Buzz

Stanley Clarke’s Record Label Debuts New Releases

Bass legend Stanley Clarke has started a new role in the music industry as his record label, Roxboro Entertainment Group, unveiled its first two releases this month. Guitarist Lloyd Gregory’s self-titled CD and multi-instrumentalist Kennard Ramsey’s Somos are available now for download from Amazon, with physical copies coming later this month. Though grounded in jazz, the label’s musicians come from...

Fuchs Audio has announced a new line of bass amplifiers dubbed the “Bruiser”. The amp features a 6-stage, 3-tube preamp with bright, ultra-low, hi and low gain switches and high, parametric midrange, with bass EQ controls for tonal tweaking. Also included in the tube stage is a custom designed phase correct 36 db per octave 20-Hz sub-sonic filter. The 600-watt...

Ask Damian Erskine: Ear Training

Q: I’d like to explore some ear training to improve my ability to hear intervallic relationships. Any good ideas? A: Simply put, ear training is exactly that: better training your ears to understand what you’re hearing. I find transcription to be the most entertaining way to develop my ears. I like to listen to what I want to transcribe over...

Justin Schornstein with Danny Mo & The Exciters: Let The Praise Begin

Here’s a smokin’ cover of Fred Hammond’s “Let the Praise Begin,” from WestFest 5: A Concert To Benefit The Wes Wehmiller Scholarship at Berklee College of Music. The groove is laid down by bassist Justin Schornstein, who won that years scholarship. WesFest 6 was recently announced.

Deftones Release “Diamond Eyes” Remix to Benefit Chi Cheng

Deftones has announced their latest fundraiser effort for their bassist Chi Cheng, who remains in a semi-comatose state following an automobile accident in November 2008. The band is offering a new and exclusive remix of the title track from the latest album, Diamond Eyes. The track is available through the One Love for Chi website, for $0.99. All of the...

Reader Spotlight: Keith “KDubbs” Williams

Meet Keith “KDubbs” Williams, a bassist from San Jose, California and our player in the spotlight for December 7, 2010. Bio: I’m the former bass player for Maranatha Christian Center, San Jose, Ca. (1992-2002). I’ve worked with Ruff House/Columbia/Emi recording artist Keith Martin (toured with MC Hammer in the mid 90’s), and with the Black Panther of Hip Hop, Paris....

Custom Shop: The Making of Orchid (Part 2)

This week, we continuing the series on the making of Orchid, a custom bass by Rick Toone. If you missed it, check out Part 1. Rick Toone tells the story on the making of this custom bass. Machining Bridges I devoted the past several years to designing, patenting and developing an integrated line of premium instrument hardware for guitar and...

Victor Wooten: Ari’s Eyes (Bass Day 2002)

Here’s Victor Wooten in this performance of “Ari’s Eyes” in 2002. This tune was later released on his 2005 album, .

Progressive Trios for Strings

Carl Fischer Music has released a new chamber music collection for string ensemble. Progressive Trios for Strings – String Bass (with additional books for violin, viola and cello), includes 26 trios that can be played by any combination of stringed instruments. The arrangements and compositions included in the book were produced by prominent string pedagogue Doris Gazda, and covers a...

WestFest 6 Announced

WesFest 6 has been announced, set to take place February 27, 2011 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California. The event is a celebration of the life of bassist Wes Wehmiller, who passed away after a battle with thyroid cancer in 2005. It is also a fundraiser for the Wes Wehmiller Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Berklee College of Music, which...

The Wood Brothers Announce Tour Dates, Debut Music Video

The Wood Brothers, featuring bassist Chris Wood with brother Oliver, will be touring North America through December and the beginning of the 2011. The brothers, joined by drummer Tyler Greenwell, will be releasing a new album entitled Smoke Ring Halo in February. A new music video for the single “Shoofly Pie,” was unveiled last week (see below). The Wood Brothers...

Joni Mitchell: Hejira, Live in Japan with Pino Palladino

I never thought I’d hear a version of “Hejira” without Jaco and love it. But then Pino Palladino proved me wrong with this incredible live performance of the title track to Joni’s 1976 album by the same name.