Buzz
Mindfully Mindless Practice
Q: I’ve heard some people talk about practicing while watching TV, and I’ve heard others warn against it. What’s your take? A: Actually, I’m a huge fan of certain types of practice while watching movies and television. As I’ve mentioned in earlier columns, certain things are only really mastered through repetition (licks and patterns, internalizing scale or chord shapes, and...
Stu Hamm, Greg Howe and Dennis Chambers: Sunny (Live)
Here’s a smoking version of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny”, performed by bassist Stu Hamm, guitarist Greg Howe and drummer Dennis Chambers. This was filmed at this year’s Eddie Lang Jazz Festival.
Dream Theater Releases “A Dramatic Turn of Events”
Dream Theater’s newest album is aptly named. A Dramatic Turn of Events is the band’s eleventh studio album, and first to feature new drummer Mike Mangini, replacing Mike Portnoy, who left the band a year ago. Work on the album began in January of this year, and wrapped in June at Cove City Sound Studios in Long Island, New York....
Reader Spotlight: Mike Herrel
Meet Mike Herrel, a bassist living in Frisco, Texas. Mike is our player in the spotlight for September 13, 2011. Bio: I began playing bass in grade school and later did the high school band thing, playing lots of Rush tunes. I attended BIT after high school and since then have become a lifetime music student. I played in a...
Top 10: The Best Bass Videos (August 2011)
From the Story of Bootsy to Larry Graham’s 65th birthday, here are the top 10 bass videos of the month, based on views by No Treble readers. 1. Unsung: The Story of Bootsy Collins Here’s TV One‘s documentary on Bootsy Collins, sharing the highs and lows of the funk legend’s life. There’s so much great stuff here, from Bootsy’s start...
Question of the Week: How many basses do you own?
How many basses do you own? Answer below in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
Carol Kaye, Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey Jam at NAMM
Old school meets new school in this clip from Winter NAMM 2000, where session legend Carol Kaye jams with bass virtuosos Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey on a blues. They may have different backgrounds, but one thing they all share is a groove that just won’t quit.
Primus Releases “Green Naugahyde”
Primus has returned. For the first time in 12 years, the band has released a full studio album. Green Naugahyde is the band’s seventh studio release, and first new material since the 2003 EP, Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People. Green Naugahyde is also the first to feature drummer Jay Lane, teaming up with bassist/vocalist Les Claypool and...
Overwater Basses Revamps String Lines
Overwater has refreshed their line of strings with new Regular and Extra Long sets. Made in the UK, the strings are available as nickel or stainless steel. According to the company, the Regular length best suits all 34″ and 35″ scale instruments, while the Extra Long is designed for 36″ scale basses as well as those with “through body” stringing....
Mental Practice
We all have strategies on how to practice when time is short. There are times, however, when even a short practice session is not feasible. In times such as this, mental practice can be a valuable tool. Mental practice is also valuable as a regular part of your sessions. For such practice to be valuable, your visualizations will need to...
In Memoriam: Graham Collier
British jazz bassist and composer Graham Collier has passed away at the age of 74. After three years as a musician in the British Army, he won a Down Beat magazine scholarship to Berklee School of Music, where he became it’s first British graduate in 1963. Collier’s lifelong career included 19 albums of his original works, his last being 2009’s...
Gail Ann Dorsey: Stop On By
Gail Ann Dorsey doesn’t need much to wow an audience… just a bass and a microphone. Here, the bassist performs “Stop On By”.