Buzz
The Bad Plus Create an “Inevitable Western” with Latest Release
The Bad Plus, on the heels of releasing its take on The Rite of Spring earlier this year, has now released its first album of original music since 2012’s Made Possible. is an album “rich with mystery,” according to the website for the leaderless avant-jazz piano-bass-drums trio. The group is devoted to exploring musical forms birthed from jazz, and those...
Reader Spotlight: Luke “JaFFer” Ferguson
Meet Luke “JaFFer” Ferguson, a bassist from Australia who followed in his father’s footsteps as a bassist, but it was a different sort of beginning for him than you might imagine. We love JaFFer’s story – he’s living the dream. JaFFer is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of August 25, 2014. Bio: I grew up in...
Fretboard Exercise: C Major Triad Reggae Groove
As bassists, it is important that we know our chords and arpeggios. Coupled with that is the importance of knowing the entire fretboard. In this exercise, we’ll play only three notes – the C Major triad. To make it fun, I’ve set it up as a reggae-style groove. As you’ll see in the video below, I cover the entire fretboard...
Nik West: Forbidden Fruit, Live
Nik West lays it down in this live performance of her song “Forbidden Fruit.” Drawing from R&B and funk, West leads the band on bass and vocals complete with a tasty solo at the three-minute mark.
Motorhead’s Aftershock Reissued in a “Tour Edition”
Motörhead has added something extra to its 2013 Aftershock album — a live CD. The package, called , features not only the original album, but also the bonus material, culled from the band’s mini Best of the West Coast Tour earlier this year. The live recording features Aftershock tunes and Motörhead classics, like “Ace of Spades.” Fronted by bassist, singer...
Bass of the Week: Scott Guitar Works SB-2
This week we check out the SB-2 by Scott Guitar Works of Louisville, Kentucky. The bass is built to order and has a plethora of options, but its central point is its unique body shape. Scott shaves down to a minimalist design with a short lower horn and thinner, longer upper horn while keeping it curvy in the lower half...
How Much Should I Practice?
This is a question I get often from both serious students and amateurs alike. Since the answer depends on a person’s goals, and every person is unique, there is no single answer for everyone. However, I can make some general suggestions. My suggestions will presuppose a few things: You practice on a regular basis Daily, 6-7 days a week. This...
Thomas Laffont Group: Pop & Slap Blues
Bassist Thomas Laffont sent us this video of his new project. He said he recently finished music school, and that this is his first video project as a band leader, bassist, composer and producer. The tune is “Pop & Slap Blues”, and it sounds like Thomas is off to a fantastic start. The audio for the track is available through...
Eastman Releases VB95 Eastman Pro Bass
Eastman Guitars debuted a pair of new instruments at Summer NAMM this year including the VB95 Eastman Pro Bass. Designed with the touring player or weekend warrior in mind, the new double bass features a fully carved spruce top with gamba corners, a solid laminate back and ribs, and a solid ebony fingerboard. The bass’s body is finished in an...
Weekly Top 10: Paul Jackson Groove, Slap Bass, New Gear, Mike Kerr Interviewed and More
Another great week in the books, and we kick this top 10 list off with one of the deepest pockets around, by the one and only Paul Jackson. We had a great discussion on the value of slap bass, thanks to Damian Erskine’s latest “Ask” column, plus we got a chance to connect with Mike Kerr, of the exciting duo...
Ampeg Now Shipping Revamped BA-112 and BA-115 Bass Combos
After revamping the BA series earlier this year, Ampeg is now shipping the new BA-112 and BA-115 bass combo amps. The models carry all the new features including the foot-switchable Bass Scrambler overdrive circuit, a 3-band EQ, and a true sixty degree monitoring angle so they can be set up as a wedge. The Bass Scrambler is one of the...
Soulive: “Butter Biscuit” with Oteil Burbridge
In celebration of Oteil Burbridge’s birthday today, here’s a video that shows off his amazing groove and soloing skills. The video was filmed in March, 2010 in Brooklyn. The group described the event this way: “Eric Krasno, Alan Evans and Neal Evans called on a multitude of their closest friends and musical conspirators to join them over the next fortnight...