Buzz
Voba Sound Experience: Come Together / Uptown Funk
Roberto Pace sent me his latest video from Voba Sound Experience, and it is killer. Joined by Marta Giulioni on vocals, the duo combines “Come Together” and “Uptown Funk.”
Willcox Guitars Unveils 2018 Saber Bass
Wilcox Guitars is updating their bass lineup by replacing their outgoing Saber VL Bass with the 2018 Saber bass. The reworked instrument features an AAAA flame maple top, lightweight chambered swamp ash body, and their patented LightWave optical pickup system. “LightWave pickups use infrared light technology to ‘map’ or ‘see’ string vibration, resulting in a significant enhancement in tone, sustain...
Phil X & The Drills: Superstition
I stumbled upon this excellent video of Phil X & The Drills recently, and I was an instant fan. Anchored by bassist Daniel Spree – who offers up some monster tone – here’s the band performing “Superstition.”
Bass Transcription: Ronnie Lane’s Bass Line on “Itchycoo Park” by The Small Faces
Ronnie Lane was born in Plaistow in East London on April 1st 1946. As a teenager, his father had encouraged him to play the guitar as “he’d always have a friend”. At first, he played skiffle, a type of rough country blues popular in the UK in the early 1960s, but he was also influenced by The Shadows and The...
KNOWER: Time Traveler
The last time we featured one of the “live sesh” videos by KNOWER (with bassist Sam Wilkes), it was a huge hit. Here’s another. This time around, they perform “Time Traveler,” which was “recorded at some guy’s house” in July. The band issued a warning for this video: “Fast Song.” But it also has a “soft part.”
Barefaced Audio Introduces Limited Edition Tweedy One10 Bass Cabinet
Barefaced Audio has unveiled a special limited edition tweed version of their One10 bass cabinet. Limited to 10 units, the cab has all of the power of their regular One10 model in a vintage look with a tweed wrap, Marshall BluesBreaker cloth grill, brown piping, and genuine imitation leather strap handle. It is fitted with a 10CR250 driver, which can...
Groove – Episode #36: John Patitucci
What has not been said about the bass playing of John Patitucci? The Brooklyn native started playing the bass when he was twelve and has not stopped since. He was a member of three Chick Corea groups: the Elektric Band, the Akoustic Band, and the quartet. While he often switches between the acoustic and electric bass, most of us know...
Brad Russell: Van Halen’s Spanish Fly on Bass
Brad Russell loves taking tunes written for guitar and turning them into solo bass pieces. He shared his latest effort with us, tackling Van Halen’s “Spanish Fly.” “I feel when a piece of music like Bach or Miles Davis is played it can be played on ANY instrument and sound good that’s a true sign of a great piece,” he...
Music Nomad Announces FRINE Fret Polish Kit
Music Nomad has a new product for getting the grime off of your frets. FRINE fret polish is designed to clean and polish all frets safely and quickly. The kit comes with an ounce of the polish and three fretboard guards to fit small, medium, and jumbo fret sizes. It also includes a microfiber suede cloth specially designed for use...
Should I Be Afraid of Breaking the Rules of Harmony When Composing?
Q: I have been playing bass for others for years but when it comes to writing my own music I constantly question myself about the rules. I understand if it sounds good play it but, “what key could this be and, can I play a dominant 7 here, and will it still be in a key?” (In the musical rulebook)...
Richard Bona and Metropole Orkest: Three Views of a Secret
In 2013, Richard Bona joined the Metropole Orkest for a performance at Lantaren Venster in Rotterdam. Among the tunes they played was Jaco Pastorius’s “Three Views of a Secret.” This has always been one of my all-time favorite tunes, and it was a treat to check out this rendition.
Rush’s “A Farewell To Kings” Gets 40th Anniversary Reissue
It’s been 40 years since Rush released A Farewell To Kings. The album, which notably features the hit “Closer to the Heart” among others, is being celebrated by the trio with a reissue including a massive box set. Anchored by the incredible bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, each version of the reissue includes a remastered version of the original album plus a...