Buzz
Chris Squire Diagnosed with Leukemia
Bass legend Chris Squire has been diagnosed with an uncommon form of leukemia called Acute Erythroid Leukemia, according to a post on the Yes website. The bassist, who co-founded the influential prog-rock band, will be receiving treatment in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona during the next few months. Squire’s treatment will force him to sit out of the band’s upcoming...
Matt Lawton: “Let’s Stay Together” for Solo Bass
Matt Lawton shared his new video with us, performing a solo bass arrangement of the Al Green tune “Let’s Stay Together”. There’s plenty to like about this one.
Veil of Maya Offers Up “Matriarch”
Deathcore band Veil of Maya has released its fourth studio effort, Matriarch. The band, featuring bassist Danny Hauser, has a new vocalist for the album, Lukas Magyar (Arms of Empire) has replaced Brandon Butler, the band’s singer of seven years. Single “Mikasa” provides a good example the band’s current sound: Matriarch is available on and as a digital download (...
Bass of the Week: o3 Guitars Rhodium Purplehaze
This week we take a look at another eye-catching bass from o3 Custom Guitars called the Rhodium. The Spanish-made bass is also called the Purplehaze due to its gorgeous purple satin finish over its ash body. Its neck is a five-piece laminate comprised of flamed maple and wenge with a pau ferro toneblock. The bass is fitted with a pair...
Simple Exercise for Increased Bow Control on Bass
When using the bow, the natural tendency is to play louder at the frog and softer at the tip. We must, of course, counteract this predisposition on a regular basis. Simply playing a full bow with consistent timbre and volume requires it. Generally, we do this by adding pressure, via arm weight, to the bow as we move further from...
Chris Minh Doky Band: Break Song
Here’s a great clip of Chris Minh Doky with his band performing the funky tune, “Break Song”. Things kick off with the always entertaining Dean Brown on guitar, with the rest of the band – including Dave Weckl on drums and George Whitty on keys. Chris takes a sweet solo too.
Jazz Sideman Michael Oien Steps Out With Debut Album
Post-bop jazzman Michael Oien has released his debut album, And Now. “This is my most important artistic statement so far, writing my own music and recording it with my own band,” says Oien, a double bassist who has made a name for himself in the New York City jazz scene. The band is a quintet that also includes alto saxophonist...
Weekly Top 10: RIP Rutger Gunnarsson, Focused Practice & Performance, Top Bass Videos, Gear and Bass of the Week
This week we shared the sad news of Rutger Gunnarsson’s passing. Known for his work with ABBA, Gunnarsson received lots of love from the bass playing community here and around the web. This week also featured a lot of top bass videos, Damian’s popular “Ask” column on focused practice and performance, plus some new gear and the bass of the...
LedBelli Bass Guitars Introduces Jonah “Thin Wing” Bass
Bass luthier Cleve Johnson has introduced a new model to his lineup from LedBelli Bass Guitars called the Jonah “Thin Wing.” The bass is a variation on LedBelli’s flagship Jonah with extra shaping for a slimmer profile. “The ‘wings’ of the bass are heavily contoured and thin, thus the ‘thin-wing’ designation,” Johnson explains. “The thickest section of the body is...
Fasino & Falanga: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Lucio Enrico Fasino shared his newest project with us – a collaboration with vocalist Deborah Falanga. The duo put together this unique version of the Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong tune, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” made famous in separate recordings by Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye. Things really start cooking around the halfway point, with a hint of...
New Paperback Edition of Mike Visceglia’s “A View From the Side” Released
Top session bassist Mike Visceglia committed the experience of being a pro bassist to print with his book A View From the Side, which is now available in a new paperback edition. Visceglia, well-known for his work with John Cale and Suzanne Vega, has also played/performed with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Phoebe Snow and Bette Midler. The...
MK Introduces Passive Jazz Electric Upright Bass
Electric upright bass company MK has announced a new passive jazz model of their flagship bass. The Jazz-P features piezo transducer pickups and passive electronics, which MK says solves tonal problems of the bass including noise at high levels of amplification. It’s built with a single piece of horse chestnut for the body and neck with an ebony-stained pear wood...