Ron Carter on The Role of the Bassist, Performing and Miles Davis
Bass legend Ron Carter‘s list of credits and musical accomplishments are among the most impressive – if not the most impressive – among bassists in music history. His appearances on more than 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, joining the ranks of Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is nearing his 75th...
Cream, Live At Royal Albert Hall: Outside Woman Blues (2005)
On November 26, 1968, Cream performed their last show together at London’s Royal Albert Hall. In 2005, the trio of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker returned to the Hall for a reunion concert – the first time since the brief set at Cream’s 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here’s one of the performances...
The Original Flecktones: Live at Anthology
Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones are currently touring in support of their most recent album, Rocket Science. Pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy returned to the group for the first time since 1991 for the album and tour, which also includes bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten and banjoist and leader Bela Fleck. The band made a stop in San...
Reader Spotlight: Freddy Hernandez
Meet bassist Freddy Hernandez, who took up the double bass at age 12. Freddy is the son of former Oingo Boingo drummer Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez. Freddy has an interesting gigging life, performing in an orchestra, his father’s “Johnny Vatos Boingo Dance Party”, on various TV commercials and other bands as well. We love Freddy’s attitude towards music, well described in...
BassGirl: Swingin’ ‘Till the Girls Come Home
It has been a while since we featured a video by BassGirl, the 14 year old bassist who has caused many jaws to drop around here. Oscar Pettiford and Jon Hendricks tune “Swingin’ ‘Til the Girls Come Home”, with vocalist Chris Humphrey, pianist Ryan Parker and BassGirl’s father on drums (cool family). Did we mention that BassGirl is 14? Or...
Esperanza Spalding Releases “Radio Music Society”
The much anticipated new album by Esperanza Spalding, Radio Music Society, is finally here. The album is the follow up to her Grammy-award winning Chamber Music Society, the album is described as Spalding’s “most diverse, ambitious and masterful recital yet”. Spalding considers the new album to be a companion to her last, rather than a sequel. “Originally I thought it...
Jeff Beck and Upp: “She’s A Woman”, Live (1974)
In August 1974, Jeff Beck took the stage for a session on BBC-2’s “Music on Two” program. Beck fronted the British rock-jazz group Upp, anchored by bassist Stephen Amazing. While the camera never really focuses on Amazing, his awesome (amazing?) bass playing can be heard loud and clear. Here, the group performs an instrumental take on the Beatles’ “She’s A...
Top 10: The Week’s Top Bass Gear, Videos and News, Plus Bass of the Week, Custom Shop and Fingers vs. Picks
Last week, No Treble readers enjoyed a variety of gear features, including news from AC Guitars, and the release of their J-Type models, as well as our latest Custom Shop cover story on Wilkins Guitars and the unique and odd bass of the week – the one string Atlansia Solitaire. The top bass videos featured Richard Bona doing just about...
Adrenaline Mob Releases “Omerta”; Announces Tour
Adrenaline Mob, the band formed by ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Symphony X vocalist Russell Allen and guitarist Mike Orlando, have released their first full album, Omerta. As we mentioned last month, Disturbed bassist John Moyer has joined as a full-time member of the group. Moyer replaced the band’s original bassist, Paul DiLeo (Fozzy), who left to pursue another project....
John Scofield Trio with Steve Swallow: “Someone To Watch Over Me”, Live (2010)
A perfect video and song for a Sunday afternoon (or any time, really). In November, 2010, John Scofield took the stage with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart at Forum Leverkusen. Here’s the trio performing “Someone To Watch Over Me”. So great to see the master bassist still bringing it after all these years of wowing us. Swallow takes...
Jack Bruce Documentary: On Life & Music (2012)
BBC 2-Scotland recently aired this hour-long documentary on the life and music of bassist Jack Bruce. The documentary includes interviews with Bootsy Collins, U2’s Adam Clayton and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, as well as Bruce’s band mates Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. Bruce returned to Scotland for the documentary, and re-recorded six songs he calls pivotal to his...
L’il Brats Bass Method
Bassist and private instructor Brian Emmel has been teaching bass for over 20 years. As he set out to teach young kids how to play the bass, he realized there was nothing on the market that suited them. So he decided to write L’il Brats Bass Method, a method book designed for kids 9 years and up. “In the last...