News - Page 414

A previously unknown 1964 recording of the Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy was recently discovered by Mingus’ widow and released by Blue Note. This is a double CD live recording, featuring a near identical lineup to the group who recorded “Great Concert of Charles Mingus” about a month later.

Must be the year for bass players to go on tour with their famous fathers. The latest buzz is about a Van Halen tour happening in September, with 16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen “laying down the law”. An all-new, all-bass internet radio show has just hit the virtual airwaves. Bass Talk with Abe & Lane, a show with “more bass than...

Jaco Pastorius was this year’s Syracuse Jazz Festival dedicatee, and the focus of a panel moderated by noted biographer and jazz author/journalist Bill Milkowski. The Jaco Pastorius Big Band, conducted by Peter Graves and featuring Jeff Carswell and Will Lee on bass, and Hiram Bullock on guitar, performed at the event.

Drummer Vic Stevens has released his latest CD, “If People Could Talk“, featuring Michael Manring and Percy Jones on bass. Stevens and Manring perform together in the fusion trio McGill/Manring/Stevens.

The United States Army Field Band is holding auditions through August 22, 2007 for a string/electric bassist. To apply, submit a recent resume and high-quality recording, CD preferred, by August 22, 2007. The recording should contain solos or excerpts of various styles that demonstrate the depth and breadth of your playing ability, with an emphasis on classical music. Applicants selected...

The legendary recording of the “Trio of Doom”, featuring Jaco Pastorius, John McLaughlin and Tony Williams is being re-released on June 26th, by Columbia/Legacy. The release features the group’s live performance on March 3rd, 1979, and includes five tracks recorded the following week at Columbia Studios in New York. Three of the five studio recordings were available on the original...

Editor’s note: we’re tinkering with an old format we used to run, covering lots of bass news and articles from around the web… A benefit concert for Iron Butterfly bass player Lee Dorman will be held Sunday June 24th in Anaheim, California, to raise money for a heart transplant for Dorman. Bassist Mike Levine of Triumph weighs in on the...

Michael Manring joins an all-star cast of bassists, including Rufus Reid, Steve Bailey, Seth Horan and Bruce Gertz at the New Hampshire Bass Fest. The four day festival starts on June 20th and features lectures, concerts and master classes. Several luthiers, vendors, and manufacturers will be exhibiting. Registration is $400. Check out the event’s web site for details.

A new tribute to the late, great Jaco Pastorius has been released, nearly twenty years after his untimely death. Bassist Frederic Monino and his unusual trio consisting of drums, electric bass and accordion – along with some added guests – offers their rendition of many of Jaco’s compositions and recordings. More… All About Jazz’s review. Track listing: Continuum; Round Trip/Broadway...

Brian Bromberg has released his latest CD, Downright Upright, featuring standards by Herbie Hancock and Joe Zawinul, and several of Bromberg’s own compositions. From brianbromberg.net: Already released in Japan, Downright Upright is a return to the acoustic upright bass Bromberg recently spent time with on 2006’s Wood II. But this record represents a unique progression from that lauded cd, which...

Jaco Pastorius: The Early Years Recordings is out. Dubbed as “The Prequel To Jaco’s Solo Debut”, this new release is the music-only version of the 2002 Portrait of Jaco box set, featuring recently discovered early years recordings and compositions of the late, great bass player. The Early Years Recordings is available at CDbaby.

Acoustic guitarist Alex de Grassi, bassist Michael Manring and percussionist Chris Garcia (of Zappa alum group The Grandmothers fame) have released their debut album. With influences from India to Appalachia to Latin America and the Blues, this trio fuses new sounds together with their original compositions and unlikely arrangements. Track listing: This Side Up (Alex de Grassi) Homestyle (Michael Manring)...