Buzz
Consider the Source: An Interview with John Ferrara
As we become more connected, a deeper mixing of culture and ideas is creating some innovative music. One example is Consider the Source, and a style they call “Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion”. Check out our interview with bassist John Ferrara, who talks about that and more
Monster Truck: Sweet Mountain River & Old Train, Live
I’m not sure how I got onto this band, but I’m glad I did. Monster Truck is a gritty rock band informed by classic ’70s metal riffage. While the group is based out of Ontario, there’s a certain southern rock groove to it, too. The band is fronted by bassist Jon Harvey, who unleashes some solid grooves while handling lead...
Eden Amplification Launches the World Tour Pro Series
Eden has announced the World Tour Pro Series, consisting of the WTP900, the WTP600, and the WTPPRE. Eden calls the series their new flagship line and steps things up from their existing World Tour amps. Each of the models is loaded with the same features but differ in the power sections. The WTP900 is rated at 900 watts with stereo...
Josh Cohen: Solo Bass Arrangement of “Chameleon”
Here is a video that will freak you out musically and visually. Josh Cohen created a beautiful, funky arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon,” and decided to do something a little different for the video. The bassist is clad in an all white suit and moves erratically to emphasize parts of the song. While the visual dynamic may be bizarre, the...
Judas Priest’s “Defenders of the Faith” Gets Anniversary Remaster
The 30th anniversary edition of Judas Priest’s “Defenders of the Faith” is made for lovers of mid-1980s metal. And it is out now. Check it out, including a video with references to Spinal Tap, among other things
ESP Guitars Introduces Bunny Brunel Signature Basses
Fusion bassist Bunny Brunel teamed up with ESP Guitars to unveil a new signature line at the 2015 Winter NAMM Show. The basses comes in two models: the BB-1004/QM, which is a four-string with a See-Thru Black Sunburst, and the BB-1005FL/QM, a fretless five-string with a Burnt Orange finish. Both editions carry many of the same features, including an alder...
Best Strings for Two-Handed Tapping?
Q: I’m looking for the brightest sounding flatwound strings I can find. I play a highly modded ’66 Jazz 5-string with Barto pickups and have used round wound strings consistently since 1972… yes, that long. The sizes I always use are 45 65 85 105, and 125. I want to experiment with the two-handed chordal technique used by Roscoe Beck...
Rinat Ibragimov: Bach Cello Suite No. 3, 5. Bourrée
Bach may have written suites for cello, but they sound just as fantastic on the bass. In fact, this third suite is often used as solo material for classical bassists. Here’s the London Symphony Orchestra’s principal bassist Rinat Ibragimov performing the fifth movement of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3. His mastery of the instrument is obvious as he plays the...
The Levin Brothers Announce Tour Dates
After releasing their first ever album together last year, Pete and Tony Levin have announced twelve date tour of the Northeastern United States. The musical brothers duo will kick things off in Rosendale, New York at the Rosendale Cafe on March 14th before covering most of New York state with stops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The group’s classic cool...
Reader Spotlight: Graham McLachlan
Meet Graham McLachlan a bassist who also plays Chapman Stick on a very cool gig – Blue Man Group Chicago. Not only that, Graham’s gear list gave me a serious case of GAS. Graham also plays bass in Electric Hawk – a band he describes as “an instrumental, prog/mathy, heavy band”. He’s the No Treble reader in the spotlight for...
Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (February 2015)
Time for another top 10 list to keep you busy for the afternoon. These are the top 10 most watched bass videos on No Treble for the month of February – ranging from some great funky lines to some of the most impressive solo bass arrangements, and lots in between. Enjoy! 1. I Was Made to Love Her: James Jamerson’s...
Spare Parts: D to B
At this year’s NAMM show, I ran into Spare Parts bassist Colin Scott. Colin said they were working on new videos, which got all of us excited here at NT HQ. Here’s one of those videos by the band, with Rajiv Halim joining in on tenor sax. These guys are as funky and old school as ever.