Buzz
Guild Unveils New M-85 Bass Models
Guild is reviving the M-85 with two new models this year: the Newark St. Collection M-85 bass and the GSR M-85 II bass. Each of the instruments is a take on the vintage bass, which was the companion to the Guild M-75 Aristocrat guitar. Guild Newark St. Collection M-85 Bass The Newark St. M-85 is a singlecutaway, semi-hollow body bass...
Blake Branch: “For Once In My Life” Bass Line
It has been quite a while since we’ve featured a video by Blake Branch. This one is actually over three years old, but is well worth sharing. Blake transcribed the complete bass line on Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life,” which of course was masterfully played by James Jamerson. Almost as impressive is the tone Blake gets from his...
Archie Shepp and Attica Blues Orchestra Release “I Hear The Sound”
The sound of bassist Reggie Washington, who has recorded, collaborated and/or toured with with the likes of Cassandra Wilson, Meshell N’degeocello, the M-Base Collective, and Ute Lemper, has left a significant mark on a new live record from jazz saxophonist and composer Archie Shepp and Attica Blues Orchestra. The heart of the record is material from Shepp’s Attica Blues album,...
ESP To Unveil E-II Series Basses at NAMM
ESP will be unveiling the first batch of products from their new US factory at NAMM this year. The instruments will be part of the new E-II series and will be built in North Hollywood, California. Among the new basses will be the ESP E-II AP-4 and AP-5 models. Each of the four and five-sting versions are built with bolt-on...
Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters Featuring Marcus Miller: Hang Up Your Hang Ups
My pal Seth introduced me to this song a few years ago, and for some reason it always makes me think of New York City. We featured this song with Paul Jackson before, but this version is taken from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters 2005 tour with Marcus Miller holding down the low end. Marcus takes a solo starting around the 5:30...
The Sword Announce Final North American “Apocryphon” Tour Dates
The Sword, anchored by bassist Bryan Richie, has announced the tenth and final leg of their tour cycle for their latest album, Apocryphon. Kicking off in Austin, Texas on February 13th, the band will first head east, then north to Canada and back down into the U.S. The band has also released a lyric video for “The Hidden Masters,” which...
Fumbling Fingers: When Common Tasks Take Their Toll on Bassists
For some of us, finding the time to playing bass is a luxury. We don’t get many opportunities to sit down and groove, learn our favorite songs, or hit the woodshed to practice technique. Work takes up too many hours in the day and after having to make dinner, spend time with our friends or family, and take in a...
Spare Parts: Quarter Pulse
Our friend Steven Smith sent this in to us, saying “I just discovered a new band – new to me, that is – Spare Parts. Great 70s groove! The bassist is Colin Scott, [and he’s] layin’ it down on the Fender Jazz. Sweet!” Sweet indeed. Love that old school sound.
Gwil Sainsbury Quits Alt-J
Bassist Gwil Sainsbury has quit the English indie rock band Alt-J, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page. “We’re sad to say goodbye to Gwil – the last 5 years with him in the band have been fantastic and we are all proud of our achievements together,” the post reads. “However our enthusiasm to continue working on our...
Bass of the Week: Jimmy Haslip’s “Gabriella Rose” Bass by Wyn Guitars
The best basses come with great stories. Jimmy Haslip’s six-string bass from Wyn Guitars, called “Gabriela Rose,” is a great example. Wyn Guitars luthier Randy Fullmer recounts the whole process on his website. “It’s a luthier’s dream to make an instrument for an artist with the stature and playing chops of Jimmy Haslip,” Fullmer humbly states. “I of course handled...
David Murphy Leaves STS9
STS9 has been forced to postpone their winter tour after the band announced that bassist David Murphy will be leaving their ranks. “In life, the only constant is change. We try to embrace this in our music and in our lives and its in this spirit that we announce STS9 and bassist David Murphy are parting ways,” the band shared...
Juraj Griglak and Stanley Clarke Jam (1985)
The incredibly talented Slovakian bassist Juraj Griglak just posted this awesome video from the 1985 Bratislava Jazz Festival. Griglak got to hop on stage to jam out with the Stanley Clarke Band and ripped up some crazy slap lines. Clarke shouts, “we got a good one!” just before jumping into the action himself. Too cool.