Buzz

Get out your tie-dyes. According to bassist Phil Lesh, the Dead is coming back in 2009 for a 19-city tour. The band split in 2004, but got back together to do two benefits for President Elect Barack Obama in 2008. Lesh is approaching the tour with a sense of curious expectation. “When you walk out on the stage,” he says,...

Producer-archivist Bob Beldon is known for his Grammy-winning reissues of Miles Davis’ work, and, along with Indian keyboardist and co-arranger Louiz Banks, has created another remix, putting a global spin on some classics. The most recent two-disc set, Miles… From India, features Michael Henderson in a bass performance that has gained him a Grammy nomination. Henderson toured with Miles Davis...

Happy new year! Brazillian cornetist Rob Mazurek has pulled together a sweet quintet, with Matthew Lux (Isotope 217, Iron and Wine) on bass, and John Abrams (Town and Country, Black Earth Ensemble) on acoustic bass. Their debut album, Sound Is, features 14 new Mazurek compositions, and is due out in 2009 on Delmark. Bassist Ben Gibbard (AFI) has popped the...

Aguilar Amplification’s master class series continues on January 10, 2009, with John Patitucci. The event is free to the public at Aguilar’s showroom in New York City and will include a tour of the Aguilar factory. Space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] by January 9th, 2009. Event details: John Patitucci Clinic and Aguilar Factory Tour Saturday, January 10, 2009 599...

Michael Manring is kicking off 2009 with a busy schedule. On January 10th, Manring is leading a clinic at Bass Club Chicago. The show is open to everyone, but seating limited to 40 attendees. Call (312) 666-3521 to purchase advance tickets. More shows Fri. Jan. 9 at 8pm Accompanying up singer-songwriters John Gorka and Susan Werner Al Ringling Theater in...

It looks like the Faces reunion is really going to happen, with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea holding down the low end. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Ronnie Wood said “We had a few fantastic rehearsals last week and we’re ready to go. It’s like no time has passed by. There’s a lot of guest bass players that...

Canadian thrashers Ramming Speed say they have lost their bass player Derek Cloonan to a bad haircut. Phil Harwood (Bones Brigade, Coctopus) is filling in for now, but they are looking for a permanent replacement with “long hair and (the ability) to play the set set after drinking 6 or 7 beers.” Ramming Speed will be playing in Richmond, Virginia...

Spanish Bassist Daniel Fernández has left the power metal band Dark Moor, according to an announcement on the band’s blog. “In the last few months,” he says “my head was not with Dark Moor and this situation could have been damaging for the band.” He will be devoting all of his attention to InnTrance, which will be performing in Madrid...

As B.C. Rich Guitars celebrates their 40th anniversary, they’ll be hosting a private online preview of their new 2009 models. The preview will be available to registered members of the B.C. Rich web site, before the 2009 NAMM Show. To gain access, sign up at www.bcrich.com by January 10th at midnight (eastern standard time). The preview will include: New Special...

Aguilar Amplification has expanded their DB series bass cabinets to include a new color, White Hot, debuting at the upcoming NAMM show in Anaheim, California. The new cabinets also feature a contrasting burgundy and black grill cloth, silver piping and the famous silver and black Aguilar logo. White Hot joins four other colors in the DB line: Classic Black, Chocolate...

CruzTOOLS has introduced the GrooveTech Multi-Tool, a new tech tool for bass and guitar. The GrooveTech provides all the tools needed to handle basic work on most makes and models, including bridges and truss rods. The tool includes: Seven hex wrenches, both metric and inch-based, with ball-end tips on three truss rod sizes since direct access isn’t always possible. 0.050″...

Researchers have determined that music is healing, literally. In a Maryland study, just a half-hour a day of music lowered cholesterol levels. Unlike studies on music’s effect on endurance and mental focus, this study found that it doesn’t matter what kind of music it is, as long as you enjoy it. Nearly a decade of hard word is paying off...