Buzz

Les Claypool has new concert dates for the U.S. in February, 2010: 2/12: Aspen, CO, at Belly Up Tavern 2/13: Boulder, CO, at Fox Theatre 2/14: Denver, CO, at Ogden Theatre 2/16: Tucson, AZ, at Rialto Theatre 2/17: Flagstaff, AZ, at Orpheum Theater 2/19: Montbleu Theatre, at Lake Tahoe, CA 2/20: Eugene, OR, at McDonald Theatre Advanced tickets are available....

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, Flea (Michael Balzary) recently spoke with CNN about The Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a school he developed in 2001 with his childhood friend, Tree (Keith Barry). The non-profit school, located at Sunset Junction in Los Angeles, offers after-school lessons and focuses on the fundamentals of playing an instrument, rather than focusing on being a rock...

The Bogdon Box Bass, A Cardboard Upright

While hunting down the next great bass video, I stumbled upon this three year old video featuring a cardboard bass, aka the “Bogdon Box Bass”. The bass is marketed as “a reduction of technology and the simplification of needs.” And yes, there’s a company who makes them. You can order a fully-assembled one or a do-it-yourself kit at Bogdon Music.

Jeff Clyne, one of the best jazz bassists to come out of the UK, passed away on November 16th of a heart attack. Clyne, who was 72, broke onto the scene in the 1950’s, and in 1958 joined Tubby Hayes’ band, the Jazz Couriers. In 1965, Clyne played on Stan Tracey’s classic album “Under Milk Wood,” and later became a...

Michael Manring has updated his tour schedule through next year. Here’s the latest… Friday, November 20, 2009 With guitarist Adam Werner The Grieb Theater: 5440 Valley Circle Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Doors @ 7pm, Show @ 7:30pm Saturday, November 21, 2009 Solo clinic for Zon Guitars Bass San Diego, 6255 Ferris Square Ste. E, San Diego, CA 92121 Presentation...

Wild, loud and at times verging on chaos, this is not music for everyone; but I loved this record. No one else sounds like Many Arms, who follow their own path and clearly make this music because they love it – it is certainly not designed for radio formats. The band names the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Ornette Coleman, Black Flag, Bernard...

Yellowjackets: Man Facing North

Here’s a 1993 performance of the Yellowjackets performing “Man Facing North” live in Montreux. Bassist Jimmy Haslip takes a solo before the half-way mark, and does some nice doubling with Bob Mintzer.

Rush bassist and lead singer Geddy Lee will be judging at the “Gold Medal Plates,” a Canadian chef cook-off, today in Toronto. Gold Medal Plates is self-described as the “ultimate celebration of Canadian Excellence in cuisine, wine, entertainment, and athletic achievement.” Founded in 2003, the organization’s goal is to raise money for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. So far, the...

Bassist Ike Sturm has released his new album, Jazz Mass. Sturm composed and arranged Jazz Mass for voices, strings, and jazz septet, resulting in a unique blend of textures. “I have always loved the emotional heights and depths that can be revealed through voices and strings,” Sturm says. “To hear these sounds combine with some of my favorite improvisers is...

Setting Up Your Bass

Q: Do you set up your instruments? If so, What do you strive for? A: (This article will also appear in a future issue of Bass Guitar Magazine UK in the midst of many more on the topic from other players) The overall playability of my instrument is everything to me. If I have to fight the feel of my...

Franck Avitabile with Pino Palladino: Stage Door

Our friend Kev Cooke sent this in to us, saying “Another Pino vid to feature… simply beautiful composition & perfect sounds, and amazing video quality too.” We couldn’t agree more, so here it is: The line up is Franck Avitabile on piano, Pino Palladino on bass, and Manu Katché on drums. The song, “Stage Door”, is from Avitabile’s Paris Sketches...

Sublime’s bass player, Eric Wilson, has lost a legal battle with the estate of Brad Nowell, the band’s singer, over the rights to use the band’s name. For the years after Brad’s untimely passing in 1996, the surviving members performed in a group they formed called the Long Beach Dub All Stars, but recently they decided to return to the...