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...
Essential Sound Products Announces Victor Wooten and Gerald Veasley Signature MusicCord-PRO Power Cords
Essential Sound Products has introduced two new Signature MusicCord-PRO power cords: the Victor Wooten and Gerald Veasley models. The new cords have colors chosen by the artists, with Wooten’s cord being purple with clear crisscross tracer and Veasley’s being red with black crisscross. Brochures with unique photographs, pictorial discographies, and biographic information are included in each package. Designed and assembled...
Bass Play-Along Week: Grant Smith’s Version of James Jamerson’s Line on “For Once In My Life”
Today’s play-along is Grant Smith’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s “For Once In My Life,” a tune that features a masterfully crafted bass line from the imagination of the late, great James Jamerson. Smith, who plays it on a Kens Smith 6-string, picked the song as his first in a series of videos for its complexity and beauty. “It is a...
Edgar Meyer Featured on The Goat Rodeo Sessions
Bassist Edgar Meyer, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, fiddler Stuart Duncan and mandolinist Chris Thile have come together to release The Goat Rodeo Sessions, an 11-track collection of songs which the group describes as “genre proof.” With styles ranging from classical to bluegrass, the album is definitely an interesting mix, sure to please fans of acoustic music. Though the title refers to...
Ashdown Engineering Announces Limited Edition Little Bastard LB-550 Amp
Ashdown Engineering has unveiled a limited edition of their Little Bastard amp head called the LB-550. The new amp couples their Little Bastard tube preamp section with the 550-watt digital power section from their new MiBass head, resulting in tube tone in a lightweight head weighing in at 6.2kg (approximately 13.6 puonds). The preamp uses ECC83 and ECC82 tubes and...
Chuck Rainey Recovering After Stroke
After suffering a major stroke on Friday November 4th, bass legend Chuck Rainey is expected to have a full recovery, according to his wife Susan. “Thank U Dear Friends for all the prayers and healing Light,” Mrs. Rainey posted on Facebook. “Chuck had a stroke Friday night but the prognosis is good for a full recovery. Please keep him in...