Catherine Popper Leaves Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Catherine Popper has parted ways with the folk/blues rock-tinged group Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Popper, who joined the group in 2009, made the announcement on her Facebook page. “Hey everybody for the past two and a half years, [Grace Potter and the Nocturnals] has been my family away from my family. We’ve all grown so much together. So it’s...
Fear and the Nervous System Releases Debut Album, Featuring Billy Gould
Fear and the Nervous System, an experimental industrial metal band formed by Korn’s James Shaffer and Faith No More bassist Billy Gould, has released their self-titled debut album. The group also includes Repeater vocalist Steve Krolikowski, Bad Religion drummer Brooks Wackerman, guitarist Leopold Ross and keyboardist Zach Baird. Grounded by Gould’s gritty bass tone, the album project began as a...
Supergroup Rocket Juice and the Moon, Featuring Flea and Damon Albarn, Release Live Tracks
The group known as Rocket Juice and the Moon has uploaded seven songs from their debut performance at the Cork Jazz Festival. Consisting of Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Blur/Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn, and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen this supergroup announced their union late last year. Their world-music influenced style draws heavily from the ’70s Afrobeat, especially as...
Zoom Upgrades Recorder Line with the H2n Handy Recorder
Zoom is now shipping their new H2n Handy Recorder, a device related to the company’s original H2 design. The H2n features five studio-quality mics, onboard with several modes to employ different micing techniques, including Mid-side, 90-degree X/Y stereo, 2-channel and 4-channel surround. This updated version has more controls added to the sides of the unit to streamline workflow. Zoom also...
Jens Ritter Unveils LaMarquis Jefferson Signature Bass, “The Bone”
German luthier Jens Ritter has just announced a new model to his Artist Series. The Bone was designed with bassist/producer LaMarquis Jefferson, whose credits include bass lines for OutKast, Goodie Mob, Society of Soul, TLC and more. “The Bone” features a German Alder body, a three-piece maple bolt-on neck, and a maple fingerboard, all decked out in white. THe Carrara...
King Mob, Featuring Glen Matlock, Release “Force 9”
King Mob, a new group featuring ex-Sex Pistol bassist Glen Matlock, has released their debut album, Force 9. The group is a departure from Matlock’s punk rock background, instead focusing on classic rock and roll and listing their influences as wide ranging as Duke Ellington and Jimmy Page. The band is filled out by drummer Pretenders drummer Martin Chambers, singer...
Gibson Releases Flying V Bass
In conjunction with the release of the new Explorer Bass, Gibson has introduced a new Flying V Bass. With a 30.5″ scale, the bass is a “mean and meaty” instrument that the company says perfect for players with shorter arms and hands, as well as beginners, students, and those more familiar with six-string guitar lengths. The Flying V body is...
Black Sabbath Reunites, Promises Album and World Tour in 2012
After many months of rumors, the original members of Black Sabbath have finally fessed up that they’ve reunited for a new album and world tour starting in 2012. The band made the announcement on today (11-11-11) with a press conference and YouTube video: Though bassist Geezer Butler dismissed rumors earlier this year, it appears he’s on board with the group...
Pablo Aslan Quintet Releases Piazzolla In Brooklyn
Tango master Pablo Aslan has released a new album with his quintet, Piazzolla in Brooklyn. For the project, Aslan took a failed 1959 album by Astor Piazzolla called Take Me Dancing and re-interpreted it to prove its musical worth. The result is influenced by Aslan’s “immersion in the Brooklyn scene.” “I was attracted by the idea of recreating this damned...
Bass of the Week: Mayones Elegance 5 Paper
Some basses are a piece of history, and then some are made from pieces of history. As part of their Master Builder Collection, Polish company Mayones unveiled the Elegance 5 Paper, a limited edition 5-stringer covered with reprints of newspapers, some dating back 100 years. The clippings are from all over the world: Poland, the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and...
Christian McBride Releases Conversations with Christian
In a complete 180 from his recent big band album, Christian McBride has released an album of duets called Conversations with Christian. The project began as podcasts in 2009, where the bassist got together with his musical companions to interview them, as well as play through some songs. The podcast eventually led to the bassist’s popular Sirius-XM radio show, The...
Meshell Ndegeocello Releases Weather
Blending hip-hop, rock, go-go and even a little country, bassist/singer/multi-instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello makes her return with her ninth studio album, Winter. The album, as diverse as the bassist herself, is the first studio effort since the 2009 release, Devil’s Halo. Even with the diversity, Ndegeocello describes Weather as organic and “song-based,” with an emphasis on groove. Among her original tunes...