Latest from Mike:
Timothy Schmit: Expando
Timothy Schmit, bassist for The Eagles, gathered some of his friends to work on his newly released album, Expando, including Keb’ Mo’, Kid Rock, Graham Nash and Dwight Yoakam. In a recent interview with Spinner.com, Schmit talked about what it was like to get together such different artists to work on the new album. “I needed some really different-sounding voices...
Gear Watch: Magma cables from Lava Cable
Lava Cable has announced their new Magma cable line, featuring high durability and top-quality sound, while remaining at average consumer prices. Magma cable features: G&H Industries ‘Show Saver’ plugs Hi-Quality Copper Conductors, with a 20 AWG low strand count 29.5 pF/ft low capacitance And a 93% spiral shield, providing excellent RF protection The Magma cable has retailed at just $29.95...
Player Watch: Henry Grimes, back in action
After a 35 year hiatus from the music scene, bassist Henry Grimes made his return to music in 2003. Or as Grimes calls it, “His Resurrection”. A recent Financial Times article focuses on Grimes’s return, and he shared what it was like before and after the break, and what it was like getting back into music. Before his break, Grimes...
Stewart Copeland: Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmies
Ever watch a concert and wonder what the band was doing earlier that day? Ever wonder what the band talks about when they get back on the road? Well now you can read stories from Police drummer, Stewart Copeland in his new book Strange Things Happen: A Life With the Police, Polo and Pygmies. The book describes different times and...
Gary Peacock & Marc Copland: Insight
Bassist Gary Peacock and pianist Marc Copland released their latest CD, Insight, on October 6th. The duo have been performing and recording together for almost 20 years, even though Peacock is typically known for his work with pianist Keith Jarrett. The 13-track release features both original compositions and covers. Preview and download Insight Amazon.com Widgets Insight Track List: 1. All...
Hamilton Sterling and Jimmy Haslip: Migration
Hamilton Sterling and bassist Jimmy Haslip have released Migration, hailed as a “programmatic jazz composition formed in six movements.” The album was produced, composed, arranged, performed, and programmed by both musicians. Sterling’s previous work films, The Dark Knight, War of the Worlds, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Haslip is founding member of the Yellowjackets and...
GWAR bassist explains what it is like to leave a successful act
Normally most musicians hope to be able to play to thousands of people at some point in their lives, but bassist Todd Evans is excited to get back to his roots, even if he’s basically starting his career over. Evans states that he couldn’t be happier with his new group, “Mobile Deathtrap,” even while leaving the success of his former...
Les Claypool dips into wine business
Bassist Les Claypool has developed his own personal brand of wine, The Purple Pachyderm, at the at the Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol, California. Claypool calls it “…big, bold and well-balanced with a magnificent nose!” Claypool originally made his own wine for his personal stock, but has now grown into a small business venture. “We’ve been living in Sebastopol for 15...
Christian McBride talks about his music
Christian McBride recently sat down with the folks at AllAboutJazz.com and spoke on a huge number of topics, and all in one interview. He speaks everything from his ideas of composition, putting together a CD, and even how he feels about playing with a bow. While an amazing player, McBride says he wishes he had more composing abilities, and that...
Phil Brown’s Jazztet releases “Bright Side”
Bassist Phil Brown has recently released his new album with the New Art Jazztet. The new album, Bright Side features ten songs, with six composed by Brown and four by the other members of the group. Pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc spoke on Brown’s compositions and playing, saying “Phil’s music is as much fun to listen to as it is...
Gear Watch: Eleph speaker cables
Solid Cables has introduced Eleph speaker cables, a new line that uses ultra pure copper conductors of different diameters to deliver the full frequency spectrum of sound an amp can generate. “We are the world’s first to make the innovation of using not only an ultra pure copper 10 gauge conductor, but one made up of different diameter strands to...
Ringo and Paul back together for “Y Not”
Ringo Starr recently recorded his latest album, Y Not, and was joined in the studio by his old friend, bassist Paul McCartney. “I played him this other track and Paul said, ‘Give me the headphones. Give me a pair of cans.’ And he went to the mike and he just invented that part where he follows on my vocal. That...