Buzz
Christian McBride: Pat Metheny Group Live Upright Bass Solo
Christian McBride shows his super-human side with a live bass solo during a performance of Pat Metheny’s “Question and Answer”.
Rush Announces New North American Time Machine Tour Dates
Last week, we reported that Rush was expanding their Time Machine Tour to Europe, with rumors of more North American dates. Thankfully the rumors were true, and trio will be gracing the U.S. and Canada through March and April, 2011. Starting in Florida, the tour works its way up the East coast, including a stop at New York City’s Madison...
Gear Watch: New Models From Overwater Basses
Overwater Basses has unveiled three new basses: the J-Series 4 Classic, Perception Std Deluxe 4, and their first ever 6-string Singlecut. The J-Series 4 Classic features a 34″ scale and sports a Swamp Ash body, 1-piece Maple neck, and Rosewood bound fretboard. The electronics are all custom Overwater, including OW Hum Cancelling Pickups and an OW 2-band passive/active system. The...
Ask Damian Erskine: Teaching (Part 2)
Q: I am interested in finding out how to get into teaching. For example: What do you recommend about knowledge of theory, scales, modes, etc.? A: This is kind of an interesting one… Of course, the more you know the better (as a player or teacher), but many do fall into a bit of a trap with the “but do...
Oscar Peterson Trio, with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen: Blues Etude (Live in Berlin, 1985)
In 1995, the audience at the Philharmonie in Berlin got to see the Oscar Peterson Trio tear it up on stage. Thankfully, the video cameras were rolling. The trio includes Peterson on piano, bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Martin Drew.
Antonio Ramos “Maca” Releases “Mira Que Te Diga”
Spanish Flamenco bassist Antonio Ramos ‘Maca’ has released a new solo album, Mira Que Te Diga, which translates to “Let Me Tell You.” The 10-track LP is his first solo release, though he has worked with the top Spanish names in Flamenco, from Vicente Amigo to Raimundo Amador. Antonio is also adept at funk and jazz, as evidenced by his...
Reader Spotlight: Rick Reese
Meet Rick Reese, a bassist from Nashville, TN and our player in the spotlight for November 30, 2010. Bio: Born in Baltimore, MD in 1969, Rick has been playing bass for 27 years. His innovative style is a unique blend of jazz improvisation, funk punctuation with driving energy of rock and roll. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Rick...
An Interview with Percy Jones
Percy Jones is one of the definitive figures who carved out a role for the fretless bass and helped establish its place on the contemporary music scene. Best known for his work with jazz-fusion band Brand X, Percy collaborated with likes of Phil Collins and Robin Lumley. Brand X’s early 70’s debut Unorthodox Behaviour established the band as one of...
Marcus Miller and Larry Graham: Release Yourself
Bass history was made when Marcus Miller and Larry Graham performed together at Billboard Live Tokyo in September. Luckily for everyone who wasn’t there, a fan caught the duo performing “Release Yourself” on camera.
Esperanza Spalding to Host New PBS Show
PBS has just announced bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding has been asked to host a new program, “Find The Beat”. The show’s format will include Spalding joining a group, band or solo musician to explore the roots of their music, cultural connections and music history. “Find The Beat” is a joint venture of PBS and the Corporation for Public...
System of a Down Reunites for 2011 Tour Dates
System of a Down has announced new tour dates, which will be the group’s first performances since August 2006. The shows will be scattered through Europe in June with more dates in the works. An official statement from the band’s website explains “We have no master plan of sorts — we are playing these shows simply because we want to...
The Treatment: Gaining Familiarity With a New Tune (Part 2 of 2)
My jazz students and I often work through a process we call “The Treatment.” It’s a tune-based approach and I view it as a preparation for high-level study of improvisation. Once you can navigate a tune using the Treatment, you can more easily work on musical and artistic elements of improvisation. I adjust the Treatment to suit a student’s individual...