Darryl Anders and AgapéSoul Release “Believe in Love”
Bassist Darryl Anders has released his first full length album with his band AgapéSoul entitled Believe In Love. Glued together by Anders’ rich, fat, and funky tone, the album offers seven original compositions as well as covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” and Quincy Jones’s “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” all delivered with an incredible, jazz-influenced soul vibe. Anders,...
Vox Introduces Bass amPhones
Vox is rounding out their new bass-related gear for the fall with the Vox amPhones Bass Headphones. Made by Audio-Technica, the new Bass amPhones have a built-in bass amplifier modeled after their AC100 bass amp, allowing you to plug directly into your bass. The circuitry also includes a built-in adjustable compressor for tweaking your sound and the Bassilator circuit, which...
Michael League, Cory Henry, and Nathaniel Townsley: Continuum
It’s hard to cover a Jaco tune without sounding like you’re just trying to cop him, so Michael League bravely set out to do his own unique version of “Continuum.” With Cory Henry on organ and Nathaniel Townsley on drums, the Snarky Puppy mastermind tackles the tune without sacrificing his own unique voice. Get ready for a great groove, incredible...
Elton John Band Adds Bassist Matt Bissonette to Line-Up
Elton John has chosen Matt Bissonette to play bass in his band following the passing of Bob Birch, who died in August. The bassist is currently rehearsing with the “Candle in the Wind” singer in preparation of an upcoming North American tour that begins September 11th in Jackson, Mississippi. Bissonette, who’s resume includes work with David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani,...
Rudy Sarzo Joins Queensrÿche
A few months after parting ways with Blue Oyster Cult, Rudy Sarzo has joined the ranks of Queensrÿche, or at least singer Geoff Tate’s version of the band. Tate split from the group earlier this year and announced the new lineup on the group’s website. Joining Tate and Sarzo ar Bobby Blotzer, Glen Drover, Kelly Gray and Randy Gane. Sarzo...
New School: Trip Wamsley
Trip Wamsley has been pushing the convention of bass playing for years by experimenting with extended range basses, piccolo tuning, and out-of-this world technique. He’s one of those guys who can seemingly play anything with ease. Besides his phenomenal playing, his style is creativity knows no bounds. His creativity is found in his supportive bass lines as well as his...
Bass of the Week: Luthman Natural
Luthman is a company that puts out some pretty intricate work yet also knows simple elegance, the latter of which is evidenced in their Natural model. Handmade in France by luthier Thierry Etienne, the Natural has a unique, fluid body style with customizable options. Available in 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-string configurations, standard features on the Natural include an ovangkol...
Aphex Launches Audio Xciter App
Professional audio technology company Aphex has introduced the Audio Xciter Music App, a mobile application designed to improve the quality of digital audio through the use of their proprietary Xciter digital signal processor. The app, which works with music as well as audio books and podcasts, makes audio sound more dynamic with Low, Medium, and High presets as well as...
Vox Introduces Apache Series Bass Guitars
Vox has expanded their bass lineup with the Apache series of basses, which pick up where their predecessors from the ’60s left off. The new travel instruments are separated by body shape, as the Apache 1 Bass features Vox’s classic Teardrop shape while the Apache 2 Bass features their Phantom body style. Both models have an onboard amplification system complete...
Vox Introduces Two New Multi-Effects Bass Pedals
Vox has announced the StompLab series of multi-effects pedals, including the StompLab IB and IIB pedals for bass. The respective stompboxes offer 60 and 61 types of modeling including amp, cabinet, and effects with 100 preset programs. All the effects were created from Vox’s VT+ series of modeling amps as well as the Tonelab series of multi-effect units. Dressed in...
In Memoriam: John Stockfish
John Stockfish, the original bassist for Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, has passed away of natural causes in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario. He was 69. Stockfish trained at the Royal Conservatory of Music, but honed his chops by touring North America and Europe with Tommy Danton and the Echoes. It was in 1965 that he connected with Lightfoot led...
Victor Wooten: Music as a Language
Besides being and incredible bassist, Victor Wooten is an equally talented educator. Check out this TED-Ed video of Wooten offering words of wisdom while he plays his rendition of “Amazing Grace.”