Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 765

Original Tool bassist Paul D’Amour has unveiled a new track from his latest project, Feersum Ennjin. Though the band has been around in some form since 2005, their debut self-titled album is due out November 22nd. It will mark the first hard rock release for the bassist since he left Tool in 1995, as he pursued a career in TV...

Epiphone has reintroduced the Tobias Toby, now in a Standard IV and Deluxe IV models. The entry level instruments are built around master luthier Michael Tobias’ original designs from 20 years ago. Both basses feature bolt-on construction with a basswood body and hard maple neck. The neck is shaped using Tobias’ Asymmetrical Neck Profile, which makes it thinner on the...

Alusonic takes metal bass to a new level – the Italian bass builders make their instruments out of aluminum, citing characteristic and environmental reasons. The special Anticorodal and Ergal alloys that they use are naturally light, rigid and produce a balanced, fat sound while Aluminum is completely recyclable, making it more eco-friendly. On top of that, the body provides full...

The Book of Triads, a new instructional e-book on triad exercises, is available for download for use with a Kindle, iOS device and desktop. The book contains 80 exercises covering all the diatonic triads available in the key of C. Each is written for two octaves in musical notation as well as tablature. “Triads get overlooked sometimes, especially in this...

After nearly two years of writing and with the help of three bassists, Jane’s Addiction have released The Great Escape Artist. The new record is their fourth studio album and their first since their 2008 reunion. After the departure of Eric Avery in 2010, Jane’s Addiction began writing the album, enlisting the help of former Guns ‘N Roses bassist Duff...

We’re firm believers that two basses are better than one. Here’s a cool example from the DVD Casiopea vs. The Square, where the two Japanese fusion bands perform alongside each other. This song, “Eccentric Games,” features an awesome bass battle between Casiopea’s Yoshihiro Naruse and The Square’s Mitsuru Sutoh.

Meshell Ndegeocello has announced a string of tour dates to support her upcoming ninth album Weather, which is set for a November 8th release. The bassist/singer/songwriter will stop off for a few shows on the East Coast next month before covering the West Coast and Midwest in January. The album, which she describes as “strkingly organic” and “song-based,” is yet...

Dusty Hill keeps the bottom end simple, tight and in the pocket on this 1980 performance of “Cheap Sunglasses” from the DVD Double Down Live. His performance exudes pure attitude, and though the fuzzy guitars are missing, the beards are in full swing.

Spyro Gyra’s Scott Ambush balances between funky and soulful on this solo from the Richmond Jazz Festival earlier this year. The band grooves hard while playing around their tune “On the Road.”

BandStorage.com has unveiled the Band Room Double-Bass Rack, built to hold up to three 3/4 sized double basses and three bows. The rack is constructed of hardwood rails with brushed aluminum melamine sides that are shaped like a bass’s body. All contact points are covered in felt to prevent scratching and scuffing. The rack measures 66.5”x53”x27” and has lockable casters...

After a somewhat quiet period, Tal Wilkenfeld has announced she’s working on a new album with special guests to include Jackson Browne, ex-Journey vocalist Steve Perry, and Mike Elizondo. Wilkenfeld, who raised eyebrows while laying down the low end with Jeff Beck, says she’ll also be displaying her vocal talents on the record. “When I first started I was singing,”...

Here’s a cool clip of Larry Graham taken from an out-of-print instructional video called “Super Slapping Bass.” The funky slap master gets heavy as he demos a few of his favorite effects pedals. Can Larry get any cooler? We think not.