Today, Miles Davis’ outstanding recording “Kind of Blue” was released exactly 50 years ago. But it still sounds like beeing recorded just yesterday.
50 years ago …
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Wobbling bass strings video
stunning bass-string shot from urbanscreen on Vimeo.This impressive video shows the vibration of the bass strings. Frequenzy of the bass strings and high shutter speed of the camera lead to this suprising string-wobble footage. You can see similar effects using a stroboscope light.
(thanks to Bill Amatneek/via 2xbasslist for sharing this found)
Swiss Army knife for bass amplification: the EDB1 preamp
The new EDB1, recently launched by the british company Headway, is a very versatile compact external pre-amplifier box with a couple of features you usually miss with bass amps.
The EDB1 has two channels; inputs are Mono Jack, Stereo Jack and XLR – great for blending different piezo pickups and/or microphones. The Input Impedance Switches on each channel allow you to optimize the voicing for any of the major piezo pickup types. Phantom power is also available to Jack In and XLR Inputs, making the unit friendly for use with quality Condenser Mics and with active pickups needing powering.
For shaping the sound, the EDB1 has a five band interactive EQ, switchable input impedance (a very unique feature) and three way range switch (high pass filter) which cut unwanted low end tones, below the useable frequency range of the instrument. This cuts body handling noise, unwanted resonaces, feedback and bowing noise. Feedback and other resonance problems may be further tackled by a very effective, broad ranging tunable notch filter and a Phase Reverse control.
Outputs are via a balanced XLR D.I. out and a line out Jack. If an earth loop is heard causing hum, you may kill it by pressing the Earth Lift Switch. The two outputs also allow you to split the signal, such as between double bass amp for stage monitoring and an out front mixing desk. Powering is via two 9v Batteries, or via plug in DC Power supply.
(Available at www.jonaslohse.de)
Update: iRealBook 2.2
Massimo Biolcati has released version 2.2 of iRealBook for Apple iPhone and iPod touch.
What’s new in version 2.2:
• Apple iPhone OS3.0 is required
• 75 more songs added for a total of 700
• New font for improved readability
• Landscape mode with extra large font
• Support for multiple playlists with independent transpositions
• Improved backup
• Custom color themes (e .g. almond background and black text, or white text on beaver, or many else)
• Songs and playlists can now be emailed without leaving the app
• Added 12/8 time signature
• Added 9#5, 13#11, 5, 2, add9 chord qualities
• Fixed a bug that would prevent the opening of emailed songs on OS3.0
ISB Awards 2009
Every two years, the International Society of Bassists gives its Distinguished Achievement Award, the Society’s highest honor, to a bassist who has demonstrated and attained the highest level of excellence, and whose career has had significant influence on the worldwide double bass community. The 2009 Distinguished Achievement Award honoree is jazz legend Ron Carter.
Mr. Carter received a rousing standing ovation by the audience and an etched granite memento of the occasion during a surprise presentation at the close of his headlining concert with guitarist Russell Malone at the recent ISB convention at Penn State University.
In addition, the ISB also gives a number of Special Recognition Awards, presented biennially to recognize those who has contributed their special talents, knowledge and support to furthering ISB ideals. 2009 recipients include:
Composition – Peter Askim
Lutherie – Michael Krahmer (one of the Pöllmann Bros.)
Scholarship – John Goldsby
Teaching – Francois Rabbath
Solo Performance – Renaud Garcia Fons
Jazz Performance – Rufus Reid
Orchestral Performance – Klaus Stoll
Historically Informed Performance – Rob Nairn
Young Bassists Ambassador – Cathy Elliot
Special Merit – L’Orchestre de Contrabasses
Friend of the Bass – Sue Haug, Director of the Penn State School of Music
Friend of the Bass – Barbara Korner, Dean of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
Friend of the Bass – Russell Bloom, Assistant to thFriend of the Bass – Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
Jade Visions: Book on Scott La Faro
Helene LaFaro Fernandez, younger sister of the great double bassist innovator Scott La Faro, has published a biography of his brother. Scott died at the age of 26 in 1961, just two weeks after some of the most famous trio recordings in jazz, the Village Vanguard sessions produced by Orrin Keepnews (= “RE:
Person I Knew”) with Bill Evans and Paul Motian.
I’ve got my copy of this book last weekend – highly recommended!
Amazon Affiliate-link: Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro
Phil Palombi has recently published a book with transkriptions of Scott la Faro’s solos: www.philpalombi.com/lafaro
The Art of Slap Bass
Bassist Djordje Stijepovic has recently launched a new double bass website: The Art of Slap Bass. This site features news, interviews, articles and a forum about slapping the bass. The interview #1 features French bassplayer Nicholas Dubouchet, who has published a instructional DVD for Slap Bass Playing.
New iApp: iRealBook
My latest download from the iTunes App Store is iRealBook. Developped by double bassist Massimo Biolcati from Brooklyn/NYC, iRealBook features the chord changes of more than 600 RealBook tunes. Due to copyright laws, melodies and lyrics are missing – but as a bass player, you don’t necessarily need them. Having 600+ tunes in your pocket is great, but being able to transpose them instantly to any key is a killer. “Round Midnight in A major? No problem, dear vocalist … !“
You can choose tunes alphabetical, by composer or style, and you can put together playlists. Existing tunes can be corrected or changed, and you can add new, own tunes to your library. Fellow musicians without iRealBook, but an iPhone, can get particular tunes by email.
I rate this iApp five stars!
Main Features of iReal Book 2.1 :
• Song Editor that allows the user to modify existing songs and to create new ones.
• Ability to share user modified or created songs via email.
• 600 songs included (see Song List page).
• Each Song can easily be transposed to any key.
• Each chord sheet fits on one screen, no need to scroll.
• Big fonts, easily legible from a distance.
• Night theme option (white notation over black).
• Swipe to next/previous song.
• Ability to create playlists.
• Eb and Bb transpositions for horn players.
• Option to disable screen auto-lock.
• Growing database of songs (requests and submissions are welcomed).
Christopher double bass with removable neck
This video shows how easily the Christopher RN can be taken apart and get assembled – it takes less than 3 minutes.
New verison: Band in a Box 2009 for Mac
PG Music has recently launched a major Update of the Band in a box music accompaignment software: version 2009 for Mac. Most impressive new feature is RealTracks: while older versions (version 12, released in 2004) have still used MIDI instruments, the 2009 version comes with a variety of different great sounding tracks and styles. Real instruments, recorded and cut into smaller units of e.g. 4 or 8 bars can be put together by BiaB to complete new changes. So finally, Biab knows how to swing … there is no demo version available, but you can get a brief preview at Youtube.