Bass Player is the world's most comprehensive, trusted and insightful bass publication for passionate bassists and active musicians of all ages. Each issue delivers the latest tips and techniques that are guaranteed to make you a better player.
We all think of ourselves as valuable members of our band. As bass players, we support our fellow musicians, we step into the limelight when required, and we try to keep our ears open. Still, how many of us break away from those predefined roles as bassists, and try to exploit our potential as innovators? I know I could do better in that regard, and I’m sure you feel that way too. That’s why we can all learn from our cover star Thundercat, whose approach to bass is as novel as his approach to life. Expect the unexpected in our frank interview. As always, we spend time with a whole range of amazing bass players in this issue, from Foo Fighter Nate Mendel and Cat Popper, to Este Haim and…
“Photos of 81 musicians from the last 40 years” The acclaimed Tony Levin has announced a new photography book, Images From A Life On The Road, available in hardbound and softbound editions at $189 and $89 respectively. The former is a numbered, signed limited edition of 250 copies and is made, his publisher tells us, from “the highest quality book binding available on the market today. The pages are physically sewn into the book using binders thread and further reinforced with fabric backing and adhesive to create the most usable and durable books. The cover is Litho Laminated with Spot Gloss UV.” This suitably heavyweight tome is accompanied by an exclusive compilation CD and 2021 calendar. Both editions feature photos by Levin of 81 musicians with which he has played…
we were sorry to learn of the death of Tim Bogert, who passed away on January 13 at the age of 76. Bogert, best known for playing with hard rock acts Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice, is cited as an influence by many of today’s bass players. As his long-time friend and drummer Carmine Appice wrote, “Tim was a one-of-a-kind bass player. He inspired many, many bass players worldwide. He was as masterful at shredding as he was holding down a groove, and Tim introduced a new level of virtuosity into rock bass playing. No one played like Tim. He created bass solos that drove audiences to a frenzy every time he played one. And he played a different solo every night. He was the…
“My bass-lines are slinky. I have my own rhythm!” Fight years after the death of Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, a new spoken-word album titled The Head Up Project is being released with Buckle Up For Chi, an organization created in his name to promote vehicle safety. The album, Cheng’s second spoken-word release, was recorded in 2001 in Sacramento, California at the Paris Cafe. We last spoke to Cheng, an inventive bass player and genuinely interesting guy to be around, all the way back in 2003, 13 years into his career with the Deftones. He was in a great mood, having met his idol Steve Harris (“I got a picture with him—I’m gonna get it framed!”), and keen to talk about the bass on his band’s then-new self-titled fourth album. “For…
Fusion bassist and producer Adam Nitti performs vocals, guitar, keyboard, and bass on his sixth solo album, The World Is Loud, and explains: “This album was a tip of the hat to all of my earliest influences. Before I was exposed to jazz and fusion, my first bass heroes were players like Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones, and Chris Squire, who were all in very successful rock bands. My hope is that when people hear this music, they will hear a modern rock album that captures some of the elements that made the music from my roots so engaging. I wanted it to be as enjoyable to listen to as it was to create.” www.theworldisloud.com…
Graham Central Station, ‘Hair’ (1973) Five minutes of a badass bass-line from the man who invented the slapping style anchor his band’s debut album, and what hot minutes they are. Preaching a message of open-mindedness while his bass thumps along underneath, Larry Graham brings his blend of funk and R&B to the table in no uncertain fashion. The fact that Larry has played with the finest funk performers on the world—Sly & The Family Stone, and some upstart named Prince—reveals volumes about his enduring influence on our world.…
