Nilson Matta Reimagines “Black Orpheus” With New Album
Like many Brazilians, bassist Nilson Matta became entranced by the music from the play Orfeu da Conceição when he was just a boy. Matta’s interest grew even deeper when the film adaptation, entitled Black Orpheus, was released. The music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by de Moraes stuck with him all his life, and he’s now paying homage to...
Pinnick Gales Pridgen Release Debut Album
Here’s a great lineup: King’s X frontman/bassist Dug Pinnick, guitarist Eric Gales, and ex-Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen have teamed up for a project aptly named Pinnick Gales Pridgen. The trio has just released their self-titled debut, which features thirteen tracks that blend each member’s unique styles into a mix of “psychedelic blues, hard rock, and progressive soul/R&B.” “[The album]...
Tech 21 Introduces VT Bass DI Pedal and Rackmount Preamps
Tech 21 has expanded their Character VT Series with the VT Bass DI, available in pedal and rackmount versions. Both versions are based on the original VT Bass and VT Bass Deluxe, which are designed to give familiar sounds from the early ’60s up through modern day crunch via the “Character” knob. The VT Bass DI pedal incorporates a Blend...
Miles Davis “Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2” Released
Miles Davis went through several musical styles through his career, and the late 60’s proved to be an era of drastic change. That’s documented in part in a new box set, Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Volume 2, which compiles performances by his band at the Antibes Jazz Festival in France, “The Newport Jazz Festival in Europe” in...
G&L Introduces ASAT Bass Tom Hamilton Signature Model
Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton has a new signature bass from G&L. Based on their ASAT bass, the Tom Hamilton Signature Model tweaks the design in a few ways including newly designed pickups, woods, and finishes. Core to the new model’s design is a specially wound pair of the company’s MFD pickups that were specced out by G&L’s VP Engineering Paul Gagon...
Aguilar Introduces HOT Series Precision and Jazz Bass Pickups
Aguilar has introduced a new set of pickups called the HOT series. The Hot P and Hot J pickups act as direct replacements for 4-string Fender P-Bass and Jazz pickups but feature larger, 16mm magnets and an over-wound design. The result is a hotter output that Aguilar says adds a big and loud tone while retaining the grit and nuance....
Guild Reintroduces Starfire Bass
Guild has reissued the Starfire Bass along with eight other models as part of their Newark St. Collection. Introduced in the ’60s, the original Starfire Bass was made popular by bands including the Byrds and Jefferson Airplane. The new model sports an extra-thin, semi-hollow body made of laminated mahogany finished in Cherry red and accented with black and ivory purfling....
New School: Todd Matthews
Todd Matthews first caught our attention with his awesome looping rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” on double bass. Since then, the innovative bassist has refined his style even further to include effects and incredible arrangements to fill out the sound of an entire orchestra. He recently released his debut solo album, Here Come the Pig Mammoths, which has nothing but...
Bass of the Week: ODD Guitars Hive 3D Printed Bass Guitar
As 3D printing becomes a more accessible means of creation, it seems that imagination is our only limit. ODD Guitars realized this and put the technology to use in instruments. “3D printing allows designs to be manufactured that could not be manufactured through traditional means,” the company writes on their website. “The 3D Printing technology used in ODD guitars is...
Alex Bershadsky and Dennis Chambers: Freedom Jazz Dance
Alex Bershadsky is working on a new album and sent us this track as a sneak peek of what’s to come. The bassist teamed up with drummer extraordinaire Dennis Chambers to make a duet of the famous Eddie Harris tune “Freedom Jazz Dance.” The duo lock in tight as Bershadsky ornaments the funky melody with some incredible right hand technique....
Terri Lyne Carrington Releases “Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue”, Featuring Christian McBride
Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington has good taste in bassists, and her new album Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue is more evidence of that as she recruited Christian McBride to lay down the low end. The effort pays homage to the classic Duke Ellington album Money Jungle, which featured bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach, on its 50th anniversary. “I...
Warwick Introduces LWA 1000 Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Warwick has entered the lightweight amp market with the new LWA 1000, a six pound bass amp rated at 1,000 watts at 4 ohms. Featuring a Class A preamp and Class D power amp section, the LWA 1000 has two identical channels with individual mutes, 4-band EQs, built-in compressors, and gain controls. Connectivity on the amp includes an auxiliary input,...