Buzz
Hot Tuna: Good Shepherd, Live at Lockn’
Ever since I spoke with luthier Tom Ribbecke about Jack Casady’s Diana Bass, I’ve been searching for quality videos of the instrument in action. Here’s a fantastic one of Casady with partner-in-crime Jorma Kaukonen performing as Hot Tuna during the Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia this year. The duo play through a staple of their repertoire, “Good Shepherd,” with thoughtful...
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...
Tim Commerford Introduces New Power Trio
Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford has introduced a new power trio called Wakrat. Filled out by drummer Mathias Wakrat and guitarist Laurent Grangeon, the punk and hardcore-influenced band is working on a debut album that is described as rooted in the Minutemen, Bad Brains, and Fugazi. The music is dark and very personal to Commerford, who wrote all the...
Groove – Episode #10: Victor Wooten
The Music Lesson is a book that will forever change you. Not because it was written by one of the world’s greatest bass players but because the message is core to living a life worth celebrating. Music is all over Victor Wooten. He was bathed in it from the womb (that’s not a clever play on words, just ask him)....
Nina June & Fortheloveofbass: It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back)
We’re excited about a new project called “fortheloveofbass”. Started by Ivo Schot, the concept is to make pop songs work with only a singer and a bassist. “As a musician and bass player, my greatest desire is to connect and communicate. In my opinion the best way to do this, is to play a good song,” he explains. “When a...
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...
David Hungate Leaves Toto, Leland Sklar Steps In
David Hungate’s time in Toto has once again come to an end. The co-founding bassist returned to the fold in 2014 to help record and tour behind Toto XIV after 30 years away from the band, but a new statement explains road life took its toll. “There’s no place like home, particularly after four months on the road,” Hungate wrote....
Finding Your Voice vs. Conventional Bass Playing
Q: I have really been obsessed with wanting my own unique voice and approach on the bass. Do you think that I’d be doing myself any harm in the long run if I avoid conventional approaches to learning (like scales, changes, learning blues lines, etc…) in an attempt to develop something new? A: That’s an interesting question, (and one that...
Black Dub: Nomad
Some time after Black Dub released their self titled album, we featured their video for the tune, “I Believe In You”. I just scored this record on vinyl, prompting me to revisit some of their other videos, with all the bass goodness from Daryl Johnson. Here they are performing “Nomad,” which also appears on the record.
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...
Reader Spotlight: Erik Davenport
Meet Erik Davenport, a bassist who started on guitar at first, but says bass is his “voice”. He recalls the very moment that happened, as you’ll see in his story below. Erik is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of September 28, 2015. Bio: I was born and raised in L.A. (strange, I know), and I grew...
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...