Archive for June 2011 - Page 2

BB BlackDog is a band after our own hearts: two basses, some drums and some loops. That’s it. Thanks to Facebook friend and BB BlackDog bassist Dale Rowles, who shared this video with us. Dale said, “Here is a live offering from our April tour. As always features just two basses and drums, with no overdubs or technical trickery.” John...

Bassist Evan Brewer has released his debut solo bass album, Alone on Sumerian Records. The album is truly a solo bass album, as Brewer notes he is the only person on the album, and every sound is made by his bass. “I just think of [the bass] as a tool,” he said. “You don’t necessarily have to use it to...

Luminlay has introduced the SGT series of luminescent inlay markers to their product line, including the SGT-40 and SGT-50. The new fluorescent markers are designed for the top of fingerboards, where previous incarnations were built as side dots. Available in green, the SGT-40 and -50 are dot inlays made of a highly luminous material that is charged in seconds by...

I’ve long been on the lookout for a great recording app for my iPhone. Not for multi-tracking, because Garageband on my iPad has me 100% sold for that stuff, but more for recording quick ideas, recording rehearsals, concerts and so on. I recently tried out FiRe 2 by Audiofile Engineering, and after just a few short hours, I’m already impressed...

Level 42 bassist Mark King is auctioning off some of his memorabilia and gear to benefit the Beaulieu House, a respite care center that helps children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities. Among the items is King’s 30th anniversary Ashdown MK500 head and the first Status KingBass he took on tour, which was featured on the 2001...

Facebook friend Helge Rudolph shares this video with us, featuring the group Dirty Loops performing a cover of Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance”. Bassist Henrik Linder helps make this tune so much better.

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of June 19-26, 2011. 1. Vulfpeck: “Beastly” Live in Studio This is Vulfrecords Records’ house rhythm section showing their stuff. Check out the funky bass by Joe Dart proving that it is, in fact, all about the bass. And yes, there’s even some cowbell…...

Charlie Haden has been named as a recipient of the Lifetime Honors award from the National Endowments for the Arts, a recognition they describe as the “nation’s highest honor in the fold and traditional arts.” Haden started playing bass on his family’s folk and country radio show and eventually became a jazz legend, performing with Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman and...

Here’s bassist Marc Johnson, performing with Peter Erskine on drums and John Scofield and Bill Frisell on guitar, filmed on February 14, 1986 in Frankfurt, Germany. This tune, “Samuari Hee-Haw” comes from Johnson’s 1985 album, .

Spanish jazz bassist Javier Moreno has released his debut album, Brisa. Moreno enlisted the talents of pianist George Dulin, drummer Tony Moreno, and sax virtuoso George Garzone for the eight song collection of original compositions, which is capped with an inspired open improv between the bassist and Garzone. The album covers a wide spectrum of textures while the ensemble floats...

Here’s another incredible performance by bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons, filmed during a workshop by the bassist at the BMW Jazz Festival. It seems one Renaud Garcia-Fons video is never enough. Here are a few more.

The members of Los Angeles-based Heavy Metal band Five Finger Death Punch have announced their newest member to be bassist Chris Kael. Kael will be filling the gap left by Matt Snell, who was released from the band in December for unspecified reasons. The band, which is nearing completion on their third studio album and follow up to 2009’s War...