Buzz

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of November 14-20, 2010. Column: Bass Pickups: A Guide to Formulating Your Sound News: Slipknot Asks for Return of Items Stolen From Paul Gray’s Grave Video: Larry Graham: Bass Solo, Live au Bataclan Top 10: The Best Bass Columns, How-Tos and Lessons (October 2010)...

Luthman Introduces Jazzette Bass

Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Fender Jazz bass, Luthman has released the Jazzette bass. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Jazzette is not merely a copy of the icon, but a new design created with a “Luthman’s eye.” The body is your choice between alder or ash, with a custom upgrade option for more exotic tops....

Jack Bruce: White Room – Hippiefest 2008 Live Performance

Jack Bruce is sporting his Warwick fretless on this extended, bass-focused break on Cream’s “White Room”. This was filmed from the audience at the 2008 Hippiefest.

Peter Hook Brings “Joy Division” Tour to U.S.

Peter Hook is bringing his band, The Light, to the U.S. in December for a 10-stop tour. The group will play Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album in its entirety. Hook, who was bassist for the groundbreaking rock band during their four-year run, will actually be singing, while his son Jack plays bass. “When I decided to sing, I realized I...

Albion Musical Instruments Unveils ABH Series of Amplification

Albion Musical Instruments has just released details of their upcoming ABH line of bass amplification products, including 2 heads, 2 combos, and 4 new cabinets. Albion is the brainchild of Steve Grinrod, who besides being a musician, held chief engineer and chief designer positions at Marshall Amplification and VOX. At the forefront of the series is the ABH300H, a 300...

Anthony Crawford Releases Urban Jazz

Jazz bassist Anthony Crawford has released his debut CD, Urban Jazz, on Hydro 6 Records. The 11-track album is exactly what the title implies: a cool hybrid of Jazz, hip-hop, pop, funk, and smooth listening. The opening track and lead single, “Windy Days,” is a great R&B flavored tune with a bass melody that lets Crawford’s 6-string Roscoe really sing....

Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have compiled a new book, chronicling their 27-year existence together as a band. The 256 page book, entitled An Oral/Visual History by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is a compilation of their triumphs and tribulations as they worked their way up from the Los Angeles underground scene to headlining arena shows. It includes stories told...

Top 10: The Best Bass Columns, How-Tos and Lessons (October 2010)

Get your bass on! Here are the most popular bass columns, how-to’s and lessons for October, 2010. 1. Should Bassists Be Multi-Instrumentalists? Damian Erskine answers a reader’s question about bassists picking up secondary instruments. 2. Custom Shop: An Interview with Oscar Prat Oscar Prat shares his story about getting started as a luthier and how he feels about “more than...

Zawinul Syndicate with Gerald Veasley: Corner Pocket

Joe Zawinul’s track record of picking bassists was pretty unmatched. Here’s the Syndicate performing the Weather Report tune “Corner Pocket”, with Gerald Veasley getting the crowd going, slapping, rapping and dancing.

The Bad Plus Announce Winter Tour

The Bad Plus is hitting the road, in support of their latest release, Never Stop. The tour kicks off on December 2, 2010 and runs through January 9th, 2011, taking the band coast to coast in the US. The trio, including bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer Dave King, completed a tour of Australia and Europe this fall,...

Gear Watch: Hoyer Guitars Reissue Eagle Bass Prestige

Hoyer Guitars has released a reissue of their classic Hoyer Eagle Prestige Bass, featuring many of the same characteristics of the original 1970’s model including a neck-through-body construction, Eagle-typical headstock, Eagle-shaped inlays, and a burr walnut top. The bass has a 33.5” scale, with an ebony fingerboard and 20 medium jumbo frets. The bass’s pickups are Hoyer custom HHB-106 humbuckers....

Playing Metronomically vs. Musically

Q: I have a hard time not sounding stiff when focusing on my time. Any suggestions? A: I’ve been noticing this phenomenon lately, especially with students who are working on various cello suites. There’s a tendency to try and play the piece metronomically as opposed to musically. Remember that, while we are expected to have good time, we are also...