Buzz
Steve Lawson: DownWithThe6ness
My friend Steve Lawson is doing some very cool things right now with video lessons he’s posting to Instagram. The series looks at the 6 string bass and what it has to offer, and this track is a demo showcasing some beautiful music.
Nik West Releases “Moody” Featuring Larry Graham & Cindy Blackman-Santana
Nik West has released a new album called “Moody,” which shows off different sides of her musical personality. The album lays heavy on the funk with moments of tenderness and in-your-face rockers. It also features some funk royalty, including Larry Graham.
The Band Camino Parts Ways with Graham Rowell
In a post on their social media pages, The Band Camino has announced the departure of bassist Graham Rowell. Rowell founded The Band Camino with frontmen Jeffrey Jordan and Spencer Stewart in Memphis in 2015.
ZVEX Effects Announces the Fuzz Factory 7 Raw Pedal
ZVEX Effects has just released a special run of their Fuzz Factory 7 utilizing two NOS 1960s 2N404 germanium transistors. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the new pedal was hand-assembled at home by the ZVEX crew and has a raw aluminum enclosure.
Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists Virtual Bass Orchestra: Azure
Donovan Stokes shared this video on Facebook, and we’re glad he did. The Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists made the most of this time of social distancing by coming together virtually to record an all-bass arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Azure.”
In Memoriam: Jymie Merritt
More sad news to report as another jazz legend has passed. Jymie Merritt, who played on some of the genre’s most influential records, died April 10th at the age of 93.
Kala Introduces Bamboo U-Bass
Kala released a new U-Bass this year that they say is their most sustainable choice. The ukulele-sized acoustic/electric bass guitar is made entirely out of bamboo.
Stuart Clayton: “Teen Town” Bass Line Tutorial
Stuart Clayton always provides amazing lessons and transcriptions. In this clip, he walks through the bass line on “Teen Town,” written by Jaco Pastorius and released on the Weather Report album, “Heavy Weather.”
John Entwistle Biography, “The Ox”, Now Available
If you’re looking for something worthwhile to read, you’re in luck. Hachette Books has just released “The Ox,” a biography of the late, great John Entwistle written by Paul Rees.
In Memoriam: Andy González
Sad news to report: Latin bass icon Andy González has passed away. The news was announced by his sister, Eileen González-Altomari, on Facebook.
Schecter’s Banshee Bass Now Shipping
Schecter is now shipping the Banshee Bass, a short-scale instrument they unveiled at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show. The vintage-styled instrument features a split-coil style bass with a 30-inch scale.
Heavytones: Hockepocke
René Flächsenhaar shared this video recently on Facebook, and it was just what I needed. Heavytones hit the studio back in February and recorded this video for “Hockepocke.” So old school cool!