Buzz
Saltman Knowles Releases First Album in Five Years
The story of baseball’s longest game, and the book written about it – Dan Barry’s Bottom of the 33rd, inspired jazz outfit Saltman Knowles’ latest effort, Almost. The book reflects the players’ commitment and dedication to the game, even if they weren’t destined to make it in the major league (the game was a minor league contest). They continued to...
Weekly Top 10: Victor Wooten Goes Metal, Top Bass Videos, New Gear, Talking Technique and More
Lots of bass goodness in this edition of the weekly top 10. Here are the top 10 stories, how-to’s and videos enjoyed by No Treble readers for the week of September 10-16, 2016. Thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Victor Wooten Joins Progressive Metal Band Here’s something you didn’t see coming: bassist Victor Wooten performed with new progressive...
Cort Announces AB850F Acoustic Bass Guitar
Cort Guitars has expanded their bass lineup with the AB850F, an acoustic bass guitar featuring a full-size, jumbo body that the company says produces plenty of volume. The bass, which comes in natural and black finishes, is constructed with a dovetail neck joint and venetian cutaway for better access to the upper register. Its body back and sides are mahogany...
Leslie Johnson: Blast
Marcus Miller’s “Blast” is one of my favorite tunes. So I was thrilled to see this trio – anchored by bassist Leslie Johnson – performing their own version. Joined by guitarist Dave Giraldo and drummer Jay Jackson, Leslie not only handles the great bass line, he also plays keys on the track. Dig it.
Ron Carter Quartet Explores Bossa
The Ron Carter Quartet, led by the inimitable and prolific jazz bassist/cellist/composer, Ron Carter, has collaborated with vocalist Vitoria Meldonado to create the record, Brasil L.I.K.E. (short for Love, Inspiration, Knowledge and Energy). The Grammy-winning Carter is working with American and Brazilian standards in bossa nova on the album, and creating excerpts of jazz within each song. The record also...
Gibson Unveils 2017 EB Bass T Model
Gibson has unveiled their 2017 instrument lineup, including the new Gibson 2017 EB Bass T. The new version revamps the EB Bass design with a new body shape among other features. As part of the “T” series, the bass is created with tonewoods and pickups chosen for vintage Gibson sounds. The bass is built with a swamp ash body, set...
Lynn Seaton and Donovan Stokes: Patrician Commission
Hold onto your hats, because this isn’t your typical jazz duo. The Bass Coalition Summer Workshop wrapped up this year with a stunning recital by guest artist and jazz legend Lynn Seaton. For the finale, he invited Donovan Stokes to join him for a special version of his song “Patrician Commission”. Both double bassists got gnarly with distortion pedals to...
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Stay Soulful on Second Album
Alabama’s St. Paul & The Broken Bones is back with a sophomore slab of retro-soul on Sea of Noise. The eight-piece band says the album is more reflective of its tastes than its debut, Half the City, and depends less on belting from lead singer Paul Janeway and more on incorporating his voice into the arrangements, according to a Wall...
Ryan Martinie’s Soften The Glare Announce Mission Possible Tour
Soften The Glare, featuring former Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie, are ramping up for a new album and a new tour. The instrumental/prog/jazz/rock band revealed they are currently working on their debut album. “[We] have started sessions for their debut album with Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me) at The Basement Recording NC studio,” they wrote. They’ll be hitting the...
Bass Players to Know: Tommy Cogbill
For those of you keeping tabs, it’s safe to say that I’m a soul music junkie. Motown, Philly Soul, R&B from Memphis and Muscle Shoals, you name it — I can’t get enough. I’m a sucker for listening to old records, reading books about the development of record labels such as Stax and Atlantic, and seeking out the musicians who...
Jason Raso: Brooklyn
Jason Raso sent us this video of him performing a tune he wrote and performed using three basses, a guitar and a drum track. “Last week I was fortunate enough to visit the Fodera shop in Brooklyn. What a treat meeting all of the amazing people who build these beautiful instruments. I thank them all for such a warm welcome!...
ZZ Top Releases First Official Live Album
ZZ Top has the longest-lasting original lineup of any major rock band – the Texas trio of Billy Gibbons (guitar), Dusty Hill (bass) and Frank Beard (drums) have remained together for more than 45 years. But until now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have gone without releasing a live album. More than four decades on, they’ve assembled LIVE...