Buzz
Dani Weber: “Bad Movies” for Solo Piccolo Bass
Dani Weber‘s solo bass work has been featured here before, and this is a nice piece we were recently checking out. Dani is playing his ’86 Warwick Thumb NT with piccolo strings tuned E – G# – B – E.
Chris Tarry Releases “Rest of the Story”
Chris Tarry has released his latest project, Rest of the Story, a multi-media composition including a 100 page book and CD. The Canadian-born jazz bassist is also a writer, and the book includes his short stories as well as unique art. That’s not to say the music is a side-note, as the nine-track album is full of Tarry’s original compositions....
Junior Ribeiro Braguinha: Groove!
Bassist Junior Ribeiro Braguinha uses these words to describe his performance in this video: “de groove de pizzicato”. I say, “holy smokes!”
Markbass Announces Ground Stereo Pre Preamp and BAS 121 Lites Cabinets
The list 2011 line of new Markbass gear continues with the introduction of the Ground Stereo Pre preamp and BAS-121 Lite powered cabinets. Ground Stereo Pre Preamp Markbass teamed up with endorser Alain Caron to design the components of a new rig, resulting in the Ground Stereo Pre and BAS-121 Lite powered cabinets. The Ground Stereo Pre is Caron’s signature...
Review: Marcus Miller’s “A Night in Monte Carlo”
Having and developing an individual voice is so important in music. Michael Jackson, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter: we recognize all of them within a few notes. And Marcus Miller is someone with an instantly recognizable style on bass; he has found his own voice in music in his composition, arrangement and production. His music sounds natural and flows...
Evan Brewer: One Bassist, Two Basses
Here’s a clip of Evan Brewer tapping out an original tune on two basses. The song is the third track from his upcoming solo bass CD. Thanks to Shannon Buck for sharing this with us!
Jack Bruce Releases “Live at the Milky Way”
Jack Bruce and the Cuicoland Express’s Live at the Milky Way has been released by EMI and is now available worldwide. The 2-disc album comes from a 2001 performance at The Melkweg in Amsterdam. Bruce’s band, the Cuicoland Express, included guitarist Vernon Reid, Bernie Worrell on organ, drummers Robby Ameen and Horacio Hernandez, and Richie Flores on Congas. Hardcore Jack...
Exploring Alternate Chord Voicings
Q: Do you have any thoughts on how I can explore some alternate chord voicings? I’m having a hard time going beyond the typical root position chord shapes. A: Yes! I recently posted a Youtube video in which I work through a Steve Swallow tune (“Falling Grace”) in real time and demonstrate a great exercise for discovering new voicings. This...
Esperanza Spalding and Bobby McFerrin Duet at Grammys
Here’s an electrifying clip of Best New Artist Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding with vocal phenom Bobby McFerrin performing at the Grammy pre-telecast ceremony, which they co-hosted. Esperanza’s playing is a great mix of jazzy and funky, and McFerrin deserves bonus points for picking up the bass line while she takes a solo halfway through.
Dave Pajo Quits Interpol
Less than a year after replacing founder Carlos D, Interpol is once again switching bassists, as Dave Pajo quit the group. The announcement came from a statement on the band’s website. ”I would like to announce that I will no longer be performing live with Interpol on their upcoming campaign,” Pajo stated. “I’ll be taking a break from touring to...
Reader Spotlight: Bob Bartram
Meet Bob Bartram, a bassist from Baltimore, Maryland and our player in the spotlight for March 1, 2011. Bio: I’m a bass player from Baltimore, Maryland who has been playing local gigs with various bands for quite a while now. I work full time and am a husband and father of two, so this is definitely a hobby. I can’t...
Ashdown Introduces Drophead DP-200 and LB-30 Combo Amps
Ashdown Engineering has introduced a new all tube head, the DP200H, as well as two new tube “flip-top” combos incorporating the new head and the company’s Little Bastard with 15” speakers. The DP-200 Drophead H features the preamp from the company’s 427 Small Block head, utilizing two ECC82 tubes, a ECC99, and two ECC82 tubes, while the power amp includes...