Buzz
Blackstar Amps Unveils Tone:Link Bluetooth Audio Receiver
Blackstar Amps has unveiled the Tone:Link, a Bluetooth audio receiver that allows any amp or device with a line-in jack to use Bluetooth for streaming. It works with bass amps, guitar amps, PAs, home stereos, headphones and car speakers. “By plugging into the line-in jack of any guitar amp, Tone:Link offers music playback with up to a 65 foot wireless...
The Winery Dogs: Elevate / The Other Side (Live)
The Winery Dogs are enjoying great success with their second album, Hot Streak. Here’s the supergroup of Billy Sheehan, Richie Kotzen and Mike Portnoy performing two from their songs from their debut album – “Elevate” and “The Other Side” – live at Sonisphere 2014 at Knebworth Park in England on July 5th, 2014. This has to be the definition of...
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...
The Lightbulb Moment: Check This Out
It’s the year 2015. Hours are spent each day scrolling though videos on Facebook, clicking links to YouTube, or listening to preset Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon stations. We experience music on television commercials or reality TV shows, with hashtags and at symbols telling us where to go if we happen to like the song that is fed to us. It...
Adam Ben Ezra and Yasmin Levy: Libertad
Adam Ben Ezra released his debut album yesterday, and marked the occasion with a live show as part of the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival. The bassist performed music from the new album with his trio, and had a special guest join him as well. “I am excited to announce a very special and remarkable guest… the International amazing singer/songwriter Yasmin...
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...
Craig Akin: “Sanford and Son” Theme on Upright Bass
Our friend Jayme Lewis shared this video on Facebook, with just two words: “So sick.” The bassist is Craig Akin. The tune is “The Streetbeater” by Quincy Jones – but you may know it better as the theme to Sanford and Son. So sick is right. The only thing better would be if it could be a little longer.
“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...
Fleetwood Mac: Say You Love Me, Live 1998
Happy birthday to Fleetwood Mac’s John McVie! We’re celebrating in style with “Say You Love Me” from the band’s 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. McVie lays down a buttery bass line with plenty of tasty fills to drive the song. Happy birthday, John McVie!
Keeping Students Interested When Studying Bass
Q: I loved the column on giving guidance to students. Do you have suggestions for guiding teachers in bass teaching? I struggle keeping my beginning students interested when I have them “eat vegetables” – like scales and note reading and rhythm practice. How do you find the balance between serving vegetables and meat with potatoes and even dessert as a...
Zander Zon and Josh Cohen: See You Again
This year has been a year of firsts for bassist Zander Zon, including his first ever collaboration video (with KJC), adding a new bass to the mix (a Chris Larking custom made acoustic bass guitar), and his first collaboration with a bassist (Miki Santamaria). Now he’s teamed up with another bassist we’ve featured here before, Josh Cohen. And I do...
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...