RIP Charles Fambrough
After a long battle with liver disease, jazz bassist Charles Fambrough has passed away. The Philadelphia-based player had a storied career, playing with Grover Washington, Jr., Airto Moreira, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and more. He also spent two years in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. “McCoy showed me how to play with endurance. Art gave me refinement,” the bassist once said....
Roger Waters Live “The Wall” DVD Rumored
It looks like Roger Waters is planning on releasing a new live DVD of his current “The Wall” tour. As NME.com reports, the former Pink Floyd bassist posted a message on his website stating all six of the upcoming shows at London’s O2 Arena will be filmed. Though there has been no official confirmation of a DVD release, the statement...
Gear Watch: Wren and Cuff Phat Phuk B Bass Boost Pedal
Wren and Cuff has released the Phat Phuk B, a JFET/germanium single circuit hybrid booster pedal designed specifically for bass. The pedal is not designed to be “transparent,” the company explains, as the germanium transistor adds a little grit to your sound. The JFET transistor is placed at the input to keep things “impedance-friendly,” depending on whether you have active...
A Perfect Circle: Weak And Powerless
Just before their latest reunion tour, A Perfect Circle played the Jimmy Kimmel show. Here’s Matt McJunkins laying the foundation on the song “Weak and Powerless” from their second album, .
The Jelly Jam Re-Release First Two Albums, Finish Up Third
The Jelly Jam, a prog-rock trio featuring Dream Theater’s John Myung on bass, has had its first two albums re-released as high-resolution MP3 downloads on the Molken Music website. The band, rounded out by King’s X guitarist/vocalist Ty Tabor and Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, put out their eponymous debut in 2002 followed by The Jelly Jam 2 in 2004....
In Memoriam: Bassists We Lost in 2010
As the year draws to its close, we stop to remember the great bassists who passed away in 2010. The bass community lost heroes from every genre, from jazz to funk to punk and everything in between. Here’s our salute to the fallen low-enders. Robert Wilson Robert Wilson, bassist for the Gap Band. Wilson’s funky playing impacted many bassists to...
Matthew Garrison Releases Second Track from “12 Months”
Matthew Garrison has released the second track of his 12 Months project, entitled “Atmosphere 2”. The experimental bassist is unveiling one track per month, culminating in the release of the 12 track-album, about 10 months from now. If that’s not cool enough, you can also buy the tracks with revisions of the tunes. If you buy each track for two...
The Word Alive Bassist Quits; Band Seeking Replacement
Bassist Nick Urlacher has announced he is leaving metalcore act The Word Alive as a life change. “I’ve decided to leave The Word Alive my friends,” he wrote in an online statement. “I will miss all of our friends, family and fans I’ve had the utmost pleasure and honor to meet along my travels with The Word Alive. My life...
Anthony Jackson Working Again with Steve Khan
Six-string bass pioneer Anthony Jackson is working again with Steve Khan on the guitarist’s upcoming album, Parting Shot. The CD, due in March, features other veterans from Khan’s Eyewitness band including drummer Dennis Chambers and percussionist Manolo Badrena. Parting Shot will be a Latin jazz based album, which Jackson is no stranger to, thanks to his work with Michel Camilo...
Lester McFarland Bass Solo with Lloyd Jones
Here’s a sweet bass solo by Lester McFarland with blues guitarist Lloyd Jones from a late-’80s/ early-’90s cable access television show called “Kids for Kids.” Lester is rockin’ out on his old school S.D. Curlee bass while the band just grooves with him.
Jack Bruce Announces West Coast Dates with Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Band
Jack Bruce has announced he will be performing with the Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute Band in January and February 2011. The group, which also features guitarist Vernon Reid, organist John Medeski and drummer Cindy Blackman, will be holding several day residencies in three major jazz venues in New York, Oakland, and Seattle. The group pays homage to the late Tony...
Alfred Expands Jazz Play-Along Series
Alfred has expanded on their Jazz Play-Along Series to include new volumes with books and play-along CDs tailored for bass clef instruments, and the entire rhythm section. The rhythm section editions contain written parts for bass, piano, and drums, and offers solo opportunities for those instruments. The publisher has also included an easy play-along series crafted for the novice improviser....