Archive for 2016 - Page 38

Bass phenom MonoNeon has dropped two new original songs on Bandcamp. “Strawberry Fields” and “Love Game Ain’t Free” showcase the bassist’s signature funk-minimalism and low fidelity composition/production style. He played all the instruments and even sang the lyrics. “For some reason the inspiration for the new songs came from watching the classic 1976 film ‘Car Wash’ and having surrealistic feelings...

The world is a big place. Thankfully, no matter where you go, there’s a good chance that you’ll run into some pretty talented people. Every now and then, these gifted individuals muster up the courage to put their money where their mouth is; they take a leap of faith and invest in their own abilities, skills, and marketable traits. Rather...

Our first ever interview (way back in 2009) was with Julie Slick, after seeing a video with her performing in the Adrian Belew Power Trio. Here’s a clip from their 2008 performance of Rockpalast. The tune is “Dinosaur”, and the bass tone is flat out killer.

Legendary jazz double bassist Ron Carter remains busy as he approaches 80, playing on trombonist Steve Turre’s latest, Colors for the Masters. The album has already netted a glowing review at All About Jazz, which called it one of Turre’s “best releases in years.” It also acknowledges the iconic bassist, noting “if you can’t pick out a Ron Carter bass...

Update: Thanks to everyone who entered! We’re thrilled to announce the winners: Austin S. (1st prize), Anthony C. (2nd prize) and Jeff D. (third prize). A huge thanks to Sadowsky, Kala, Hipshot, Xotic, SimS Pickups and La Bella. Be sure to check out the Lords of the Low End event. Kala Brand Music, Sadowsky, SimS Pickups, Xotic Guitars, Hipshot, La...

There are bass players who are able to cross musical genres, but few do it as well as Tim Lefebvre. His playing consistently demonstrates an uncanny ability to adapt to a wide range of different styles. It may well be the exact reason why David Bowie chose Tim to play on his final studio album, Blackstar, which was released two...

I’m convinced that Michael Manring’s brain works differently than everyone else’s. His ideas are always so unique and his execution of them are jaw-dropping. Back in 1991, Manring was featured on the Spanish television program Musica NA to talk about his playing and compositions. This clip starts out with the bassist explaining his thought process on playing two basses at...

Grammy award-winning bassist Derrick Hodge, who has worked with Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Jill Scott and Maxwell, has released his sophomore solo album, appropriately titled, The Second. Hodge played the majority of the instruments on the album, which he not only composed, but also produced. “I wanted to create something that exposed myself artistically, with a heartbeat for the people....

If you’ve been fiending for some new Thundercat, you’re in luck. The bass virtuoso has just dropped a new single called “Bus in These Streets”, and it’s got all the quirky-yet-catchy aspects he’s known for. The song’s bouncy bass line holds the groove while chimes give the song a happy-go-lucky vibe. Thundercat’s lyrics, however, are a commentary on the effect...

Q: I have a dep gig in 5 days and need to learn 23 songs. Any tips? I’m quite a good reader and have all the songs transcribed so I can probably read the music as I play but it’s for a rock gig and wouldn’t look particularly cool. A: For those who don’t know what a “dep gig” is...

Punk icons The Descendents recently released their seventh studio album, Hypercaffium Spazzinate, and it’s got all the fervor they’re known for. That includes the blistering bass work of Karl Alvarez. Watch the band get down on their latest live video for “Testosterone”. The song is short but sweet with a killer bass run at the 28-second mark.

Hip hop trio De La Soul has released its ninth full-length album and the Anonymous Nobody… It’s the first album in four years for the veteran group, whose creative power is still formidable, according to a review of the album in Spin, which says, “Every note of Nobody feels driven by the ingenuity of three artists for whom creative spirit...