Smashing Pumpkins Hold Open Auditions for New Bassist
Ever wanted to play along side Billy Corgan in the Smashing Pumpkins? Well your big chance has arrived! Corgan has announced that the band will be having open auditions for a new bassist, as well as a new keyboardist. Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Pooley just had a baby and wants to raise her child without being on the road. She...
Rufus Reid Releases New Album, “Out Front”
Motema Music just released Rufus Reid’s new album, Out Front. The album features Reid in a piano trio setting, with pianist Steve Allee and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca. “Out Front suggests several connotations,” Rufus explains. “In addition to being ‘out front’ as the leader, my playing in this setting is somewhat atypical in that this music stretches far beyond the...
The Mark King Bass Book Released
Bassline Publishing has recently released the Mark King Bass Book, which contains transcriptions of the Level 42 frontman’s bass lines, as well as live bass solos with detailed performance notes. The 139-page book, which was written by Stuart Clayton, also includes a biography, extensive bassography, and an exclusive interview. Included Transcriptions: Sandstorm Theme To Margaret Mr. Pink 88 43 Dune...
Gear Watch: Rees Big-F-Light Lightweight Bass
Rees Electric Guitars has introduced a new addition to their F-Light Lightweight bass series called the Big-F-Light. Weighing in at 7.5 pounds, this bass differs from the company’s original F-Light in that it features a full size body. They reduce the weight by keeping the center of the bass thick while shaving down the sides and adding extra comfort carvings...
New Mike Gordon live album, tour dates
Phish bassist Mike Gordon has released a new double disc album with his own band. The album, which is available at livePhish.com, is a live recording from Gordon’s performance at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY on October 3, 2009. This is the second release from Gordon’s five-piece band, which includes Scott Murawski on guitar, Craig Myers on percussion, Tom...
Gear Watch: Warwick Robert Trujillo Streamer Signature Bass
Warwick is celebrating its new affiliation with Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo by introducing the Robert Trujillo Streamer Signature Bass. The bass has a shiny coat, with a quicksilver or turquoise blue chrometone finish. The bass, which was designed for Trujillo over the course of two years, is based on Warwick’s Streamer model. Features include an increased mass of the neck,...
Geezer Butler Launches New Site and Rare Song Giveaway
Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell bassist Geezer Butler has relaunched his web site with a brand new design. To help celebrate the occasion, he is giving away a rare track called “Beach Skeleton,” which was only ever released as a bonus track on the Japanese version of his 1997 solo album Black Science. The track was released under the “Geezer” banner,...
Jack Bruce teams up with Pledge Music for new album
Jack Bruce will be pairing up with a new direct to fan platform called Pledge Music to give fans a chance to be part of the release of a new live album and win lots of goodies. The album is an awesome live performance of his band The Cuicoland Express at the Melkweg (Milkway) in Amsterdam. The project works by...
Fender Announces 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass
Fender is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Jazz Bass model with a special edition that brings together features of the past and present. Though the style has remained mostly unchanged, the Jazz Bass has had some tweaking through its first 50 years, especially during the ’60s and ’70s. The Fender 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass features ’60s-era styled finish in...
The Jaco Pastorius Bass Method Book
Hal Leonard has announced the release of the Jaco Pastorius Bass Method. The method is penned by Ray Peterson, a bassist who was one of Jaco’s private students. The book/CD package will be comprised of note-for-note transcriptions of songs and solos along with detailed notes on the technique and theory behind the music. Also included are lessons that were gathered...
New Release from Ron Brendle and Mike Holstein: Rhizome
Jazz bassists Mike Holstein and Ron Brendle have released a new album as a duo. The album, called Rhizome, was released this month by Brendle’s LoNote Records, based in North Carolina. Brendle, who studied with Charlie Haden at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in Smyrna, Florida, has performed along side jazz legends such as Charlie Byrd, Clark Terry, and...
Eric Avery Quits Janes Addiction
Though it may not come as a surprise, it is official: Eric Avery has once again quit Jane’s Addiction. The bassist, who rejoined the band in 2008, announced it via his Twitter profile. “That’s it,” He writes. “With equal parts regret and relief, the janes addiction experiment is at an end.” This came just hours after Jane’s Addiction finished its...