New Albums - Page 126

Eclectic, multi-genre bassist and producer Bill Laswell has turned his ever-prolific talents to the island of Hawaii with Kauai – The Arch Of Heaven. The album not only combines natural, environmental ambient sounds and traditional, tribal music of Kauai, but also incorporates Jamaican dancehall, dub and reggae. The five-song Kauai – The Arch of Heaven is available on and ....

The 1997 album, The Buena Vista Social Club, alerted many music fans to a world of Cuban music they may not have fully appreciated or even known about previously. The majority of the Buena Vista players were older at the time of the original, self-titled album’s release, with music careers prominent in the 1940s and 1950s. Sadly, many of those...

The MusiCares Tribute to Paul McCartney occurred back in February 2012, but now many of the performances from the concert are available on DVD and Blu-ray. The tribute concert film not only features artists like Alicia Keys, Duane Eddy, Coldplay and James Taylor covering legendary singer/songwriter/bassist/multi-instrumentalist’s work from his tenures in The Beatles and Wings, as well as from his...

Modest Mouse’s first album in eight years, Strangers to Ourselves, is also the group’s first with bassist Russell Higbee (former Man Man.) Higbee came into the fold after founding member Eric Judy left the indie-rock group best known for 2004’s “Float On” to spend more time with his family. Higbee’s bass is undeniable on tracks like “The Ground Walks, with...

Toto XIV marks the return of bassist David Hungate, but it is also being released on the heels of a tragedy: Mike Porcaro, who remained the group’s official bassist as he struggled with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), succumbed to his illness earlier this month at the age of 59. Hungate came back to the band in...

Although Chic bassist Bernard Edwards died in 1996, new music featuring his bass prowess is available again on the Chic song, “I’ll Be There.” The 12-inch vinyl single from Chic, featuring Nile Rodgers (Edwards’ Chic bandmate) and The Martinez Brothers is based on an old “lost” analog practice take of for a Chic song called “Love Somebody Today,” according to...

Jazz/hip-hop band BadBadNotGood, featuring Chester Hansen on bass, has teamed up with rapper Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan) to produce the album Sour Soul. The combination of the Canadian jazz trio with a legendary rapper is one that has prompted positive reviews since the CD’s February release. Now, the album, pairs live instrumentation and highly cinematic sound with Ghostface Killah’s raw,...

Keyboardist Marc Cary has released a followup to his 1999 album, Rhodes Ahead Vo. 1, featuring the same personnel as the late 1990s record, including bassist Tarus Mateen. Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2 showcases Cary’s electro-acoustic jazz sound and Fender Rhodes’ keyboard work. It also incorporates drum n’ bass, electronic dance music (EDM), funk and rock influences. Here’s what it all...

The year’s vinyl releases of remastered Rush albums continues with the double live album All the World’s a Stage and the legendary 2112, both from 1976. Both albums from the prog-rock trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were remastered at Abbey Road Studios using the Direct to Metal Mastering process and pressed on 200-gram vinyl. As a...

The album often cited as legendary jazz bassist/composer Charles Mingus’ best, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, has been released in a limited, remastered vinyl edition after being long out of print on vinyl. Composed in part as a ballet, the work recorded by an 11-piece band features a spectacular rhythm section, Spanish influences, and extraordinary improvisation. It also...

Cherry Red Records’ John Wetton The Studio Recordings Anthology is a prog-rock fan’s dream. Wetton is most well known as the singer, primary songwriter and bassist for Asia. However, he was also a member of King Crimson from 1972 to 1974 and played with the band UK. He has released solo work and performed as a session musician, as well....

Fusion bassist Bunny Brunel, known for his work the band CAB and with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, has released Invent Your Future. The album includes Brunel’s take on the Jaco Pastorius classic, “Continuum” and contributions from keyboardists like Patrice Rushen and Patrick Moraz. It also features compositions of his own, and some by Corea. Invent Your...