul Gilbert, drummer Pat Torpey and vocalist Eric Martin. The trek will have the quartet stopping twice in the U.S., first in Hollywood on April 2nd, then again as part of the M3 Festival...

PocketLabworks has teamed up with the amp builders at Gallien-Krueger to make the world’s first iOS amp simulator designed specifically for bass. The app requires an instrument adapter, which is sold separately. The adapter connects your bass to your device, and the app allows you to select your amp combinations and settings, including different cab configurations, EQ, Dynamics, and presets....

Recorded live in Lisbon in July 1975, here’s a nice duo performance of “Waltz for Debby” by pianist Bill Evans and bassist Eddie Gomez. This performance was recorded at Teatro S. Carlos.

Spector unveiled a few new basses for 2011, including the RXT, a new signature model designed in part by Down’s Rex Brown. The bass is part of their USA series, meaning it’s built in their Woodstock, New York workshop. Featuring neck-thru construction, the RXT brings together a solid AAAA maple body with a 3-piece maple graphite reinforced neck with a...