Bass Players Paradise

'Bryan Beller: Mastering Tone and Versatility' DVD Now Available from Alfred

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:09:00 +0000

Alfred Music Publishing, the world leader in educational print music publishing since 1922, proudly expands Alfred’s Artist Series with the release of Bryan Beller: Mastering Tone and Versatility, an instructional DVD designed to help bassists achieve musical mastery and the ability to play tough music tastefully.   

Extreme bass player Bryan Beller (Steve Vai, Dethklok, Mike Keneally, Dweezil Zappa) explores how he combines tone, technique, and artistry to play some of the most demanding music in the industry. The Mastering Tone and Versatility DVD features live performances—including bass and drums with Dethklok drummer Gene Hoglan and insightful breakdowns of some of his most intense bass lines, with special focus on mastering your mind and your gear to achieve your ultimate signature tone, no matter what kind of music you’re called upon to play. 

View the official Bryan Beller: Mastering Tone and Versatility trailer here:

Get your copy today here at Amazon.Com

D’addario Signs Legendary Bassist Victor Wooten

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:02:00 +0000

D’Addario is thrilled to announce the signing of Grammy winning and Billboard charting bassist, Victor Wooten. Victor Wooten, a five time Grammy winner, formed the super groups Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and later SMV with Stanley Clark and Marcus Miller.

In addition to his Grammy nominated solo recordings and tours, Wooten has won every major award given to a bass guitarist including being voted Bassist of the Year in Bass Player Magazine’s readers poll three times and the only person to win it more than once. In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine voted him one of the Top Ten Bassists of all time. In 2000, he formed his acclaimed Bass/Nature Camp in response to musicians wanting to learn his unique style and elusive techniques. This eventually expanded into Victor Wooten’s Center for Music and Nature.

His reputation as a music teacher have garnered invitations for him to speak and teach at schools including: Strathmore College, Berklee College of Music, Stanford University, Harvard, Mississippi State, Miami University, Middle Tennessee State University, The Haven (Gabriola Isle BC, Canada), and The NYC “Y” with Dan Levitin. He also recently formed his own record label, Vix Records. In March, he will be launching a national tour with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Wooten plays D’Addario EXL220-5 Nickel Wound 5-String Bass Super Light strings and says: “I love and trust D’Addario strings. Their sound is quick, clear and direct! And they last a long time!” “Victor Wooten is clearly one of the most talented and respected bassists today,” says Marco Soccoli, Director of Artist Relations. “D’Addario is thrilled to be working with him. We wish him continued success as an artist and with all of his educational endeavors!”

You can get your own set here at our online store!

Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Distortion Pedal

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:51:00 +0000

The Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi Distortion Pedal lets bass players get that great distortion that the Big Muff is known for with no loss of low end. The bass big muff features controls for volume, tone, sustain, dual outputs (effect & dry for recording), and a mini switch for bass boost. Powered by a single 9 volt battery or optional AC power supply (not included).

Just Click Here today to order your Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Distortion Pedal

John Paul Jones Honoured At Classic Rock Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Led Zeppelin star John Paul Jones was given the Outstanding Contribution award at the Marshall Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards last night (10.11.10). The bass player received the prestigious accolade at the annual event, which was hosted by Alice Cooper and Sarah Cawood at London's Roundhouse venue, for his body of work and revealed during his acceptance speech his career could have gone in a very different direction if had taken his dad's advice.
He said: "I went to my dad and said, 'Dad I really want to play the bass guitar.' He said, 'It won't be around in a couple of years, learn the saxophone then you'll always be in work.' So thanks for that dad."

After collecting his statuette, Jones, who is also a member of rock super group Them Crooked Vultures, along with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme, admitted he found it more nerve wracking accepting his prize than playing live to thousands of people. He told BANG Showbiz: "Things are alright if you've got a guitar in your hands or a bass, or you're playing the piano. The hardest thing is actually being up there with only an award in your hand, stood there going, 'Um, OK.'
"But it's been good tonight I've been having my picture taken with lots of bass players which has been fun!"

Courtesy of Contact Music.Com

Bass Frontiers Magazine: Rickey Minor Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Part 1 of Bass Frontiers Magazine's interview with Rickey Minor. Rickey is the Emmy nominated music director of American Idol. His distinguished resume also includes the Grammys and the Super Bowl, and he has collaborated with major recording artists including John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Ray Charles, Beyoncé Knowles, and many more.

Part 1

Part 2

Bass Player Jim Clench of April Wine and Bachman Turner Overdrive Fame Dies

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Jim Clench, a Montreal bass player and vocalist who played with April Wine and Bachman Turner Overdrive, has died. He was 61. Clench died Tuesday in a Montreal hospital after a battle with lung cancer, according to April Wine's Brian Greenway. Clench was with April Wine, the Montreal band known for hits such as You Could Have Been a Lady and The Whole World's Goin' Crazy from 1970 to 1975, then rejoined as the band underwent a resurgence from 1992 to 2007.

He was with BTO from 1977 until the band's breakup in 1979. His musical career began with a band called the Coven, before he joined April Wine. Clench played bass on four April Wine albums, 1971's April Wine, 1972's On Record, 1973's Electric Jewels and 1975's Stand Back. He also took over lead vocals from Myles Goodwyn on songs such as Weeping Widow and Oowatanite, a song he wrote. His growling voice was a distinctive element for the band.

He left to join another band with Greenway, who eventually joined April Wine as a permanent member after that other group failed to get a recording contract. Clench then played with BTO, taking over bass and sharing lead vocal duties with Fred Turner in the period after Randy Bachman left the group. Clench played on 1978's Street Action and 1979's Rock N' Roll Nights with BTO before the group disbanded.

In 1992, Goodwyn reformed April Wine and Clench returned to record four more studio albums, 1993's Attitude, 1994's Frigate, 2001's Back to the Mansion and 2006's Roughly Speaking. April Wine paid tribute to Clench on the band's website, but Greenway said they had lost touch with him after he left. "He was a very private person, when he left the band he sort of stayed on his own and we were travelling a lot, and as happens with bands when you change members, you sort of lose contact sometimes," Greenway said.

Clench was not married and had no children. His funeral is scheduled to take place next week in St. John's.

Courtesy of CBC News Canada

AVISHAI COHEN, WORLD-RENOWNED JAZZ BASSIST, KICKS OFF U.S. TOUR AT WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER WINTER GARDEN, OCTOBER 16th

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Free concert marks Israeli bassist/composer's first U.S. performance in two years

Acclaimed Israeli bassist/composer Avishai Cohen will kick off his upcoming North American tour with his first U.S. appearance in two years, a performance at the World Financial Center Winter Garden on Saturday, October 16th.

The free concert is presented by Arts World Financial Center, the East Coast's largest presenter of free, year round performing and visual arts.

Cohen's signature sound is a blend of Middle-Eastern, eastern European and African-American musical idioms. On his new album, Aurora, he has produced an intense collection of songs that showcases his masterful bass playing, lifelong musical loves, and, for the first time on record, his soaring vocals.

Hailed as a "jazz visionary of global proportions" by DownBeat Magazine and named one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, Cohen is renowned throughout the world as an influential double bassist and composer. He performed with the legendary Chick Corea from 1996 to 2003 and has accompanied such jazz and R&B greats as Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock, and Alicia Keys.

"Avishai is a brilliant, genre-defying artist with a unique ability to get audiences excited about the limitless possibilities of music," said Debra Simon, Artistic Director of Arts World Financial Center. "We're thrilled that he'll be kicking off his North American tour with us, and we look forward to introducing our audience to his electrifying enthusiasm."

Courtesy of Jazz Corner.Com

Check out Avishai' amazing recording "Aurora" on Amazon.Com

Matt Garrison Makes A Virtual Return Via The Web

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:44:00 +0000

At long last! Matt Garrison has virtually returned with his first CD in six years. Forgive the pun, as Garrison has actually just begun releasing his new music, one track per month, via his website Garrison Jazz.Com. But that’s all part of the formula for an artist who always seems to be thinking one step outside and ahead of the box when it comes to music, technology, and business.

It has been that way since the New York City born son of John Coltrane bassist Jimmy Garrison released his self produced, self titled solo debut in 2000. The disc launched a wave of wanna be’s on 5 strings restrung with high C’s, intent on mastering Matt’s Lydian licks and close voiced chords. Recalling Jaco and his legion of fretless followers, Garrison has remained the original, too busy forging ahead to look back at the pack. Indeed, bassdom’s leading bar raiser may have been out of the limelight of late, but he has continued to experiment with and expand his composing and bass chops, as well as his quest to combine those elements with cutting edge, computer driven technology.

Best of all, the pursuit has given him perspective. He smiles, “Basically, I’m trying to understand more ways of interacting with my bass through electricity. I want to express myself through my compositions and the technology on hand, because we can. But above all, I’ve become obsessed with sounds. What does it all mean to the listener when they hear the full spectrum of your finished piece? That’s much deeper than the bass or the notes or the plug in.” We ventured back to Brooklyn to find out how Matt stays ahead of the curve.

Read The Entire Interview.....Matt Garrison Makes A Virtual Return Via The Web

Corea/McBride/Blade Trio to Tour North America

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:58:00 +0000

After coming off a tour with Chick Corea’s Freedom Band, bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride is once again hitting the road with Corea in a trio that is rounded out by drummer Brian Blade. The tour stretches from September to November and spans the U.S. and Canada before they head to Japan in December.

The trio grew together as they were the foundation of the Five Peace Band in 2009, which won a Grammy with their album, Five Peace Band Live, for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

McBride promises the tour will be a “conglomeration of the most splendiferous and vociferous, musicalitous eventualities one has ever experienced.”

Here is the Corea McBride Blade Trio Tour Dates

"Best of Marcus Miller" Bass Recorded Versions - Book - TAB

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:00 +0000

23 transcriptions from Grammy winning bassist and session player extraordinaire Marcus Miller, including: Big Time * Blast * Boomerang * Bruce Lee * Could It Be You * Ethiopia * Forevermore * Funny * La Villette * Lonnie's Lament * Maputo * Mountain Dance * Nikki's Groove * Panther * Power * Rampage * Rio Funk * Run For Cover * Scoop * Strum * 3 Deuces * Tutu * What Is Hip.

Just Click Here to purchase the "Best of Marcus Miller".

Brian Bromberg's "It is What it is"

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Following his Grammy nominated Downright Upright and backed by a killer horn section, Bromberg gets loose and funky throughout the 13 tracks on It Is What It Is, including his unique spin on the B52's dance classic Love Shack. "It Is What It Is" features jazz greats George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl, Dan Siegel, Randy Brecker, Eric Marienthal, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun and more!

So what do you call a CD like this? It Is What It Is.

Brian explains, “I’ve done a lot of acoustic playing lately so I wanted to feature my electric basses more. But I wasn’t trying to make a showy, NAMM show demo kind of record for bass players only – that’s not me. Within the songs and arrangements, I use my various basses in many ways. Since I play a lot of piccolo bass (which is a bass tuned to the register of a guitar) it allows me to play lead melodies and some rhythm groove parts that are quite a different role than what you would normally play on a bass with standard tuning. That helps me express myself in different ways and not have everything I play sound the same. I want the music to stand on its own in song-oriented ways yet also push the envelope as a bassist. The result is very in your face - unapologetically so – with a very discernible level of integrity.

To purchase "It is What it is" or any of Brian Bromberg's music, visit Amazon.Com.

Victor Wooten: Groove Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Expanding on the groundbreaking concepts he introduced in his book, The Music Lesson 'A Spiritual Search For Growth Through Music, master bassist Victor Wooten lays out his unique philosophy of teaching and learning music in Groove Workshop, a 2008 DVD from Hudson Music. The two disc set features nearly five hours of material, including a complete master class where Victor, along with bassist/educator Anthony Wellington and six bass students, uses his personal experience and expertise to delve deeper into rarely discussed, yet vitally important, aspects of music making. While traditional music education focuses primarily on developing technique and note perfect performance, professional musicians like Victor know that there's much more to making music than just playing the right notes. On Groove Workshop, Victor redefines the essential elements of music and demonstrates how to apply them in fresh, creative, musically relevant ways.

Just Click Here to purchase Groove Workshop

John Patitucci's latest Release "Remembrance"

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Given that jazz bass players are typically cast as part of the rhythm support team, only a handful of them have become leaders in their own right. Taking the lead from such jazz masters as Charles Mingus, Ray Brown, Ron Carter and Dave Holland who pioneered the advance of the bass, the next generation of acoustic and electric bassists have been crafting musical statements in leadership roles.

At the top of that class is acoustic and electric bassist John Patitucci, who delivers his latest Concord Jazz project, Remembrance, a remarkable outing of 11 straight ahead to funky to classical tinged originals featuring an astounding trio comprising saxophone maestro Joe Lovano and brilliant drummer Brian Blade. Almost every tune is dedicated to a musician, hence the title. The CD is the bassist's 13th as a leader and seventh for Concord, with which he made his debut in 1997 with One More Angel. Guests include his wife Sachi Patitucci on cello and percussionist Rogerio Boccato, who delivers simpatico rhythms with Blade on four tracks that Patitucci says makes them sound "like one giant organism."

"It's not an easy thing for a bass player to be able to lead his own group and record today," says Patitucci, who, in addition to being a leader, is a longstanding member of saxophonist Wayne Shorter's quartet (along with Blade) as well as a regular participant in trios led by drummers Roy Haynes and Jack DeJohnette. He adds, "Our musical elders were the trailblazers who forged a path for us to follow."

As for the trio that he has assembled, Patitucci says that this particular group is a dream band for him, which makes Remembrance a special recording. "I've been waiting for years to make a trio record like this," he says. "Brian is a consummate artist whose contributions go way beyond the drums. He's powerful, and he has great interpretive skills, incredible ears and a breadth of musicality. Joe improvises at such a high level, and he brings a great sound, phrasing and overall feeling to everything he plays on."

Both players, says Patitucci, "swing hard and can change directions on a dime. I chose guys that I felt I could be vulnerable enough with to take lots of chances in the music." Lovano and Blade also recorded with Patitucci on his 2001 Communion Concord Jazz album, but in a quartet setting with pianist Brad Mehldau. During one rehearsal that Mehldau had to miss, Patitucci, Lovano and Blade set up shop with revelatory results. "We freaked out," Patitucci says. "We looked at each other and said that we should do a record like this someday. Ever since that time eight years ago, this album has been brewing within me."

With a minimum of overdubs, Remembrance was recorded live in the studio in the same room, with none of the players listening through headphones. "I wanted it to sound organic and let the bass bleed into other things Joe and Brian were doing," Patitucci says. "Plus, my bass sound was able to be a little bigger, broader and warmer versus

Find more great music from John Patitucci

Thanks For Joining us at the Bass Players Paradise Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Ray C. Parrish) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:00:00 +0000

You probably found us through our online store "Bass Players Paradise" but if not make sure to check out the store. We take pride in listing the most complete line of CD's, DVD's and instructional material for and about bass players. Please feel free to leave a comment if you think there is something we should have that you don't see listed.

Bass Players Paradise