Anthony Crawford: Solo from Bass Bash 2012
The Bass Bash is an annual concert coinciding with NAMM, and it’s a great hang to meet bassists and listen to some killing music. Here’s a great clip from the first night of the event of Anthony Crawford’s solo while his band played “Whatever It Is” by Soulive. His band is rounded out by Ron Allen on drums, Kamasi Washington...
In Memoriam: Dick Kniss
Longtime Peter, Paul and Mary bassist Richard “Dick” Kniss has passed away from pulmonary disease at the age of 74. The bassist was referred to as the fourth member of the trio and performed with the folk outfit for nearly 50 years. He also made waves as John Denver’s bassist and co-writer of the hit “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Born...
Tech 21 Unveils Bass Boost Fuzz Pedal
Tech 21 has expanded their Boost Series effects pedals with the Bass Boost Fuzz. The stompbox features a boost section, offering up to 21dB of clean boost, and a fuzz section with Level, Tone, and Drive controls to dial in the amount of grit you want. Each effect has a dedicated footswitch and can be used simultaneously or independently. A...
New School: Nathan Navarro
Nathan Navarro has been experimenting with the bass’s role in different genres for some time now, but his recent exploration into electronica and dubstep bass have captured the attention of the bass community. His band’s live cover of Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” has reached over 2.5 million hits on YouTube. We caught up with Nathan to find out...
Donation Fund Set Up for Chuck Rainey’s Recovery
A Medical and Well Health Fund has been set up for bass legend Chuck Rainey, who suffered a major stroke last year. Though his family is hopeful for a full recovery, Rainey has not been able to work during his treatment. As his medical bills increase, his income has decreased, according to the message on the donation site. Rainey’s impressive...
In Memoriam: John Levy
Bassist and talent manager John Levy has passed away at the age of 99. In addition to Levy’s own career of playing with artists like Stuff Smith, Billie Holiday, Don Byas, Lennie Tristano and George Shearing, Levy managed a host of jazz legends including Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery. He’s often credited as the first African-American personal manager...
Bass of the Week: CB Basses D-Bass 4-String
This week we take a look at the D-bass by CB Basses, a custom shop run by luthier Cliff Bordwell. Featuring a Jazz style neck and pickups, the bass is an exquisite example of craftsmanship with its diverse mix of exotic woods. The body is built around a Spanish Cedar core with an Amboyna burl top and Birdseye maple back,...
Snoop Dogg, Featuring Bubby Lewis: Get The Funk Out Of My Face
Here’s a cool clip of Robert “Bubby” Lewis getting down with Snoop Dogg on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band performs Snoop’s take on the classic Brothers Johnson tune “Get the Funk Out of My Face” while Lewis lays down a solid low end with some really tasteful runs. The tune of course was co-written by Quincy Jones,...
TC Electronic Announces the Polytune Mini
TC Electronic has announced their newest polyphonic tuner, the Polytune Mini. The device is a more compact version of their original Polytune. The Mini is a polyphonic tuner, but for tuning bass, the device only works in chromatic mode. The company says that the polyphonic setting is for guitar only, and that it is a technical trade-off for the size....
Dingwall Unveils Super P Bass at NAMM 2012
Dingwall Guitars showcased a modern take on a classic design at the NAMM Show this year with the introduction of the Super P. Sporting the Novax Fanned-fret System, the bass features a multi-laminate neck for increased stability and decreased dead spots while the body is balanced by thickness for better weight distribution and increased resonance. The Super P includes Dingwall’s...
Evan Brewer: “A Climate For Change,” Live at NAMM 2012
It’s been a few days, but I’m still reeling from all the bass greatness that was NAMM 2012. One of my highlights was meeting solo bassist Evan Brewer while cruising the halls. Here’s a terrific clip of Evan performing his song “A Climate for Change” during his clinic at the ESP booth. The mellow tune is the closing track from...
Nikki Sixx: “Mötley Crüe’s Las Vegas Residency to be an Extravaganza”
Mötley Crüe will the first hard rock band to have a residency in Las Vegas after their 12-date stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino next month, running from February 3rd to February 19th, 2012. Entitled “Mötley Crüe in Sin City,” the residency will include an even larger scale production from their regular shows, the band says. “We’ve been...