Buzz
Esperanza Spalding: No More Bass?
Esperanza Spalding has followed up last year’s Exposure with 12 Little Spells, a twelve-song album that focuses on using music as therapy. It came to her in a wash of inspiration while trying to write a single song before “developing the next full thing.” Each of the songs focuses on a different part of the body with videos and art...
Bass Players To Know: Carl Radle
There are plenty of players who have left the musical world far too soon and are frequently overlooked or, more commonly, heard but not known. One example that comes to mind is the great and soulful Carl Radle, the California transplant who made an indelible mark in the world of blues and soul during the 1970’s. A fortuitous connection with...
The Omnific: Objets de Vertu
The Omnific is an Australian progressive instrumental band with two basses and a drummer, so of course I dig it. Matt Fack and Toby Peterson-Stewart handle all of the melodic and harmonic content while drummer Jerome Lematua holds the beat. “Objets de Vertu” showcases the bassists’ prowess on the instrument while creating a cool groove.
Nazareth Celebrates 50 Years With New Album
Nazareth has been rocking for 50 years, and they’re not stopping anytime soon. The “Hair of the Dog” band is celebrating with a new album called Tattooed On My Brain, which marks their 24th full studio release. It’s the first to feature new vocalist Carl Sentence, who replaced original singer Dan McCafferty after health issues made him retire. Of course,...
Purple House: An Interview with Ryan Madora
If you’ve been reading No Treble at all for the past seven years, you’ve probably read the work of Ryan Madora. Her popular columns run the gamut from mastering the blues to understanding your instrument to bass players you should know. If you haven’t heard her play yet, you need to check out Robben Ford’s latest album, . The effort...
Marcus Miller with Selah Sue: Que Sera Sera
Marcus Miller just shared an excellent video showcasing one of the tunes on his new album, Laid Black. Joined by vocalist Selah Sue, here’s their take on “Que Sera Sera.”
Catalinbread Introduces the NiCompressor Pedal
Catalinbread has expanded their line of pedals with the NiCompressor. Inspired by the vintage Loco Box “The Choker” compressor, the new stompbox is described as offering “exceptional compression dynamics while keeping higher-frequencies intact.” Alongside Gain, Compression, and volume controls, the NiCompressor has Bass and Treble knobs for extra tone shaping. Its all-analog design is FET based and offers 4.8ms of...
Using an Active/Passive Toggle on Your Bass
Q: I’ve got a toggle on my bass for passive and active. I hardly use it. Could you explain the benefits and drawbacks of each? Do you ever toggle during a gig? Thanks! A: I’ve more recently become more enamored with the sound of my basses in passive mode. For me, it partially reflects a change in my stylistic preferences,...
Metallica: To Live Is To Die, Live
Metallica is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album …And Justice For All by posting live versions of each song from the album. They’ve just posted a clip of “To Live is To Die” from its first ever (and only) full-length live performance in 2011. The song is mostly instrumental and was written as a tribute to Cliff Burton, who...
Matt Ulery Releases “Sifting Stars”
Bassist and composer Matt Ulery has released a new album called Sifting Stars that expands his musical palette to include orchestral art songs. The music includes lush string arrangements plus a five-movement piece for brass quintet inspired by the Ivan Albright painting “Into the World There Came a Soul Called Ida.” Ulery admits the ambitious record is a step away...
Stanley Clarke Teases New Stratocaster Bass
In a new interview with Bass Guitar Magazine’s Joel McIver, bass legend Stanley Clarke revealed he’s working with Fender on a new four-string bass based on the Stratocaster guitar. The bass was designed with Clarke’s longtime collaborator Thomas Lieber, who builds his Spellbinder instruments. As it takes its cues from the Strat, they took it to Fender. Clarke is well...
Cassius Lambert: Aralia
Cassius Lambert sent us this video of his solo bass tune, “Aralia.” His composition skills and use of effects combine to create one stunning soundscape.