Buzz
Chano & Colina Release Live Album
The musical bond between pianist Chano Dominguez and bassist Javier Colina runs deep. After first meeting in 1986, the duo worked together to develop their own mix of flamenco and jazz music over nearly two decades until Dominguez moved to Barcelona in 2002. The move led each player to explore new avenues. Now they’ve reunited to release a live album...
Bass Transcription: Ewan Vernal’s Bass Line on “The Wildness” by Deacon Blue
Ewen Vernal was born in 1964 into a musical family in Glasgow, Scotland. His mother was a vocalist, and his father played saxophone and also led a local choir. Ewen’s early musical experiences focused on playing the piano and singing, but this changed during his teenage years after he found an old acoustic guitar in his loft. Although only the...
Bloodstone: Natural High, 1973
Now we’re going to slow things down a bit. I’ve been on a classic soul and R&B kick lately and this song has been on repeat. Bloodstone’s “Natural High” is one of the smoothest love ballads I’ve ever heard. Although the band appears to be playing along to their own recording in this video, Charles McCormick’s playing on the track...
Jeffrey Osborne Releases “Worth It All”
Former L.T.D. vocalist Jeffrey Osborne has gone back to his roots with Worth It All, a record he describes as an old-school R&B album. “I approached it like things from the past that influenced me then wrote my versions,” he explains. “For example, ‘Let a Brotha Know’ sounds like a song I would have done with my old band L.T.D....
Groove – Episode #42: Mai Leisz
She just turned thirty, but she is an old soul. It’s for this reason that she has fit in performing with artists like David Crosby, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Seal and others. Mai Leisz (formerly Mai Agan) is a curious and engaging bass player. The Estonian born composer started on classical violin and piano. At the age of 16, she...
Deltron 3030: Nobody Can
Deltron 3030’s touring behind their album Event 2 can only be described as epic. The hip-hop trio of Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, and DJ Kid Koala took a full band on the road. No hip-hop would be complete without a fat bass line, and Juan Alderete was on hand to dish it out. Here’s a great clip...
In Memoriam: Wayne Secrest
Wayne Secrest, who founded the Southern rock back Confederate Railroad, has passed away. He was 68 years old. The news was shared on the band’s Facebook page. “It is with profound sorrow we announce that Wayne Secrest has passed away after a long illness,” they wrote “Wayne played bass with Confederate Railroad through the Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe...
Beetronics Introduces the Royal Jelly Overdrive/Fuzz Blender
Beetronics has introduced the Royal Jelly, a handmade overdrive and fuzz blender pedal that sits in their Royal series. The unit allows for running two circuits in parallel so you can blend them together or use them like two separate pedals. Two blend presets called the King and Queen give quick access to different sounds. “The presets allow the player...
Writing Songs with The Bass
Q: I have a battle going on in my writing and wondered if you had words of wisdom for any that share this with me. I find that I can almost always be a “groove generator” and respond quickly to a drummer’s groove or drum loop – within a style, I am comfortable – with some sort of groove, riff...
Xavier Foley: Irish Fantasy
Xavier Foley’s virtuosity on the double bass is evident as soon as he starts playing. His amazing composition skills are often on display as well. Here’s a spellbinding performance of his original piece “Irish Fantasy” that takes you on a tour of the Emerald Isle and the bass at the same time. Check out his bow hair by the end!
Dimmu Borgir Announces New Bass Player; Tour Dates
Symphonic black metal outfit Dimmu Borgir has announced a new bass player, and it’s someone that will be familiar fans of the genre. Victor Brandt, formerly of Entombed A.D and Firespawn will be holding down the low end from now on, they stated on Facebook. ”We are very excited to have Victor become a part of the team! His experience,...
Reader Spotlight: Chris Davison
Meet Chris Davison, a bassist who got his start at the age of 10, thanks to his parents who bought him a Fender Precision for Christmas. Chris is a busy bassist (and cellist) working with a couple of bands and doing freelance work. He’s this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: I’m a bassist of...