Latest
Review – The Rhythm Dogs “The Dogfather”
On “The Dogfather,” the Rhythm Dogs’ first album in seven years, the Portland band returns with an unusual blend of groove-based jazz, funk, ska, blues, Latin, and Afrobeat.
The band is made up of saxophonist Mary-Sue Tobin, trombonist Greg Scholl, keyboardist Chris Azorr, drummer Mark Burdon, percussionist Chuk Barber, and bassist Mark von Bergen, who together with the recently deceased John Rink (to whom the album is dedicated) founded the band in 2000.
Critical listeners usually approach a work sequentially, but one may want to start with the opener “The Big Up” and then jump to “Respect Bossman.“ These tracks feature guitarist Jennifer Batten, who toured the world and recorded with both Michael Jackson and guitar master Jeff Beck. She tears through both cuts with aggressiveness and impeccable taste adding incendiary solos and exquisitely funky rhythm work. Another highlight are the three cuts featuring Jamaican legend Scientist, one of the most influential figures in dub and roots reggae music. Here he mixes Pharoah Sander’s spiritual anthem from the 1970s “The Creator Has a Master Plan,” given a clever ska arrangement by the band, and launches that tune and the reggae-tinged “Sapphire” into the outer circles of dub. He uses the same echo-drenched treatment that he has applied to recordings of the most important figures in Jamaican music, Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Sly & Robbie among them.
While Batten’s and Scientist’s contributions add undeniable power and dimension to the disc, there is plenty more here.
Other than the Pharaoh Sanders tune, the album is made up entirely of strong originals ranging from the funky “Weetie” and the Fela-meets-Ornette “Afro-Funkolodics 3000 AD” to a pair of stunning ballads, “Mimi in the Country” and “Song for My Mother” (the latter incorporating the rarely performed changes of Mingus’s “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”) – and plenty in between.
While the compositions are well constructed and creative, the interplay and soloing also stand out.
Tobin’s work on tenor and alto soars especially on some well-developed and inventive solos on “The Big Up,” in which she handles the challenging task of following Batten’s burning guitar work, and on “Mimi” where she takes Azorr’s stunningly beautiful melody and makes it her own. Azorr’s keyboard work is always thoughtful and inspired especially his grand piano on “Mimi.” Scholl’s trombone, present on all four Rhythm Dogs’ albums, is stronger than ever; his tone is clear and powerful and his soloing often tests the outside parameters of the music’s harmonic structures. von Bergen, who penned most of the tunes, provides an elastic and muscular bottom, with nods to funkateer Bootsy Collins, reggae’s Robbie Shakespeare, and free-funk pioneer Jamaaladeen Tacuma. The rhythm section – which often steals the spotlight – is composed of Barber of the iconic Latin funk band WAR (Low Rider, Spill the Wine, Slippin’ Into Darkness) and Berklee-educated Burdon. Together provide a solid and rolling undercurrent and are featured on a couple of fiery percussion duets.
This is the Rhythm Dogs’s finest effort to date and must be heard. Very highly recommended.
To order the album, go to www.facebook.com/rhythmdogs or contact rhythm.dogs@gmail.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.
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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…
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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
