Chris Wood Plugs in for The Wood Brothers Album
Medeski, Martin & Wood bassist Chris Wood has gone electric on Paradise, his fifth album with The Wood Brothers, which, fittingly, includes his brother, Oliver. Chris Wood is better known for his double bass work, but on Paradise, he plays electric bass guitar while he and his brother rock out a bit more than usual for the Americana band. Just...
Los Van Van Releases Last Album with Tribute to Juan Formell
While the Los Van Van album La Fantasia is called a Homenaje a Juan Formell (Homage to Juan Formell), the record from the 46-year-old Cuban dance band both is and isn’t, because Formell had a significant hand in its creation. According to the Timba website, bassist and bandleader Juan Formell chose many of the album’s tracks prior to his 2014...
Massive Bowie Set Compiles Recordings from 1969-1973
A trove of David Bowie material from the early years of his long, legendary rock career has been assembled in a 12-CD box set, called Five Years (1969-1973). The set includes all of Bowie’s recordings from the era, including those previously unreleased on CD or otherwise digitally, as well as remastered versions. Bassists who contributed to Bowie’s sound in those...
Widespread Panic Releases First Studio Album in Five Years
It’s been five years since the last Widespread Panic album. The jam band has returned with Street Dogs, which was recorded live in the studio — a first for the group. The band’s sound, as always, is eclectic, with founding member Dave Schools playing the “lead bass” he’s known for. Street Dogs, the band’s 12th studio album, combines originals and...
Danielle Nicole Releases Debut Album
Bassist/vocalist Danielle Nicole, known for her tenure in Trampled Under Foot, which she formed with her brothers, has released her debut album, Wolf Den. Nicole, a 2014 Blues Music Award winner for her instrumental skills, tapped Grammy-winning guitarist Anders Osborne to produce the record and her debut EP, which appeared earlier this year. Both were recorded in New Orleans. She...
The Dead Weather Releases Third Album
Jack White’s band The Dead Weather has released its third full-length album, Dodge and Burn, with Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes, City and Colour) on bass. Lawrence also has a special distinction on the album cover — he appears to have gained a sixth finger on his right hand. He’s a pretty unique guy. Watch him display his technique...
The Winery Dogs Release Second Studio Album and Go On Tour
The Winery Dogs, a rock trio featuring Billy Sheehan on bass, has released its second studio album, Hot Streak. Lead vocalist/guitarist Richie Kotzen said he feels the album is stronger than the trio’s 2013 self-titled debut, while drummer Mike Portnoy said Hot Streak was more collaborative in nature. “I’m glad we’re not playing it safe and just doing songs that...
New Order’s Music Complete without Peter Hook
Music Complete is New Order’s first album that doesn’t feature the work of founding bassist Peter Hook. Tom Chapman, who played with New Order guitarist/vocalist Bernard Sumner in Bad Lieutenant and performed live with New Order since 2011, handles bass on the album. (Hook left in 2007). Keyboardist/guitarist Gillian Gilbert also plays on the album, her first with New Order...
Jimmy Haslip and Jeff Lorber Reveal Great Musical Fusion on “Step It Up”
Former Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip holds down the low end on Jeff Lorber Fusion’s latest album, Step It Up. It’s the fourth Jeff Lorber Fusion album since the group’s 2010 reboot to feature Haslip. Haslip co-produced the album with keyboardist Lorber, a longtime collaborator, and co-wrote some songs on the album as well. “We were motivated to find a new...
Jaco Documentary and Soundtrack Get November Release Date
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s documentary about legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, “JACO,” has a release date — Nov. 27. The film will be available as video on demand, streaming, as a digital download, and on DVD/Blu-ray. The film’s soundtrack, Jaco: Original Soundtrack will be released on the same day, which is Record Store Day and Black Friday. Trujillo, a longtime Pastorius...
Nathan East Helps Define “The New Cool”
Fourplay bandmates, keyboardist Bob James and bassist Nathan East, have released an album as a duo: The New Cool. The Nashville-recorded album featuring original tunes and some standards (even a take on “Crazy” featuring Vince Gill) is a whirlwind of delights from the bandmates of more than 20 years. East and James are particularly fond of the album closer, “Turbulence,”...
New Set Compiles Yearly Grateful Dead Live Performances
Even though bandleader Jerry Garcia passed away 20 years ago, The Grateful Dead, in the midst of celebrating its 50th anniversary, still has something special to give — part of its past. The four CD set, 30 Trips Around the Sun: The Definitive Live Story, serves as an introduction to the legendary live performances from the band, featuring stalwart founding...