Buzz
Sting Announces Back to Bass Tour Coming to Europe This Fall
Sting just wrapped up his Back to Bass Summer Tour last week and has already announced the return of the tour, with dates across Europe this fall. Sting will be joining up with longtime collaborator Dominic Miller on guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, David Sancious on keys, Peter Tickell on electric fiddle and Jo Lawry on vocals. The tour kicks...
F Bass Enters Bass Cabinet Market With 2x10H
F Bass has jumped into the land of cabinets with the F Bass 2x10H Cabinet. The first of their cab series, the 2x10H was designed in cooperation Jo Bassi Engineering and Ian Taylor with an emphasis on being compact without sacrificing performance. “As bass players we’ve always favoured the sound, power and performance of conventional magnet drivers but have never...
New School: Scott Fernandez
Extended range bass artist Scott Fernandez is pushing musical boundaries. Equally comfortable on a 4-string as well as his 12-string, Fernandez incorporates his extended techniques to create lush harmonies, intense counterpoint, and intriguing melodies. His arsenal of effects pedals also help to create thick soundscapes while adding depth to his compositions. Fernandez only stepped out into the solo bass arena...
Adam Stevens: Solo Bass Arrangement of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge”
Bassist Adam Stevens sent us this great solo bass version of the popular Red Hot Chili Peppers tune “Under the Bridge.” Utilizing some fingerpicking style and strumming, the Toronto-based low-ender captures the song’s mood to a tee. It probably also helps that he’s literally under a bridge.
King Crimson Releases Live in Argentina 1994 DVD Set
King Crimson reemerged in 1994 to record and tour behind the album VROOM. Building upon their previous quartet, the band was billed as a double trio consisting of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Bill Bruford. The group’s return is documented in a new King Crimson Collector’s Club Release entitled Live in Argentina 1994. The...
Bass of the Week: Spector NS-2
Few basses can define a company as easily as Spector’s NS-2. Originally designed by Ned Steinberger in 1979, the company’s flagship P/J style bass provides the blueprint for many of their designs. The American-made NS-2 features neck-thru construction with a 3-piece maple neck reinforced with carbon fiber rods. Fingerboards can be pau ferro, birdseye maple, or other woods depending on...
Stories Behind the Songs: Chuck Rainey
Chuck Rainey’s bass lines have laid the foundation for many of the most popular songs in pop, rock, jazz and fusion that emerged from the ’60s and ’70s. From Aretha Franklin to Marvin Gaye to Steely Dan, he’s played an integral part in the music of at least five Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees. As a result, he...
Jayme Lewis Band: Sedagive
Here’s another one of those “make-sure-you’re-sitting-down” videos. Bassist and band leader Jayme Lewis takes us on a musical trip starting with some blazing unison melodies and a ridiculous solo spot before mellowing things out texturally, only to return to the face-melting licks.
Victor Wooten Offering Free Groove Workshop at Wooten Woods
Victor Wooten will be wrapping up his three-week residency camp at Wooten Woods by holding a free Groove Workshop on August 11, 2012. Scheduled for 3pm to 5pm, the clinic will feature Wooten, his staff and students, and will be tailored to those who attend. Fellow bass instructor Anthony Wellington explains that since the full Wooten Woods staff will be...
Les Claypool Auctions Personal Pachyderm Prototype Bass
Almost two years ago, Les Claypool reached out to his fans for help. His two month old nephew was diagnosed with a rare form of infant leukemia and the family needed help defraying the cost of the medical bills. Now two years old, baby Matthew has been fighting the disease and is currently undergoing bone marrow transplant therapy, which is...
Bass in an Acoustic Setting: Knowing How to Play Your Role
Q: I think I have a good suggestion for an area you may have not covered: the role of a bassist in an acoustic setting. No drummer (maybe a Djembe), just acoustic guitar, bass and vocals. How do you keep it grooving, how do you fill the space, how do you make it sound good? I’ve had to play a...
Andres Rotmistrovsky: “Tu Amor” Cover
Bassist Andres Rotmistrovsky shares his latest video with us, a cover of a Pedro Aznar and Charly Garcia penned tune, “Tu Amor”. Love the laid back feel combined with Andres’ moving line. Just the right amount of notes (and the right ones too). Have a video to share (of you or another great bassist)? We’d love to check it out....