Buzz
Groove – Episode #4: Gary Willis
From a commercial standpoint, Gary Willis is mostly known as the co-founder of Tribal Tech (the jazz fusion band that includes Scott Henderson). The life of a jazz musician is never easy… no matter how much hype and excitement there is surrounding your band (and, Gary had plenty of that with Tribal Tech). Like most bass players, Gary has paid...
Sharay Reed: What’s Going On Bass Solo
We often feature solo bass tunes, but this one is a little different. Sharay Reed channels the spirit of James Jamerson by playing a solo bass line to the Marvin Gaye hit “What’s Going On” in this clip from the One Mic show. Reed weaves his own bass line for the song while keeping the groove in the Motown vein....
Eberhard Weber Revitalizes Solos on “Encore”
Double bassist Eberhard Weber has released his latest album, Encore. For it, the jazz player (known for his work on electric double bass) pulls from his live work with Jan Garbarek Group, turning solos into new pieces. “I became what you might call a composer of New Music,” Weber said, “with the proviso that I make use of old things.”...
Dealing with Different Environments and Bass Tone
Q: In 25+ years playing, one problem has plagued and perplexed me the entire time… from one band practice to the next I swear the tone of my bass changes. One day my bass tone sounds like it’s dialed in right where it needs to be the next my strings sound dull or my amp tone isn’t punching they way...
FF KING: 4’33”
Skill. Courage. Raw talent. This is only half of what it takes to attempt John Cage’s masterpiece “4’33” on the bass guitar. Here’s a great performance of the piece by YouTube bassist FF KING, who bravely tackles the song in the wild. The anticipation that builds as he prepares to play will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Bill Laswell’s Latest Record Inspired by Hawaii
Eclectic, multi-genre bassist and producer Bill Laswell has turned his ever-prolific talents to the island of Hawaii with Kauai – The Arch Of Heaven. The album not only combines natural, environmental ambient sounds and traditional, tribal music of Kauai, but also incorporates Jamaican dancehall, dub and reggae. The five-song Kauai – The Arch of Heaven is available on and ....
Reader Spotlight: Lyndsey Torrez
We’ve featured more than a few readers here who have super cool parents. Add Lyndsey Torrez to the list (thanks to his dad). Lyndsey is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of March 30th, 2015. Bio: I hail from Austin, TX but live in College Station, TX. I have spent a good part of 15 years...
Dahrendorf Guitars Introduces Daikatana Bass
Dahrendorf Guitars has unveiled a new five-string model called the Daikatana. Named after a Japanese longsword, the bass is built with two matching Sapele halves with Pao Ferro reinforcement in between. Dahrendorf says the combination gives the bass a “sharp attack, a deep resonance and an endless sustain.” The Daikatana has a multi-scale design that ranges from 36 inches on...
Esperanza Spalding: “Hold On Me” and “I Can’t Help It”
Here’s a clip from the 2012 North Sea Jazz fest featuring the one and only Esperanza Spalding performing covers of two Michael Jackson tunes, “Hold On Me” and “I Can’t Help It”. No other words necessary.
Rediscovered Buena Vista Social Club Music Released on “Lost and Found”
The 1997 album, The Buena Vista Social Club, alerted many music fans to a world of Cuban music they may not have fully appreciated or even known about previously. The majority of the Buena Vista players were older at the time of the original, self-titled album’s release, with music careers prominent in the 1940s and 1950s. Sadly, many of those...
Superstar-Packed Charity Tribute to Paul McCartney Released on Video
The MusiCares Tribute to Paul McCartney occurred back in February 2012, but now many of the performances from the concert are available on DVD and Blu-ray. The tribute concert film not only features artists like Alicia Keys, Duane Eddy, Coldplay and James Taylor covering legendary singer/songwriter/bassist/multi-instrumentalist’s work from his tenures in The Beatles and Wings, as well as from his...
Bass of the Week: Lorita Basses Miki Santamaria Signature Bass
Miki Santamaria is a favorite here at No Treble headquarters – and among readers too – so I was excited to check out his signature bass from Lorita Basses. Designed by the bassist and built by luthier Xavier Lorita in Barcelona, its striking design includes a maple theme with a flamed maple top over a swamp ash body, a 3-piece...