Buzz
Marcus Miller with Miles Davis, Live: Ife (1982)
Recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1982, here’s the “We Want Miles” line-up of Miles Davis’ band, including Marcus Miller on bass, Mike Stern on guitar, Bill Evans on sax, Al Foster on drums and Mino Cinelu on percussion.
Ron Carter: “All Blues” 40th Anniversary Edition
Sony Masterworks Jazz is celebrating the 40th anniversary of CTI Records, the jazz label founded in 1970 by producer Creed Taylor. The label is releasing several CTI classics, including Ron Carter‘s 1973 release, All Blues. The album has been remastered from the original two-track analog tapes and packaged in a softpack sleeve, to replicate the original LP’s gatefold packaging. Carter...
Jeff Ament Speaks on Pearl Jam’s Anniversary, Film and Future
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament revealed the band’s future, including a documentary on their time together, directed by Cameron Crowe. Crowe, whose films include Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire, is a long-time friend of the group. On the film, Ament said, “I just saw a rough cut. It was so weird seeing footage of...
Ibanez Releases New SR Premium Series Basses
Ibanez has unveiled a new take on their SR series with four new models. The SR Premium basses are built at Ibanez’s premium factory and all feature USA Nordstrand “Big Single” pickups, a first for any of the company’s basses. Each model also includes their EQB-IIISC 3-band EQ that has a Mid frequency switch and an EQ bypass switch for...
Renaud Garcia-Fons: Aqa Jan
Words can’t describe the incredible technique and musicianship of Renaud Garcia-Fons. Good thing we have a video!
Ernie Ball Announces Game Changer Pickup Switching System
Ernie Ball/Music Man has unveiled a new patent-pending pickup switching system called the Game Changer that will be available on their Reflex HH bass. By choosing the coils in any order, whether they are in series or parallel, and whether they are in or out of phase, the system allows for 250,000 pickup combinations without rewiring, digitizing, or remodeling. A...
Top Ten: The Best Upright Bass Videos
This week, we’re celebrating the upright bass with a look back at the top 10 most viewed upright bass videos on No Treble. 1. Miles Mosley: Voodoo Child It is fitting Miles Mosley chose to cover Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, since he’s doing a Hendrix-like re-invention of his instrument of choice: the upright bass. 2. Esperanza Spalding: “Mela”...
Larry Wilson Street Bass: Voodoo Child
In this video, electric bassist Larry Wilson plays his rendition of “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix. The best part of this video is that Wilson is playing in the New York Subway System, demonstrating that good music can happen anywhere.
Genz-Benz Unveils New Amps at NAMM 2011
Genz-Benz unveiled three new amps at the NAMM show, including two in the new Streamliner series and an update to the ShuttleMax line. Sporting a retro look and feel, the Streamliner 900 and 600 amps have straight-ahead controls, allowing players to “focus more on their playing and less on adjusting knobs.” The models feature Class A Six Stage All Tube...
When the Song Plays Itself
I just got back from a week spent in a recording studio in Northern California, a singer-songwriter session with Alice DiMicele. The band was absolutely smoking and we tracked 16 tunes in four days (complete with horns). The band included some guys who have been around the block quite a few times and have recorded and played with just about...
Blake Branch: “Raspberry Heaven” Solo Bass Arrangement
In response to the NPR Bass Solo contest, bassist Blake Branch submitted his arrangement of “Raspberry Heaven” by Masumi It? and Y?ko Ueno. The tune comes from the anime series “Azumanga Daioh”. Thanks to Alex Kalicinski for sharing this video with us.
Robert Hurst Releases Unrehurst, Vol. 2
Jazz bassist Robert Hurst has released Unrehurst, Vol. 2, a straight-ahead trio album featuring pianist Robert Glasper and drummer Chris Dave. As the names suggests, the CD was recorded in 2007 without any rehearsals at Smoke in New York City, though that’s not how the jazz veteran had planned it. A taped-off crime scene prevented him from checking in to...