Buzz
Sharay Reed: Chicago Gospel Musician Jam
I stumbled across the video by random chance. And then I watched it about six times in a row. This is Sharay Reed, defining the phrase “laying it down”. I love how the audience reacts to Sharay’s lines too, especially around the 2-minute mark.
Janek Gwizdala Releases “It Only Happens Once”
Janek Gwizdala has released his fourth album as a leader, the 10-song It Only Happens Once. The album features drummers Jojo Mayer and Mark Guiliana, saxophonists John Ellis and Justin Vasquez and guitarist Tim Miller. “[The album was] recorded over two days at the Bunk Studios in Brooklyn NY with no preconceived ideas about what we were going to play,”...
Mike Lull Releases Bryan Beller BBM5 Signature Bass
Mike Lull Guitars unveiled their newest signature bass at the Winter NAMM show this year, based on the instrument and specs of bassist Bryan Beller. The BBM5 is based on Lull’s M5 bass, modified to suit Beller’s playing style and wishlist. The bass is a 35? scale 5-string bass active jazz bass with a Bartolini NTMB Pre-amp and Seymour Duncan...
Bass Lesson: Expand Your Fretboard with Major Triads
In this new lesson, we’ll break down the concepts of utilizing triads in expanding your fretboard knowledge and control. We’ll explore triad inversions, different fingerings and using triads as target notes to achieve this goal. The video starts with a demonstration of a solo over a G Major chord. I’m playing a G Major triad. A triad is of course...
Rush: Medley – By-Tor And The Snow Dog, In The End, In The Mood, 2112 Finale – Live (1981)
Do you ever listen to music from your early years and get transformed back to that time? This video does that for me, and I’m betting it does for a lot of No Treble readers. This is Rush performing the medley of “By-Tor & the Snow Dog”, “In the End”, “In the Mood” and “2112 Finale”. This is of course...
The Mars Volta Returns with the Release of “Noctourniquet”
Progressive rock band The Mars Volta has made their return with the release of Noctourniquet, the band’s sixth studio album. Produced by guitarist/songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Noctourniquet features bassist Juan Alderete and drummer Deantoni Parks, who makes his first studio appearance with the band. This is the first album not to include long-time keyboardist Isaiah “Ikey” Owens and guitarist John Frusciante....
Bass of the Week: Noguera Expression
This week we take a look at Noguera Basses’ flagship model, the Expression. Designed to produce a “rich sound with accurate low end,” the bass is hand made in France. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string models, the Expression features bolt-on construction with a bubinga body, maple neck, and wenge fingerboard. The elegant bridge is wood with individual brass saddles...
Custom Shop: Kinal Guitars
With a career spanning over 40 years, Vancouver-based Mike Kinal knows a thing or two about luthiery. Trained as a cabinetmaker, Mike got into building basses early in his musical career and has since made hundreds of instruments. His basses have evolved over the years from following the pattern of large manufacturers to creating his own unique style involving exotic...
Mike Flynn and Black Mash: Push
Mike Flynn shared this video with us, showcasing his new “electronica-jazz project”. Mike said this is an early cut, also featuring Matt Telfer on sax and Rowan Porteous on trumpet. The group is hoping to get out on gigs together later this year.
Phil Lesh & Friends to Reunite for Terrapin Crossroads Event
Phil Lesh has announced that he’s bringing back together his Phil & Friends band for four nights, to perform at the bassist’s new Terrapin Crossroads venue this month. The band, known as the Quintet (or “Q” to many), is comprised of the “longest-tenured Phil & Friends band”, including Lesh, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, John Molo and Rob Barraco. This will...
Reader Spotlight: Mykk Hannan
Mykk's claim to fame: "Massive earth shaking low end that will disembowel the front three rows." Check out Mykk's story and say hi.
A Guide to Making the Switch Fretless Bass
Q: I’ve just removed the frets from my first bass, and this is my first experience with a fretless bass. What advice do you have to start out? A: There are two areas of focus for making the switch. At a glance, these might seem to contradict each other, but one applies to practicing and one applies to performance. Fretless...