Buzz
In Memoriam: Iron Butterfly’s Lee Dorman
Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman has passed away at the age of 70. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reports that Dorman was found dead in his vehicle and that no foul play is suspected, though a coroner’s investigation is under way. Dorman spent over 30 years with Iron Butterfly and was a fairly consistent member throughout the band’s numerous splits...
Read Up! How Reading at Your Leisure Can Double as Practice Time (Part 1)
They say that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well then, here goes… I’m a bookworm. So much so that it takes an enormous amount of will power to pry myself away from a good novel before being late to work. It’s easy to get caught up in a story, to lose track of time,...
Adam Stevens: “Frosty the Snowman” Solo Bass Jam
I had no idea Adam Stevens also played upright until now. The bassist who has already been impressing all of us with his skills on electric shared this fun video of him performing an impromptu holiday bass jam. “I had a bit of time before a festive jazz trio gig I played last night, so I thought I’d set up...
Simon Little, Jez Carr, and Mike Haughton Release Foreground Music, Vol. 1
Simon Little has teamed up with pianist Jez Carr and saxophonist Mike Haughton to release Foreground Music, Vol. 1, an album of beautiful and freely improvised music. While its rolling textures and seemingly mind-meld moments make it sound like they’ve worked together for a lifetime, the eight track collection was recorded the second time the group had ever played together...
Bass of the Week: o3 Guitars Palladium
This week we take a look at Spanish custom shop o3 Guitars’ Palladium bass. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string versions, the bass takes its moniker from the chemical element, which is a “rare and lustrous silvery-white metal.” All of o3’s basses are hand made, so each is customized. Standard features include an ebony fingerboard, mahogany body, and a 5-piece...
Getting Heavier: An Interview with Periphery’s Adam “Nolly” Getgood
Last month we shared a bass cam video of Periphery bassist Adam “Nolly” Getgood performing “Make Total Destroy” live at Manchester Academy. The clip was a hit with our readers, who especially took note of Getgood’s ridiculously awesome tone. Getgood got his musical start on piano before turning his attention to guitar, where years of practice paid off in immense...
A Christmas Medley for Solo Bass
I just discovered bassist Ed Lift, who goes by the screen name Zon 4. And I was glad I did. Zon 4’s style is very reminiscent of Zander Zon’s – and perhaps even inspired by Zander. Both bassists play Zon basses strung with piccolo strings and tackle beautifully arranged solo bass pieces. Here’s Zon 4 performing a medley of Christmas...
Veillette Introduces Flyer Acoustic-Electric Bass
Veillette Guitars is now offering the Flyer Bass, a lightweight acoustic-electric bass guitar designed to strike a balance between the acoustic and electric worlds. Designed after the company’s Flyer guitar, the bass features bent sides and a floating top and back to deliver acoustic tone, feel, and response while its 18-volt active piezo system offers full-range amplified tone. Veillette attributes...
Getting Recognized: Advice for Bassists
Q: How do I brand myself as an internationally recognized bass player? How does one get endorsed to an international brand? A: You’d be surprised by how many times I get this question. It seems that many think there may be a trick or a simple solution to “making it”, “getting discovered” or “scoring an endorsement”. There are a few...
Aaron Gibson: “Gloria”, A Christmas Song
Here’s one of our favorite solo bassists, Aaron Gibson, performing his Christmas tune, “Gloria”. Aaron’s music is something special. And his videos always make them even more amazing. Aaron said he shot the video on an iPhone, and then animated it on his iPad and Mac. Wow. This is our first holiday video of the season. Wishing all of you...
Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy and Richie Kotzen Project Wraps Up Debut Album
A new album by a new supergroup will be coming in 2013, thanks to the teaming up of bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen. “I’m really pleased with it,” Sheehan shared with Blabbermouth.net. “Richie sang his ass off and played amazingly unique stuff, and, of course Mike annihilated on drums. [It’s a] really cool, unique record.”...
Reader Spotlight: Matthew Hughes
Meet bass player Matthew Hughes, a musician we both understand and appreciate. Matthew suffers from G.A.S. more than most folks (see below) and has a great sense of humor (see below). But it was his story that made it for us – a guy having fun, taking things seriously and not so seriously in a way we found very balanced...