Buzz

Melvin Lee Davis with Chaka Khan, Live (1996)

Melvin Lee Davis grooves hard behind Chaka Khan in this live performance in 1996 during “Sinbad’s Summer Jam.” The group performs a medley of “Tell Me Something Good” and “I’m Every Woman”. Does it get any better?

Boris Kozlov Releases “Double Standard”

Jazz bassist Boris Kozlov has released a new solo bass CD, Double Standard, featuring a mix of originals and jazz standards. The entire album is made of single-take, solo bass tracks with the exception of “RGB/Self Portrait in 3 Colors,” which has the bassist layering arco tracks on the Charles Mingus ballad. That track is especially poignant since the entire...

Bunny Brunel Releases Slap Bass Instructional DVD

Bunny Brunel has released his latest instructional DVD, this time focusing on slap bass. Slap Bass, a 50-minute, region-free DVD, includes basic slapping technique, popping and hammer-ons, and other tricks to enhance a player’s slap technique. A variety of exercises are demonstrated as well. Here’s a preview: Slap Bass is available on Brunel’s store as well as Amazon.

When improvising, we are freest when we have deeply internalized a song on multiple levels. Before we can improvise the “solo to end all solos,” however, we must have fully assimilated the tune. The fewer rudimentary thoughts we must hold in our mind (such as: what scale goes with this chord?, what fingering can I easily execute? what does F#...

Larry Graham: Bass Solo, Live au Bataclan

Marcus Miller shared this video of Larry Graham a while back. Not much more needs to be said, does it?

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of November 7-13, 2010. Top 10: The Best Bass Gear (October 2010) News: Elvis Bassist Bill Black’s 1960 Fender Precision Up For Auction Video: Stanley Clarke: School Days (1990) Player News: Bootsy Collins Dives Into The World Of Fine Art Player News: Flea Joins...

John Paul Jones: New Them Crooked Vultures Album on the Way

Though the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures is on break while the band members return to their main gigs, bassist John Paul Jones says the trio will be regrouping soon for their second album. In an interview with BBC 6 Music, the former Led Zeppelin member explained that the process shouldn’t take long. “Some stuff we’ve worked on, but we’re...

Here’s a tasty treat – a bass and guitar duet of Steve Swallow’s “Falling Grace” by bassist Steve LaSpina and guitarist Chris Champion. What intonation and tone! LaSpina has toured and recorded with a virtual who’s who of jazz royalty including saxophonists Benny Carter, Stan Getz and Phil Woods, vocalists Joe Williams and Mark Murphy, trumpeters Clark Terry, Chet Baker...

Slipknot Asks for Return of Items Stolen From Paul Gray’s Grave

The members of Slipknot are reaching out to the community for the return of items that were stolen from bassist Paul Gray’s grave. Taken from the gravesite were statues of a gargoyle and a Buddah that had been placed there by friends and family. In a statement on their website, Slipknot simply states they want the items returned. “We ask...

Amanda Ruzza: Confirmation

Bassist Amanda Ruzza was raised by a mother who loved opera and a father who loved rock n’ roll, a combo she says helped her develop an “eclectic musical ear at an early age”. Amanda eventually attended Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts for a couple of semesters. In this clip, she and her bandmates take on Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation”, and nail...

Alfred Releases the Couch Potato Bass Workout

Alfred has released a new instructional though maybe unconventional book, entitled The Couch Potato Bass Workout. Intended for all levels and styles, the book is based on the idea that sometimes we end up practicing while “vegging out on the couch” sometimes, so why not make it productive? The workout includes exercises to develop speed, strength, and accuracy by teaching...

Gear Watch: Sheptone P-Bass Pickups

Sheptone is stepping into the world of electric bass pickups, beginning with a new line of P-Bass pickups. The new models are made for Fender Precision basses and similar models, and are made to vintage specifications, utilizing alnico 5 magnets and #42 plain enamel wire while measuring out to 10.3k. All the pickups are made in the U.S. at Sheptone’s...