Archive for 2011 - Page 79

Sometimes it’s the simplest bass lines that stick with you the most. Here, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey proves it as she plays the iconic riff to “Under Pressure” with David Bowie at Madison Square Garden in 1997.

Hal Leonard has released Jazz Bass on Top: A Guide to Left-Hand Technique by Andy McKee, an instructional book for double bass aimed at improving fingerboard facility through 50 jazz songs. Presented in order of difficulty, the tunes range from “The Girl From Ipanema” to “Teen Town,” and teach walking bass lines as well as soloing techniques. McKee, who teaches...

The lineup for the 2011 Montreux Jazz Festival has been announced, and it will be a solid year for bass lovers. A few of the bassists set to perform include Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins, Christian McBride, Richard Bona and Marcus Miller, who will be performing as part of a tribute to Miles Davis. The fest is...

After the passing of Allen Woody, Gov’t Mule played with a host of bassists, resulting in two albums and culminating an a 6+ hour concert that was released as The Deepest End. This performance is from that concert, and has Primus’s Les Claypool jamming with the group on “Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy” parts 1 and 2. Check out some of...

Hal Leonard’s latest book in their Music Pro Guides series is Rockin’ Your Stage Sound: A Musician’s Guide to Professional Live Audio, a step-by-step guide to improving your stage sound. The book, penned by professional live-sound engineer Rob Gainey, features over 170 stage tips, including 100 tops from players in nationally recognized acts. Topics including microphones and miking technique, monitor...

After showing the prototype at NAMM, Carvin has released the Brian Bromberg Signature Bass series, available in 4 and 5-string versions. The new Bromberg B24 and B25 models feature neck through construction with alder bodies and maple necks. AAAA flamed maple tops come standard, though you can get a solid color finish. The fingerboard is ebony and has Bromberg’s logo...

Today marks the 89th year since Charles Mingus was born. The outspoken bassist/composer left a wealth of music in his wake, which is preserved through the work of the Charles Mingus Institute. Among the groups dedicated to keeping his music alive is the Mingus Orchestra, a 10-piece group held down by bassist Boris Kozlov. In addition to his role as...

Yesterday, we featured a performance by Average White Band, performing “Cut the Cake” live. Today, another AWB tune – “Pick up the Pieces” – this time performed as a solo bass looper arrangement by Nathan Williams.

Harriet Tubman, the group formed in 1998 by bassist Melvin Gibbs, guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer J.T. Lewis has released their latest effort, entitled . The album, recorded live in 2000, is an interpretation of John Coltrane’s 1966 release of the same name. True to form, the group pushes the musical boundaries with this release, expanding to a “Double Trio”...

Bassist Bakithi Kumalo will be joining Paul Simon once again for a global tour in support of the new album So Beautiful or So What. The trek will take them from coast to coast in the U.S. before heading to Europe in June. Kumalo and Simon first worked together when the singer recruited a band for his classic album, Graceland....

Recently, I had an experience that changed the way I think about instruments. Years ago, I used to get nervous sitting in on other people’s gigs for fear of not being able get “my sound” out of their bass. You know what I’m taking about, right? You grab someone else’s bass, play a few notes, then think “uh-oh, this action...

Here’s Average White Band, getting funky and getting the crowd going during Sinbad’s Summer Jam. Eliot Lewis is the bassist holding down the groove (and taking a quick solo break).