Buzz

StageTrix has announced two products aimed at dealing with managing multiple pedals. The Pedal Fastener is a hook fastener designed specifically for attaching pedals to pedalboards. The center of the fastener is removable, preserving the pedal’s specification sticker. Pedal Fastener features: Special industrial strength adhesive optimized for pedals Heavy-duty hook fastener ensures solid connection to the loop surface on your...

Sneak Preview: Julie Slick’s Debut Solo Album

Bassist Julie Slick (Adrian Belew Power Trio) has just completed her first solo album, the self-titled Julie Slick. The entire CD was recorded in Julie’s studio, and produced and engineered by her as well. The CD will be released on May 11th. “Most of the album is played on bass, with the help of my GK-3 equipped Lakland Bob Glaub...

Reading a Lead Sheet – A How To Guide

Q: Do you know how to read a lead sheet? What is a good way to learn how to play with a lead sheet? A: Learning to navigate a lead sheet is one of the most useful and important things a working musician must get comfortable with. While lead sheets seem to baffle many musicians who are unfamiliar with them,...

Hey fellow bassists! We want to know: how many of our bass playing friends are a in a gigging band? Tell us about it in the comments below, including a brief band bio, styles, and/or links to your gig calendar or band page.

Michel Petrucciani unfortunately only lived to be 36, but composed a lot of great music before he passed. Petrucciani played with many great bass players including Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, NHØP, Eddie Gomez, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden, Anthony Jackson, Marcus Miller and many others. Here’s his tune “September Second” with Anthony Jackson on the bass and Steve Gadd on the...

Melissa Auf Der Maur, like many artists, were unable to travel due to the recent volcanic activity in Iceland. Auf Der Maur missed last week’s London Cargo show, but is making it up with a last minute concert tonight. Tickets from the originally scheduled show are still valid. Auf Der Maur is also screening her new film, Out Of Our...

Reader Spotlight: Jon Wolske

Meet Jon Wolske, our bass player in the spotlight for April 20, 2010. Bio: Bass playin’ fool since the age of 16, Jon played for a few years in an original project ‘Mourning Stone’ before he found the fun world of Cover bands. The draw of having fun and actually pulling in some side-cash took him on a 10+ year...

Check out this 20 year old (!) video of the Mike Stern Group performing live in New York City in 1990. The line up includes Lincoln Goines on bass, Dennis Chambers on drums, Bob Berg on sax and Stern on guitar. Part 1: And Part 2:

Bassist Dywane Thomas Jr. has released his second solo album, Aleatorick and Indeterminacy. The CD includes six original compositions, performed by Dywane on bass and piano. The compositions are influenced by John Cage, avant-garde/experimental music and structured improvisation. Dywane also played on GospelChops Bass Sessionz Vol. 1 DVD with Hadrien Feraud, Janek Giwzdala, Damian Erskine and others. Preview and download...

Nikki Sixx has announced that he is working on a new concept album with his trio, SIXX: A.M., which also features James Michael and D.J. Ashba. The group is “getting close” to deciding on the first single from what will be their sophomore album, and the follow up to their debut, The Heroin Diaries. According to his Myspace page, the...

Gear Review: Boss RC-20XL Loop Station

Until recently, due to limited budget, I’ve been using the free software looping solution, Mobius. A couple of weeks ago I came across the Boss RC-20XL Phrase Recorder in my local music store. It is the relatively inexpensive (approx. $250) two-pedal ‘middle sibling’ of the Loop Station family; the smaller unit being the one-pedal RC-2 and the much larger unit...

Leo Fender and the History of the Electric Bass

A guy who goes by the name “davey4557” on Youtube has posted a short but amazing video on the history of the electric bass and Leo Fender. While it is very cool to see the progression of Leo’s basses, I had serious gear envy after realizing all the basses in the video belong to Davey. Davey says he’d like to...