Buzz
Robert Lemas Releases Tap and Slap Bass Instructional DVDs
Bassist Robert Lemas has released two new bass instructional videos. Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping covers tapping techniques using common jazz and pop chords, using the chords in common progressions, plus Latin styles. Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping Preview: Tap Bass Vol. 1: Chord Tapping Chapters: Introduction and tuning Tapping the seventh chords cycle of fourths Tapping 2-5-1...
Tony Grey with Hiromi’s Sonicbloom: Live Bass Solo
Here’s a great, laid back bass solo by Tony Grey, during a concert with Hiromi and her Sonicbloom band. The clip comes from the 2008 release, Hiromi’s Sonicbloom Live In Concert.
Squier Releases Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V
A five-string version of Squier’s Vintage Modified Jazz Bass is now available. Similar to the four-string model, the Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V is styled after Fender’s mid-70’s Jazz basses and features a natural finish, soft maple body with a maple neck. The neck has black binding, block inlays, and 20 medium jumbo frets. Pickups on the bass are Duncan...
The Big 4 to Perform at Yankee’s Stadium
The Big 4 tour will be making its second U.S. stop at Yankee’s Stadium in Bronx, New York on September 14th. The show, which has been hyped for the last four years, brings together four of the biggest metal bands – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. The groups, of course, are in turn held down by four of the strongest...
Jim Bennett: Acoustic Piccolo Bass Jam
We’ve seen acoustic bass jams, and we’ve seen piccolo bass jams, but never the combination of the two. Here, bassist Jim Bennett shows off his acoustic Ibanez bass, tuned D A D G, with a hint of Jeff Schmidt and Michael Manring. Jim describes his technique: “It’s kinda like an open hammer pluck, but instead of plucking, you do an...
Bass of the Week: Kenneth Lawrence “Joust” 11-string ChamberBrase I
The world of extended-range basses has taken off over the last few years, and if you’ve ever searched for the term “bass” on YouTube, you’ve likely seen this week’s bass of the week: the Kenneth Lawrence “Joust” 11-string ChamberBrase I, built for Nuclear Rabbit and solo bassist Jean Baudin. A customization of Lawrence’s models, the bass features a chambered North...
Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 5: Odds & Sods
Lift Off — Common Sense Guidelines for Lifting and Moving Your Equipment Most of us carry our own gear around. Sometimes we get lucky and use house gear or somebody else’s gear (which isn’t always as good a deal as it may sound). At times, some of us are fortunate enough to have somebody else haul our equipment around for...
Steely Dan’s “Peg”: Instrumental with Chuck Rainey
This is cool beyond words: Chuck Rainey laying it down on this instrumental reunion remake of Steely Dan’s “Peg”, from Aja. Bonus: Bernard Purdie on drums. This is from the DVD, .
Fuzzrocious Pedals Releases the Terrordactyl
Fuzzrocious Pedals has released the Terrordactyl, a fuzz that feeds into an envelope filter all in one stompbox. The pedal’s three controls include volume, envelope level, and envelope range. For further control, they included an expression pedal output to adjust the envelope’s range on the fly. The Terrordactyl features true bypass and is powered by a “Boss”-style 9 volt adapter....
Preparing Your Demo Material to Land that Next Gig
Q: I’m challenged by my lack of demo material. I figured I would accumulate some good clips along the way and build up a portfolio. However, my networking skills have outpaced my gigging experience (I’m picky). I’ve recently been asked by some high B-list caliber artists for samples. Gulp… I don’t have any so the conversation ends there. I don’t...
The Brothers Johnson: Ain’t We Funkin’ Now, Live on Soul Train
Well, maybe “live” is used loosely here since it’s lip-syncing on Soul Train, but there’s no doubt the Brothers Johnson are funkin’ on this episode, originally aired on August 26, 1978. Slap-bass pioneer Louis Johnson can be seen with an early Music Man StingRay, and gets some time to shine at the 2:46 mark.
Donald Harrison Releases This is Jazz, Featuring Ron Carter and Billy Cobham
Donald Harrison has released This is Jazz, his second effort on the Half Note label with master bassist Ron Carter and drummer Billy Cobham. The six-track album is cultivated from a set by the seasoned trio at New York’s Blue Note club. Carter, who is lauded as one of the most recorded bassists in with over 2,500 albums under his...