Buzz
What a Day: Mardi Gras Mambo
The unconventional duo What a Day, consisting of upright bassist Jonathan Joly and singer/typist Leah Gracie, are ready for Mardi Gras this year with a cover of the classic song “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Joly handles all of the harmonic accompaniment with a simultaneous bass line and countermelody on his upright while Gracie leads with her soulful vocals. The result is...
EBS Launches Blue Label Pedals and Premium Gold Flat Patch Cables
EBS unveiled a new line of pedals called the Blue Label Series at NAMM this year. It’s starting this year with three analog overdrive models called the Drive Me Crazy, The Black Haze, and The Drive. While EBS makes everything work well for bass, these pedals are made specifically to work well on bass and guitar. “We know how to...
Bass of the Week: Blasius Guitars Kata 4 Headless
The Kata 4 Headless from Blasius Guitars features a pretty unique body shape with the tone to match. A take on the company’s flagship Kata model, this headless bass is built with three-layer body wings consisting of a bubinga back, maple core, and flamed maple top. Its five-piece neck is a sandwich of maple, padouk, and walnut while the ebony...
Steely Dan: Gaslighting Abbie
As a lifelong Steely Dan fan, I was so thrilled when Two Against Nature came out. That was in large part to the opening track, “Gaslighting Abbie.” Hard to believe that was 17 years ago. Here’s the band performing the track live, with Tom Barney laying it down.
Trickfish Amplification Introduces Bullhead .5K Bass Amp
Trickfish Amplification introduced a new bass amp at the Winter NAMM Show this year called the Bullhead .5K. A little brother to the Bullhead 1K, the amp features a Mike Pope low noise preamp matched with a Class D power amplifier that offers 500 watts at 8 ohms and 700 watts at 4 ohms. “We embarked on an important mission...
Valeriy Stepanov, Jay Stave & Paul Kholodyanskiy: The Chicken
Craig Harris sent us this video saying, “I know this comp gets overplay, but this is impressive and I think should be featured.” This has the be the highest energy version of “The Chicken” ever. Jay Stave is the bassist in this trio, with Valeriy Stepanov on keys and Paul Kholodyanskiy on drums.
EchoTest Releases Third Album, “From Two Balconies”
Ever since Julie Slick teased the album back in October, we’ve been patiently waiting for the new EchoTest album. Now we’re basking in the goodness that the band calls From Two Balconies. Slick shares bass duties in the band on her Bass VI with fellow phenom Marco Machera, who plays on a five-string. Slick gave the lowdown on their third...
Bass Players To Know: Sean Hurley
There’s a lot to be said for bass players who know how to play a song. While it may seem like a simple thing, it takes a mature attitude and a keen ear to do so. Sure, soloing is fun, and many of us want to showcase our slap technique, but exhibiting those skills doesn’t necessarily lead to being a...
Diego Tarantino: Self-Portrait in Three Colors
Diego Tarantino has shared another impressive video with us. This time around, Diego takes on Charles Mingus’s excellent “Self-Portrait in Three Colors,” on double bass, electric bass, and keys.
Halo Orbit: An Interview with Juan Alderete
Juan Alderete is the king of pedals and effects, and he’s proven that once again with his new group Halo Orbit. The band, which includes Japanese guitar whiz suGar Yoshinaga and drummer Mark Guiliana, released their debut album earlier this month and it’s filled with the bassist’s unreal tonal palette. Halo Orbit’s self-titled debut is Alderete’s first full release since...
Viktor L?rincz: Grinder Groove
Viktor L?rincz’s creativity always astounds me, and his latest video is no different. “This video was made with drummer Steven Oravecz, who made a ‘grinder drum’ video on the Facebook,” L?rincz explains. “When I heard it, I felt the groove, and I made my bass line and video, and I mixed them.” Dig it:
Electro Harmonix Unveils SYNTH9 Pedal
Electro Harmonix has expanded their line of synthesizer pedals with the SYNTH9. Suited for bass and guitar, the stompbox emulates classic electronic synthesizers with nine settings: OBX, Profit V, Vibe Synth, Mini Mood, EHX Mini, Solo Synth, Mood Bass, String Synth, and Poly VI. “Using the same innovative technology that powers the award-winning B9 and C9 Organ Machines as well...