Rush Releases “R40 Live”
Two dates on Rush’s R40 concert tour have been captured as the concert film and live record R40 Live. The set, compiled from sold-out June 17 and 19 shows at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, shows the Canadian trio, featuring bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, working backwards through its extensive catalog, from its most recent recordings to its earliest ones. The band’s dedication...
Intronaut Releases “The Direction of Last Things”
Intronaut’s latest album, The Direction of Last Things, is the band at its “most technical, brutal, catchy, and straight up fearless,” says frontman Sacha Dunable. The progressive metal band’s bassist, Joe Lester, is equally at home with metal and jazz. The band’s influences are as wide-ranging as its sound. Check out “Digital Gerrymandering” (below). The Direction of Last Things is...
“JACO” Documentary and Soundtrack Available
JACO: The Film, has finally arrived. The Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo-produced film about groundbreaking electric bassist Jaco Pastorius is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. The film can be downloaded on iTunes on Dec. 1. The soundtrack is available, too. Jaco’s influence on bass playing cannot be overstated. His work with Weather Report, solo, and as a sideman — most...
Revocation’s Debut Released in Remastered Version
Technical death metal band Revocation has re-released its debut album, Empire of the Obscene. Only 1,000 copies of the record were pressed back in 2008, and the re-released version is also newly mixed and remastered. In addition, it features revamped cover art and a 2006 demo for the song “Summon the Spawn.” Anthony Buda, who was with the band from...
Unreleased Live Material from Weather Report’s Jaco Years Gets Release
Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report fans have an early present this holiday season — Weather Report –The Legendary Live Tapes: 1978-1981. The previously unreleased tapes, sourced from the jazz-rock-fusion band’s soundboard recordings and from bootleg recordings, are arranged so that they reflect key performances, rather than the band’s typical set lists of the era, which featured the late Pastorius’ revelatory...
Jesper Lundgaard Live Record Released
Danish jazz bassist and composer Jesper Lundgaard celebrated his 60th birthday in 2014 by performing with Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi and Danish drummer Alex Riel. Their performance at the Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen, which focused on the American songbook, is now available as the record, 60 Out of Shape. Here’s the trio’s interpretation of “All the Things You Are”: 60 Out...
Bassist Pens Book on Extending Past the Root
Ben Hands, bassist for the British progressive metal band Endeavour and onetime No Treble Reader Spotlight subject, has released an e-book on bass playing. Beyond The Root: A guide on how to approach chord inversions for bass players is designed to help players extend their harmonic vocabulary and discover more options when creating bass lines. The books uses examples from...
Neil Young Releases Live Material From “This Note’s for You” Era
Recordings from Neil Young’s 1987-88 live dates fronting the Bluenotes (his regular backing band Crazy Horse augmented by a horn section) comprise Bluenote Café, a new release from the Neil Young Archives Performance Series. Performances by bassists Billy Talbot and the late Rick Rosas are captured on the set, which features songs from shows performed leading up to and following...
Set Released Covering Last Years of Jazz Great Oscar Pettiford’s Career
Much of the work of late bebop pioneer Oscar Pettiford is now available in one package: The Classic Albums 1953-1960. The five disc set includes recordings made after the jazz double bassist began using the cello in earnest as his secondary instrument following an arm injury. The late Pettiford, who was a composer and bandleader as well, is known for...
Saxon’s Latest is a Battering Ram
British heavy metal band Saxon has released its 21st studio album, Battering Ram. The record features bassist Nibbs Carter, who has been with the band since 1988. Known as one of the leading bands of the 1970’s New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon evokes some of its early 80’s sound on the album. If you love classic metal, check...
Colin Trusedell Shows Hustle on New Album
The Colin Trusedell Trio, led by bassist Colin Trusedell, has released It’s All About the Hustle, Trusedell’s third album as a bandleader. The record from Trusedell – who is adjunct Professor of Bass at Colorado State University – Pueblo and the Musical Director for the United States Air Force Academy Band’s Top 40 ensemble, Blue Steel – features all-original work...
Stanley Clarke Goes Acoustic in Jazz Trio
Bass superstar Stanley Clarke is exploring his acoustic side on D-STRINGZ, his acoustic collaboration with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitarist Biréli Lagrène. What’s notable is that all three are most well known for their work in electric jazz. The trio first played together at a 2012 Paris concert celebrating Ponty’s 50-year career. D-STRINGZ features the trio’s takes on classics like...