Buzz
Nik West, Featuring Orianthi: My Relationship
Anyone that has jammed with Prince, John Mayer, and Bootsy Collins must have something good to say, and Nik West is one of those people. The bassist’s recently released Say Somethin’ EP blends rock, funk, and R&B for an engaging musical journey pinned together by her solid bass playing. West gives a taste of the EP with her latest music...
Made in Chicago: Larry Gray Featured Jack DeJohnette Live Album
Jazz drumming great Jack DeJohnette called upon Chicago musicians he has known since the early 1960s for his latest album, Made in Chicago, and one latecomer—bassist/cellist Larry Gray. Gray, a sideman extraordinaire in multiple genres and Assistant Professor of Double Bass in Jazz at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has known DeJohnette since 1994 and said that when it...
Bass of the Week: Adamovic Basses SuperNova 5
Adamovic Basses recently posted a set of photos on their Facebook page that made me want to look up some more. The bass was SuperNova 5 featuring a one-piece African padouk top, and it’s our bass of the week. The SuperNova one of the company’s first models and features a three-dimensional hand-carved body. While the Netherlands-based company builds the model...
Robert Glasper Experiment, Featuring Derrick Hodge: Say Yes
Derrick Hodge is a monster bassist. Adept at both electric and upright bass, his style brings together the best elements of jazz, R&B, and gospel. Here’s a clip of Hodge laying it down with the Robert Glasper Experiment during a performance at The Exchange LA in Los Angeles, California. The bassist pours his soul into an extended bass solo that...
Weekly Top 10: New Bass Gear, The Top Bass Videos, Expert Columns, Bass of the Week and More
It is Sunday, which means it is time to bring you the best in bass – at least a week’s worth. Here is the top 10 list for this week of the most read stories and most watched videos on No Treble. Thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing! 1. Josh Cohen: Solo Bass Arrangement of “Chameleon” Here is a...
In Memoriam: Mike Porcaro
Mike Porcaro, who played bass for the seminal rock band Toto, has passed away after a long battle with ALS. He was 59 years old. Porcaro came from a musical family. His father is jazz drummer Joe Porcaro, and he is the middle brother of drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro. Though Mike played on several unofficial sessions since...
Spector Introduces NS-2 CT-B Carved Top Bass
Stuart Spector was showing off his latest creation at NAMM this year with the Spector NS-2 CT-B, a carved top take on the company’s flagship NS-2 model. Handbuilt in Spector’s U.S. workshop, the bass features a chambered alder body with a redwood top that’s carved on both the inside and outside surfaces. The top also fits their Helium series and...
Viaceslav Svedov: “Rock and Roll” on ContraBass Balalaika
Viaceslav Svedov amazes me and cracks me up whenever he gets the ContraBass Balalaika out and plays. Here’s a video where he’s decided to add distortion to the mix and rock out to Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”. Oh yeah.
Danielle Nicole Releases Soulful Debut EP
Danielle Nicole has soul. And you can hear that soul in her vocals, bass playing and songs on her rootsy, bluesy, new self-titled EP, recorded in New Orleans and Kansas City. The New Orleans tracks are produced by guitarist Anders Osborne and the remaining two songs on the set were recorded live at KTBG-The Bridge 90.9 FM in Kansas City....
DR Strings Introduces Pure Blues Bass Strings
DR Strings has introduced a new set of bass strings called Pure Blues. The strings utilize a Quantum-Nickel wrap, which the company describes as combining the best characteristics of steel with a nickel feel. “Pure Blues bass strings combine a fat, warm punch with an edge especially designed for the modern bassist,” DR writes. “Pure Blues strings provide more output,...
Mark Michell: Scale The Summit’s “The Dark Horse” Playthrough
Here’s another great metal playthrough by Scale the Summit’s Mark Michell. The bassist tears through “The Dark Horse” from the band’s album The Migration at EMG Pickups TV studios. The song’s creative rhythmic variations tied with Michell’s tone make for a great bass part. Be sure to check out the bass break at the 3:48 mark.
Marcelo Yakko Releases “Loop Life”
Argentine bassist Marcelo Yakko has released his fourth solo album, Loop Life. Musically, the 15-track album reveals a musician who incorporates a wide range of his influences, from jazz fusion, to progressive rock, to more traditional Latin sounds. Conceptually, Yakko told us that the “message tries to capture the diverse moments and stages faced by the human being.” Loop Life,...