Buzz
Dr. No Effects Announces MotherBrain Analog Delay
Dr. No Effects has released the MotherBrain Analog Delay for guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals. The limited-edition, hand-crafted pedal is described as a “high-end delay that produces classic tones.” It features three controls: Present, Insanity, and Memory. Present acts as a mix of the delay and dry signals, where Insanity is the actual Delay time and Memory controls the repeats/feedback....
Jeff Berlin, Scott Henderson and Billy Cobham: Stratus
Jeff Berlin shared this terrific clip on Facebook of a live performance in Buenos Aires. In this video, the trio of Berlin, guitarist Scott Henderson and drummer Billy Cobham perform Cobham’s “Stratus”. The original tune was on Cobham’s Spectrum, with Leland Sklar. Such an unbelievably great bass line on this one.
Aidan Hampson Transcribes Prince, MJ, and Aerosmith for Bass
Top bass transcriptionist Aidan Hampson has another bunch of downloadable transcription books available — Michael Jackson: Bad, Best of Prince and Best of Aerosmith for Bass. Hampson notes that the Bad transcriptions complete his Quincy Jones trilogy. “There are some fantastic basslines here from the likes of Nathan East and Greg Phillinganes. This is the first time that hits like...
TC Electronic Unveils the WireTap Riff Recorder Pedal
TC Electronic has introduced the WireTap Riff Recorder, a compact pedal that can record 8 hours of recording time stored in CD audio quality. Similar to the Ditto, the new pedal has pared down controls for “plug and play” capabilities. Pressing the footswitch begins and ends the recording process while play, back, and next buttons allow you to listen back...
Advanced Bass: Modern Rhythmic Concepts
Rhythmic phrasing is an often overlooked subject in bass guitar education, much of it left to chance and feel. However, the bass guitarist should become “rhythmic aware” as being an integral part of the rhythm section of a band. In this lesson I explain how to use rhythm as motific building blocks to develop your ideas – enabling you to...
Nenad Vasilic: Zapevala Sojka Ptica
Ever since we posted Nenad Vasilic’s solo bass version of “Vranjanka“, I’ve been hooked on his playing. His use of ghost notes and bass percussion create such driving songs, especially for solo bass. Here’s a great clip from a recent concert in Nis, Serbia where he performed songs from his latest album, The Art of Balkan Bass. Check out “Zapevala...
Fountains of Wayne Bassist/Songwriter Produces The Monkees’ 50th Anniversary Release
The Monkees’ first album in almost 20 years is part of something bigger – the band’s 50th anniversary celebration and tour. Good Times! features songs written by the three remaining members of the band originally assembled for a 1960s television show — Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. The remaining original member, Davy Jones, died in 2012 after suffering...
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Announce Tour Dates
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals crafted a new album after reforming for a 2015 tour, and now, the band, featuring the inimitable Juan Nelson on bass, is touring behind that album, Call It What It Is. The Call It What It Is Tour kicks off June 23 at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington, and wraps up Dec. 4 at...
Groove – Episode #18: Arthur Barrow
There’s crazy stories and then there’s really crazy stories. The timeline of Arthur Barrow’s success falls into the “really crazy story” category (without question). Barrow – a young musician trying to find his way – decides to teach himself the electric bass in 1974 while attending the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He was studying composition and organ,...
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Tell Mama
Last summer, Tedeschi Trucks Band took to the road for their Wheels of Soul tour. The band joined up with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II. Here’s the group performing “Tell Mama”, the tune made popular by Etta James in 1967. Tim Lefebvre lays down the bass and looks like he’s having fun doing it. The...
E Street Band Bassist Tallent Makes Solo Debut
Garry Tallent, the longtime bassist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, has released his first solo album, Break Time. However, on this record, Tallent handles the guitar work, vocals, percussion, and “various silly noises.” The bassist this time around is none other than Dave Roe, the prolific Nashville bassist known for working the legendary Johnny Cash. Roe plays standup bass...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in May 2016
Happy June. Now that May is in the books, it is time to celebrate the top 10 reader favorite bass gear stories for the month. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing. And sorry for the GAS. 1. Fodera Imperial Mini-MG Bass Fodera and Matthew Garrison have teamed up once again to introduce the Imperial Mini-MG. The headless and compact design...