Scott Ambush’s Solo at Richmond Jazz Festival
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 Introduces the Band Room Double Bass Rack
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...
Tal Wilkenfeld Working on New Album
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,”...
Larry Graham: Super Slapping Bass Pedal Demos
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.
Yes Announces European Tour Dates
The prog-rock legends in Yes have announced a new European tour in support of their latest album, Fly From Here. Scheduled to start November 3rd in Lisbon, Portugal, the tour will make it’s way to the UK before visiting nearly every major European city and wrapping up on December 15th in Moscow. “We’re looking forward to performing new music live...
GoGo Tuners Releases Caliber Clip-On Tuner
GoGo Tuners has introduced the Caliber, a new multi-instrument clip-on tuner. The Caliber is similar to the company’s TT-1 tuner, and features their “Green you’re in tune, Red you’re out” display for easy visualization of pitch. Improvements its predecessor include a heavier duty rubber construction and an enhanced vivid screen display. The Caliber has five modes for easy configuration: Chromatic,...
Josh Newton Parts Ways With Every Time I Die
Bassist Josh Newton is no longer a member of Every Time I Die according to his Twitter account as he wrote, “Thanks to all the @everytimeidie dudes and all who cared. ‘twas fun. ch-ch-ch-changes…” A similar statement was made by the band, which just wrapped up an overseas tour. The parting was amicable as Newton added, “Just to reiterate: all...
Bass of the Week: Waja-Bass Design Telio G.V. 5-String Fretless
This week we take a look at the Telio G.V. 5-string Fretless from Waja-bass Design. The bass is built by hand in Kempen, Germany and features a striking ergonomic body shape made of swamp-ash and dibetou. Besides sculpting for easier access, the design aims for balance between the body and neck, effectively shifting the the instrument’s focus to the middle...
ZZ Top Honored with “A Tribute From Friends” Album
A new tribute album to “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” is now available, featuring performers from across the music world. ZZ Top: A Tribute From Friends is the fourth collection of covers to pay homage to the southern rock legends and has all their classic hits. Among the lineup is former Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, who joins Mick Fleetwood,...
Bergantino Audio Systems Unveils HD Series Bass Cabinets
Bergantino Audio Systems has announced a new line of bass cabs called the HD Series. The new models all feature 100% Baltic birch construction, newly designed woofers, tweeters, phase-coherent crossovers with a tweeter control, tolex covering, and metal corners. The HD112 Most compact of the new line is the HD112, which features a 12″ woofer with an 80 ounce magnet....
William Parker Releases Box Set of Solo Bass Works
William Parker has put out a limited edition box set of his works, Crumbling in the Shadows is Fraulein Miller’s Stale Cake. Limited to 1,000 copies, the set contains 3-discs of Parker’s solo bass albums, including his long out-of-print first solo bass album Testimony, as well as a 48-page booklet of writings. The improvisatory and often avant garde bassist got...
Paul McCartney Announces Additional “On The Run” Tour Dates
One day after being married, Sir Paul McCartney has announced 11 new dates to his “On the Run” Tour, which already made its way through North America this summer. The string of shows begin November 13 in Abu Dhabi, then hit major cities throughout Europe before ending up in his hometown of Liverpool, England in December. The former Beatle bassist...