Archive for 2016 - Page 49

The short-scale masters at Birdsong Guitars have taken things a step further by adding the Sparrow Bass to their lineup. Originally introduced as a prototype, the model features an incredibly short 25.5-inch scale. Birdsong explains on their website: “The thought was this – if our 31? scales behave & speak like 34s, could we do a something even shorter that...

Esperanza Spalding recently visited the Skype Live Studio for 101.9 KINK FM’s broadcast and performed “Unconditional Love”. The song appears on Spalding’s fifth album, Emily’s D+Evolution.

The four albums released by the Peter Erskine Trio between 1992 and 1997 are now available as a box set, As It Was, through ECM’s Old and New Masters Series. The trio featured drummer/leader Erskine, Swedish double bassist Palle Danielsson (known for his 1970s-era work with Kieth Jarrett) and British pianist John Taylor, who was also the trio’s primary composer....

The classic lineup of Chick Corea’s Elektric Band will be hitting the road once again this fall. Anchored by bass heavyweight John Patitucci, the band will also include guitarist Frank Gambale, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and drummer Dave Weckl. “The group sort of reformed itself with everyone’s desire to play together,” Corea explains. “I thought it would be an interesting thing,...

Beetronics has launched its first handmade effects pedal line including the WhoctaHell, a low-octave fuzz with independent controls for each effect. “Its overdrive/fuzz is summed up with a gnarly, squared-wave low octave, resembling an 8-bit bass synthesizer,” the company writes. “Its octave has a range of one or two low octaves, selectable by a toggle switch and also has it’s...

I’ve been on a huge Meters kick lately. All of George Porter, Jr.’s bass lines groove like crazy. They’re simple and to the point, which is perfect. Here’s a great clip of The Meters live in 1974 on Dr. John’s “New Orleans Swamp.” The group tears into “Look-ka Py Py” before a cool transition into the slower, thicker “Jungle Man”....

Progressive metal band Periphery didn’t rest after releasing a double album in 2015. Instead, the band crafted another album – Periphery III: Select Difficulty. The band features Adam “Nolly” Getgood on bass, who is also instrumental in the album’s production and engineering. However, while Nolly is still a studio member of the band, he has bowed out of touring because...

Several dates of Hiromi Uehara’s trio concerts have been rearranged after the pianist announced that bass legend Anthony Jackson has suffered a medical emergency. Details are slim, but Hiromi posted the news to her Facebook page: “We regret to inform the public that Anthony Jackson is experiencing an unanticipated medical situation,” a statement read. “As such, for the upcoming Blue...

Suicidal Tendencies has a legacy of great bassists. Louiche Mayorga, Tim “Rawbiz” Williams, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo have all held the throne, just to name a few. Earlier this year, bassist Ra Diaz stepped up to the plate to carry on the tradition. It’s been a bit of a dream come true for the Chilean-born, Los Angeles-based...

Children of the Light is a group consisting of Danilo Pérez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. Here’s the group performing “Suite for the Americas”, which was written by Pérez.

The Black Art Jazz Collective, featuring Vicente Archer (Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper) on bass, has released Presented By The Side Door Jazz Club. The album refers to the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which gave the group, which celebrates black culture in a positive way, a two-night gig with the chance to record...

Gator Cases has unveiled the GPB-XBAK Aluminum Pedalboard. Measuring at 32 inches by 17 inches, the American-made pedalboard can hold up to 20 pedals and includes hook and loop adhesive strips for rearranging them. It also has power supply brackets underneath the board for mountint two separate power supplies. Rear-facing cutouts make it easy to run power up to your...