Atlanta Jazz Fest to Feature Free Performances by Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding and Stanley Clarke
The 33rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival will feature many great jazz artists, including bass greats Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding and Stanley Clarke. The event takes place on over May 29-30 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Best of all? It’s all free. Swing Streets to Swing Beats featuring Esperanza Spalding and Raydar Ellis performs on the 29th, at 7:00 PM....
Bryan Beller Band Northeast Tour in May
Bryan Beller has announced his first ever full-band tour of the Northeast. The trek, which is in support of the Mike Keneally Band, is called the “They’re Both the Same Band Tour”… and for good reason. Beller leads a set, and then Keneally leads a set, but the personnel stays the same. Keneally plays guitar, keys, and vocals, Beller holds...
Level 42 Announces International Tour; U.S. Dates Included
Level 42 bassist Mark King announced a summer 2010 tour for the band, which stretches the globe. Most exciting is the return to the U.S., which will be the group’s first visit in a little over two decades. King notes that the dates are confirmed early, so “there’s no excuses for you not to be there…” The band is celebrating...
Gear Watch: Luminlay Luminous Inlay Position Markers
Ever had trouble seeing your position markers on a dark stage? A Japanese company has created a solution called the Luminlay. Available in green or blue, the Luminlay is a highly luminous material that you inlay into the side of your neck where you want your markers. The material is then charged in seconds by an LED flashlight (also available...
Wailers Celebrate 40 Years of “Family Man” With Tour
The Wailers, who played with Bob Marley during his lifetime, are on the road in a trek that takes them across the U.S. The legendary reggae band is on tour in celebration of bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who co-founded the band and has stayed with the group for 40 years. It was Barrett’s musical leadership that helped Marley and...
Slayer Announces Rescheduled Dates After Araya’s Surgery
In early January, we reported that Slayer frontman Tom Araya was scheduled to have back surgery, and that the band’s American and Canadian Carnage Tour had to be rescheduled. Araya had his procedure on May 20th, and the masters of metal have announced their make-up dates, which will occur after a European trek. In his first interview since going under...
Melissa Auf der Maur Releases “Out of Our Minds”
Ex-Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur has just released her new album/multimedia project, Out of Our Minds. The project consists of the music album, music video, film, and comic. You can order variations on the package at Melissa’s web site. “OUT OF OUR MINDS | OOOM began as a song,” Auf Der Maur writes on her web...
Three-Bass Supergroup Freebass Releases EP
Freebass, the three-bass supergroup hailing from Manchester, has released their debut EP entitled Two Worlds Collide. The band consists of Peter Hook (Joy Division/ New Order, Gary “Mani” Mounfield (The Stone Roses/Primal Fear), and Andy Rourke (The Smiths). The album also features guest vocals by Tim Burgess of the Charlatans, Pete Wylie of the Mighty Wah, and Howard Marks. The...
Bakithi Kumalo Joins Simon and Garfunkel Tour
South African bassist extraordinaire Bakithi Kumalo will be touring with folk duo Simon and Garfunkel in their North American ‘Old Friends’ tour. The tour focuses mostly in Canada, with about seven U.S. dates. Kumalo joined Paul Simon for his classic 1986 album Graceland, and has worked with him since. Kumalo has also worked with many pop and jazz musicians, including...
Christian McBride Launches New Radio Show
Jazz bass legend Christian McBride will be hosting a new weekly radio show on Sirius XM’s Real Jazz channel. The show, entitled “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian,” premieres today at 1 PM ET. The format of the show takes place on stages in jazz clubs around the country while McBride interviews and performs with special guests. The first episode features...
Slipknot’s Chris Fehn to Play Bass for Will Haven
Will Haven has announced that Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn will be filling in on bass after Mike Martin left the group to take care of his family. In a statement, the band said, “We have found our new bass player and we are more than excited about it. Our long-time brother and close friend Chris Fehn has joined the family....
Anthrax’s Frank Bello Helps Donate to NYC Schools
Anthrax’s Frank Bello recently teamed up with Fender and the nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock to donate electric basses and amps to 15 New York City public city schools. Bello, who was born and raised in the Bronx, showed students a good time with a jam session and by answering all of their rock questions. Little Kids Rock is a...