Buzz
Groove – Episode #12: Stuart Hamm
Is there a better way to celebrate the one year anniversary of Groove – The No Treble Podcast than to dive into the amazingly, unconventional and beautiful playing of Stuart Hamm? Back in the late eighties, I made the mistake of thinking that Hamm was a full-on rocker, due to his work with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Frank Gambale....
Mike Zabrin: Slice/What’s The Deal
After releasing Funktastic last year, bassist Mike Zabrin is back with a new single called “Slice”. Starting as a tender and introspective piece, the song morphs into a mid-tempo groove before kicking it up another notch into an upbeat jam. Check out this clip of Zabrin and his band throwing down on “Slice” as well as “What’s the Dea?” from...
Fare The Well Shows Released
Did you miss The Grateful Dead’s Fare The Well shows July 3-5 at Soldier Field in Chicago? No worries. There’s a “best of” live album documenting the best performances from the three-date stand by the band’s remaining members, including bassist Phil Lesh, augmented by musicians like Phish’s Trey Anastasio, in honor of the band’s 50th anniversary. It’s a great opportunity...
Learning to Jam
Q: Okay, I am an old rookie bass player. I always wanted to play, but I just took a long time to get started. I am playing with the praise band at my church currently, which is great; it’s making me take it seriously, and is a very forgiving environment as I learn. So far, I’m learning songs, and in...
Danielle Nicole: Just Give Me Tonight
After Trampled Under Foot dissolved, lead singer and bassist Danielle Nicole struck out on her own, and we’re glad she did. This clip is a big reason why. Shot at Knuckleheads in Kansas City, Nicole and her group get deep on the ballad “Just Give Me Tonight” from the bandleader’s album Wolf’s Den. She lays down a thick, tasty bass...
Mai Agan’s Group Releases Sophomore Effort
Estonian bass player/composer Mai Agan, known for her work in a variety of genres, from pop to jazz, has released her second album with her jazz-fusion band, MaiGroup. Titled You, the album from the Estonian/Swedish group is filled with music dedicated to the people who have inspired Agan. The result is “Something magical,” as you’ll see in the video below....
Reader Spotlight: Frescia Belmar
Frescia Belmar has always been drawn to music, despite being part of what she describes as a “non-musical family”. The path to bass was not a quick one for her, but that eventually became her instrument of choice. Frescia is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s her story… Bio: Frescia Belmar is a young innate talent. Her...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in November 2015
Time flies when you’re having fun, and as each month comes to a close, it means it is time for our monthly bass gear roundup. Here are the top 10 reader favorite gear stories for November, 2015. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Stash Stainless Bass Guitars’ Two New Models Stash Stainless has expanded their innovative bass offerings with...
Jaco Pastorius: Third Stone from the Sun
On December 1st, 1951, Jaco Pastorius – the man many of us consider the greatest bass player ever – was born. “We all say it: He’s our Hendrix,” Juan Alderete said in the recently released film, JACO. In honor of his birthday today, we revisit a classic solo from a 1978 Weather Report concert, where Jaco quotes Hendrix and a...
The Who Celebrates 50th with Concert Recordings
The Who’s June 26 concert in London’s Hyde Park is now available for purchase on CD and video as Live In Hyde Park. The show – part of the band’s 50th anniversary tour – featured original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Bassist Pino Palladino played parts made famous by the late John Entwistle. At the June 25 Hyde Park...
Bass of the Week: Ramos Guitars Gotham
This week we’re checking out a sleek black custom bass called the Gotham by Spain’s Ramos Guitars. The seven-string brute is built with a mongoy body and fretless ebony fingerboard for a dark theme and an air of mystery. Featuring neck-through construction, its three-piece maple neck is reinforced with graphite for added strength. Ramos fitted the bass with a Delano...
Multi-Stop Travel With Your Bass – Part 1: Physical Preparation
Most people realize that there are special considerations when flying with your upright bass. These considerations are significantly expanded if your musical journey requires a series of planes, trains, and automobiles, before you arrive back at your home door. With this in mind, I’d like to address three subjects in this series about Multi-Stop Travel: Physical Preparation, Personal Packing (luggage)...