Bass Videos
The Latest Bass Music Video Finds…
In this issue we present Part 2 of our ongoing series of great bass-drum duos. The rhythm section is the most important part of any band (as Jaco said, “Women, children and rhythm section first”), and clearly there is nothing like a bass-and-drums team that has stayed together for years. In our last issue we featured Sly & Robbie, George Porter Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste, Ron Carter and Tony Williams and William Parker and Hamid Drake – a very good start, to be sure, but there are so many more duos that stayed and played together for years and, in their own way, changed music forever. Here are some of them:
Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb
Paul Chambers (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) played with Miles Davis on the Kind of Blue album (1959), which is the bestselling jazz record of all time, still selling 5,000 copies a week after almost 40 years. Here they are playing “So What” from that album – the definition of cool.
Rocco Prestia and David Garibaldi
Tower of Power is in their 40th year, and Rocco Prestia (bass) and David Garibaldi (drums) were there at the beginning and they’re still there today. Here they perform “What is Hip?” That’s Lenny Pickett on sax.
Paul Jackson and Mike Clark
Paul Jackson (bass) and Mike Clark (drums) anchored Herbie Hancock’s band in the 70s and have performed with the Headhunters – with and without Herbie – since then. Here are clips from their instructional video featuring one sick groove after another.
Count Basie Rhythm Section
Check out the legendary Freddie Green (guitar), Norman Keenan (bass) and Sonny Payne (drums) backing Count Basie on “Twenty Minutes After Three” in 1968. This performance can be found on a DVD called Sound of Swing. You have to love the guy puffing on a cigarette and sitting next to Count Basie, which happens to be the famous music critic Ralph Gleason. Keenan also backed Harry Belafonte and the Chad Mitchell Trio (!). Mercifully, we were unable to uncover any footage of the latter – not that we looked hard.
William “Bootsy” Collins
You may ask, Why is this a clip of just Bootsy? Well, listen and watch as Bootsy explains “The One” in a 2008 lecture at the Berklee School of Music. As you are taking in the lesson, ask yourself: Does this guy even need a drummer – or a bass, for that matter?
Bass Videos
Tour Touch Base (Bass) with Ian Allison
Ian Allison Bassist extreme…
Most recently Ian has spent the last seven years touring nationally as part of Eric Hutchinson and The Believers, sharing stages with acts like Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix, Rachel Platten, Matt Nathanson, Phillip Phillips, and Cory Wong playing venues such as Radio City Music Hall, The Staples Center and The Xcel Center in St. Paul, MN.
I had a chance to meet up with him at the Sellersville Theater in Eastern Pennsylvania to catch up on everything bass. Visit online at ianmartinallison.com/
Bass Videos
New Gear: Spector Woodstock Custom Collection Volume II
Spector Launches Woodstock Custom Collection Volume II…
Spector Musical Instruments expands their celebrated Woodstock Custom Collection with the Volume II series – a breathtaking series of 12 handcrafted, one-of-a-kind bass guitars, each one masterfully designed by members of the Spector team. Crafted in the Spector USA Custom Shop in Woodstock, New York, these works of art go beyond musical instruments and expand the boundaries of Spector Bass design.
Spector’s iconic design lays the foundation for the Volume II collection. Each bass showcases a unique vision, including the selection of tonewoods, electronics, captivating finishes, and intricate design details. The collection highlights Spector’s commitment to craftsmanship and artistry and the individual people and stories that make up the team.
“The Woodstock Custom Collection was such a huge success, and we had so much fun with it that we couldn’t wait to do it again,” said John Stippell, Director – Korg Bass Division. “With Volume II, we’re expanding on everything we learned from the first collection, as well as pushing our design and Custom Shop team even further. These basses are a testament to the inspiring talent, creativity, and skill of every person on the Spector team. I’m excited for all of these basses and love how they tell the unique stories of all involved.”
Visit online at spectorbass.com/
Bass Videos
New Gear: The Dingwall John Taylor Signature Model
Dingwall John Taylor Signature Model…
After playing a limited edition Dingwall live with Duran Duran, John Taylor has launched his
Dingwall Guitars production model, loaded with a Rupert Neve Designs preamp and
Rio-inspired graphics.
Dingwall’s major launch for 2023 was the limited edition Rio Dream Bass, featuring an
innovative Rupert Neve Designs onboard preamp. A year later, the range has been bolstered
with the Canadian company now offering unlimited access to its continued collaboration with
John Taylor of Duran Duran.
Dingwall CEO Sheldon Dingwall says the basses are a response to Taylor’s upfront bass style.
“John’s bass playing with Duran Duran really imprinted on me how a bass should fit into a band mix. The combination of tastefully busy syncopation, his punchy tone, and tight performance immediately drew my ear. His basslines have always had a special combination of energy and elegance.”
The John Taylor Signature model follows the formula of the limited edition Rio Dream Bass,
combining a lightweight Nyatoh body with three neodymium pickups to produce what Dingwall deems “wonderful playability and tones that display a rare clarity and refinement.” The JT Signature model also updates the Rio Dream Bass with a range of new colors; Metallic Black, Primrose, Cranberry and Seafoam Green, as well as a new 5-string variant.
Other specs include a bolt-on Maple neck, a Pau Ferro multi-scale fingerboard with the ‘Rio Eye’ inlaid at the 12th fret, and Dingwall’s new ‘Minimalist’ bridge. The headstock sports lightweight tuners and a Rio-inspired graphic that complements the body stripes, designed by longtime Duran Duran collaborator, Patty Palazzo.
Finally, an onboard preamp designed and configured in collaboration with Rupert Neve Designs, whose studio consoles have long represented the pinnacle of high-end audio engineering, promises a clear voice that balances punch and sustain. “Duran’s breakthrough single, the title track from 1982’s Rio, was originally recorded on a Neve console, so the history was already there,” says Sheldon. “But the team at Rupert Neve Designs absolutely nailed the tone.”
Like the Rio Dream Bass, the JT Signature has also been configured to Taylor’s own personal
specifications. “It all started when I was in Toronto about six years ago,” says Taylor. “A friend
showed me a Dingwall bass on his phone. I loved how it looked and immediately said to my
tech, ‘You’ve got to reach out to these guys!’”
For further information on the range options, head to dingwallguitars.com
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Edmond Gilmore
Interview With Bassist Edmond Gilmore…
I am always impressed by the few members of our bass family who are equally proficient on upright as well as electric bass… Edmond Gilmore is one of those special individuals.
While he compartmentalizes his upright playing for mostly classical music and his electric for all the rest, Edmond has a diverse musical background and life experiences that have given him a unique perspective.
Join me as we hear about Edmond’s musical journey, how he gets his sound and his plans for the future.
Photo, Sandrice Lee
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Bass Videos
Have Fret Sprout? Sharp Fret Management… a How-To Video
Products courtesy of Music Nomad Equipment Care and Zymol
Have Fret Sprout? Check out this sharp fret management how-to video…
Have you found a bass you like but noticed the frets feel sharp? Have you ordered a bass online and discovered that the frets are sharp on your hands when it arrives? Have you picked up one of your favorite basses and noticed that the frets seem unusually sharper than they used to? You might be experiencing fret sprout!
Join me as I fix those pesky frets on one of my basses so you learn how to fix yours too.
www.musicnomadcare.com
www.zymol.com
Tour Touch Base (Bass) with Ian Allison
New Gear: Spector Woodstock Custom Collection Volume II
New Gear: The Dingwall John Taylor Signature Model
Interview With Bassist Edmond Gilmore
Have Fret Sprout? Sharp Fret Management… a How-To Video
This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Tour Touch Base (Bass) with Ian Allison
Interview With Audic Empire Bassist James Tobias
New Album: Avery Sharpe, I Am My Neighbors Keeper
