Buzz
Eddie Gomez Releases “Per Sempre”
Jazz bassist Eddie Gomez has released Per Sempre, a new album with his quintet. Recorded in Bologna, Italy during his 2009 tour, the album features original compositions by his band as well as an inventive version of the jazz standard “Stella by Starlight.” Drawing on his varying experiences, Gomez’s refined arco work blends beautifully with the timbres of the horns...
Epiphone Introduces Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO Basses
Epiphone is unveiling a new version of a classic with the Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO. The bass is set apart from its siblings by being equipped with a pair of Gibson TB Plus Humbucking pickups featuring ceramic magnets, which the company says produce “high gain, smooth tone and high-end definition.” The pickups are controlled with separate volume knobs as well as...
New School: Donovan Stokes
Regular No Treble readers will be familiar with Donovan Stokes from his column, The Lowdown with Dr. D, but you may not be as familiar with his playing. As a professor at Shenandoah University, Stokes is well versed in the classical realm of double bass playing, yet his own compositions draw on an array of genres. His stunning performances often...
Ron Carter Trio: The Golden Striker
Today is bass legend Ron Carter’s birthday, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t celebrate with some of his incredible playing. Here’s the bassist’s Golden Striker Trio, featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller and guitarist Russel Malone playing their namesake tune, originally performed by the Modern Jazz Quartet. Happy Birthday Ron Carter!
In Memoriam: Lloyd Brevett
Bassist Lloyd Brevett, the pioneering upright player and founding member of the Jamaican ska group The Skatalites, passed away yesterday after being treated for seizures due to a stroke he suffered in March. He was 80. Brevett is one of the central figures in bringing ska music from Jamaica to the world, as one of the original members of The...
Bass of the Week: ML Basses Volcan
After 20 years of work making and repairing stringed instruments, Meaulnes Laberge formed ML Basses to focus on building electric basses. One of his striking instruments is the Volcan, an edgy yet elegant design available in 4- and 5-string configurations. Featuring bolt-on construction, the Volcan is built with a light maple body, three-piece maple neck and an Indian rosewood fingerboard....
Groove Clinic: An Interview with Andrew Gouche
Photo credit: Ilán Terrell As a long-time camper and recent instructor at Gerald Veasley’s Bass Boot Camp, I’ve spent many a camp learning from some of the bass greats. A few years ago, Andrew Gouche appeared for the first time as an instructor at the BBC, bringing along gospel and a whole lotta soul. This year, Andrew returned for the...
Will Cady: A Modern Day “Portrait of Tracy” Bass Cover
Bassist Will Cady took the Jaco Pastorius tune, “Portrait of Tracy”, and put a modern spin on it thanks in part to the use of the Hot Hand and some wah.
Mike Stern Announces New Album with an All-Star Cast on Bass
Jazz guitar vet Mike Stern has a new album coming out on June 19, 2012, and bass fans have a lot to look forward to with this release. All Over the Place features eight different bassists on the 11-song release, including Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Anthony Jackson, Dave Holland, Tom Kennedy, Will Lee and Victor Bailey. Stern recruited...
Fender Introduces Pawn Shop Reverse Jaguar Bass
Fender has introduced the 2012 line of Pawn Shop guitars, which they claim are inspired by their eccentric creations from the ’60s and ’70s and are “guitars that never were, but should have been.” Included in that lineup is the Fender Pawn Shop Reverse Jaguar Bass, an instrument that takes their classic design and flips the body as well as...
To Effect or Not to Effect? A Discussion for Bassists
Q: What’s your take on effects pedals? Do you use any? A: I have been exploring many different pedals and having fun with the sonic possibilities, though I rarely use them outside of my home. My most used pedal is my reverb pedal, because I like the what it offers when playing in small group settings (a piano trio, for...
She’s Leaving Home: Beatles / Funk Brothers Mashup
While I was working on the videos for our Isolated Bass Week, I stumbled upon this video mashup. Songwriter/producer Luciano Albo took two legendary tunes: the Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, and mixed them together. The Motown classic of course features James Jamerson on bass, and the Beatles’ tune features Paul McCartney on vocals. Pretty...