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Joy Anthony M: A Tribute to Jaco Pastorius and Victor Bailey
Bassist Joy Anthony M shared this video with us, and it is a beautiful tribute. “Beautiful and cool sunrise at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. Felt appropriate to do this video,” Anthony shares. “A personal tribute to two late greats, Victor Bailey and Jaco Pastorius. Hope you dig!”
Erik Scott Releases “In The Company Of Clouds”
Erik Scott has released his fourth solo album, In The Company of Clouds. The former Alice Cooper and Flo & Eddie bassist has expanded on his own personal style that mixes his past rock influences in with new age, jazz, and world styles. Scott weaves ambient soundscapes that highlight his sweet fretless bass as the center point. “The CD you’re...
Five Bass Videos We’re Thankful for in 2016
It is a Thanksgiving tradition here to celebrate five bass videos we’re thankful for from our archives. Here are the top five reader favorite videos from 2016. Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy… 1. Tal Wilkenfeld: Under the Sun Back in March, Tal Wilkenfeld visited Paste Studios in New York and recorded this live performance of “Under the Sun”. Like the Tal’s...
Isac Danielsson: “Dean Town” Playthrough and Transcription
Vulfpeck’s “Dean Town” really blew us all away when it was released on their latest album, The Beautiful Game. Bassist Isac Danielsson decided to take on the tune in this play-along video. If you’re interested in giving it a try, Isac has shared his transcription.
Strictly 7 Guitars Announces Python, Copperhead, and Sidewinder Basses
The extended range specialists at Strictly 7 Guitars have officially launched a new line of bass guitars. The series includes three models: the Copperhead, the Sidewinder, and the Python. “The Copperhead was the original bass model we started in 2013 with Simone Bertozzi of Mnemic,” the company writes. “We needed it to produce a low F frequency with some balls...
Competing with the “Bass Virtuosos”
Q: I have been feeling a bit defeated lately. I want to be a professional bassist more than anything but whenever I watch YouTube, I feel like I just don’t have what it takes. I see nothing but a sea of players with blazing chops, piano like chordal abilities, solo players who sound like an orchestra (with loopers, etc..) and...
Arshak “Quartet Nuance”: Don’t Try This at Home
Be careful: Pianist Arshak Sirunyan and his Quartet Nuance get dangerous on the song “Don’t Try This at Home”, recorded live in Silver Spring, Maryland earlier this year. Bassist Cheikh NDoye kicks the song off with an insane groove that sets the mood for the song. The rest of the band includes drummer Raul Pineda and guitarist John Lee, who...
Bassbaba Sumon Releases “Soul Food (Part 1)”
Bangladeshi bassist Bassbaba Sumon has released the first half of his debut solo bass album, entitled Soul Food (Part 1). The five-song instrumental album features culinary-inspired titles with heavy hitting guests including Felix Pastorius, Robert “Bubby” Lewis, Josh Cohen, Bob Franceschini, J.D. Blair, Mark Don and Erfan Nazezadeh. Utilizing only bass and drums, Soul Food mixes hard rock, world music,...
Reader Spotlight: Robert (Bob) Letourneux
Meet Robert Letourneux, a bassist for the past 9 years or so following a few decades of playing guitar. He can be found playing around Central Massachusetts in a Tom Petty tribute band and having a lot of fun. Bob is this week’s reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: I was born in 1954 and raised in Montreal,...
Creative Bass Lines: Funking with the Dorian Mode and the Blues Scale
Welcome back to the third installment of Creative Bass Lines. Before we start, I’d like to take a moment to say a fond farewell to the amazing Victor Bailey who sadly left us way too soon a few days ago. Victor was an enormous influence on me, and his highly melodic yet super funky playing made an indelible impression on...
Zander Zon: Harry Potter Medley
Fans of Zander Zon have been asking for him to take on music from “Harry Potter” and to make it into one of his solo bass arrangements. He just released a terrific medley from the films. “I’m actually a very big fan of the books and the films, and I think the music is just fantastic,” he shared. “And not...
Bass of the Week: Cunningham Bass & Guitarz RLJ-5 Splendour Jazz Bass
Jamaica-born, Australia-based luthier Dwight Cunningham creates some stunning basses, including this gorgeous RLJ-5 Splendour Jazz Bass. The semi-hollow bass features a myrtle and alder body loaded with a Nordstrand Bigman pickup in the bridge position with a split coil in the neck position. Its seven-piece neck is crafted from Myrtle, Indian Rosewood, Maple and Mahogany. The lined fretless fingerboard is...