Andrea Veneziani Releases Debut Album, “Oltreoceano”
Italian jazz bassist Andrea Veneziani has made his solo debut with Oltreoceano, a 10-track album featuring drummer Ross Pederson and renowned pianist Kenny Werner. The trio performs a version the Bill Evans classic “Time Remembered”, and their musical dialogue throughout the record is influenced by the late pianist’s work. “It’s really about interplay,” Veneziani says. “I had listened to a...
Fodera Announces Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Model Bass
Fodera is now offering a Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial model, based on Gwizdala’s own bass. Hand-built in Fodera’s New York shop, the 5-string bass sports a 33? scale and comes tuned E to C. The instrument has a walnut body with an alder tone block and a stunning non-solid Buckeye Burl top. The 3-piece ash neck is paired with an...
In Memoriam: Chris Ethridge
Bassist Chris Ethridge, a founding member of Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, has passed away at the age of 65 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. The genre-shaping band he co-created helped bring country and rock together. Ethridge left the band after recording their debut album The Gilded Palace of Sin, going on to work as a bassist for...
Genz Benz Second Generation Shuttle Bass Amps Now Shipping
Genz Benz has released their newest generation of the Shuttle Series bass amps, including the Shuttle 6.2 and the Shuttle 9.2. Featuring a tube preamp and a Class D power amplifier, the new line builds upon its predecessors with increased tube gain and the addition of the company’s “3 Dimensional Power Management” circuitry (3DPM), which adds heft and girth to...
Pirastro Unveils Flexocor Deluxe Double Bass Strings
String company Pirastro has introduced a new set of double bass strings called the Flexocor Deluxe. Building upon their pre-existing Flexocor range, the Deluxe strings offer wider tonal range, longer sustain, and better overall playability. Pirastro explains that the Flexocor Deluxe’s structure allows the string to possess great resonance and “unsurpassed carrying power.” It’s core material is high-stability steel rope....
Eivind Opsvik Releases “Overseas IV”
Norwegian bassist Eivind Opsvik has released Overseas IV, the fourth album in a series he started nearly a decade ago. Entirely written by Opsvik, the album brings together styles for an eclectic sound influenced by the 1700s and 1800s. The ensemble includes bass, drums, saxophone, electric guitar, and most notably, harpsichord. “In many ways it all came together and set...
Jazz Soul Seven Releases “Impressions of Curtis Mayfield”
Without a doubt, Curtis Mayfield was one of the most influential soul artists that walked the planet. His remarkable compositions included some of the grooviest bass lines. A new all-star cast of musicians calling themselves Jazz Soul Seven is now honoring the late guitarist/vocalist’s music with Impressions of Curtis Mayfield, a 12-track album of jazz interpretations of his music. Rooted...
Aerosmith Reveals “Global Warming” North American Tour
Aerosmith will be hitting the road this summer for their first U.S. trek since 2010. The “Global Warming” Tour kicks off in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 16th and will take the “Sweet Emotion” rockers throughout the States with a single date in Canada. “After touring Japan and South America last year we’re psyched about bringing it all back for the...
Ibanez Introduces SGBE Acoustic Series Basses for 2012
New for 2012 is the Ibanez SGBE series acoustic bass guitars, available in Natural and Sunburst finishes. Also fit for electric sets, the basses feature under-saddle piezo pickups and Ibanez’s AEQ202T Preamp with a 2-band EQ as well as an onboard tuner. Featuring a grand concert body shape, the SGBE series is constructed with a mahogany neck, back and sides,...
New School: Eric Czar
Eric Czar has been wowing bass lovers on YouTube with his phenomenal compositions and arrangements. Often overdubbing several instruments, Czar isn’t scared to step out and play on a 7-string bass, strung E to Bb. We caught up with this exciting bassist to get the story behind what makes him want to push the boundaries of the low end. What...
Alfred Adds Radiohead to Ultimate Bass Play-Along Series
Alfred has expanded their Ultimate PLay-Along series with a volume dedicated to Radiohead. Ultimate Bass Play-along Radiohead: Authentic Bass Tab includes a 56-page book with musical notation and TAB transcriptions offering up Colin Greenwood‘s bass lines for eight of Radiohead’s most popular songs. The book is accompanied by two enhanced CDs containing sound-alike recordings for each tune. The CDs have...
Bass of the Week: Skjold Design Guitars’ Skjoldslayer
This week we take a look at the Skjoldslayer by Skjold Design Guitars, which luthier Pete Skjold came up with the design as a take on one of his singlecut models. “The Skjoldslayer came about after the Damian Erskine Whaleback,” Skjold explains. “I basically made a doublecut version and that was the inspiration for it. It has become one of...