Latest
In the Present by Phil Baker
Meet Phil Baker
TIMELESS
“There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem
Apparell’d in celestial light,
The glory and the freshness of a dream.
It is not now as it hath been of yore;—
Turn wheresoe’er I may,
By night or day,
The things which I have seen I now can see no more.”
–William Wordsworth, Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood (excerpt)
“Now’s the Time” — Charlie Parker
Do you remember when you were a child and those long summer evenings seemed to go on forever? Or you were playing in the backyard and all you sensed was joy? Later in life we collect challenges and responsibilities like barnacles on an old whale. These feelings can obscure this sense of wonderment that we once had.
How do you feel about the present moment? How do you feel about the past? Regret? Nostalgia? The past does not exist. The future is only a collection of hope and fear. Our salvation does not lie in a better job, relationship, car or house. Our salvation will come when we realize we have only the present.
The best music is made in the present. It can absorb and reflect the past, like Jimi Hendrix channeling Muddy Waters or Oscar Peterson absorbing Art Tatum, but doesn’t mimic or ape it. Nor does it try artificially to predict the future, like a record producer trying to create the next “big hit.”
Dizzy Gillespie once told me, “If you have to think about an (musical) idea it’s too late, it’s gone.”
Like Olympic gymnasts, musicians practice so they can make it look easy, so they can easily reflect the present. With concentration on the now, memories of past mistakes or fears of future challenges fall away. The next moment is not more important than the present one, nor is one from the past. There have been many times when I’ve been playing music and the world just seems to drop away. There is no mortgage to worry about, no traffic on the way home… Just the sublime now.
Why did you decide to play music? Maybe for fame and fortune? Maybe to meet girls (or boys)? I bet at least part of it was for the sheer joy of making music. That is a payoff that occurs only in the present.
Latest
This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
Click to follow Bass Musician on Instagram @bassmusicianmag
FEATURED @foderaguitars @bqwbassguitar @lecomptebass @xvector_basses @vuorensaku_guitars @phdbassguitars @meridian_guitars @sterlingbymusicman @ramabass.ok @overwaterbasses
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
linktr.ee/returntodust
instagram.com/returntodustband/
twitter.com/Returntodustbnd
youtube.com/@returntodustband
tiktok.com/@returntodustband
Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
Latest
This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
Click to follow Bass Musician on Instagram @bassmusicianmag
FEATURED @sireusaofficial @ricardosguitars @gullone.bajos @godin_guitars @sandbergguitars @adamovicbasses @bassbros.uk @baumguitars @harleybentonofficial @dingwallguitars
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
