Buzz
Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters: Palm Grease (Live, 1974)
Oh yes, this is the good stuff. Anchored by bassist Paul Jackson and drummer Mike Clark, here’s Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters performing live in November 1974 at Musikladen in Bremen, Germany. Funky!
When Technology Breaks: A Survival Guide for Bassists
Technology is a wonderful thing. Compared to a century ago, our day-to-day lives are completely different; we no longer need to hand wash our clothes, build a fire to eat, or take a horse and buggy to visit friends in an adjacent state. Instead, we can simply purchase magical devices such as washing machines, microwaves, and Toyota Corollas. While all...
KNOWER with Tim Lefebvre: Daft Punk “Get Lucky” Cover
Interestingly, this cover covers both the electronic era of Daft Punk and the current era which features more live instruments. For the “live instruments” part, KNOWER has teamed up with the ever-funky Tim Lefebvre on the bass.
Kim Deal Quits The Pixies
Kim Deal has left the iconic alternative rock band The Pixies, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page. “We are sad to say that Kim Deal has decided to leave the Pixies. We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years. Despite her decision to move on, we will always...
Bass of the Week: Utrera Ellegance Single Cut Bass
Freddy Utrera is a Venezuelan luthier who has been producing some gorgeous basses, including his Ellegance singlecut. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string versions, the bass is evidence of the luthier’s love of natural finishes and often ships that way, just to display the gorgeous cuts of wood he utilizes. The Ellegance comes in two flavors: standard and custom. The...
Carrying on the Mingus Dynasty: An Interview with Boris Kozlov
It’s not easy to fill the shoes of a legend, and Charles Mingus has some huge shoes to fill. The iconic jazz bassist and composer left behind a body of work so massive, so complex, and so uniquely his own that it takes an equally rare musician to convey its spirit. Mingus’ music lives on through the Mingus Big Band,...
Evan Marien and Dana Hawkins: Sweatn
Evan Marien sent me the latest of his duo with drummer Dana Hawkins. This time around, they’re performing the tune “Sweatn.” I’ve said it before… these guys just knock me out. How about you?
Peerless Guitars Introduces Retromatic B1 and B2 Basses
Peerless Guitars has launched a pair of 4-string versions of their Retromatic guitar with the Retromatic B1 and B2 basses. Sporting a vintage vibe, the basses feature a chambered, semi-hollow body design finished in natural, teal green, honey sunburst, ivory, black, gold or candy apple red colors. The B1 is fitted with a single humbucker designed by Matt Gleeson of...
All Sides of the Beat: A Discussion for Bass Players
Q: I was wondering if you could share your thoughts on playing around the beat: when to play behind the beat? Ahead? And so on… A: Good question! And also one that is a bit dependent upon how you feel the music. Generally speaking, it is up to you and the rest of the band to determine how a song...
Simon Fitzpatrick: “Roundabout” Live Solo Bass Performance
Simon Fitzpatrick is a guy who constantly pushes himself to see what can be done on the bass. Here’s the latest example: an incredibly intricate solo bass version of the classic Yes track “Roundabout.” After putting it all together with just his bass and his hands, Fitzpatrick builds the piece with a looper to lay a superb solo overtop.
Paul McCartney and Wings’ Remastered Rockshow Concert Film Released
In 1975 and 1976, former Fab Four bassist Paul McCartney and his band Wings took the world by storm with the “Wings over the World” tour, a 66-date trek across Australia, Europe and North America. It was the largest tour the band would ever undertake, and it resulted in the triple live album Wings Over America. A concert film entitled...
Reader Spotlight: Gabe Bernard
Meet Gabe Bernard, a bassist and student who has one of the coolest dads around. We really enjoyed Gabe’s story, and so he was an easy choice for this week’s reader in the spotlight. Plus, he put Joe Dart down as one of his influences. Awesome. Bio: My dad decided that the moment he left college he would start a...