News - Page 353

A new book, entitled Steve Harris – The Clairvoyant, has been released in part by MaidenCroatia.com, one of the largest Iron Maiden fan sites. Written by Stipe Juras, the book tells the bassist’s story through interviews with his friends and acquaintances, but it’s not a traditional biography. “This is the story of Steve Harris, bass player and founder of Iron...

For 40 years, Mark Clarke has been asked to make his own solo album by friends and fans. The veteran bassist, who performed with Colosseum, Uriah Heep, Natural Gas and others has finally listened. Moving To The Moon is 10 tracks of “new classic rock”, blended together by a bassist able to draw from decades of experience. Clarke was born...

Gerald Veasley has a new album out, one he calls a “re-imagination” of well-known tunes written by acclaimed jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus. Electric Mingus Project features songs ranging from “Haitian Fight Song” to “Boogie Stop Shuffle”, and performed using instruments such as the EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument). Veasley says the album isn’t just...

Author Mikko Nurmi’s The Music of Paul Chambers (Volume 1) is a new book offering a comprehensive look at the style of one of the great jazz bassists, Paul Chambers. Through the use of full transcriptions of Chambers’ work, Nurmi includes insights through analysis and theory, as well as related exercises. “It may be helpful just to see what someone...

The winner of the Ansir Music Custom Bass giveaway is Nick Badgio, a bassist from Salisbury, NC. Check out Nick on Facebook, or via his band, The Chobey Badgio Band. Congratulations Nick! Ansir Music is sponsoring an incredible custom bass giveaway (valued at $2,000) to help all you bassists kick off spring 2011. Ansir’s founder, Jody Michael, will consult with...

Former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker has just released The Cover Sessions, a six track EP of songs he grew up listening to ranging from the Beatles’ “Come Together” to the Allman Brothers hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” In an interview with OC Weekly, Rocker explained how the project came about. “The story behind [the] EP is that over the past few...

After reuniting with Return to Forever in 2008, Al Di Meola turned his attention back to his World Sinfonia band, who support the guitarist on his latest effort, Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody. Bassist Victor Miranda backs most of the album, which features Di Meola switching from acoustic to electric and back, with some MIDI guitar thrown in. Charlie Haden makes...

Mastodon has released Live At The Aragon, a CD/DVD set that marks the band’s first live performance package. The record captures the band’s October 2009 show at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and includes them playing the entirety of their Crack the Skye album as well as earlier fan favorite songs and a cover of the “The Bit” by The...

For the first time since 1991, the original members of Béla Fleck & the Flecktones are releasing an album. Rocket Science, scheduled for a May 17, 2011 release date, features pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy returning to the group, alongside bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten and banjoist and leader Fleck. In true Flecktones form, the album touches on many...

The Wailers, featuring legendary bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett, have announced tour dates from March through August, including several festival appearances. The band was originally the backing group for reggae icon Bob Marley, who carries on his music. Last year’s tour celebrated his 40th anniversary with the group. Barrett co-founded the Wailers and continues to lead them to this day....

The Yellowjackets, formed 30 years ago by bassist Jimmy Haslip and keyboardist Russell Ferrante, is celebrating their anniversary with the release of Timeline. The album is the band’s 21st release, and features the return of drummer Will Kennedy after a dozen years away from the band. The 11-track album includes music penned mostly by Ferrante and saxophonist Bob Mintzer with...

The Experience Hendrix Tour, which pays homage to the life and works of Jimi Hendrix, is being reprised for 2011, as the first eight dates have been announced. The performances are set in the West Coast, bouncing between Nevada, California, and Arizona. The Santa Rosa, California stop has already been sold out. Bassist Billy Cox, who was played in the...