Care Fund Set Up for Bob Cranshaw
A care fund has been set up for bass legend Bob Cranshaw, who is battling stage 4 cancer. The 83-year old bassist has been receiving support, but recent events have led to a sharp increase in costs. “Bob is bravely battling stage 4 cancer that is aggressive and relentless,” the GoFundMe page states. “While his family is eternally grateful to...
Bass of the Week: Bassart Guitars Phönix
The Bassart Guitars Phönix is a handmade bass from Braunschweig, Germany created by master luthier Matthias Meyer. This week we’re checking out a Phönix (German for Phoenix) in a dazzling blue sparkle finish. It’s built with a curly maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and an alder body, although the model can also be built with a swamp ash or mahogany body....
Filmmakers Announce “Darryl Jones: Like a Rolling Stone” Documentary
Filmmakers Eric Hamburg and Rick English have announced a project called Darryl Jones: Like a Rolling Stone. The documentary will focus on the bass legend’s career as well as follow him during the making of his debut solo album. Jones has played with Sting, Miles Davis, Madonna, and more, though he is currently best known as bassist for the Rolling...
Frank and Joris Brunot: Pulling Me Through/Beautiful
Bassist Frank Brunot and guitarist/vocalist Joris Brunot teamed up to play make this awesome musical mixture of “Pulling Me Through” by Todd Dulaney and “Beautiful” by Mali Music. The tone of the music is gorgeous, and Frank’s bass playing is beyond fantastic.
The Dillinger Escape Plan Announce Fall Tour
Earlier this month, the Dillinger Escape Plan announced they will be taking an indefinite hiatus after the release of their upcoming album, Dissociation, and its accompanying tour cycle. Now the band has revealed the list of seemingly final tour dates that will take them across the U.S. from coast to coast and back. Anchored by bassist Liam Wilson, the band...
Tal Wilkenfeld Embarks on Fall Tour
Tal Wilkenfeld will be hitting the road this fall for a tour that will take her up the West Coast. Starting at Phoenix, Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum, the trek will snake up California before heading through Oregon and Washington. Wilkenfeld and her band will wrap up on October 13th at the Biltmore in Vancouver, British Columbia. Part of the tour...
Nordstrand Pickups Announces Big J-Blades
Nordstrand Pickups has announced the Big J-Blade, a jazz-style single coil pickup that’s built with a continuous sensing blade. The new model will come in two versions with different winds to provide two unique tones. “One wind provides a ‘warm and wooly’ tone, while an alternate wind provides a ‘clean and clear’ tone,” the company writes. “Plus, as proven by...
Metallica: Moth Into Flame
Metallica has given another preview of their upcoming album Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, due out November 18th. Similar to “Hardwired“, “Moth Into Flame” is another thrasher anchored by bassist Robert Trujillo, who also handles backup vocals. Trujillo recently said that the albums sounds crushing. “Sound-wise, it’s got a lot of firepower,” he said. “I’m excited about the songs, but I’m also...
No Treble Founder Featured on Contrabass Conversations Podcast
Ever wonder how No Treble came to be? Founder Corey Brown shared the details in the latest episode of the Contrabass Conversations podcast, hosted by Jason Heath. Starting with his beginnings in music, Corey chronicles his journeys with the bass and the web. Get the scoop on his work with the Jaco Pastorius website, No Treble, and more by listening...
Steve Harris’ British Lion Announces European Tour and Live Album
Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris is taking his band British Lion on a European tour throughout November and December. The trek, which is their most extensive outing to date, will focus on the club circuit while visiting countries they’ve yet to play. It will also include new music from the band. “It’s been great fun taking British Lion out on...
The Bassmonsters: Live in Prague
The 2016 BASSEUROPE convention just wrapped up, and it was quite a week of bass goodness. Held in Prague, the event included tons of double bass performances and clinics. Here’s a clip of The Bassmonsters performing during the convention. The song is the group’s theme song, written by the talented bassist and composer Simón Garcia. This lineup of the Bassmonsters...
Bass of the Week: J Ferro Basses Escalon
This week we’re checking out the J Ferro Escalon bass. The model is part of a new series created by industry veteran Jose Ferro, who spent 17 years as Executive Vice President of ESP Guitars. Available in four- and five-string versions, the Escalon features neck-through construction with a five-piece maple and mahogany neck matched to mahogany body wings. Its top...