The O’Jays: For The Love of Money
Here’s another iconic bass line that everyone should know, penned and recorded by Anthony Jackson for the O’Jays. This clip shows bassist Curtis Teel adding his own groove to it to make people shake their money makers for this performance on Soul Train in 1974.
311 Announces Unity Tour 2011, Release New Single
In gearing up for their new album due mid-July, 311 has announced an extensive amphitheater tour about the U.S. The Unity Tour 2011 begins July 6th in Wichita, Kansas and will include support from Sublime with Rome, DJ Soulman, and DJ Trichrome. The schedule also has the band’s first 3-day 311 Pow Wow Fest, which has the group hosting acts...
Monolith Loudspeakers Releases MAGMA 1.0 Bass Preamp
Monolith Loudspeakers and Effects has released the MAGMA 1.0, a dual channel bass preamp built on solid state CMOS technology. Each channel is identical and has it’s own input, as well as an A/B input for blending. The back of the unit has effects loops for both channels, as well as two master line outs, a direct output, and footswitch...
Evan Brewer Releases Solo Bass Album “Alone”
Bassist Evan Brewer has released his debut solo bass album, Alone on Sumerian Records. The album is truly a solo bass album, as Brewer notes he is the only person on the album, and every sound is made by his bass. “I just think of [the bass] as a tool,” he said. “You don’t necessarily have to use it to...
Luminlay Unveils SGT Series Fluorescent Position Markers
Luminlay has introduced the SGT series of luminescent inlay markers to their product line, including the SGT-40 and SGT-50. The new fluorescent markers are designed for the top of fingerboards, where previous incarnations were built as side dots. Available in green, the SGT-40 and -50 are dot inlays made of a highly luminous material that is charged in seconds by...
Mark King Auctions Gear, Memorabilia for Charity
Level 42 bassist Mark King is auctioning off some of his memorabilia and gear to benefit the Beaulieu House, a respite care center that helps children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities. Among the items is King’s 30th anniversary Ashdown MK500 head and the first Status KingBass he took on tour, which was featured on the 2001...
NEA Names Charlie Haden As Jazz Master
Charlie Haden has been named as a recipient of the Lifetime Honors award from the National Endowments for the Arts, a recognition they describe as the “nation’s highest honor in the fold and traditional arts.” Haden started playing bass on his family’s folk and country radio show and eventually became a jazz legend, performing with Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman and...
Javier Moreno Releases “Brisa”
Spanish jazz bassist Javier Moreno has released his debut album, Brisa. Moreno enlisted the talents of pianist George Dulin, drummer Tony Moreno, and sax virtuoso George Garzone for the eight song collection of original compositions, which is capped with an inspired open improv between the bassist and Garzone. The album covers a wide spectrum of textures while the ensemble floats...
Five Finger Death Punch Announce New Bassist
The members of Los Angeles-based Heavy Metal band Five Finger Death Punch have announced their newest member to be bassist Chris Kael. Kael will be filling the gap left by Matt Snell, who was released from the band in December for unspecified reasons. The band, which is nearing completion on their third studio album and follow up to 2009’s War...
Christian McBride Tours With Inside Straight
Christian McBride will be taking his band Inside Straight on the road starting June 25th, with dates spread out about Canada, the U.S. The jazz bassist will also be making an appearance at Tommy LiPuma’s 75th Birthday Celebration in Switzerland. McBride, who is adept at both upright and electric, recruited Steve Wilson, Warren Wolf, Peter Martin and Ulysses Owens, Jr....
Samson Releases CT20 Clip-On Tuner
Samson has a new clip on tuner called the CT20, featuring a dual 360 degree ball jointed clip for viewing at almost any angle. It clips on to your headstock (bridge if you play upright), and has a full color LCD display for ease of visibility. The tuner detects pitch with either the built-in mic or the piezo sensor, and...
Nikolai Fraiture Says The Strokes Working On New Material
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, The Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture revealed the the band is back to working on a new album, just two months after releasing Angles. The band’s last effort came after a nearly five year hiatus, during which time each member worked on other projects. This newest creativity has the same spark as came with...