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Discover the Secret Talents of Kevin O’Leary

Insta of Bass — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 17:31:09 +0000

Kevin O’Leary is probably best known for his no-nonsense persona on Shark Tank, where he’s made a name for himself as a tough but insightful investor. His success in the business world, from co-founding SoftKey Software (which was later sold for $4.2 billion) to leading ventures like O’Shares ETF Investments and Beanstox, is impressive.

But what many people don’t know is that Kevin has a hidden passion for music—specifically playing guitar and bass. It’s a side of him that’s not often talked about but adds another layer to his multifaceted personality. When he’s not appearing on Shark Tank or advising companies, you might find him strumming his favorite instruments, proving that his creative side extends far beyond the business world.

Today’s Video of the Day is a fun one! It features none other than Mr. Wonderful himself, Kevin O’Leary, as he jams out on his Fender Precision bass. Watch as he lays down some solid grooves and shows off a side of him that most people don’t get to see. Furthermore, he also enjoys photography, and wine collecting, and has authored three #1 bestsellers, showcasing his diverse interests outside of the corporate world. Definitely not your typical business mogul — this is a cool reminder that even the toughest sharks have a creative side!

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Video of the Day – Cory Wong Tour Rehearsal

Insta of Bass — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:01:02 +0000

Cory Wong and Mark Lettieri are giving fans the ultimate backstage pass with an exclusive livestream rehearsal, ahead of their much-anticipated tour. This isn’t just any practice session—it’s a full-on look into how these funk-jazz giants bring their electrifying energy and precision to the stage.

Wong, famed for his lightning-speed rhythms with Vulfpeck, and Lettieri, a master shredder with Snarky Puppy, have both carved out a unique place in the world of modern guitar. Their sound blends funk grooves with intricate jazz lines, making their performances feel as fresh as they are dynamic. The livestream lets fans witness their creative process of how to prepare for a Cory Wong tour in real-time, from nailing down setlists to merging their distinct sounds into a seamless, high-energy set.

Expect an insider’s view of their chemistry, improvisational jams, and a sneak peek at the new sounds they’re developing together. This is a must-watch for fans who want to dive deeper into the artistry behind their live shows and see how they prep for the stage. For those of us who can’t get enough of that raw, in-the-moment music magic, this one’s for you.

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Berklee Bass Department 2023 Holiday Song

Insta of Bass — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 14:12:28 +0000

In an unexpected turn of events, the chair of the Berklee Bass Department, Steve Bailey’s initial plan to release a compilation featuring the highlights of the past 11 years, took a dramatic shift when renowned musicians like Will Lee and Michael League entered the scene. What was intended to be a retrospective showcase of annual tracks and videos evolved into a collaborative and dynamic project.

The catalyst for this transformation occurred during a brief 15-minute session in Bailey’s office with Will Lee, whose exceptional groove prompted reconsidering the original plan. Subsequently, Michael League’s surprise visit proved instrumental when he took hold of Anthony Jackson’s “Working Girl” bass and, with the help of Pro Tools, reignited Bailey’s passion for the project. John Patitucci contributed his unique touch by playing Bailey’s old ’60 stack knob, and Victor Wooten, burning the midnight oil, added his magic through editing and late-night performances.

The collaborative spirit continued with Linda Oh, who effortlessly joined the project, showcasing her professionalism. A pivotal moment arrived with the visit of Justin Chancellor during the PRO’S! TOOL event on Nov 14-15. After delivering an exceptional clinic for students, Chancellor brought in mesmerizing riffs that further enriched the song.

Notably, students were greatly influenced by Jeff Coffin, who is a member of the Dave Matthews Band, during a visit to Wooten Woodsheds. Jeff Coffin’s three solo takes on his horn were so brilliant that all were included in the final mix, adding a diverse spectrum to the compilation.

As fate would have it, Omar Hakim, in town for a Madonna Extravaganza at Berklee, became the symbolic mortar that bound all these musical tiles together. Late one night, Hakim’s contribution provided the finishing touch to the collaborative effort.

The project’s culmination involved meticulous editing, mixing, and the selection of photos and clips from the entire year. As with the preceding 11 years, the team completed the project under the wire. Steve Bailey invites audiences to enjoy this musical journey through the compilation, offering a glimpse into the diverse and extraordinary experiences of 2023.

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Nathan Watts: The Bassist Behind Iconic Stevie Wonder Hits – Exploring His Top 5 Songs

Insta of Bass — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 22:36:55 +0000

Nathan Watts, the musician behind iconic hits from Stevie Wonder, was born on March 25th, 1954, in the vibrant city of Detroit, Michigan. He has laid the groundwork for the most influential music ever recorded. His contributions can be found on albums by esteemed artists such as the Jacksons, Diana Ross, the Pointer Sisters, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Lionel Richie, Herbie Hancock, The Temptations, Sérgio Mendes, and Paul McCartney, among many others.

However, as Stevie Wonder’s long-serving bassist, affectionately referred to as Steve, Nate has gained a reputation as one of the world’s most skilled bass players. Marcus Miller even dubs him ‘the Godfather’.

In August 1974, Nate received a call from Stevie Wonder’s office. Following a recommendation from guitarist Ray Parker Jr., Stevie wanted to hire him for a gig in Memphis, Tennessee. Nate recalls, “I was instructed to learn as many songs as possible. There was no rehearsal; we briefly reviewed a few tunes backstage and then were on stage. The first two songs were ‘Superstition’ and ‘My Cherie Amour,’ I was fine. Then they called ‘Contusion,’ a song I had never heard before, and I froze! I went over and started watching Steve’s left hand and somehow managed to get through it.”

Shortly after, when Stevie’s hit “You Haven’t Done Nothin'” was receiving radio airplay, Nate became his full-time bass player. Nate reflects on the audition process, saying, “I auditioned with two other bassists who were better and more advanced players than me, but I noticed that when Steve played a line and asked us to play it back, I grasped it quicker. Knowing the James Jamerson bassline to ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ during that first concert also impressed him. Ultimately, that helped me secure the gig.”

For any musician growing up in America during the 1950s and 1960s, Detroit was undeniably the place to be. Nate explains, “Living in Detroit, you worked in a factory, went to school, or played music. There was nothing else to do, so I had to play music! I was listening to influential players like James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, and Joseph ‘Lucky’ Scott, who played with Curtis Mayfield.”

In an interview in April 2006, Nate shared his thoughts on these Stevie Wonder hits and his top five basslines, encompassing a range of instrumental epics and timeless classics.

1. Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke

“We recorded ‘Sir Duke’ at Crystal Industries in Los Angeles. Stevie Wonder rehearsed the entire band, and then we performed it live. I used my 1974 P-Bass with Rotosound strings, recorded directly. Stevie had the unison line, which required me to bend up the last fret to reach the highest note. Stevie allowed me to create the two-feel bassline, and I improvised a bit during the outro.”

2. Do I Do

“That was done at Wonderland. Stevie was comfortable with the whole band by then, so we just went in and jammed, playing whatever we wanted. He gave me more freedom on that song than any other, and Dennis Davis provided a strong and simple foundation on drums. There was a lot of room for me to explore. I used my ’79 MusicMan StingRay, recorded directly without any effects. The gritty, growling sound is simply the natural tone of the bass guitar, combined with the strings tuned down to Eb, which added more buzz and fret noise.”

3. Stevie Wonder - As

“That was a magical session at the Hit Factory in New York City. When I walked in with my P-Bass, I first saw Herbie Hancock! We all sat there – Stevie, Herbie, drummer Greg Brown, and guitarist Dean Parks – and just grooved. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like it. The song held so much meaning, and the lyrics were fantastic, so as we heard them, we kept elevating the performance. I made two rhythmic mistakes – one before the first chorus and one before the last -and asked Stevie if I could fix them, but he liked how they felt.”

4. Contusion

“This one was also rehearsed and recorded at Crystal, using my ’74 P-Bass. I had a little experience playing it live, but Stevie came up with the idea for the intro bassline in the studio. He sang the stuttering 16th note rhythm, and I played it.”

5. I Wish

“That was recorded at 3 am at Crystal, using a Jazz Bass that I had recently purchased. I had been recording all day and had just come home, exhausted, and crawled into bed when Stevie called and said, ‘I need you to come back – I have this amazing song.’ I went back, and he had the eighth-note keyboard bassline, so I joined in, adding my Jamerson-inspired grace notes, which he liked. Then he said, ‘Nate, do this,’ he sang some growly roars, so I started incorporating slides. The engineer, Gary Olazabal, suggested I plug into an Ampeg tube preamp, which he cranked to achieve the growling sound. Apart from that, the slides sound intense because it was 3 in the morning!”

Check out Songs in the Key of Life – The album with all the Stevie Wonder Hits and fantastic bass lines.

Updated – 01/02/2025

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Video of the Day: The Smile Tiny Desk Concert

Insta of Bass — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 20:33:13 +0000

Finally, The Smile performed a “Tiny Desk Concert” at the NPR office. They performed three songs from their debut album, Pana-vision, The Smoke, and Skrting on the Surface.

Guest saxophonist Robert Stillman joined them and performed with Tom Skinner, Jonny Greenwood, and Thom Yorke.

The Smile released a live CD last month – The Smile (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 2022). They appeared as musical guests on a Jimmy Fallon edition of The Tonight Show. They appropriately debuted on American television with the song “You Will Never Work in Television Again.” Check out the The Smile NPR Tiny Desk Concert below.

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Video of the Day: ZZ Top On A 17 String Bass!?

Insta of Bass — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:58:19 +0000

ZZ Top’s longtime bassist Dusty Hill passed away in July of last year at the age of 72. Elwood Francis, the group’s longstanding guitar tech, took Hill’s place in the group in accordance with the late bassist’s desires.

Even though ZZ Top is well known for their use of colorful guitars throughout their long career, the audience at one of the band’s most recent performance was a little surprised by what they saw when Francis first joined the band on stage.

Francis held a bass that was neither a six-string bass guitar nor a four-string bass guitar, but a 17 string bass! The fan-shot video below of the band’s first song that evening, “Got Me Under Pressure,” demonstrates it in action.

Not to be a downer, but it appears that Francis is only using three or four of the beast’s strings when you spin the video.

Even so, it takes some pretty exceptional technique to switch from the low notes at the top of the bass to the middle and higher notes all the way at the bottom. After all, The Little Ol’ Band From Texas has always been adept at making the most of straightforward components, in this case, a steady-grooving bass line.

Another noteworthy aspect of this specific performance was the band’s use of purple “fuzz” guitars for their hit song Legs.

Visit the band’s website to learn more about upcoming performances and to purchase tickets .

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24K Magic By Alessandra Scaravilli

Insta of Bass — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:50:00 +0000

Today we are featuring Alessandra Scaravilli and her play-through of “24k Magic” by Bruno Mars. This video is from 2016 but the groove is just too contagious not to share it again. Alessandra played along to the live version of this song with a superb groove, tone, and most importantly, a lot of bass faces.

This video has been viewed almost 3 million times since she first shared it in 2016, and rightfully so. Alessandra’s groove is really infectious, so if you’re looking to hear some great bass playing, you better check out her other videos on her YouTube channel.

24K Magic was the lead single on Bruno’s 2016 album of the same name. Check out some other tracks on the album as there are some incredible bass lines across the entirety of the record. The song received numerous Grammy Award nominations and won the prestigious Record of the Year.

Also, make sure to check out Bruno’s new project Silk Sonic. With this new band, he teamed up with Anderson .Paak created one of the grooviest projects of the last couple of years.

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Ron Carter: Tiny Desk “Home Concert”

Insta of Bass — Wed, 04 May 2022 16:19:04 +0000

I was super excited to see NPR drop this video of jazz bass legend Ron Carter performing on their Tiny Desk (Home) Concert program.

This special Tiny Desk (home) event is set against the velvety sapphire of what may be the most iconic drapes in jazz. Legendary bassist Ron Carter and members of his trio sit comfortably on the prestigious stage of The Blue Note in Manhattan, dapper and dignified in matching ties. With cocktails and candlelight, this is jazz with a capital J. The lushness of the trio’s delicate interaction sweeps us away to times spent gazing intently into the eyes of a lover in the opening piece of this set, evoking deep sighs.

Check it out the Ron Carter Tiny Desk Home Concert below.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers Release Long-Awaited New Single – Black Summer

Insta of Bass — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 05:31:05 +0000

Finally the wait is over, the Red Hot Chili Peppers just released their long-awaited new single. Black Summer is their first single from their upcoming double album “Unlimited Love” which will be released on April 1st.

Black Summer marks the return of John Frusciante in the band. After a 10 year hiatus, John returned in 2020 marking the return of the “Classic” Red Hot Chili Peppers lineup we all know and love.

They also scheduled a massive world tour which will begin on June 4th in Seville, Spain and conclude on September 18th in Arlington, Texas. It will also feature bassist extraordinaire Thundercat as an opening act on almost all of the dates.

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Bass Video Of The Week: Evan Marien x Dana Hawkins

Insta of Bass — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 14:19:24 +0000

This week’s Bass Video of The Week comes from one of our favorite bass and drums duos – Evan Marien x Dana Hawkins.

This throwback video, which was one of the first in the Evan Marien x Dana Hawkins collaboration, is called The Eldridge and it was featured on their Collection EP. It was released way back in 2013, but nonetheless, it is still one of our favorite grooves from this dynamic duo!

Evan describes their duo project as “The post-Squarepusher/Flying Lotus wave of progressive instrumental music where jazz, electronica, beat culture, and deep bass merge,”

Since this video, this dynamic duo released a bunch of music that every bass player should check out. Head over to Evan‘s website to find out more.

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