Buzz
Korg Releases MA-1 Solo Metronome
Korg has introduced the MA-1 Solo Metronome, a device capable of audible beat keeping, rhythm training and tuning, via a chromatic pitch source. Adjustable from 30 to 252 beats per minute, the MA-1 features a swinging metronome style needle display with on-screen triangles to inform which beat you’re on or how far into a pattern you are. Tempo can be...
Smashing Pumpkins Announce Tour, New Album Details
The Smashing Pumpkins, anchored by bassist Nicole Fiorentino, have announced an October tour of the U.S. The 12-city trek will focus on intimate venues spanning coast to coast and serve as a warm up for 2012, which will also see the release of a new album, Oceania. Oceania will be the group’s first full-length release with Fiorentino, who joined the...
Ra Ra Riot Bassist Mathieu Santos Releases Solo Debut
Ra Ra Riot bassist Mathieu Santos has released his debut solo album, Massachusetts 2010. Driven by simple yet catchy bass riffs, the album was written in Santos’ home state and includes a new arrangement of the “Massachusetts”, which was the first song he wrote by himself entirely. The tracks have a very open feel, with Santos’ lines and punchy, indie...
Marcus Miller: “Bruce Lee” Live
Here’s Marcus Miller and band performing the tune “Bruce Lee” live in 2005 at the Jazz a Juan Festival in France. Miller is backed by long time drummer Poogie Bell, as well as bassist Doug Epting, who performs on bass and samples.
Red Hot Chili Peppers to Broadcast CD Release Concert to Movie Theaters Worldwide
As fans eagerly await their first album in five years, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that their August 30th show in Mexico City, Mexico will be broadcast to movie theaters around the world. The show will be the first and only performance of I’m With You, but will also include a selection of hits from throughout their career....
Old School: 1965 Teisco Del Rey EB-200
Bassist José Correa shares his 1965 Teisco Del Rey bass with us in this installment of Old School. Teisco was a Japanese instrument manufacturer who built affordable musical instruments from 1948 until 1969. In addition to basses, the company built guitars, keyboards, amplifiers, drums and microphones. The company’s name stands for “Tokyo Electric Instrument and Sound Company”. In 1967, the...
Janis Joplin with Brad Campbell: Piece of My Heart Live (1969)
Don’t you love it when you stumble upon an old favorite song, and the bass player is just killing it? Here’s Brad Campbell with Janis Joplin laying down some melodic and groovy bass lines while the icon does her thing. Ya dig?
Bryan Beller and The Aristocrats Announce Album, Fall Tour
Bassist Bryan Beller has teamed up with guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan and drummer Marco Minnemann to form The Aristocrats, a rock/fusion instrumental trio of epic proportions. The group has announced that their debut album will hit shelves September 13th, with a three-week tour of the East Coast and Canada to follow. Beller broke the news in his e-newsletter. “The good...
Custom Shop: May Custom Basses
Shawn May of May Custom Basses started playing as a teen and got interested in building after a chance visit to the local library. Inspired by the distinguished luthiers who came before him, he eventually turned his interests into a business. Intrigued with exotic and “intense” looking woods, May focuses on creating one-of-a-kind instruments for each of his customers. We...
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 with a guitar strung as a bass, to James Brown and more. Interesting to hear the difference between “Bootsy”, the funk legend, William Collins, the regular guy.
The Wood Brothers Release “Smoke Ring Halo”
For 15 years, brothers Chris and Oliver Wood had separate musical careers. Chris, the bassist, is a founding member of the trio Medeski, Martin & Wood, while Oliver, the guitarist, worked in the rock/blues band, King Johnson. That changed one day at a family gathering in 2004, where the brothers decided to join forces to record their own material. The...
Kustom Unveils KXB500 Bass Amplifier
Kustom Amplification has introduced the KXB500 bass amp, a no-nonsense amp built for a big sound while staying compact. The amp is rated at 500 watts and has a total of five control knobs, and weighs in at five pounds. The KXB500’s input stage accommodates for a range of signal levels features a clip LED and mute switch. Tone controls...