Buzz
Cory Wong: Jax
Guitarist Cory Wong is well-known to us thanks to his work with Vulfpeck. He has his own album out now, and he’s just released a video for the tune, “Jax.” As you’d expect, the song is super funky, thanks in part to bassist Kevin MacIntire and one stellar horn section. The Optimist is available through Cory’s website.
Pantera Releases “Live At Dynamo Open Air 1998”
A new live Pantera album has been released as part of the Dynamo Concerts series. Released just days after the untimely death of drummer Vinnie Paul, Live at Dynamo Open Air 1998 captures the band during their tour cycle behind The Great Southern Trendkill. Rex Brown’s distinct bass holds down the low end as the band tackles fan favorites ranging...
G&L Unveils the CLF Research L-1000 Bass
After launching the CLF Research series earlier this year, G&L has expanded the range with the CLF Research L-1000. The new model revives the passive G&L bass from 1980 while updating some aspects. “The new CLF Research L-1000 brings back the best of the iconic passive G&L bass from 1980. Fans of the vintage G&L “wunkay” know,” the company writes....
Milk’n Blues: Miss You, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, and Another Brick in The Wall
Milk’n Blues is a band I discovered on Youtube, thanks to this video. In this clip, the band combines three tunes – Pink Floyd’s “The Happiest Days of Our Lives” and “Another Brick in The Wall”, with The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.” Eduardo Machado handles both the bass and the backing vocals.
Kamasi Washington Releases “Heaven and Earth” with Miles Mosley, Thundercat, and More
Saxophone giant Kamasi Washington has returned with another massive album. Following The Epic and his Harmony of Difference EP, Heaven and Earth pushes the boundaries of jazz with huge soundscapes filled out by an orchestra and choir. Washington made it a double album based on perception. “The Earth side represents the world as I see it outwardly, the world that...
Practicing Scales vs. Arpeggios
Q: Should I spend my time in the shed practicing scales or arpeggios? Why one over the other? A: Ultimately, you want to be familiar with everything relating to the music you want to play and your instrument, but it’s good to prioritize. When trying to prioritize in the shed, it’s important to understand why you are working on this...
HAGO: Ezekiel 1.4
Berklee was rocking with this performance by HAGO. The band’s description says it all: “HAGO is a group from Israel, that plays a unique combination of Jazz Fusion and Progressive Metal, along with Middle Eastern influences, or as they call it – FalafelDjent. In their live set they play original compositions as well as arrangements to ancient Hebrew songs, along...
Guild Introduces the B-240E and B-240EF Basses
Guild is bringing back some of their vintage acoustic bass guitar designs with two new models introduced to the Westerly Collection. The B-240E and B-240EF recall the B-50 of the mid-1970’s, which was a “boomy jumbo with an arched mahogany back and 30 3/4? scale length.” Each of the new models carries those features as well as a solid Sitka...
Scary Pockets: Something to Talk About
Scary Pockets keeps bringing it with their excellent re-imagined covers of classic songs. Here’s their take on Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About,” with vocalist Raquel Rodriguez. The arrangement and mastering on this one is something special. As always, Sam Wilkes lays down the low end.
Oytun Ersan Releases “Fusiolicious”
Oytun Ersan has released his second album, Fusiolicious, featuring a killer lineup of jazz musicians. The bassist recruited Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal, Gary Husband, Gerry Etkins, Dean Brown, Mike Miller, Brett Garsed, Karen Briggs and Okan Ersan for the jazz fusion affair. “Fusiolicious presents a ‘delicious’ combination of Funk Jazz and Progressive Jazz and is a must have album for...
Boss Introduces TU-03 Clip-On Tuner and Metronome
Boss has added to their line of tuners with the new TU-03. Designed for use with stringed instruments including the bass, the clip-on device packs a chromatic tuner and metronome into one compact unit. The TU-03 has a standard chromatic tuning mode as well as modes dedicated to guitar, bass, ukulele, and violin. Its reference pitch is adjustable between 430Hz...
Bass of the Week: Mayones Master Builder Collection Jabba Semi-Hollow
Mayones produces plenty of beautiful instruments, but their team makes extra time to create the Master Builder Collection. “If you’re a true gear-hunter only the most unique instruments can stir up your enthusiasm, the Mayones Master Builder Collection is the answer for your demands,” they write. “The Mayones Master Builder Collection is a unique line of unexampled guitars and basses...