Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 836

Though he may not be working with MGMT just yet, Sir Paul McCartney has lent his bass work to Travis frontman Fran Healy’s first solo release, Wreckorder. The album has an October 5 release date, and features McCartney’s melodic lines on the track “As It Comes.” As part of the deal, Healy agreed to go vegetarian. The former Beatle is...

The EP2 Envelope Phaser is a rework of the Pigtronix’s flagship EP1, which they released six years ago. Though similar in concept, the new model really expands on its sonic capabilities and controls. The pedal, which features true bypass, is a phase shifter that is controlled by an Envelope (EF) or a LFO, giving you either that funky filter based...

Forty years after it’s original release, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew has been re-mastered and re-released in a 3-disc set, with the original album and six bonus tracks over 2 CD’s as well as a DVD of the previously unreleased Copenhagen concert from November 4, 1969. The psychedelic, electrified album was Davis’ first to go gold and is held together by...

In case you missed it in March, the Experience Hendrix Tour, anchored by Hendrix bassist Billy Cox, will be making it’s comeback this Fall for another twenty dates across the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada. Cox is the sole-surviving member of Hendrix’s Experience and Band of Gypsy’s groups. “It’s a thrill for me to play Jimi’s music for audiences now...

This is a clip from the Joe Satriani: Live in San Francisco DVD, in which Stu Hamm proves why he is among the bass greats. Starting with a bass arrangement of Satriani’s “Love Thing,” the solo soon morphs into Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, and then “Country Music”. And don’t worry, the crowd isn’t booing him, they are “STU-ing” him!

Music Man is now offering roasted maple necks as an option for their instruments. Besides looking great, the thermally treated necks have other benefits, including resistance to temperature and warping, increased resonance, and clearer tone. The heating process also gives a microstructure similar to naturally aged woods with lower moisture content. The new roasted maple necks are available on all...

Marcus Miller just shared this video on Facebook from over the weekend at the Solidarity of Arts Festival in Gdansk, Poland. The group, which includes Miller, Leszek Mo?d?er, Alex Han, and Louis Cato, rips through a funkified version of the Beatles’ tune, “Come Together”.

Bass phenom Doug Johns is giving away a free download of his song “Manic,” from his 2008 album, Pocket Fulla Nasty. The track is available in your choice of 320k MP3, FLAC, or “just about any other format you could possibly desire.” The caption for the song says it all: No lyrics, just pure nasty funk. Manic by Doug Johns...

The Allman Brothers Band is making their touring return, now that Gregg Allman is recovering from a liver transplant in late June. The group features the bass talents of Oteil Burbridge, who took up the position after the Allen Woody left in 1997 to pursue Gov’t Mule full time. The 11-date trek takes place this November and will stretch the...

Here is a classic example of modal jazz with the John Coltrane Quartet, featuring Jimmy Garrison on bass, McCoy Tyner on piano, and Elvin Jones on drums. Garrison takes an extended and intimate solo in the middle to add character to the song. Garrison had a long-standing relationship with Coltrane and played with him from 1961-1967.

In a recent Facebook status update from Stu Hamm, the rock legend revealed the names of the musicians who will be joining him on his upcoming solo album, Just Outside of Normal. The list includes “[Joe] Satriani (2 tracks), Robert Fripp, Jude Gold and Frank Gambale on [guitar], Stanton Moore, John Mader and Alan Hertz on drums, Terrance Disley, Allison...

Mike Gordon and the gang in Phish have announced new Fall 2010 tour dates, which run from Texas to New Jersey throughout the month of October. The 12-date trek kicks off with their appearance at the Austin City Limits Festival, which has already sold out. Tickets go on sale for the rest of the dates September 10, though a limited...