Archive for 2012 - Page 89
Improving Your Playing: What’s Your Story?
Q: What are you personally working on to improve your playing? A: Okay, getting more personal than usual here <grin>… I am in a constant state of flux with my practice habits. Different things bug me about my playing depending on the gigs I have one week versus the next, causing me to switch gears and focus. Lately, I’ve been...
The Original Flecktones: Live at Anthology
Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones are currently touring in support of their most recent album, Rocket Science. Pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy returned to the group for the first time since 1991 for the album and tour, which also includes bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten and banjoist and leader Bela Fleck. The band made a stop in San...
Soulfly Releases “Enslaved”, Featuring Tony Campos
Soulfly has released their eighth studio album, Enslaved. The album is the first to feature the band’s new lineup of vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera, lead guitarist Marc Rizzo, drummer David Kinkade and bassist Tony Campos. Metal fans recognize Campos from his time in Static-X among many other projects including Prong, Ministry and Asesino. Band leader Cavalera says the new lineup brings...
Reader Spotlight: Freddy Hernandez
Meet bassist Freddy Hernandez, who took up the double bass at age 12. Freddy is the son of former Oingo Boingo drummer Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez. Freddy has an interesting gigging life, performing in an orchestra, his father’s “Johnny Vatos Boingo Dance Party”, on various TV commercials and other bands as well. We love Freddy’s attitude towards music, well described in...
Harmonizing the Major Scale: Using a Number System on Bass
This week, I’m kicking off a new lesson focusing on the foundation of music – the major scale. Read over this lesson and then be sure to check out the video for a demonstration. Western music harmony is mostly based on the 7 steps of the major scale, and the chords built on the major scale are very common to...
BassGirl: Swingin’ ‘Till the Girls Come Home
It has been a while since we featured a video by BassGirl, the 14 year old bassist who has caused many jaws to drop around here. Oscar Pettiford and Jon Hendricks tune “Swingin’ ‘Til the Girls Come Home”, with vocalist Chris Humphrey, pianist Ryan Parker and BassGirl’s father on drums (cool family). Did we mention that BassGirl is 14? Or...
Esperanza Spalding Releases “Radio Music Society”
The much anticipated new album by Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society, is finally here. The album is the follow up to her Grammy-award winning Chamber Music Society, the album is described as Spalding’s “most diverse, ambitious and masterful recital yet”. Spalding considers the new album to be a companion to her last, rather than a sequel. “Originally I thought it...
Godin Introduces Shifter Classic 4 Bass
Godin has added a new model to their Shifter bass series named the Classic 4. The new model, which sports a new Crème Brulee high gloss finish, has Godin’s passive PJ pickups for a more retro style and sound. The Shifter Classic 4 is built with a Canadian Laurentian Basswood body, rock maple neck, and either a maple or rosewood...
Amazing Slow Downer: A Look at the Transcription App for iOS
While I have reviewed a few different “slow downer”-type apps (including Robick and Capo), I recently gave Roni Music’s Amazing Slow Downer a try and have to say that I’m mightily impressed. I had used ASD years ago in college and found the original version of the software (shareware at that time) to be useful but, ultimately, unstable. For that...
Jeff Beck and Upp: “She’s A Woman”, Live (1974)
In August 1974, Jeff Beck took the stage for a session on BBC-2’s “Music on Two” program. Beck fronted the British rock-jazz group Upp, anchored by bassist Stephen Amazing. While the camera never really focuses on Amazing, his awesome (amazing?) bass playing can be heard loud and clear. Here, the group performs an instrumental take on the Beatles’ “She’s A...
Top 10: The Week’s Top Bass Gear, Videos and News, Plus Bass of the Week, Custom Shop and Fingers vs. Picks
Last week, No Treble readers enjoyed a variety of gear features, including news from AC Guitars, and the release of their J-Type models, as well as our latest Custom Shop cover story on Wilkins Guitars and the unique and odd bass of the week – the one string Atlansia Solitaire. The top bass videos featured Richard Bona doing just about...
Sandberg Introduces Electra Vs 4 Bass at Musikmesse
Lots of exciting things are showing up this year for Europe’s Musikmesse trade show, including the Sandberg Electra Vs 4. While the wood, routing, and varnish processes take place in Korea to keep prices down, the bass is assembled and checked for quality control at the company’s headquarters in Germany. The Electra Vs 4 features bolt-on construction with a basswood...