Archive for 2016 - Page 14

The latest amp offering from Orange, 4-Stroke 300W Bass Amp paired with their OCB410 Bass Cabinet is a sweet combination bassist wanting an all analog Class A/B amp for both clean sounding or bit of edge. This a rock bassist rig without a doubt, but it really delivers on versatility. The 4-Stroke has a different pre-amp than its’ OBC series...

The Funky Knuckles are back with a new video. And it starts out just right with a nice groove by Wes Stephenson. The song, “Me Too,” is from their latest album, .

After spending the year in Europe and Asia, Stanley Clarke has announced he will bringing his band back to the U.S. for a tour in December. The bass legend will be joined by Beka Gochiashvili on piano, Cameron Graves on keys, and Michael Mitchell on drums. Clarke’s seven-date run will focus on Florida and Georgia, starting at the Ponte Vedra...

Italian custom instrument company Overload Guitars has unveiled a new bass model called the Taurus. The four-stringer is customizable but comes standard with a swamp ash body, flamed bubinga top, and seven-piece maple/bubinga/wenge neck with a resin fingerboard. Its neck has a flat “D”-shape profile with a compound fingerboard radius from 16-inches to 20-inches. It comes loaded with Nordstrand pickups...

Ben Allison has had several names for his various bands, but Think Free may be one of the most apropos to his creative style. The bassist/composer crafts adventurous songs that defy simple categorization or labeling. He’s also a free-thinker in terms of forging his career path. After years of working for a record label, he branched out to create his...

Jono Burgess sent us this video of his duo with vocalist Sophie Aked performing a tribute to the late, great Leonard Cohen. “This was the first song Bravo Victor performed together back in 2015,” Jono shared. “In honor of the amazing musician who wrote it, we decided to film our version of it.”

Want to get in shape? Bassist Josquin Des Pres has released a new app called Bass Fitness. Dubbed “The Ultimate Woodshedding App,” the new release is based on his published by Hal Leonard in 1991. “The exercises in Bass Fitness are designed to help increase your speed, improve your dexterity, develop accuracy and promote finger independence for the 4, 5...

The ESO Strap line has been expanded to include a bass-specific strap. Available in seven colors, the straps are manufactured in Seattle, Washington. The ESO Bass Strap features a contoured “S” shape to avoid pressure points and digging into your neck. It’s built with a high-density foam core with interior heavyweight backing and reinforced stitching at critical points. The strap...

Q: So right now I’m trying to hack out my sense of groove and time, really trying to come down on that. I’ve noticed I can’t stay on a groove too long and start to play a lot of lines or rhythmic fills, not really being able to lay down a solid foundation and can’t stay tight? How do I...

Spanish bassist and composer Ismael Alcina recently released an album called Bass Life, featuring some really fantastic playing. Here’s a great video of the aptly entitled track “Solo”. Alcina creates a mysterious atmosphere before launching into a palm muted groove and building on it with a looper pedal.

Bassist/composer Mark Dresser has released Sedimental You, an exploratory album that teeters between free jazz and chamber music for a refreshing musical ride. The seven-song collection features his septet including flutist Nicole Mitchell, clarinetist Marty Ehrlich, trombonist Michael Dessen, pianist Joshua White, drummer Jim Black, and violinist David Morales Boroff. Each member of the group brings a special element to...

To say Bill Clements is an inspiration would be an understatement. A bassist for over 30 years, Bill lost part of his arm in an industrial accident in 1989. But that didn’t stop him. He’s continued to play and inspire people ever since. Bill is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: I was born...