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Archive for August 2014

Weekly Roundup: RIP Rawbiz, Top Bass How To’s, Fender Rascal, Michael League Transcription and More
Weekly Top 10

Weekly Roundup: RIP Rawbiz, Top Bass How To’s, Fender Rascal, Michael League Transcription and More

Summer is ending, and it looks like everyone is getting back to work. Our top 3 stories this week were all in the “how-to” categories. But there were still some great videos and gear stories that made the top ten. We were also saddened to report about the passing of Tim “Rawbiz” Williams this week. Here are the top 10...

Rodrigo y Gabriela with Robert Trujillo: Metallica Medley
Bass Videos

Rodrigo y Gabriela with Robert Trujillo: Metallica Medley

Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo recently sat in with Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela to create a memorable encore at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. After some solo riffing, Trujillo kicks into the bridge of “Orion” to begin a four-song medley from the legendary metal band’s repertoire. The trio tackles “Orion,” “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “The Frayed Ends...

In Memoriam: Glenn Cornick
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Glenn Cornick

Glenn Cornick, the original bassist for Jethro Tull, passed away on August 29th, reportedly of congestive heart failure. He was 67. Cornick appeared on Jethro Tull’s first three albums, This Was (1968), Stand Up (1969) and Benefit (1970). He left the group during the early recording sessions for Aqualung. Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson broke the news on the band’s...

Paul Lairat Unveils Travel Bass
Basses

Paul Lairat Unveils Travel Bass

French luthier Paul Lairat has unveiled his latest creation called the Travel Bass. The bass features a headless design with a trimmed back body shape. Combined with its reduced 32-inch scale, the bass is ideal for taking on the road. Lairat handcrafts the model in 4-, 5-, or 6-string builds with two versions: a mahogany body with a maple top...

Dean Brown, Will Lee & Dennis Chambers: All You Need Is Love
Bass Videos

Dean Brown, Will Lee & Dennis Chambers: All You Need Is Love

Back in 2009, the group known as DB III took the stage at Tokyo’s Cotton Club. The trio, consisting of guitarist Dean Brown, bassist Will Lee and drummer Dennis Chambers, performed one funky version of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love”. The tune, arranged by Brown, appeared on the trio’s album, , also released in 2009. Dig it.

Asia’s High Voltage Performance Released as Live CD/DVD Set
New Albums

Asia’s High Voltage Performance Released as Live CD/DVD Set

The July 2010 High Voltage Festival in London marked the first time Asia performed its multiplatinum 1982 debut album in full in Europe. Four years later, that show is now available in a . The performance featured the original band lineup (including singer, songwriter and bassist John Wetton), hits like “Heat of the Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell” and...

Fender Introduces Classic Player Rascal Bass
Basses

Fender Introduces Classic Player Rascal Bass

Back in 2013, Fender Master Builder Jason Smith created the retro styled Rascal Bass to display at the NAMM Show. “I wanted to build a short-scale bass that was reminiscent of some of the Kay and Danelectro basses,” Smith stated. This week Fender announced that the Rascal Bass would be put into full production as part of their Classic Player...

Led Zeppelin: How Many More Times, Live 1969
Bass Videos

Led Zeppelin: How Many More Times, Live 1969

John Paul Jones doesn’t get the credit he deserves. His organic lines and fat tone are what tied Led Zeppelin together. Case in point, here’s a great clip of the band live on Danish TV in 1969 playing through “How Many More Times.” Though the cameraman focuses on Plant and Page, it’s Jones and Bonham who are laying down some...

Americana Stars Shine on John Cowan’s “Sixty”
New Albums

Americana Stars Shine on John Cowan’s “Sixty”

Progressive bluegrass singer and bassist John Cowan has assembled a who’s who of roots music for his latest album, . Cowan, who also plays bass in The Doobie Brothers, is known for his work with New Grass Revival, Sam Bush, The Sky Kings and his own John Cowan Band, as well his abilities as a session player and vocalist. And...

Mono Cases Slims Down with Bass Sleeve Gig Bag
Accessories & Strings

Mono Cases Slims Down with Bass Sleeve Gig Bag

“Being a musician requires traveling with a lot of gear, but sometimes we want to downsize and travel lighter,” says Mono Cases CEO Daniel Kushner. And that’s the idea behind the company’s latest offering called the Bass Sleeve. The minimalist design gig bag is a slimmed down version of the Mono’s Vertigo Hybird case and is built around the same...

Bass Transcription: Michael League’s “Continuum”
Transcriptions

Bass Transcription: Michael League’s “Continuum”

“Continuum” is one of the most well known songs for bass players, and I’d argue it is one of the greatest tunes on Jaco Pastorius’s self-titled debut album. After listening to this performance of Michael League three times in a row, I decided to transcribe his version.

Louis Armstrong, Featuring Arvell Shaw: How High The Moon
Bass Videos

Louis Armstrong, Featuring Arvell Shaw: How High The Moon

Here’s a fantastic video of Louis Armstrong handing the spotlight over to bassist Arvell Shaw for a bass feature on “How High the Moon,” from a 1963 performance in Sydney, Australia. Shaw pulls out all the stops during the nearly 7-minute romp. “Show business,” he says, just before breaking out his bow to play all the way up into the...