Buzz
Eddie Gomez and Cesarius Alvim Team Up for “Forever”
Bassist Eddie Gomez and pianist Cesarius Alvim are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first recording together with a new album, Forever. The duo takes on a wide range of tunes on the release, from standards such as “Spring is Here” and “Invitation,” original compositions from both Gomez and Alvim, and Brazilian pianist Luiz Eça’s piece “The Dolphin.” Alvim met...
Bootsy Collins Releases Single To Benefit Musician’s Fund
Bootsy Collins has released a new single to benefit his late brother’s memorial fund, the Catfish Nation Musicians Fund. The track, appropriately titled The Catfish Nation, features Bootsy, his son Ouiwey, and Catfish Collins himself. The Catfish Nation Musician’s Fund was set up not only to help with Catfish’s expenses, but to “provide for musicians that fall on hard times...
Mick Karn Teams Up With Peter Murphy for Dalis Car Reunion
Former Japan bassist Mick Karn is reuniting with Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy to revisit their band, Dalis Car. The duo formed the group in 1984 and subsequently parted after only putting out a single album, Waking Hour. Karn’s distinct and innovative fretless bass lines brought life to the album, and after Murphy finishes his solo tour, the two will write...
Cobham/Duke Band: Stratus
Here’s a great live performance of Billy Cobham’s tune “Stratus”, by the Billy Cobham-George Duke Band. The performance took place at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1998. Stefan Rademacher is on bass, with Cobham on drums, Duke on keys and Carl Orr on guitar. The tune was originally recorded on Cobham’s debut solo effort, Spectrum, in 1973, featuring Lee Sklar...
Gear Watch: Guardian Vintage Hardshell Case
Guardian has introduced their new Vintage Hardshell line, available for basses as well as guitars. The case is made with a 7-ply, cross-grained wood construction, covered with black tolex with a leather handle for comfort. The interior features emerald crushed velvet interior with multiple thicknesses of padding for safety and fit. The Guardian Vintage Hardshell Case is available now for...
Slap Bass 101 – Part 5: Funk/Rock Scale Basics
Today, we continue the Slap Bass 101 series, adding the basic “funk/rock scale” – the minor pentatonic, with trills, to what we’ve learned so far. Check out the entire Slap Bass 101 series: Part 1: Slap Bass Introduction Part 2 – Building on the Basics Part 3 – Left Hand Slap & Hammer-Ons Part 4 – Right Hand Pluck/Pop
Richard Bona: Dina Lam
In today’s featured video, Richard Bona performs his tune “Dina Lam”, from the 2003 album Munia: The Tale.
White Zombie’s Sean Yseult Announces Book Release
Former White Zombie bassist Sean Yseult has announced that her new book, I’m In the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White Zombie, will be hitting stores on November 1st. The book chronicles her time in the band through a combination of tour diaries, flyers, and photos to document her role as a female in a male dominated genre....
Gear Watch: Aguilar AG 5J-60 Pickup Set
Aguilar Amplification has unveiled their newest pickup set: the AG 5J-60. The pickups are made to bring the tone of a 60’s era Fender Jazz to modern 5-string basses using all period correct components, including Heavy Formvar wire and Anico V magnets. The AG 5J-60 set is made to be a direct replacement in the Fender Jazz V as well...
Ask Damian Erskine: Uneven Playing?
Q: Whenever I play, I tend to speed up, and my play is kind of choppy and uneven. Do you have any tips to help my playing become more consistent? A: I’ve probably touched on this in previous articles, but it’s worth repeating. The best way to work on any facet of your playing is to really hone in on...
Voodoo Power: Hendrix/Miller Solo Bass Mashup
While this isn’t the highest quality video out there, we couldn’t pass up the chance to feature it. Bassist Viaceslav Svedov took Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” and Marcus Miller’s “Power” and mashed it up into a great solo bass performance.
Paul McCartney to Appear on Upcoming Fran Healy Solo Album
Though he may not be working with MGMT just yet, Sir Paul McCartney has lent his bass work to Travis frontman Fran Healy’s first solo release, Wreckorder. The album has an October 5 release date, and features McCartney’s melodic lines on the track “As It Comes.” As part of the deal, Healy agreed to go vegetarian. The former Beatle is...