Buzz
The Funky Bass Book
Backbeat Books has released The Funky Bass Book, compiled and edited by former Bass Player magazine editor Bill Leigh. The 256 page book offers a huge collection of “funked-up wisdom and inspiration”, tracing back to the pioneers of R&B, soul and funk, to the latest hop-hop, neo-soul and Gospel. The book’s forward is by Bootsy Collins. The Funky Bass Book‘s...
Stanley Clarke: School Days (1990)
Here’s a live Montreux Jazz Festival of Stanley Clarke‘s “School Days”, performance by Clarke and George Duke. The video gives you a close up look at Clarke’s Alembic bass (and playing!)
RIP Jim Clench, Bassist for April Wine and B.T.O.
Jim Clench, a bassist from Montreal who performed with April Wine and Bachman Turner Overdrive, has passed away at the age of 61. Clench had been battling lung cancer. Clench was with April Wine from 1970 until 1975, performing on the band’s hits including “You Could Have Been a Lady” and “The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy”. After his break from...
New Noel Redding DVD Due in December
A new documentary called The Redding Experience, featuring the late Noel Redding, is set for a December 6 release date, according to antimusic.com. The DVD will include a never before seen interview with the bassist, who was part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, filmed in 1988 in his home in Ireland. During the interview, Redding opens up about his time...
Miles Mosley: Take Me Home
Another great live performance by our friend Miles Mosley, performing “Take Me Home”. What a kickin’ tune!
Bootsy Collins Dives Into The World Of Fine Art
Funk master Bootsy Collins has announced his debut into the world of fine art. According to his new art website, the project is “the release of an art piece of which 300 drafts will exist, all numbered and signed.” Bootsy said on his Facebook page that the work will be a “MASSIVE piece of art,” and that each piece will...
Gear Watch: Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B3K Overdrive Pedal
Darkglass Electronics is now shipping their Microtubes B3K bass distortion pedal. The pedal features hybrid JFET and CMOS gain stages for a natural dynamic response, with Level, Drive, and Blend knobs as well as Attack and Grunt switches to dial up your sound. The Attack switch replicates the “Ultra Hi” option from many tube amps, and gives a treble boost...
Les Claypool Asks Fans For Help
Les Claypool recently sent a heartfelt newsletter reaching out to his fans for help. In the email, he thanked fans for supporting the recent Primus tour, and went on to share some bad news he’d received following his Oddity Faire Tour. “I received the very traumatic news from my brother Ron that his little baby boy, Matthew, had been emergency...
Slam Stewart: Flat Foot Floogie
Dig this! Slam Stewart was one of the most if not the most recorded jazz bassists in the 40s, known for his bowing and singing along with his impeccable bass lines. Seeing him live was a treat nobody could forget. Here he is live with the Benny Goodman Quartet.
Blues Rock: Bass Play-Along Volume 18
Hal Leonard has released Volume 18 of their Bass Play-Along series. Blues Rock is a 72 page, 8 song book featuring tab and CD tracks for each classic blues tune. The melody and lyrics for each tune are also included. The CD includes audio with and without bass, so you can hear the bassline first, and play along with the...
Krist Novoselic to Appear on Next Foo Fighters Album
Bassist Krist Novoselic will be appearing on the next Foo Fighters album, according to recent interviews with frontman Dave Grohl. Novoselic and Grohl were the respective bassist and drummer for the iconic grunge band Nirvana, and have not recorded together since the group’s final track, “You Know You’re Right,” in 1993. Krist will be contributing his bass talents on at...
Top 10: The Best Bass Videos (October 2010)
This week, we’re taking a look back at the top 10 most popular bass videos from October, 2010. 1. Divinity Roxx Bass Solo Divinity Roxx got her start touring with Victor Wooten. Now she’s running the show for Beyonce’s band, and showing off her bass skills with a medley of classic hip-hop and R&B. 2. Jeff Beck with Tal Wilkenfeld:...