Archive for 2018 - Page 12

Q: I am an intermediate bass player and I am a fan of several different bass players. I love the way Janek Gwizdala composes, plays chords and creates music using a looper. I can’t get enough of Gary Willis and his amazing groove as well as his fretless tone. I also love listening to guys like Sean Hurley and Jonathan...

Federico Malaman has a new album out, and our friends at Bass The World have shared a video for one of the tracks. “Afro Fred” was written by Federico, who had this to say about the tune: “I am a great enthusiast of African rhythms. I like the way it triggers an uncontrollable urge to dance. Anyone who has ever...

Ed Friedland’s instructional book Rock Bass 101 has been updated for 2018 by publisher Hal Leonard. The 50-page book covers essential bass lines, techniques, theory, and grooves for the working bassist. It includes full-length songs that are available for download or streaming via Hal Leonard’s website. Specific topics include tips on playing position and posture, warm-up exercises, essential scales, and...

MXR has announced the Vintage Bass Octave, a pedal they say gives the classic octaver circuit with modern upgrades like superior tracking, cleaner headroom, and versatility. The new stompbox is also housed in a compact chassis to save room on your pedalboard. “The voice of the Vintage Bass Octave is rich and throaty, and it comes in two forms—one octave...

On July 9, 1980, Stanley Clarke hit the stage at the Montreux Jazz Festival along with Simon Philips on drums, Charles Johnson on guitar, and Steve Bach on keys. And the performance was epic. Here’s the complete show:

Thundercat, aka Stephen Bruner, has announced a handful of tour dates around the world for December. Starting with two dates in Denmark, the bassist will head to Germany and the UK before performing five days in a row in California. He’ll be rounding the year out by performing at Afro Punk Fest in Johannesburg, South Africa on New Year’s Eve....

Rougarou Pedals has unveiled their latest creation called The Umibozu. The fuzz box, which is suited for bass and guitar, is inspired by a mythical beast. “The Umibozu is a yokai, a supernatural Japanese folklore creature, known to capsize ships of sailors that anger or insult them, and it inspired a unique fuzz pedal that can cover all the ground...

This week we’re taking a look at the Naga from Ele Basses. Named after the serpent creature found in Hindu mythology, the singlecut bass’s body shape was inspired by the curves in the body of reptiles. This particular example of the Naga is a four-string built with an ash body, buckeye burl top, and a five-piece maple and padauk neck...

This is some seriously great music right here. This clip comes from the World Fusion Concert on Day 7 of the 53rd Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava. Mohini Dey is on bass, along with U Rajesh on mandolin, Bala Bhaskar on violin, Arun Kumar on drums, and Giridhar Udupa on Ghatam. I’m blown away.

Bassist Jason Raso has just released Bass Line Continuum, a book that examines the world of bass with interviews of dozens of the world’s best players. The 180-page book is centered around four topics: influences, practice, developing your style, and positivity. “Although people enter the bass-playing continuum at different times, their stories are comparable,” the author states. “Players study their...

Born of Osiris has announced a lineup change as bassist David DaRocha has left the band. They made the announcement on Facebook. “We want to officially state that our brother, David, has decided to take time away from the band to pursue other endeavors,” they wrote. “We’re all family and wish him the very best. We are on great terms...

For bassists on the go, Montreal’s Island Instruments has introduced the Traveller Bass, a four-stringer that’s pared down to the essentials. Built with size in mind, the bass was designed with a short 31-inch scale and a headless design. “The goals were to design a lightweight, compact bass that blends modern features and ergonomics with vintage feel and tone. The...