Archive for 2015 - Page 101

The No Treble Crew is in Anaheim, California to cover all the bass-related news from the 2015 Winter NAMM Show. Be sure to check in throughout the show and in the days following for the most complete coverage from the world of bass.

We’ve featured plenty of great videos from Craig Butterfield over the years, so when the double bassist sends an email I get excited. This video is a bit of a different context from his previous ones and showcases Butterfield in a duo with mandolinist Jesse Jones on the tune “Gas Station.” The duo find a nice groove with a warm,...

Jazz bassist Steve Swallow has released his latest album, , in a trio with tenor sax player Ohad Talmor and drummer Adam Nussbaum. The record was recorded back in June 2012. Swallow (known for his work as a composer and band leader and with Carla Bley, Gary Burton and the John Scofield Trio) has three compositions on the album, one...

Q: I have been practicing two-handed taping and can’t get independence between left and right hand. Specifically, I can’t play rhythm patterns with my fretting hand and independently play harmony with the plucking hand. Can you suggest some workout for this kind of problem? A: While I have very limited experience with two-handed tapping, I do have experience with working...

Anthony Jackson is an absolute master of the bass. Besides creating some of the most memorable bass lines ever, he has deeply explored harmony and timbre on the instrument. Here’s a jaw-dropping performance of “Water Ways Flow Backward Again” with pianist Akiko Yano and drummer Cliff Almond from 1999 that proves the depth of his understanding. Yano and Jackson kick...

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones’ second album, Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, has been . The 1991 instrumental album, which hit the top spot on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, features the always amazing Victor Wooten on bass in the band led by banjo virtuoso Fleck. The vinyl reissue also includes a free MP3 download of the record. Unfamiliar with...

Meet Paul O’Moore, a man who had a career in music long before he picked up an instrument. But Paul eventually picked up a bass and the rest – as they say – is history. Paul is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of January 19, 2015. Here’s his story… Bio: I grew up in music...

If you missed Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life tour last year, you’re in luck. The legendary R&B artist has announced another 11-date run this Spring that will span the U.S. Similar to last year’s trek, each night will include a performance of Wonder’s 1976 album in its entirety. “Truly, I wanted to do this for years,” Wonder...

I love bass playthroughs. So when death metal king Alex Webster posted a new video, I dropped everything to watch it. The clip shows Webster tearing through “Kufra at Dusk” from metal supergroup Conquering Dystopia’s debut album last year. From killer tone to monster riffs, this has it all. Buckle up.

The Aristocrats one-upped itself with the release of its latest album package, The album, which documents world tour performances supporting the progressive rock band’s 2013 album Culture Clash, showcases not just one date, but performances from six different stops in five countries on three continents. The trio includes bassist Bryan Beller, guitarist Guthrie Govan on guitar and Marco Minnemann on...

The annual Bass Bash will be returning this year, and it’s going to be a doozy. Scheduled in the evenings after the NAMM Show, the Bass Bash is held at JT Schmid’s in Anaheim, California on January 22nd and 23rd from 7pm to midnight. This year’s performers include some of the world’s finest bassists. The first night will feature Alain...

This week we check out the Hades bass by Zerberus Guitars. Built in their German custom shop, the instrument was made for bassist Lenny Castellanos of the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. The bass’s uniquely figured body is made of mahogany with a Zebrawood top finished in a wild honey color. Its five-piece neck is made up of birdseye maple, mahogany,...