Buzz
Berklee Bass Department: 2019 Holiday Jam
This is a tradition we love! This year, it almost didn’t happen, but Steve Bailey came through with a video for us to share, with Ron Carter, Justin Chancellor, Leland Sklar, John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, Janek Gwizdala, and Freddie Washington.
On-Stage Announces GS8730 Wall-Mounted Guitar/Bass Hangers
On-Stage has announced a new series of wall-mounted guitar hangers. The GS8730 Series, which will debut at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show, has an EVA foam-padded yolk and a locking mechanism that engages when a bass is hung in it.
Best of 2019: The Top 10 “Ask Damian Erskine” Columns
Damian Erskine’s popular “Ask” column ran for over 10 years. On December 4th, Damian announced he was taking a break. He still logged nearly a year’s worth of columns in 2019, covering theory, gigging, gear, and more. Here are the top 10 reader favorites.
Theo Katzman: Like A Woman Scorned
Theo Katzman is gearing up to release his next album, “Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe.” He’s just released another track, “Like A Woman Scorned,” featuring his Vulfpeck bandmate Joe Dart on bass.
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic Extend Farewell Tour Dates
George Clinton is holding off on his retirement, opting instead to extend his farewell tour with Parliament Funkadelic into 2020. The band has had many fantastic bassists, but the current and longest-standing player is the mighty Lige Curry.
Bass of the Week: Sawtooth Rudy Sarzo Signature Acoustic-Electric Bass
Rudy Sarzo has played in a variety of situations, from Quiet Riot to Ozzy Osbourne to The Guess Who to Michael Angelo Batio. This week we’re checking out his signature acoustic bass guitar from Sawtooth.
Best of 2019: Top 10 Reader Favorite Bass Amps
We covered a ton of bass gear news this year, including plenty of amps. Here is the list of top 10 reader favorites for 2019.
Simon Phillips: Phantom Voyage
Here’s another great clip from Simon Phillips’ Little Big Beat Studios sessions, featuring Ernest Tibbs, Greg Howe, and Otmaro Ruiz. “Phantom Voyage” is one chill tune from the drummer’s “Protocol 4” project.
The Cro-Mags Release “From the Grave” EP
The Cro-Mags have returned with their second EP of the year. “From the Grave” is a three-song followup to “Don’t Give In,” which was the first time in two decades that the group released new music.
The Wood Brothers Release New Single Ahead of Album, Tour Dates
The Wood Brothers are releasing a new album in January called “Kingdom in My Mind.” The trio announced an extensive tour to support the album, plus they’ve just released a new single entitled “Little Bit Sweet.”
Strandberg Announces 10th Anniversary Boden Bass Models
Strandberg is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of limited-edition versions of each of their models, including the Boden Bass. Each of the instruments have specially developed finishes and hardware.
Michele della Malva: Jingle Funkin’ Bells
Michele della Malva is helping us get into the holiday mood with a video he just shared with us. Check out this performance he named “Jingle Funkin’ Bells” (with a little bit of "The Chicken" thrown in).