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Bakithi Kumalo Archives - Page 2

Kala Revamps California Series U-Basses for 2016
Basses

Kala Revamps California Series U-Basses for 2016

Kala has revamped their California U-Bass series for 2016. The mini-scale, solid-body instruments will have reshaped necks and bodies, plus new placement for the fret markers on the fingerboard. “The California body and neck have been cut and sanded to smoother, more rounded edges so they provide more comfort for the player,” The company writes. “The feel is enhanced when...

Paul Simon’s Latest Features Two Noted Bassists
New Albums

Paul Simon’s Latest Features Two Noted Bassists

Only a few of the songs on Paul Simon’s 13th solo studio album, Stranger to Stranger, feature bass, but when the bass is used, it’s in good hands. Carlos Henriquez (Wynton Marsalis Septet) and Bakithi Kumalo (known for his work on “You Can Call Me Al” from Simon’s 1986 album, Graceland) share bass duties on the tune “The Riverbank,” with...

Bass Players to Know: Bakithi Kumalo
Bass Players To Know

Bass Players to Know: Bakithi Kumalo

Of all the great moments in bass history, one of my favorites is the short and sweet solo on the Paul Simon tune, “You Can Call Me Al.” If you’re unfamiliar with this musical snippet (or the entirety of the Graceland record), it’s high time to give it a listen. With a career as diverse as his musical heritage, Bakithi...

Kala Announces Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass
Basses

Kala Announces Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass

Bakithi Kumalo and Kala Brand Music have teamed up to released the Bakithi Kumalo Signature U-Bass. Kumalo, who first made his mark on Paul Simon’s Graceland album, has been a U-Bass endorser for several years and helped to create the new signature model. The B.K. U-Bass is solid-body fretless four-string with a 21″ scale. It’s built with a select ash...

Tedeschi Trucks Band Release “Made Up Mind” with Pino Palladino, Bakithi Kumalo and Others
New Albums

Tedeschi Trucks Band Release “Made Up Mind” with Pino Palladino, Bakithi Kumalo and Others

The Tedeschi Trucks Band’s third full-length album, Made Up Mind hit the shelves this week. The follow up to their Grammy-winning 2011 debut, Revelator and their live album, Everybody’s Talkin’, TTB saw the return of some old routines and collaborators, and some new. The most significant to us is the absence of original bassist and long-time collaborator Oteil Burbridge, who...

Tedeschi Trucks Band Release First Track for “Made Up Mind”
News

Tedeschi Trucks Band Release First Track for “Made Up Mind”

Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced their third album – and first studio release since their 2011 debut, Revelator – is coming in August. Made Up Mind offers up 11 new tracks by the group, and one significant change. For the first time in the band’s history, bassist Oteil Burbridge is not part of the music. As we reported back in...

Tedeschi Truck Band Adds Bakithi Kumalo for Spring Tour Dates
Concerts & Tours

Tedeschi Truck Band Adds Bakithi Kumalo for Spring Tour Dates

The Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced that they’ve recruited bass legend Bakithi Kumalo to lay down the low end during their Spring tour dates. The bassist, who first made waves on the classic Paul Simon album Graceland, will be with the group this weekend at the Wanee Festival through the May 3rd performance in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Since original bassist Oteil...

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes: Isolated Bass & Vocals
Bass Videos

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes: Isolated Bass & Vocals

Our Facebook friend Leon Wilson shared this alternate track with us, featuring the isolated bass work of Bakithi Kumalo on Paul Simon’s hit, “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes”. Yep, this is all that’s needed. Bakithi holds down so much at once, yet without sounding like he’s doing too much. Genius at work.

Paul Simon’s “Graceland” Turns 25
New Albums

Paul Simon’s “Graceland” Turns 25

In 1986, Paul Simon released Graceland, his groundbreaking album which took the world by storm, leading to 14 million copies sold and a five-year tour. For many of us, this record also introduced another great discovery: bassist Bakithi Kumalo. His fretless bass work – particularly his iconic bass on the album’s “You Can Call Me Al” was as remarkable then...

Bakithi Kumalo to Tour with Paul Simon
Concerts & Tours

Bakithi Kumalo to Tour with Paul Simon

Bassist Bakithi Kumalo will be joining Paul Simon once again for a global tour in support of the new album So Beautiful or So What. The trek will take them from coast to coast in the U.S. before heading to Europe in June. Kumalo and Simon first worked together when the singer recruited a band for his classic album, Graceland....

Paul Simon: Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes (Live, 1987 with Bakithi Kumalo)
Bass Videos

Paul Simon: Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes (Live, 1987 with Bakithi Kumalo)

Checking out videos featuring bassist Bakithi Kumalo this morning, I ran into this old favorite from Paul Simon’s Graceland concert in South Africa in 1987. Kumalo’s fretless work on this and the rest of the performance is so awesome, even 24 years later.

Concerts & Tours

Bakithi Kumalo Joins Simon and Garfunkel Tour

South African bassist extraordinaire Bakithi Kumalo will be touring with folk duo Simon and Garfunkel in their North American ‘Old Friends’ tour. The tour focuses mostly in Canada, with about seven U.S. dates. Kumalo joined Paul Simon for his classic 1986 album Graceland, and has worked with him since. Kumalo has also worked with many pop and jazz musicians, including...