Buzz
Tal Wilkenfeld and Jeff Beck: Freeway Jam
Here’s a great fan shot video of Tal Wilkenfeld taking a solo during a Jeff Beck concert. Eventually, Beck joins in to help out with the low end… on the same bass. Pretty cool. This leads into a performance of Beck’s “Blue Wind”, from the Wired album.
Hal Leonard Releases KISS Bass Play-Along
Hal Leonard has released a KISS Bass Play-Along book, featuring bass lines played by Gene Simmons written out in TAB format. The accompanying CD has tracks with and without the bass line to help you hear what it should sound like, then play it on your own. The disc plays in any CD player, but it’s also enhanced to allow...
Esperanza Spalding to Perform At Grammys, Co-Host Pre-Telecast Ceremony
Bassist and Grammy nominee Esperanza Spalding will be co-hosting the Grammy Pre-Telecast Ceremony, as well as performing at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards. Spalding will be sharing hosting duties with singer Bobby McFerrin on the show, which will be streamed on the Grammy website and YouTube channel starting at 1 p.m. PT on February 13. The ceremony is set to...
Hartke Announces Kilo Bass Amplifier
Hartke has released the Kilo Bass Amplifier, a new head unit that delivers 1,000 watts via bridged mono or 500 watts per side in stereo or dual mono. Housed in a 3U rackspace chassis, the amp features a tube preamp and variable Hartke Bass Attack Overdrive and Shape Control in addition to an onboard compressor. It also has a slew...
Kira Small and Bryan Beller: I Ain’t Never
Talk about diversity! Bryan Beller plays bass for the cartoon band Dethklok, but when he’s not melting faces he hits the road with wife Kira Small to play house shows. This particular performance was recorded for the program “The Smoking Lounge” at the Magnolia Avenue KDHX studio in St. Louis, MO.
David Binney: Graylen Epicenter
Saxophonist and composer David Binney has released his latest album, Graylen Epicenter. Binney enlisted a terrific supporting cast for the album, including bassist Eivind Opsvik, guitarist Wayne Krantz, drummer Brian Blade and others. This is one diverse album, covering a huge spectrum of jazz styles from many eras. Binney’s bandmates really bring a lot to this diversity as well, adding...
Tech 21 Releases Boost Chorus Bass Pedal
Tech 21 has unveiled a new two new Boost Chorus pedals, including a bass specific version. The new Boost Chorus Bass, which can be used to obtain slapback, echo, flanging, and doubling effects, was designed after ‘70s vintage choruses, to mimic their richness. To get a chorus sound without making “seasick tones,” Tech 21 added a Detune knob that adds...
Between the Buried and Me: Viridian
Here’s a clip of the song “Viridian” from Between the Buried and Me’s Colors Live DVD. The song is based around the beautiful bass melody laid out by Dan Briggs.
Bob Marley’s Final Performance Released on “Live Forever”, with Aston Barrett
Bob Marley’s final performance, which took place at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Stanley Theater on September 23, 1980, has just been released. Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live Forever is a 2-disc, 20-track collection capturing Marley and his band performing his most famous hits at the end of an era, as Marley would die of cancer months later. Marley’s band is of...
Veillette Introduces the Concorde Semi-Hollow Bass
Veillette Guitars has unveiled their new Concorde Semi-Hollow Bass, being the company’s “most acoustic” bass yet. Designed to mimic vintage and classic semi-hollowbody basses, the body is 14” wide and heavily chambered with dual soundholes and a radiused spruce top. The curved face gives the body more depth in the center while keeping the edges thinner for comfort. Veillette added...
Doing the Best You Can
Q: I tend to get very nervous before any live performance. How do you deal with performance anxiety? A: Everyone, at some point in their development, gets nervous before a gig or feels inadequate to the task at hand. It’s natural. The best thing you can do is over prepare! Still, the nerves are there. What do you do? This...
Dave Young with Oscar Peterson: Nigerian Marketplace
Pianist Oscar Peterson was known for keeping good company in bassists, and Dave Young is no exception. “Nigerian Marketplace” first appeared on Peterson’s featuring bass giant Niels Hennig Orsted-Pederson, but here Peterson and Young are joined by guitarist Joe Pass and drummer Martin Drew for a beautiful and grooving rendition of the tune.