Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 272

The late Trevor Bolder left an indelible mark on rock music through his work with David Bowie, Uriah Heep, and Mick Ronson. Now, seven years after his passing, the bassist’s first solo album has been released, thanks to his friends.

Tony Levin is one of the most talented bassists in the world. He also has a knack for photography, which he’s used to document his time in music. Now, he’s announced a new book, “Images from a Life on the Road”, that brings the two passions together.

Dog-On-It Strings has teamed up with Freekbass to create a new signature series of strings. Though he’s known for his funk style, the company says that the set was designed specifically for tone, comfort, and diverse playability.

Singleton Guitars’ Stellar Funk5 bass features a killer purple and pearl yin yang design. It’s hand-crafted by luthier Mark Singleton, who built it with a Western Red cedar body, a flamed maple neck, and a bubinga fingerboard.

Jazz bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux has released a new album called “Live from Caroga Lake, NY”. Captured during the Caroga Lake Music Festival in August of 2019, the six-song set features Thiroux with her trio.

McGregor Pedals has unveiled their second pedal, called the Crunch Plus overdrive. The boutique effects company calls it a continuation of their first offering, the Crunch Transparent Overdrive.

David Gross of The Bass Guitar Channel has released another instructional book for us low-enders. “Ear Training For Bassists, Vol. 1”, which comes in paperback and Kindle versions, is a booster to start hearing and understanding music in real time.

Last year, G&L introduced the Launch Edition of a new model called the Fallout bass. Now, it’s an official part of the USA-made Fullerton Deluxe lineup. The short-scale bass comes in four color schemes with differing fingerboards.

Fifty years after his debut solo album, Paul McCartney has released “McCartney III”. The title is a misnomer as it is his eighteenth solo album, but just as with “McCartney” and “McCartney II”, the album is truly solo.

BITE Guitars has unveiled a new showpiece called the Pussycat Bass, which features a leopard pattern spray-painted by hand. The new finish style is a new offering in the already highly customizable lineup.

Groove guru Lorenzo Feliciati has released yet another collaborative album this year, this time with King Crimson drummer Pat Mastelotto. “Portal” is described as a series of audio adventures between the duo.

Eight years after his passing, there will be a new album from the late Deftones bassist Chi Cheng. The Head Up Project will be a spoken word album arriving in early 2021.