Buzz
Bass of the Week: Matteo Rufini Precision IV Custom Vintage Series
A few months ago, Jordan Brown sent us some pictures of a bass he was having made. I knew even before it was finished that it was going to be a killer bass, and it looks like I was right. Brown, who is an active player in London, reached out to Italian luthier Matteo Rufini to build an instrument that...
Getting Back in the Practice Room: Regaining Inspiration
Everyone who stays at this music thing for a time will likely find themselves lacking in motivation at some point or another. If practicing has become a chore, or if you can’t even bring yourself to pick up the instrument, perhaps some of these strategies might bring some fire back into your musical life. Take a break Sometimes we are...
Hipster Slayer: In Space
The last time we featured bassist Mats Ödahl, he knocked us out with the video of him playing along to a Charlie Parker solo. Mats just shared a new video with us, which is quite different and shows the bassist’s diversity. “I wanted to share a new live-performance video from my Finnish band Hipster Slayer that I’m very proud of....
Inspired Grateful Dead Show with Branford Marsalis Now Available in Official Version
If not for bassist Phil Lesh, the Grateful Dead’s March 29, 1990 show at the Nassau Coliseum wouldn’t have been quite as noteworthy as it was. On that night, Lesh invited jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis to sit in for one tune — “Birdsong.” He played it, and then, with the band’s encouragement, stayed for the entire second set. In the...
Weekly Top 10: Rock Bass with Overdrive How To, Old School Bass, Effects Q&A, Top Bass Videos and More
Brace yourself for a whole lotta bass goodness, all at once. From some great effects-related how-to’s to some jaw-dropping videos, some sweet old school goodness (one truly old school, another inspired by the old school) plus some other top news from the world of bass, here are the top 10 most viewed articles and videos on No Treble for the...
Jaco Pastorius: 1976 Montreux Solo
Shortly after Jaco Pastorius joined Weather Report, the band performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The date was July 8, 1976. During that performance, Jaco performed a solo piece which included “Portrait of Tracy”. He was just 24 years old at the time of this performance. In honor of the bass legend, here’s that performance. RIP, Jaco.
Bass Event to Help Bring More Music to Disadvantaged Schools
Want to help some kids learn more about music while getting your bass fix? You might need to find a way to get yourself to the Second Annual Lords of the Low End event. The 1:00 – 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25 La Bella Strings-sponsored event at the Cutting Room in New York City will benefit “Little Kids Rock,” a nonprofit...
MBS Effects Releases the Mr. Smith Delay Pedal
MBS Effects has introduced the Mr. Smith, a compact delay pedal that offers up to 1600 ms of delay that can be set via Tap Tempo or rotary knob. It has four types of subdivisions: quarter note, eighth note, triplets, and dual triplets. The Argentinian effects company designed the pedal to have an analog dry-through with selectable true bypass and...
Dominic Miller, Manu Katché and Pino Palladino: Rush Hour
One Shot Not was a terrific show aired on French television from 2007 until 2011. Described as a way to discover artists from multiple musical backgrounds through recorded sessions, the inspiration for the show was David Sanborn’s and Jools Holland’s “Night Music” program. In their final year of airing, guitarist Dominic Miller joined bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Manu Katché....
Matt Brewer Reveals Himself as a Bandleader on “Mythology”
Matt Brewer, one of the younger faces of progressive jazz bass, has released , his first album as a band leader. Brewer may be better known, thus far, for his work on albums like Mike Moreno’s First in Mind and David Binney’s Anacapa. But Mythology may change that. On the record, Brewer, who has played with a variety of artists,...
Bass Players to Know: Gail Ann Dorsey
To quote one of my favorite musical guilty pleasures, it’s time to throw a little girl power into the mix. As a stellar vocalist and compelling player, Gail has had a reputable solo career and has recorded and toured with artists including David Bowie, Tears for Fears, Lenny Kravitz, Dar Williams, The Indigo Girls, and Gwen Stefani. With impeccable style,...
Gheorghe Postoronca: Dreaming of You
Solo bassist Gheorghe Postoronca sent us this video for his latest song, “Dreaming of You.” Combining fingerstyle, slap and tapping, the song flows through several textures to give a full accompaniment to Postoronca’s catchy melody.