News - Page 228

In a somewhat unlikely pairing, Sting and Shaggy have teamed up to release 44/876. The album’s title is taken from the area codes for the U.K. and Jamacia, respectively, to represent each musician’s background. “I think on paper it’s pretty unlikely. We have very different vocal styles,” the former Police bassist admits. “Yet when we actually do sing together, it’s...

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are celebrating 30 years of music this summer with a handful of North American tour dates. The band will feature the original lineup of Fleck, Roy “Future Man” Wooten, Howard Levy, and Victor Wooten. The outing revolves mostly around festivals in late June, kicking off with the Rochester Jazz Festival on June 26th followed by...

Janek Gwizdala has expanded his line of educational bass books to beef up your technique. The Bass Player’s Ultimate Chop Builder is split into two books: one for major and one for minor. “Having chops is about being able to play anything you hear and seamlessly communicate that with your audience,” Gwizdala states. “The Ultimate Chop Builder series goes deep...

The legendary reggae rhythm section of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (aka Sly & Robbie) have teamed up with Norwegian jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer to release Nordub, an album that blends “the colorful atmospheres of Norwegian Jazz and the energetic grooves of Jamaica.” The band, which is rounded out with Eivind Aarset on guitar and Vladislav Delay on electronics,...

Grindcore masters Napalm Death have compiled 31 songs for an album called Coded Smears and More Uncommon Slurs. Taken from tracks recorded between 2004 and 2016, the compilation brings together rarities and exclusive songs for over 90 minutes of music. Bassist Shane Embury spoke on the album earlier this year. “We can’t believe how much we have achieved in support...

After teasing the news on Facebook, System of a Down has announced they will be returning to the stage in 2018. The band, anchored by Shavo Odadjian, will be playing at least five shows this October including a headlining spot on the Aftershock Festival. Three of the other dates include support from At The Drive In and Skeleton Witch, while...

Peter Erskine and his Dr. Um band are back at it, and this time they’re “On Call”. The new double album features a CD of studio recordings plus a CD of a live performance in Ochiobello, Italy on July 30, 2017. The former Weather Report drummer’s band once again includes pianist John Beasley, saxophonist Bob Sheppard, and bassist Benjamin Shepherd....

Singer-songwriter Judith Owen has announced a new spring tour in support of her upcoming album redisCOVERed, which will feature reworked songs ranging from Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” to Drake’s “Hotline Bling”. The trek will once again be anchored by Owen’s friend and bass legend, Leland Sklar. “Of course I’ll be touring from here on out with my ‘main...

Four years ago, we reported that Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was working on an autobiography. Now the influential bassist’s book has a title and a release date. Acid For the Children will be released on September 25th via Grand Central Publishing and will cover Flea’s upbringing, the trials and triumphs of the Chili Peppers, and his experiences with...

Finally, the wait is over. Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls has released his debut solo album, entitled Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing). The bassist, portrayed by Harry Shearer, tapped an incredible roster of musicians for the album including Peter Frampton, Donald Fagen, Dweezil Zappa, Rick Wakeman, Richard Thompson, Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, Waddy Wachtel, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Paul Shaffer, Steve...

Attention Tool fans: the band has just announced the instrumentalists will be giving intimate music clinics in conjunction with their upcoming tour dates. Guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bass monster Justin Chancellor will offer attendees a “rare immersive dissection and performance” in the series. “The discussions include [the musicians] walking attendees through a handful of the band’s songs,...

Hal Leonard’s Bass Play-Along series has gotten a little more metal thanks to their latest release: Metallica: 1983-1988: Bass Play-Along Volume 21. Fans will recognize that the date range means the majority of the transcriptions are of bass lines by the late, great Cliff Burton. Jason Newsted’s bass line for “One” off of …And Justice For All is also in...