Buzz
David Ellefson’s Megadeth Bass Amp Being Auctioned for Charity
A bass amp played by Dave Ellefson on numerous Megadeth tours is being auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society. The Hartke HyDrive 112C combo amp, which is signed by every member of Megadeth, was used backstage for rehearsals and warm-ups on the Rust in Peace 20th anniversary tour, the Big Four tour, the...
Marco Mendoza Releases “Casa Mendoza”
Metal bass veteran Marco Mendoza has released his second solo album, Casa Mendoza, through Mascot Records. The 13-track release is a mix of originals with some covers mixed in, all in a rock style with Latin flavor mixed in. Mendoza has an impressive resume that includes playing with White Snake, Ted Nugent, and Thin Lizzy, with whom he will be...
Ask Damian Erskine: Becoming a Well Rounded Player
Q: Through the years I have often heard the term “well rounded player”. I have been wondering what makes a “well rounded player” in your opinion? A: Well, I would imagine that any well rounded player has more than just a few tricks up their sleeve, but is instead both versatile and flexible in their abilities and approach. This concept...
Stu Hamm: “Going to California” Live Solo Bass Performance
Stu Hamm’s take on the Led Zeppelin classic, “Going to California.” [Editor’s note: check out our transcription of this performance.]
Corea/McBride/Blade Trio to Tour North America
After coming off a tour with Chick Corea’s Freedom Band, bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride is once again hitting the road with Corea in a trio that is rounded out by drummer Brian Blade. The tour stretches from September to November and spans the U.S. and Canada before they head to Japan in December. The trio grew together as they were...
Reader Spotlight: Skip Taylor
Meet Skip Taylor, a bassist from Slidell, Louisiana, and our player in the spotlight for September 28, 2010. Bio: Skip Taylor is a seasoned bass player, producer and writer with a impressive list of accomplishments. Being from the South, I played a lot of southern rock and funk. A student of Larry Graham and Bootsy, I established my own band...
Tony Grey: Unknown Angels
Sometimes it takes a tragedy to realize one’s true potential, and likely nobody knows it more than bassist Tony Grey, whose life took a turn at the age of 18 after a horrific car accident left him with a broken back. During his recovery, his father bought him a bass guitar and Grey really took to it, especially with the...
James Genus with the Brecker Brothers: “Harpoon” Solo
Here’s a clip of James Genus’ bass solo to open up the Randy Brecker tune, “Harpoon”. The performance comes from a date with the Brecker Brothers in Madrid, Spain in 1994.
Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums Documentary Released
A documentary on the creation of Rush’s 2112 and Moving Pictures albums has been released on DVD, as part of the Classic Albums series. Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures chronicles the writing and recording process through demonstrations, archive videos, and interviews of band members Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson, as well as producer Terry Brown. The two albums...
Stuart Clayton Releases Solo Arrangements for Electric Bass
Stuart Clayton has released his latest bass method book, Solo Arrangements for Electric Bass. The book includes a selection of solo arrangements for a variety of popular songs, including the theme from The Simpsons, made famous by Clayton in one of the most popular videos ever featured on No Treble. Each arrangement includes a full breakdown of the various techniques...
Ron Carter to be Interviewed for Jazz Legacies Series
Ron Carter will be the first interview of the year for the Jazz Legacies series at the Graduate Center, CUNY in New York City. Hosted by critic and author Gary Giddins, the series offers listeners a chance to hear about the lives and careers of jazz legends from the musicians themselves, and Carter has a lot to say. He had...
Dave Holland Quintet: Metamorphos Live (2002)
On the tune “Metamorphos”, Dave Holland and his quintet show an unstoppable stream of ideas that eventually change styles by the end of the song. The clip is from the 2002 Newport Jazz Festival, and includes some commentary by Dave himself about midway through the piece.