Buzz
John Patitucci Joins Chick Corea for Elektric Band Tour
The classic lineup of Chick Corea’s Elektric Band will be hitting the road once again this fall. Anchored by bass heavyweight John Patitucci, the band will also include guitarist Frank Gambale, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and drummer Dave Weckl. “The group sort of reformed itself with everyone’s desire to play together,” Corea explains. “I thought it would be an interesting thing,...
Beetronics Launches the Whoctahell Fuzz/Octave Pedal
Beetronics has launched its first handmade effects pedal line including the WhoctaHell, a low-octave fuzz with independent controls for each effect. “Its overdrive/fuzz is summed up with a gnarly, squared-wave low octave, resembling an 8-bit bass synthesizer,” the company writes. “Its octave has a range of one or two low octaves, selectable by a toggle switch and also has it’s...
The Meters: Look-Ka Py Py/Jungle Man, Live 1974
I’ve been on a huge Meters kick lately. All of George Porter, Jr.’s bass lines groove like crazy. They’re simple and to the point, which is perfect. Here’s a great clip of The Meters live in 1974 on Dr. John’s “New Orleans Swamp.” The group tears into “Look-ka Py Py” before a cool transition into the slower, thicker “Jungle Man”....
Periphery Follows Up Double Album
Progressive metal band Periphery didn’t rest after releasing a double album in 2015. Instead, the band crafted another album – Periphery III: Select Difficulty. The band features Adam “Nolly” Getgood on bass, who is also instrumental in the album’s production and engineering. However, while Nolly is still a studio member of the band, he has bowed out of touring because...
Anthony Jackson Forced to Sit Out Hiromi Trio Performances
Several dates of Hiromi Uehara’s trio concerts have been rearranged after the pianist announced that bass legend Anthony Jackson has suffered a medical emergency. Details are slim, but Hiromi posted the news to her Facebook page: “We regret to inform the public that Anthony Jackson is experiencing an unanticipated medical situation,” a statement read. “As such, for the upcoming Blue...
Bass Tendencies: An Interview with Ra Diaz
Suicidal Tendencies has a legacy of great bassists. Louiche Mayorga, Tim “Rawbiz” Williams, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo have all held the throne, just to name a few. Earlier this year, bassist Ra Diaz stepped up to the plate to carry on the tradition. It’s been a bit of a dream come true for the Chilean-born, Los Angeles-based...
Children of the Light: Suite for the Americas
Children of the Light is a group consisting of Danilo Pérez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. Here’s the group performing “Suite for the Americas”, which was written by Pérez.
The Black Art Jazz Collective Releases “Presented By the Side Door Jazz Club”
The Black Art Jazz Collective, featuring Vicente Archer (Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper) on bass, has released Presented By The Side Door Jazz Club. The album refers to the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which gave the group, which celebrates black culture in a positive way, a two-night gig with the chance to record...
Gator Cases Introduces XL-Sized Aluminum Pedalboard
Gator Cases has unveiled the GPB-XBAK Aluminum Pedalboard. Measuring at 32 inches by 17 inches, the American-made pedalboard can hold up to 20 pedals and includes hook and loop adhesive strips for rearranging them. It also has power supply brackets underneath the board for mountint two separate power supplies. Rear-facing cutouts make it easy to run power up to your...
Making Arpeggios Musical
Q: I know how to outline chords but how do you play them so they don’t sound mechanical or like an exercise? Any particular patterns that you like when approaching a chord? Thanks bud for all of your hard work! A: I’ve written quite a bit about playing arpeggios and inversions through changes (using the Real Book or iReal Pro...
Nathan Navarro: Super Mario Bass Guitar Playthrough
Nathan Navarro is back with another brilliant bass video, and this time he’s playing along with a run-through of World 1-1 from the original Super Mario Brothers. The bassist dials in a retro video game tone before playing the music. He even plays the right sound effects for when Mario jumps, spits fire, gets the super star, and even landing...
In Memoriam: Lewie Steinberg
Original Booker T. & the M.G.’s bassist Lewie Steinberg has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 82 years old. Steinberg was born in 1933 in Memphis, Tennessee. While many people associate Donald “Duck” Dunn with the M.G.’s, Steinberg was the group’s first bassist and recorded on the first two albums: Green Onions and Soul Dressing. He was...