Buzz

Victor Wooten Introduction

Here’s a documentary video that’s been out a couple of years, and worth checking out. Bassist Victor Wooten talks about his musical life and origins and shows off some great skills (musical and physical – that hand stand is ridiculous!)

1. Video: The Bass Gang: A Night in Tunisia What’s better than one bass? How about four basses! 2. Ask Damian Erskine: Scales vs. Chords Damian asks a reader’s question: “What scales are best to know for improvising and how can I go about trying to memorize them?” 3. Gear Watch: IK Amplitube iRig IK Multimedia has announced the release...

According to drummer Chad Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will begin recording a new album in July. This will be their 10th studio album, following 2006’s Stadium Arcadium. “We have a lot of material, probably about 20 songs,” Smith told MusicRadar.com. “Pre-production will take a few months, but I’d say by July we’ll be laying down real tracks.” This...

James Jamerson Isolated Bass Track: I Can’t Get Next to You

Here’s James Jamerson‘s isolated bass track from the Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You”. This comes from the original Motown master tape. Be sure to check out our previous coverage of the isolated bass and drums for “Ain’t That Peculiar“. Thanks to Rick Suchow for this one!

Rotosound has added Pendulum bassist Gareth McGrillen as their latest artist endorsee. McGrillen uses and will endorse Rotosound’s Nexus coated and Swing Bass strings. McGrillen is joined by his bandmate, guitarist Peredur ap Gwynedd, who was also named an endorsee. Pendulum is releasing their latest album, Immersion, this month, with a tour of the UK and Ireland. For more on...

Brazilian bass player Davi Motta released his first solo CD, Simples Assim, in 2009 which he is promoting with a series of youtube videos performing tunes from the CD. This one is called “Do Meu Jeito”. For more, check out Davi’s Myspace.

When Amptweaker introduced the guitar version of the TightDrive overdrive pedal at January NAMM 2010, a lot of bassists asked if it would work for them too. Bassist Greg Weeks (The Red Chord) gave the guitar version a test drive, and after a few tweaks to the range of the Tone and Tight controls, the Bass TightDrive was born. “The...

Candid Records is celebrating their 50th anniversary and offering some new and updated releases as part of the celebration. One of those albums is Charles Mingus And The Newport Rebels, recorded in studio on November 11, 1960. But the real story is how this recording came to be. From the liner notes: “The (now) famous Newport Jazz Festival was inaugurated...

IK Multimedia has announced the release of their newest and most portable product yet: The Amplitube iRig system for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. The system, which simulates amps and effects for both guitar and bass, consists of an instrument interface that connects your bass to your mobile device and the Amplitube for iPhone software. Then you simply plug the output of the...

Kevin Johnson sent me this video of bassists Larry Graham and Stanley Clarke sharing the stage at Live Under the Sky in 1985. They’re jamming to Sly & The Family Stone’s “Higher”, playing bass, singing and get the crowd really into it.

Michael Manson, a Grammy nominated R&B bassist who regularly tours with George Duke, has recently opened the Musical Arts Institute in Chicago, Illinois. The Institute, which is a “non-profit, community-minded organization,” is a center dedicated to music instruction and performance. The school has several music programs fit for both children and adults from all walks of life. Besides bass, private...

Primus has announced they will be headlining a tour this summer for the first time in almost four years. The band, anchored by Les Claypool’s unique style, will be starting in Toronto in July and finishing up in Tempe, Arizona, with fall dates to be announced soon. The gypsy punks in Gogol Bordello will be supporting the trio for most...