Pair of Christian Fabian Live Albums Released
Christian Fabian, a versatile jazz bassist and co-leader of the New Lionel Hampton Big Band, has released two live albums this year. The first, Live at Trumpets, sees him playing alongside pianist Matt King and guitarist Paul Meyers. Fabian, who originally hails from Sweden, is a fixture on the U.S. jazz scene and is also the co-founder of the Native...
Matthew Garrison Gets Personal in Trio With Jack DeJohnette
Bass virtuoso Matthew Garrison; drummer, pianist and composer Jack DeJohnette; and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, son of the legendary sax player/composer John Coltrane, have combined their talents as a trio. DeJohnette, who also happens to be Matt’s godfather, played with both Matthew and Ravi’s fathers a half-century ago, when he guested with Coltrane’s group. Matt’s father, Jimmy, was Coltrane’s bassist for...
Steve Swallow and Carla Bley Continue Musical Journey
Prolific jazz bassist Steve Swallow’s long musical association with his life partner, pianist Carla Bley, and saxophonist Andy Sheppard, continues with the trio’s latest, Andando El Tiempo. The five-track album features Bley’s compositions, including a three-part title piece, which addresses addiction recovery. Another piece takes inspiration from Mendelssohn and Paul Haines’ poetry. Check out this live Paris performance of the...
Haken Releases “Affinity”
Progressive metal band Haken has released its fourth full-length studio album, Affinity. While bassist Conner Green appeared on the band’s 2014 EP Restoration, Affinity marks his first album effort with the band. Green took over bass duties with Thomas MacLean’s 2013 departure from the group. The Prog Report has already given the album high marks, calling the track “The Architect”...
Bruce Foxton Builds on Recently Revitalized Solo Career on Latest Album
Three years after releasing his first solo record in three decades, Back in the Room, former bassist for The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers Bruce Foxton has released Smash the Clock. Smash the Clock was recorded at the studio owned by his former bandmate in The Jam, Paul Weller, who contributes guitar and piano parts to the album (Weller also...
Previously Unreleased Bad Company Performances Available on Live Set
The bass work of the late Boz Burrell can be heard on a two-CD live set of Bad Company performances recorded in 1977 and 1979. Simply titled Bad Company: Live in Concert 1977 & 1979, the set captures the band’s original lineup as it supported the Burnin’ Sky and Desolation Angels albums, respectively, from original 24-track tapes. Vocalist Paul Rodgers...
Rob Zombie Releases “The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser”
Rob Zombie has released his sixth solo studio album, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser. Piggy D, who has been with Zombie’s band since late 2006 and is also known for his solo work, holds down the low end on the album. Zombie tells Screamer magazine that he enjoyed the process of making the album, his first...
Sixx: A.M. Releases Fourth Studio Album
Sixx: A.M.’s fourth full-length studio album has arrived: Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1. The band, led by bassist Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe), is at its most creative place thus far with the album, according to Sixx. “For James [Michael], Dj [Ashba] and myself, we think it’s the perfect time to release so much quality music to our fans who’ve...
Snarky Puppy Changes It Up On Latest Album
Fusion band Snarky Puppy has returned to its fully instrumental roots with its 11th album, Culcha Vulcha. However, the band, led by bassist Michael League, departed from its live-from-the-studio film and audio style for the record, preferring to record at a Texas studio situated in the middle of a pecan ranch, and taking opportunities to overdub. And League liked the...
Blue Öyster Cult Founder Releases New Music
Blue Öyster Cult founding bassist Joe Bouchard has released his fourth solo album, The Power of Music. Bouchard, who plays with The X Brothers and Blue Coupe — the latter with former Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunaway — produced and appears to have played all the instruments on his record, which features a cover of his former band’s song, “Career...
Simon Fitzpatrick Releases Bass Take on Holst’s “The Planets”
London-based bass guitar and Chapman Stick player Simon Fitzpatrick has released his bass version of Gustav Holst’s classical work, The Planets Suite. The album features multilayered basses, with support from the Chapman Stick and Minitaur synthesizer. Check out Fitzpatrick, currently a regular member of Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy band, as he plays multiple basses on “Mercury, the Winged Messenger”: If...
The Yellowjackets Release Album with New Bassist
The Yellowjackets have released their first album with Australian virtuoso bassist Dane Alderson. The album, Cohearence, features jazz fusion, a rendition of the folk song “Shenandoah,” and a closing track with a chamber-jazz feel. The band, which released its debut album under the Yellowjackets name in 1981 after forming in 1977 as the Robben Ford Group, introduced the music on...