Guitar and Bass Conversations

I am a big fan of Brazilian music and I remember briefly meeting bassist Pops Magellan at a NAMM show years ago and knew our conversation warranted a longer discussion.

For this cover interview, I sat down with her to learn more about her musical journey, laying down the low-end for Adam Lambert, her new EP “Damage”, how she gets her sound and so much more.

Here is Pops Magellan

Photos, Jack Lu

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in February 2025

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Kebonye Nkloso…

I am always fascinated to hear about music from other parts of our planet as much has yet to reach my ears. 

Hailing from Botswana, Skinflint has been rocking its kind of heavy metal since 2006 with Kebonye Nkloso as the bassist and a founding member. They were inspired by many of our time’s great heavy metal bands but chose to branch into specific music based on African spirituality and folklore. The result is unique and not quite like anything I have ever heard.

Join me as Kebonye shares his musical journey, how he gets his sound, details about their recent album “Baloi” and the band’s plans for the future.

Meet Kebonye Nkloso!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in November 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Emma Anzai…

I am always excited to chat with bass players from around the world.

Emma Anzai is a founding member and the bassist for Australia’s Sick Puppies, who have been going strong playing Rock since the late 1990s.  Emma also plays bass for Evanescence.

Join me as we hear about Emma’s musical journey, how she gets her sound, and her plans for the future.

Photo Credit: Alice Fischer

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in October 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Steve Freeman and Bill Hart have been friends and music education collaborators for decades - they talk to JGT's Bob Bakert.  

Steve Freeman is the founder of the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media in September 1985 with the goal of bringing Howard Roberts style school known as GIT Guitar Institute of Technology founded in Hollywood California.  Steve and Bill Hart, who was a long-time, some 30-year guitar department head, met in California while Bill attended GIT and they have been close friends for decades… I think it is very interesting how institutions get off the ground, it's not easy… like an airplane taking off, you need full power and concentration to keep things rolling in a straight line to get off the ground and then diligence to get where you are going… hats off Steve!  This is a remembrance of the early days of what is now an accredited college for music performance, audio, and video production… 

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Guitarist Dave Stryker Talks To JGT's Bob Bakert about his new 'movies' project.

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Jazz Guitar Today's Bob Bakert talks to guitarist Henry Acker.

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Lately, I have been discovering quite a few multi-instrumentalists who create their music by playing all the instruments involved. The most amazing aspect of this to me is how proficient they are and how the bass plays a significant role in their music.

Dave Perry is one such talented musician, and plays all the instruments in the band “Fear of Water”. Not only does he compose and perform all his music but he has had to surmount some serious obstacles to be where he is today.

Join me as we learn about Dave’s Journey, how he overcame being clinically deaf as an infant, how he gets his sound, the process behind his music, and his plans for the future.

I am thrilled to introduce you to Dave Perry!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in October 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Henry Johnson quite simply is a guitarist's, guitarist.  I can amplify that by saying that he is the guitarist that I have had the most requests to interview - “Hey, have you ever thought about Henry Johnson, he’s amazing”! I heard it a hundred times...  I have known of Henry for a long time and admired his playing and wanted to get him in Jazz Guitar Today - but our roads kept missing each other.  I was so happy that we finally put it together.  Henry has a fantastic resume playing with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Ramsey Lewis, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Stanley Turrentine, and Joe Williams, WOW! He is an educator, an artist, and a gentleman! He is from my era and influenced by lots of the same people and likes a lot of the same music.  It is with great pride that we bring to you this conversation with the great Henry Johnson.

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to very seasoned career bass players.

Hank Horton is a heavy-hitter vocalist, producer, and bassist who fits into that category. Hank has a diverse skillset where he can play electric for Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (and a ton of other renowned musicians), play upright in the Detroit Symphony, or be excellent in a Broadway pit. 

I also understand that Hank has been using the Katana-210 Bass Amplifier, typically designed for electric bass, for his upright bass—a unique technique that he says has helped him to elevate his sound in recent years.

Join me as we get the low down from Hank Horton himself!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in September 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.

Blues Traveler has always been one of my favorite bands.
Whenever “Run Around” would pop up on MTV, I would always drop whatever I was doing to watch. Now, The band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Grammy award-winning album “Four” (I still have my copy from back in the day) with a very cool limited edition purple vinyl record set.

Since that early hit record, the band has been going strong and kept very busy touring and releasing albums; it is great to see a band with such continuity and staying power.

Tad Kinchla has been playing the bass for Blues Traveler since 1999 and I am thrilled to have a chance to bring you this interview. Join me as we learn about Tad’s musical journey, his experiences with Blues Traveler, how he gets his sound, and his plans for the future.

Here is New Jersey’s own, Tad Kinchla!

This interview first appeared in Bass Musician Magazine in Oct 2024

Go to jazzguitartoday.com and bassmusicianmagazine.com more interviews and lessons.