Buzz
Jaco Pastorius and Bireli Lagrene: Teen Town Jam
If you’ve listened to Live in Italy, with Jaco Pastorius, Bireli Lagrene, and Tomas Böröcz, you’ve heard one killer version of Jaco’s “Teen Town”. Now you can see a video of the trio performing the tune (with some other tunes/jams thrown in) live in 1986. Thank goodness we’re past the era of video tapes (and thank goodness they were around...
moe. Releases “No Guts, No Glory”
The 11th studio album from moe., , was supposed to have a completely different sound than the finished product. “Everything we started out to do turned into completely something else. An album that was supposed to be an acoustic based album recorded in a barn turned into a hard rock album recorded in Connecticut with a hip-hop producer. Go figure....
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in May 2014
Hard to believe another month is coming to an end. But the good news is that it means we have a top 10 list of the most popular gear stories for the month. Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing. 1. Gibson Memory Cable With Built-In Recorder Gibson has unveiled a new development in the world of instrument cables...
Charles Bradley and The Menahan Street Band: Live in Studio
Sometimes the path to music discovery is a long and winding one. I recently heard about Soul of America – a documentary focusing on singer Charles Bradley. I haven’t seen it yet, but I did start checking out music by the singer. One of the tunes was “The World (Is Going Up In Flames)” from the album, No Time for...
Hal Leonard Releases “Paul McCartney: Bass Play-Along Volume 43”
A new book features just about everything you need to play bass just like Paul McCartney on some of his most well-known songs. includes standard notation, the tab and a CD revealing how the bass should sound as well as the backing tracks to play along with. The melody and lyrics are also included for those who want to sing...
Rotosound Revamps Tru Bass RS88LD Black Nylon Bass Strings
Rotosound has upgraded their Tru Bass RS88LD Black Nylon bass strings with a new computer controlled engineering process in their UK factory. The company says that the process, along with finishing by their craftsmen, add to the strings’ lifespan and playability. Rotosound describes the tone as “double bass-like.” The Tru Bass 88 was originally designed by James How for Jim...
Evan Marien and Dana Hawkins: Encore
Time for a new video by the guys we like to call The Dynamic Duo. This time around, bassist Evan Marien and drummer Dana Hawkins are doing their thing the tune “Encore”, a bonus track on the duo’s . Amazing, as always.
Crowbar Returns with “Symmetry in Black”
Sludge metal band Crowbar has released its 10th studio album, . It’s the New Orleans-based group’s first since 2011’s Sever the Wicked Hand and its first with bassist Jeff Golden, who replaced longtime bassist Pat Bruders after Bruders left to concentrate on work with Down. The album also comes during Crowbar’s 25th anniversary year. But although the guys are older,...
Bass of the Week: HJC Customs Alchemy Fretless 5
Back at the Winter NAMM show this year, we ran into our friend Vuyani Wakaba roaming the floor with a smile from ear to ear. He was overjoyed by his new HJC Customs Fretless Alchemy 5, which is this week’s Bass of the Week. Wakaba teamed up with luthier Harold J. Cagle for the custom creation. It features an African...
Zander Zon: “Lord of the Rings” Medley for Solo Bass
I’m not quite sure how Zander Zon produces such incredible arrangements and performances as often as he does. In this piece he performs music from the Lord of the Rings. He even shared some terrific quotes from people who have watched so far: “One instrument to rule them all!” “Lord of the strings!” So true. Zander is sporting his Zon...
Hal Leonard Publishes “Essential Bass Guitar Techniques…”
Don’t keep faking your way through songs. Learn how those great players created the sounds you love. Usually, it’s all about a technique — like Flea’s slapping, or Jaco Pastorius’ finger-style and harmonics. A new book aims to provide you with need-to-know techniques. is a 74-page book that’s accompanied by library of 86 audio tracks and examples available online when...
Connecting Chords: A Guide to Playing Fluid Bass Lines
Q: I would like to ask about voicing/phrases on bass when it comes to chord progressions. How should I step into the next chord when I’m phrasing the actual one? Should I try walking lines? Are there any standard licks that can bring the feel of translating to a next chord? Or they are all built on the same concept...