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Victor Wooten’s VixCamps Open For Registration
Registration is now open for Victor Wooten’s 2016 Music and Nature Camps. This season includes five main programs at Wooten Woods outside of Nashville, Tennessee plus three additional programs that branch out the educational offerings. VixCamps kicks off with the original Bass/Nature Camp from July 18th to the 24th. “Following the outline set in motion in the camp’s inaugural year...
Double Bass vs. Bass Guitar
Q: I have been playing bass guitar for about 8 years, got my grade 8, toured, recorded and got myself to a semi-professional session level. As I am going to go full time as a bass player in the next 18-24 months (I am realistic as well as ambitious) I started lessons with an outstanding teacher and someone who has...
Adam Ben Ezra & Daniel Casares: Tumbada
We’ve shared a video of Adam Ben Ezra performing his tune “Tumbada” before. In this video, Adam performs the tune with Spanish/Flamenco guitarist Daniel Casares. The duo has been touring lately. Such a great tune, with a nice, new take.
Allman Brothers Band Former Bootleg Released
What was once an Allman Brothers Band bootleg is now a more official release, called Live From A&R Studios. While the August 26, 1971 live, in-studio performance broadcast on New York’s WPLJ radio has long circulated as a bootleg, the new release’s sound quality sets it apart, having been remixed from the original multi-track studio recording. The record also features...
Reader Spotlight: Matthew Girard
Meet Matthew Girard, who works by day at the Museum of Fine Arts and keeps busy as a working bassist too. While Matthew started out on trumpet, his took his first shot at bass when that became an option. He hasn’t looked back. Matthew is this week’s reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: As one of the more...
ESP Introduces Classic Styled LTD AP-204 Bass
ESP unveiled the LTD AP-204 at this year’s NAMM Show, calling it a “modernized update of a classic shape for contemporary music styles.” The bass, which comes in Charcoal Metallic and Burgundy Burst finishes, is fitted with a set of ESP-designed P/J pickups. The bass is built with bolt-on construction featuring a mahogany body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The...
Jaco Pastorius: Musicians Institute Master Class
A little over a year ago, Musicians Institute discovered a video in their vault of Jaco Pastorius’s appearance during a master class, which took place in the mid-80’s. They recently posted the entire video, where Jaco fielded questions from students. “Despite the glitchy video, the bassist’s signature sound rings loud [and] clear as he unveils the secrets of his virtuosity...
Hiromi Trio Again Showcases Anthony Jackson’s Talents
Prolific bassist Anthony Jackson, particularly well known for his contrabass playing, has again collaborated with Japanese pianist/composer Hiromi and drummer Simon Phillips on Hiromi’s 10th album, Spark. The trio has played and recorded together for five years, with Spark being its fourth album. The collaboration may last for awhile, according to Jackson (Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Chick Corea, The O’Jays)....
Bass of the Week: Wreck Guitars W Minor 5
This week we’re checking out the W Minor 5 by Wreck Guitars. Introduced late last year, the model can be fitted with a number of woods and pickup configurations. “This is a modern bass for light right arm playing with bridge moved more to the end of an instrument,” the company writes. “[The W Minor 5’s] balance is perfect for...
Practice Slow/Practice Fast
“Slow practice is fast practice” they say. To be sure, slow practice is a powerful strategy. Used by itself, however, it is incomplete. Ultimately, to perform fast passages well, we will need to have practiced them at full speed. In fact, if we are not careful, solely practicing a passage under tempo can drive us into a rut. It can...
Gracie and John Patitucci: I’ve Just Seen A Face
I love bass and vocal duets, but this one is special. John Patitucci sat down with his daughter Gracie, who goes by Gra Music, for a gorgeous cover of the Beatles classic “I’ve Just Seen a Face.” Patitucci lays down the perfect groove and fills to flesh out the arrangement while allowing Gracie to sing it out. The musical connection...
Mike Kunka & The Melvins Complete, Release 1990s Collaboration
Sometimes, those long-lost albums are actually released. Case in point: Mike & The Melvins’ Three Men and a Baby. The album, from bassist/vocalist Mike Kunka (godheadSilo, Enemymine) and The Melvins, who toured together in 1998 and decided to record an album together in 1999. A great number of things – everything from whooping cough to gear theft to surgery, according...