News - Page 383

The Wailers, who played with Bob Marley during his lifetime, are on the road in a trek that takes them across the U.S. The legendary reggae band is on tour in celebration of bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who co-founded the band and has stayed with the group for 40 years. It was Barrett’s musical leadership that helped Marley and...

In early January, we reported that Slayer frontman Tom Araya was scheduled to have back surgery, and that the band’s American and Canadian Carnage Tour had to be rescheduled. Araya had his procedure on May 20th, and the masters of metal have announced their make-up dates, which will occur after a European trek. In his first interview since going under...

Ex-Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur has just released her new album/multimedia project, Out of Our Minds. The project consists of the music album, music video, film, and comic. You can order variations on the package at Melissa’s web site. “OUT OF OUR MINDS | OOOM began as a song,” Auf Der Maur writes on her web...

Freebass, the three-bass supergroup hailing from Manchester, has released their debut EP entitled Two Worlds Collide. The band consists of Peter Hook (Joy Division/ New Order, Gary “Mani” Mounfield (The Stone Roses/Primal Fear), and Andy Rourke (The Smiths). The album also features guest vocals by Tim Burgess of the Charlatans, Pete Wylie of the Mighty Wah, and Howard Marks. The...

The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) has announced that Billy Sheehan has signed on to lead an interactive bass masterclass. The event will be held on April 28th at the ICMP’s Kilburn facility in London. “Billy’s masterclasses are designed to be as inspirational as they are informative, teaching students how to improve their playing and develop their style,” said...

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...

We’re pleased to announce that bassist Paul Bendig of Michigan has won the Ansir Bravura custom bass in the Ansir/No Treble contest! Paul is the bassist for Cherri and the Violators, a northern Michigan-based band, where Paul says he’ll “be very happy to use the bass as intended: out playing, not hanging on a peg!!” Thanks to the thousands of...

Dave Holland starts his world tour in April, performing with different groups along the way. Holland recently released Pathways, the first album with his new octet, and a new Archive Series of albums. Tour Schedule April 16, 2010: Regattabar – Cambridge, MA (Quintet) April 17, 2010: Regattabar – Cambridge, MA (Quintet) April 18, 2010: Buckley Center – Amherst, MA (Quintet)...

Mike Dirnt and Green Day will be coming back to North America for summer tour dates after they complete their overseas trek which wraps up in July. The group is still touring in support of their latest Grammy award winning album, 21st Century Breakdown. A musical inspired and featuring the music of Green Day will be opening on Broadway on...

The Ansir Bravura prize bass is complete and ready for the lucky winner to be announced on 3/31. Check out bassist Warren Harris (aka Hanna), giving the bass a good trial run: If you haven’t entered the contest, you still have time. The drawing will be held on March 31st. Enter here.

Charlie Haden and pianist Keith Jarrett will be featured on a recording together for the first time since the break up of the their American Quartet in 1976. The album, entitled Jasmine, will be released in May. The collaboration began in 2007 when the duo were reunited during the making of the documentary Charlie Haden: Rambling Boy. Not only is...

Pablo Aslan has released a new album entitled Tango Grill, with Zoho Music. The album was recorded in Buenos Aires with a group a top-notch tango and jazz musicians to produce a unique flavor, which is described more as “musical bilingualism” than a fusion. The personnel includes Aslan on bass, Nestor Marconi on bandoneon, Nicolas Ledesma and Abel Rogantini on...