Buzz

Reader Spotlight: Erik Uhlen

Meet Erik Uhlen, our bassist in the spotlight for June 8, 2010. Bio: I’ve been playing for 23 years and have had the good luck to play with popular and working local acts over the years, whether they were original and/or cover bands. As of late, I have been involved with studio efforts, by two artists and am in the...

An Interview with Etienne Mbappé

Following our review of John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension’s To The One, we had the chance to ask bassist Etienne Mbappé a few questions about the album, working with Joe Zawinul, and about all the great bass that comes out of his native Cameroon. How did the “To The One” project come together? I met John McLaughlin in 2002...

Here’s an interesting video with an even more interesting instrument… Don Schiff takes the Half Fretless NS/Stick for a spin:

Jack Bruce: Live 1980-2001

Jack Bruce‘s latest album, Live 1980-2001, released today and features nine live tracks recorded in 1980 and 2001. The recordings from 1980 feature Billy Cobham, David Sancious and Clemp Clempson. The 2001 recordings feature Phil Mogg and Michael Schenker. Jack Bruce: Live 1980-2001 Track List 1. White Room 2. Jet Set 3. Born Under A Bad Sign 4. The Loner...

As if a new documentary, a new album, and a new tour isn’t enough to keep the members of Rush busy, the legendary Canadian rockers will be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 25. The group will receive their star at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard, just four days before they begin their new “Time Machine Tour”....

Practicing for Performance

When we are first learning a new work, we might spend many hours putting it together. We can easily spend days, weeks or even months working on small sections, phrases, passagework, navigating specific chord changes, or other musical and technical items in a piece. We do this not only to perfect individual sections and assure technical fluidity, but also in...

Marvin Isley, bassist of the popular ‘70s and ‘80s funk group the Isley Brothers, has passed away June 6 in Chicago, Illinois. He was 56. Isley was not the first bassist for the group, (he later joined when he was old enough), founded by brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald. It was during this period that the Isleys had released their...

Check out this creatively edited video of Markus Strasser playing a short bass solo dedicated to Victor Wooten.

1. Player News: Robert Trujillo Helps Pastorius Family Reclaim Jaco’s “Bass of Doom” After a long and frustrating legal battle, Jaco Pastorius’ family have finally regained ownership of his legendary “Bass of Doom”, thanks to Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. 2. New Release: Rush: Clockwork Angels Sneak Preview Rush has announced its next studio album, Clockwork Angels will release in 2011,...

Keyboardist Jeff Lorber was among the musicians in the late 1970’s to join the musical movement known as jazz fusion. Lorber later dropped the “fusion” label from his name, because the movement “evolved into what is currently known as contemporary jazz.” With the release of Now Is The Time, the label is back and with a new line up including...

The following video features Edo Castro taking the song “Remembering” by Johnse Holt, and arranging and performing it as a solo bass loop tune.

Larry Hartke announced on his Facebook page that bassist John Conte has “joined the Hartke family of players.” Conte will be using Hartke LH-series amplifiers as well as Hartke speakers. John Conte has worked with an astounding amount of musicians, ranging from Levon Helm to David Bowie and Mary J. Blige. Most recently, he recorded with Southside Johnny and the...