Buzz
Oteil Burbridge Announces New Album, Tour Dates
Oteil Burbridge has been keeping plenty busy with Dead & Company for the past couple years, but he’s also been working on his own music. Now the groove monster has announced a new solo album and tour. Water in the Desert will be released on October 20th and is tied together by a central theme. “I started writing the songs...
Bootsy Collins Announces New Album
Funkateers rejoice! Bootsy Collins has announced he will be releasing a new album this October entitled World Wide Funk. The star-studded record will be his first release in six years. “The whole concept was not only about playing music or being current on this album, but about teaching people how to funk for themselves so they can bring some funk...
Mu-FX Unveils the Micro-Tron III Envelope Filter
Mu-FX has expanded their pedal line with a new compact pedal. The Micro-Tron III is described as “a compact, convenient, and affordable” version of the classic Musitronics Corp. Mu-Tron III envelope filter, which was originally introduced in the 1972. “The Micro-Tron III provides all the classic Jerry tone and Bootsy funk, in a pedalboard-friendly size and powered by industry-standard 9V...
Standard Fusion Company: Yesterdays
Jason Raso shared this video of his second track from his “Session One” series. As a bonus, Michael Manring appears on the track. Jason lays down a sweet groove behind the band, which offers some beautiful, lyrical playing by Manring over top.
The Revolution: An Interview with BrownMark
A Minneapolis native, BrownMark has always known what it means to be funky. The bassist cut his teeth in the musically rich city before being picked up by the one and only Prince in 1981 for his 1981 Controversy tour. The bassist held his own and was featured on the albums Around the World In A Day, Parade, Sign o’...
Johan Hansén-Larson: Solar
It’s been a while since we’ve posted a new Johan Hansén-Larson video, so I was pumped to see him post a new bass version of the jazz standard “Solar.” The bassist, who now rocks an incredible beard, puts his own spin on the song with an incredible fluidity and musicality that will leave your jaw on the floor.
Pigtronix Announces Mothership 2 Analog Synthesizer
Pigtronix has expanded their other-worldly effects lineup with the Mothership 2 Analog Synthesizer. Building on the original Mothership, the new pedal packs tons of features into a smaller footprint. It has five dual-concentric potentiometers and two toggle switches. The knobs control the VCO (triangle wave), square wave, sub-octave, clean mix, master volume, glide, fine tune, dynamics, timbre, and sweep. The...
How To Structure Limited Practice Time
Q: I work a “real job” – as in four 10-hour days a week. I get up at 3:15 am Tuesday through Friday, commute to work, put in my 10 hour day, plus a half-hour for lunch, and by the time I get home from my afternoon commute, it can be as late as 6 pm. I’m usually pretty tired,...
Shob: The Right Move
Bassist Shob sent us a video of his new tune, “The Right Move,” and we’re digging the funky sound. The tune appears on Shob’s new album, Karma Obscur. We’re going to keep our eye on this bassist and band.
Reader Spotlight: Jesse Baumgartner
Meet Jesse Baumgartner, a bassist who can thank two people for his love for bass and music. One was his own father, and another was the father of a friend, who gave him some music that started him on his path. Jesse is this week’s reader in the spotlight (you can be next!) Here’s his story… Bio: I started playing...
Sire Guitars Unveils Marcus Miller P7 and V9 Basses
The popular Marcus Miller line of basses by Sire Guitars is growing this year with two new models: the P7 and the V9. The P7 is the company’s first P-style bass, while the V9 adds a solid maple top and quilted veneer to the V7 model. Available in four and five-string versions, the P7 centers around a P/J pickup set...
Miki Santamaria: Extreme Slap Bass Solo – Vol 2
Miki Santamaria always amazes us with his stellar technique and musicianship. This video is no different. In this clip, Miki shows off some sweet slap bass, with plenty of groove. If you dig this, Miki has made the tab and backing tracks available, here.