Fernando Molinari: Tropical Rain
Fernando Molinari has released another video for a track from his album, , and it’s heavy. “Tropical Rain” blends jazz and metal elements for a song that teeters between introspective and in-your-face.
Bill Laswell Collaborates with Gnawa Musicians For “TAGNAWWIT”
Bill Laswell has always been about mixing different cultures in his music, and his latest release is a stellar example of why it works so well. The bassist/producer teamed up with Maâlem Mokhtar Gania to create TAGNAWWIT – Holy Black Gnawa Trance, an album that fuses Gnawa from Africa with Western music. “GNAWA (or Gnaoua) MUSIC is a rich North...
Genzler Amplification Expands Magellan Amp and Bass Array Cabinet Lines
Genzler is gearing up for the 2017 Winter NAMM show by unveiling the expansion of their Magellan bass amp line and Bass Array cabinet series. The Magellan 350 and Bass Array BA10-2 will each debut at NAMM as separate pieces as well as a combo unit. The Magellan 350 pushes out 350 watts while weighing a mere 3.5 pounds. The...
Marek Bero: Beef It
Bassist Marek Bero sent us this heavy slap groove reminiscent of an early nineties alternative rock, and the back story is one that many of us can relate. “I’ve started playing bass as a teenager, and nobody around me was taking me seriously,” he wrote. “At the beginning, my attitude was ‘let’s have some fun’ but later on I began...
Peter Hook Announces U.S. Book Signing Tour
Former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook will be heading to the U.S. for a book tour at the beginning of February. The intimate outing is in support of his new book Substance – Inside New Order, which documents the formation and story of the influential band, known for their smash hit “Blue Monday.” Hook’s tour will include...
Ibanez Revamps BTB Basses For 2017
Ibanez’s BTB Standard series is getting a facelift for 2017 with several new features across the line. The BTB845, BTB846, BTB745, and BTB746 all have a new refined body arch, a zero fret, and come standard with D’Addario NYXL strings. Each of the basses are still constructed with a neck-through design featuring a five-piece maple/rosewood neck and an Ash body....
Carol Kaye Autobiography Now Available
Session bass legend Carol Kaye has plenty of stories to tell from her many years in the business, and now you can read them in her new autobiography. Studio Musician: Carol Kaye, 60s #1 Bassist, Guitarist is now available directly through her website. The 503-page book documents Kaye’s life and career, which started on guitar in nightclubs around Los Angeles....
Adrian Belew Power Trio Featuring Julie Slick Announces Spring Tour
The Adrian Belew Power Trio has announced an extensive spring tour of North America. Starting at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virgina on February 28th, the journey will take Belew and crew across nearly the entire continental U.S. with a handful of Canadian dates in May. It’s slated to wrap up on May 20th in Nashville, Tennessee. The trio is rounded...
Sadowsky Guitars Announces Verdine White Signature Bass
Sadowsky Guitars has teamed up with Earth, Wind, & Fire bassist Verdine White to create a special signature model that will be part of their new NYC Satin Series. Based on White’s first Sadowsky bass from the ’90s, the instrument is set apart with an undersized J-style body of chambered alder, PJ pickups, and a J-bass width neck. It’s more...
Warren Brown x Mr. Talkbox: Funkadelic Sound
I saw a crazy video on Facebook of Eric Lawson ripping it up on the bass. After checking it out, I found Lawson was covering a bass line by Warren Brown, who was jamming with a Mr. Talkbox video. (The internet is awesome.) Here’s the original clip of Brown tearing through the Zapp and Roger-esque groove. Hold on to your...
Gone is Gone Releases “Echolocation”
After releasing an EP last summer, Mastodon bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders and his project Gone is Gone have released their debut full-length album, entitled Echolocation. The band also includes Queens of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwen, At the Drive-In drummer Tony Hajjar, and keyboardist Mike Zarin. The album ranges from dark ambient grooves to grittier riffs that will make your...
La Bella Strings Introduces Gold Flats
La Bella Strings has added to their Deep Talkin’ Bass series with the Gold Flats. Available in four, five, and six-string sets, the flat wound strings use a golden alloy ribbon wire for the exterior wrap that the company says adds a unique tonal mid-range. The Gold Flats also have more attack with a softer feel than their traditional stainless...