News - Page 408

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...

Mr. Big has announced an extensive world tour in support of their latest release, What If, featuring the group’s original lineup including bassist Billy Sheehan, guitarist Paul Gilbert, drummer Pat Torpey and vocalist Eric Martin. The trek will have the quartet stopping twice in the U.S., first in Hollywood on April 2nd, then again as part of the M3 Festival...

Jamey Aebersold’s latest edition to their bass method library focuses on the importance of scale mastery for electric bassists. Diatonic Major And Minor Scales For Electric Bass includes both major and minor scale exercises, designed to help bassists develop new and creative lines, while learning the entire fretboard and improving technique. The exercises require full use of the thumb and...

Victor Wooten has released A Show of Hands 15, a re-mastered version of his groundbreaking debut solo effort. In addition to 16 original tracks, the 15th anniversary record also includes three bonus songs: two with longtime drummer JD Blair and one unedited tune entitled “Live Solo #2.” The package is available in several varieties, including signed copies and vinyl LP’s,...

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Weather Report, by Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. To help celebrate, the Zawinul estate is releasing Weather Report: Live in Berlin 1975, a comprehensive box set featuring the group’s performance at 1975 Jazzstage Berlin. The CD/DVD set features Weather Report’s 1975 line-up, with Alphonso Johnson on bass, drummer Chester Thompson...

Les Claypool and Primus have announced a new spring U.S. tour in support of their upcoming album, the band’s first studio release in 11 years. “The album will come out in late spring/early summer,” an update from the band explains, “so expect to hear a whole batch of new songs this tour.” The trek will focus on taking the trio...