The Wood Brothers Release Live Album, Announce Tour Dates
The Wood Brothers are back with a new live album and tour for 2017. The trio of guitarist Oliver Wood, bassist Chris Wood, and drummer Jano Rix have just released Live At The Barn, which sees the band performing at a beautiful and bittersweet venue. Late drummer/vocalist Levon Helm regularly featured the Wood Brothers at his barn in Woodstock, New...
Aidan Hampson Releases Red Hot Chili Peppers “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” Bass Transcription Book
Aidan Hampson has once again expanded his library of bass transcriptions, this time focusing on the funk rock work of Flea. More specifically, the book has the bass parts written out for the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. “There are some absolute classics in here, including ‘Give It Away’, ‘Under the Bridge’ and ‘My Lovely...
Geddy Lee Teams with Tech 21 for Signature SansAmp GED-2112
If you got to catch Rush in the past twenty years, you would have seen Geddy Lee on stage with household appliances in lieu of a bass amp. Going direct means relying on preamps for his sound, and now he’s helped to create a signature SansAmp with Tech 21. The Tech 21 Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp GED-2112 is a bass...
Nathan East Returns with “Reverence”
Two years ago and after forty years as first call bassist to the world’s top artists, Nathan East released his debut solo album. Now he’s back with Reverence. The 12-song album features many of the same artists he’s worked with over the years, including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Kirk Whalum, Yolanda Adams, Chick Corea, and more. The track list includes...
Glockenklang Announces Steamhammer Amp
German amp manufacturer Glockenklang has released the Steamhammer, a 700-watt class D amplifier that sets itself apart from their other lightweight amps by using an ICE power module. Its Class A preamp features a four-band EQ as well as a drive section and effects loop. The amp’s input section starts with a 20 dB pad and a mute switch for...
Hot Tuna Announces Winter 2017 Tour Dates
Birds may fly south for the winter, but tuna flies west. Hot Tuna has announced a string of West Coast dates for February including stops in California, Oregon, and Washington. The legendary duo of guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady will be appearing mostly in their acoustic format with an electric date (featuring drummer Justin Gulp) at The Fillmore...
Hartke Grows HD Series With HD500 Bass Combo
Hartke is expanding their HD series this year with the HD500 Bass Combo. The 500-watt Class D amp weighs in at just 35 pounds and is fitted with a pair of the company’s 10-inch HyDrive speakers. The drivers blend paper and aluminum materials into their speaker cones that add warmth and attack. Its controls include a 3-band EQ plus Hartke’s...
Nenad Vasilic: For Luis
Nenad Vasilic doesn’t need a whole band to fill out a song. He uses his upright as a bass and as drums in his latest video, “For Luis.” The bassist starts the groove with a syncopated rhythm tapped out on the body of his bass before digging into the bass line and melody. “This piece is inspired by ‘Ne kuni...
Ida Nielsen and Jan-Olof Strandberg Team Up for Funk Project
Jan-Olof Strandberg has a great tradition of collaborating with fellow bassists, including Paul Jackson, Dominque DiPiazza, Michael Manring, and more. Now he’s teaming up with funk powerhouse Ida Nielsen for a new project. “The group will be in the studio to record new material and performing a few live shows in Finland between March 7th and 12th!” Strandberg writes. “The...
Jens Ritter Introduces Two New Bass Models
German bass building artist Jens Ritter has revealed two new bass models for 2017, which will debut at the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. The Princess Isabella Bass and Cora Concept are riffs on previous instruments with a fresh take that have been introduced as part of the Royal Family due to their uniqueness. The Princess Isabella Bass is...
In Memoriam: Jim Mouradian
Bassist and luthier Jim Mouradian has passed away after a massive heart attack following a performance with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters in Connecticut. Mouradian grew up in a family of musicians, picking up the bass in junior high school. His family owned a rug business, which he worked at around college. He created a rug with his favorite band...
Bass of the Week: Serek Basses Midwestern
Jake Serek of Serek Basses has a unique way of blending old school and new school to create a fresh looking bass that remains rooted in the instrument’s history. This week we’re checking out the Midwestern, which blends aspects of Fender and Gibson basses. “The Midwestern is a short-scale powerhouse that is compact in size, but does not lack in...