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Forever by Corea, Clarke & White
When I got “the CD, Forever” by Corea, Clarke & White in my hands my initial thought was…. This review will be short and sweet. All I have to do is name the musical Titans performing and everyone will know how excellent the music will be.
Chick Corea superbly performs on Piano and keys. This Cat is a 17-time GRAMMY winner with over four decades of amazing musical proliferation.
Stanley Clarke brings our beloved bass alive. If you don’t know who Stanley is you must have been in a cave since the seventies!
Lenny White is the world-class drummer on this team. Lenny has been drumming since the sixties and is considered one of the founding fathers of “Fusion”.
I think you get the picture when we talk about the caliber of the players here!
This is a 2-CD set where the first disk is solid Jazz Trio format. Stanley does his part on upright for the entire first disk. This CD sounds like a live performance because of the applause after songs. The recording is very well done and the sound is exceptionally clean and crisp feeling more like studio quality. This disk is where each of these powerhouses shows off their stuff. Hardcore Jazz fans will eat this up!
The second disk, The Bonus Disk, changes it all up. Special guests, Chaka Kahn, Jean-Luc Ponty and Bill Connors spice up the mix. Stanley breaks out the electric bass for many of the tracks on this disk. The “Bonus” music departs from the Jazz and explores some other genres where these guys excel.
As solid as the first disk is and loaded with exceptional music, the Bonus disk really caught my attention.
“Captain Marvel” kicks it off into high gear with an upbeat gusto that reminds me a little of “Spain”. The contrast from the first disk really made me sit up.
“Senor Mouse” is the rehearsal track of the same tune on the first disk. I am sure they included it there because they thought it was pretty cool; I sure agree with them!
“Armando’s Rhumba” has a Latin, syncopated groove that is highlighted by the violin. I get a very cool Gypsy feel from this one. It is all very tight!
“Space Circus” is where the Funk lives. Intricate keys, serious bass slap and pop and smoking drumming are enhanced with the violin and electric guitar.
Although all my favorites were on the Bonus disk, I want to go on record stating that both disks are impressively good. There is something here for everyone!
This set is slated for release in June 2011. I recommend that you get it as soon as you can, as this one is a real classic!
Forever by Corea, Clarke & White available at Amazon.com
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:
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linktr.ee/returntodust
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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
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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
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
