News - Page 313

Marcus Miller’s prolific, musically diverse career and his influence are detailed in a documentary to be released digitally in January 2015. Zycopolis, a French firm, produced the documentary, called Marcus, about the electric bassist and multi-instrumentalist (he’s also a keyboardist and clarinetist/bass clarinetist), who has left an indelible mark and several music genres. Miller worked with the late jazz legend...

Fender lovers: It’s time to rejoice. Another book has arrived for you. by Tom Wheeler is filled with artifacts from Fender’s long history, including handwritten letters, production totals, and Leo Fender’s drawing-board sketches. Wheeler, who has written for Rolling Stone and Guitar Player Magazine, and was the founding editorial director of Bass Player, is now a professor at the University...

Janek Gwizdala has a new instructional book out. All the Good Stuff – How I Practice revolves around his practice regimen, and the book is full on getting the most out of your instrument, your hands and your ears. Gwizdala dives into more than practicing with tips on getting focused, inspiration, pacing, and finding solutions to musical problems. It’s filled...

The 10th annual Encuentro Latinoamericano de Contrabajos will take place Saturday, November 22nd through Thursday, November 27th at the Tijuana Cultural Center in Tijuana, Mexico. The week-long Latin American bass workshop is presented by the Contrabajos de Baja California and will include quartets, group classes, masterclasses, a bass orchestra, and much more. This year’s guest artists include world-renowned bassists Catalin...

The Art of McCartney may be the most spectacular tribute album ever assembled for a bassist. McCartney, a legendary singer/songwriter/bassist (The Beatles, Wings and solo), has one of the most enviable catalogs of songs in popular music and a host of his musical contemporaries and descendants signed to sing on the collection of his work. Compiled over more than a...

Gentle Giant might be the prog-rock band that casual fans of the genre overlook. However, the group had a decade-long career (1970-80), turning out creative pieces, often written by bassist/multi-instrumentalist Ray Shulman and keyboardist Kerry Minnear. Fans have long adored the band’s one previous official live album, Playing the Fool, released in the late 1970s. While other live recordings are...

The Rolling Stones have issued the second DVD in the band’s From The Vault vintage live performance series. This time out, the Stones take viewers back to a July 12, 1975 concert at the L.A. Forum. The show, which lasted more than 2.5 hours, featured what for many is the classic band lineup — then-new guitarist Ron Wood, guitarist Keith...

Eclectic bassist and producer Bill Laswell has teamed with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and New Orleans pianist/keyboardist Jon Batiste on the new album, . “The original idea was to film unfamiliar musicians playing together in a room with no preconceived direction. Over time it began to transform into making a record,” Laswell said. The movie was never...

Job for a Cowboy’s fourth album, , featuring bassist Nick Schendzielos (also of Cephalic Carnage and the YouTube channel Bassfordays), has been released to critical acclaim. Alternative Press calls it one of the year’s best metal albums. Sun Eater marks the band’s departure from its earlier sound, in favor of “futuristic tones” and “slightly more ancestral song construction,” according to...

Machine Head’s first album with new bassist Jared MacEachern (ex-Sanctity guitarist/singer) has been released. is the eighth studio album for the Bay Area-metal outfit. MacEachern replaced previous bassist Andy Duce in 2013. You can check out how he sounds, along with the rest of the band, via the album stream: Bloodstone & Diamonds is available on and as a digital...

If you love Rush and don’t own many on the legendary Canadian trio’s live performance videos, the could be up your alley. The deluxe collector’s set celebrates the 40th anniversary of Rush’s (bassist/singer Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart) recording career in a 6 Blu-ray or 10 DVD box set. It includes “Rush In Rio”, “R30”, “Snakes...

Next year will be a big year for Grindcore legends Napalm Death, as the group have announced a new album and tour for January. Apex Predator – Easy Meat, will be the band’s 16th album, hitting stores on January 27, 2015. Of course, the album will feature the ripping bass lines of Shane Embury. “Some in power like to declare...