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Tony Levin Interview – New Album From LEVIN MINNEMANN RUDESS: “From the Law Offices of Levin Minnemann Rudess”

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Tony Levin Interview – New Album From LEVIN MINNEMANN RUDESS: “From the Law Offices of Levin Minnemann Rudess”

Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2016 FretlessBass.com

LMR - From the Law Offices Of
Levin Minnemann Rudess – From the Law Offices Of

It was an honor to catch up recently with Tony Levin, the legendary bassist, who is an extremely busy man. Tony was the first bassist to answer our “Fretless Questions” many, many years ago, and has always been very approachable and friendly to FretlessBass.com. We can’t thank him enough for taking the time to tell us about the new album from LEVIN MINNEMANN RUDESS: From the Law Offices of Levin Minnemann Rudess.

FB: I’ve been listening to the new album from LEVIN MINNEMANN RUDESS: “From the Law Offices of Levin Minnemann Rudess” which was released July 15, 2016. I am very impressed! Much thanks for letting me listen to it pre-release.

How does the writing and recording of this album compare to the last album?

Tony Levin: We took a lot more time on this album, for the writing process. Partly because we were all on the road much of 2015, with various tours. Also, we’d got a sense on the first album of how the other players would react to the pieces, and so, at least in my case, …continue reading »

MuteMath Bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas – A Brief Interview

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Roy Mitchell-Cardenas playing fretless bass guitar

MuteMath Bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas – A Brief Interview

Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2016 FretlessBass.com

Mitchell-Cardenas-Roy-01

If you have never heard MuteMath I suggest that you check them out. I was first told about this Grammy nominated band from New Orleans by a friend of mine. I had never heard of them. I listened to “Chaos” and “Break the Same” from their MuteMath album and immediately purchased it.

This band is phenomenal, but being a drummer and bass player, the rhythm section caught my attention immediately. Darren King is an unbelievable drummer with amazing energy and creativity, and a real showman. But I was really impressed with bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas. …continue reading »

Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless Bass

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Sting’s 8-String Hamer Explorer Fretless bass featured in The Police video for “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” and played live on a few occasions.

8-string basses are typically strung with four pairs of strings, each in the pair a different gauge, set close together and typically played together. The top string of each pair is a light gauge string strung an octave up from the main normal gauge bass string of the pair, creating an octave and chorus effect when played together. Though this is the typical setup, other alternate setups exist including using the heavier gauge bass string as the top string of the pair, with the light gauge string below it.
…continue reading »

Pedulla Guitars 40th Anniversary Interview With Michael Pedulla

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Pedulla Guitars 40th Anniversary Interview With Michael Pedulla
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

Michael-Pedulla-headshot

For the past forty years the sound of Pedulla basses has been embedded in music of all genres. From Anne Murray to Eagles to Kiss. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to Elton John to Brooks & Dunn. From Mark Egan to Tim Landers to countless other players, Pedulla basses have been heard all over the world. If Michael Pedulla hadn’t combined his love for music, woodworking, and engineering in a small guitar shop near Boston in 1975, who knows how that music may have suffered? How would the musicians have been different, lacking the unique inspiration of a Pedulla, had he not committed his passions to building the best basses possible without compromise? Fortunately, as we enter into the year 2015, answers to those questions are not something to be pondered. …continue reading »

Mark Egan Interview – “About Now” Album, Tour, and More – Part 2

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Mark Egan Interview – About Now Album, Tour, and More – Part 2
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

Mark_Egan3-600

I recently interviewed Mark Egan, focusing on his latest solo album About Now, and also covering some new projects that he is working on. This particular project was released in the spring of 2014, and features long time collaborators Danny Gottlieb on drums and Mitchel Forman on keyboards.

This is Part 2 of the interview where we focus more on the songwriting process itself. …continue reading »

Jaco: A Documentary Film – Produced by Metallica’s Robert Trujillo

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Jaco: A Documentary Film – Produced by Metallica’s Robert Trujillo
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

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Jaco Pastorius was arguably one of the best bass players to ever live, if not the best. Metallica’s Robert Trujillo is producing a long overdue documentary film on the late great Jaco, and has started a pledge campaign, through PledgeMusic.com, to raise funds and complete the project. Robert considers Jaco to be a hero and one of his biggest influences, and he has formed a very special relationship with some of Jaco’s family members. Robert tells a story of …continue reading »

Mo Foster – A History of His Fender Jazz Fretless Bass

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Mo Foster playing fretless bass guitar

Mo Foster – A History of His Fender Jazz Fretless Bass
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

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I have been in touch with the legendary bassist Mo Foster recently. I was telling him that I was a bit of a fretless bass collector, but assured him my collecting was not an addiction (I can stop any time I want to). His reply was perfect, “There is a concept known as Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, or GAS. It is a question and an answer: Q – What is the correct number of guitars? A – One more than you have already. Luckily I don’t suffer from it — the only instruments I have are the ones I play.”

The discussion started when I asked about his gear, and what fretless basses he has and uses. He told me …continue reading »

Pedulla Guitars and Basses Celebrates 40 Years

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Pedulla Guitars and Basses Celebrates 40 Years
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

Pedulla-Announces-Limited-Edition-40th-Anniversary-Bass-Guitars-02

I’ve been working with the fine folks at Pedulla Guitars to learn more about their basses, and to learn more about their story. This year, 2015, happens to mark their 40th anniversary in business. The story is a very interesting one, starting with Michael Pedulla in the early 1970’s making banjos and guitars as a new luthier in the Boston area, and switching to building basses after being in the instrument repair business for quite some time. One of my favorite stories is …continue reading »

Music – Overture-Cotton Avenue – Jaco Pastorius – Joni Mitchell – Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter

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Music – Overture-Cotton Avenue – Jaco Pastorius – Joni Mitchell – Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter – 1977
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2015 FretlessBass.com

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Jaco Pastorius

A dissection: Many people consider Jaco Pastorius to be one of the best bass players to ever live, if not the best. Though his life was short, his impact is practically eternal. But with all of the music that has come and gone in the last five decades, it can be easy to become numb to just how good he was. Listening to Joni Mitchell’s Hejira (1976) and Don Juan’s Recklass Daughter (1977) albums recently, reminded me again of his frightening ability and innovation. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be Joni Mitchell or the engineers working on these two projects. I chose to dissect “Overture-Cotton Avenue” as an exercise. This song is an outstanding example of several of Jaco’s signature styles. It has …continue reading »

Pedulla Guitars at NAMM 2015, January 22-25, Anaheim, CA – Schedule and Details

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Pedulla Guitars at NAMM 2015, January 22-25, Anaheim, CA – Schedule and Details
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2014 FretlessBass.com

If you’re going to NAMM 2015 be sure to check out Pedulla Guitars. The folks at Pedulla sent us some details on their schedule and attractions. We have been told that Michael Pedulla has been working 12-hour days, 7 days a week, for months now, preparing basses and details for the show.

“Our booth number for the upcoming show (January 22-25, 2015) is …continue reading »

Mark Egan Interview – “About Now” Album, Tour, and More – Part 1

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Mark Egan Interview – About Now Album, Tour, and More – Part 1
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2014 FretlessBass.com

about-now-cover

I recently interviewed Mark Egan, focusing on his latest solo album About Now, and also covering some new projects that he is working on. This particular project was released in the spring of 2014, and features long time collaborators Danny Gottlieb on drums and Mitchel Forman on keyboards.

Mark Egan is a bass guitar veteran and a hugely accomplished and influential fretless bass player. His career spans more than forty years. In addition to solo albums, he has worked with many different artists and groups (the Pat Metheny Group, Sting, Arcadia, Roger Daltry, Joan Osborne, the Gil Evans Orchestra, Marianne Faithful, David Sanborn, John McGlaughlin and Sophie B. Hawkins, just to name a few), and has a list of accomplishments a mile long, including television and movie credits, and platinum and gold records.

Egan has been touring and supporting the About Now album for a good portion of 2014 …continue reading »

John Taylor Book “In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran”

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John Taylor Book: In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran
Article by Eric Larson, © Copyright 2014 FretlessBass.com

       

Sitting at an airport bar in Kansas City, MO, I hear the faint sounds of a Duran Duran song come on the radio. It happens to be from the one Duran album that bassist John Taylor was not involved in, Pop Trash. And, coincidently, I had just reached that chapter in his book, In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran, where he recalls the need to try and lead a normal life – focusing on family, and staying in one place for a while – leaving the machine – leaving the band. The separation was temporary, but at the time the future was unknown. It is a refreshing chapter for the reader, feeling as if you too need a break from the chaotic ride. After nearly 20 years in the same band at that point, it’s not difficult to understand how the band was his life. It’s not difficult to understand the amazing sense of accomplishment. And it’s not difficult to feel the simultaneous and overwhelming sense of hopelessness that he had many times. …continue reading »

Review: Vox Pathfinder Bass 10 Mini Bass Amp

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Review: Vox Pathfinder Bass 10 Mini Bass Amp
© Copyright 2014 FretlessBass.com

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Measuring just 15″ x 7″ x 11″ the Vox Pathfinder Bass amp is a very nice little mini amp for practicing and light jamming with friends. This is an amp that has great visual appeal and design, making it perfect to display in your living room or office, and a nice compromise for any “roommates” who don’t want the the bulk and distraction of a larger amp. You can proudly display this amp and its vintage Vox styling, complete with diamond grill cloth, chicken-head knobs, and classic gold accents.
…continue reading »