Archive for September 2016 - Page 4

Q: I was wondering what – in your opinion – makes a good bassist? A: This will be the most subjective article I’ve ever written, most likely, and I imagine that many of you will have a different view by one degree or another. There are many valid view points to be shared. I think that phrasing is important. In...

Alex Bershadsky has teased his upcoming album with a new video for the song, “POP-001”. Besides the bassist’s incredible strumming and slap playing, the tune features heavyweight musicians with guitarist Oz Noy, drummer Nathaniel Townsley, and vocalist Kama Kamila. If this is any indicator of its direction, we’re really looking forward to the new album!

A live performance from the late, great jazz vocalist and pianist Shirley Horn has been remastered and released as Live at the 4 Queens. The May 2, 1988 show at the 4 Queens Hotel & Casino featured Horn in her longstanding trio of bassist Charles Ables (d. 2001, and who switched from guitar to bass to join her group) and...

To say Chuck Bailey is enthusiastic would be an understatement… and for good reason. After his dad influenced Chuck to play bass, he’s pursued it with passion. Today, he’s building a name for himself in Vegas. Chuck is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: Chuck Bailey, former bassist for Kid Deposit Triumph and Hired...

Ibanez is making a special run of heir SR Premium bass for 2016. The SR5SMLTD Premium is a five-string model that will sport a spalted maple top, birdseye maple fingerboard, and birdseye maple pickup covers to exude what the company calls a rare exotic charm. As a member of the Premium line, the bass carries several other upgrades from standard...

From Snarky Puppy’s live DVD/CD , here’s the band with guest vocalist Jayne Brown performing “I’ll Do Me.” This one has a ton of soul, with Michael League laying it down.

The Devin Townsend Project has released its seventh studio album, Transcendence. The record, from the progressive metal group led by Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Steve Vai) features the huge, epic sound for which Townsend is known, as well as his take on the Ween song, “Transdermal Celebration.” The band has double bass cred this time out, too, featuring not only...

Les Claypool has always played distinct basses, and this week we’re checking out one of those basses he helped design: The Pachyderm Basses Blonde Bass. Claypool worked with luthier and longtime friend Dan Maloney to form the company and create his idea of the ultimate bass. “My idea was to incorporate the traits of the instruments I have loved over...

I play a five-string bass with both a higher string and a low C, via an extension. My specific tuning is (from lowest to highest) C, B, E, A, D. The low C string can be tuned via capos (on the C extension) to any chromatic note between C and E (the more standard low string on a double bass)....

Ivo Schot, aka Fortheloveofbass, is back again with a new collaboration. In his fourth bass and vocal song, he teams up with the Dutch artist Storksky for a version of the song “Fracas Maracas.” “[It’s] a rock tune with a lot of grit,” Schot shares. “The song features a 1956 Danelectro Longhorn bass, which is the oldest bass I’ve ever...

The story of baseball’s longest game, and the book written about it – Dan Barry’s Bottom of the 33rd, inspired jazz outfit Saltman Knowles’ latest effort, Almost. The book reflects the players’ commitment and dedication to the game, even if they weren’t destined to make it in the major league (the game was a minor league contest). They continued to...

Lots of bass goodness in this edition of the weekly top 10. Here are the top 10 stories, how-to’s and videos enjoyed by No Treble readers for the week of September 10-16, 2016. Thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Victor Wooten Joins Progressive Metal Band Here’s something you didn’t see coming: bassist Victor Wooten performed with new progressive...