This great Dane was Prince Rogers Nelson’s bassist on his final NPG and 3rdeyegirl ensembles, rendering riveting rock – funk passages in the service of the purple deity!

A muti-instrumentalist, solo recording artist, bass designer (Sandberg signature model) composer, educator, clinician, and graduate of the Royal Danish Academy – Ida Kristine Nielsen has traversed many a genre with Zap Mama and MLTR, among others.  Her finger-style playing and approach to the instrument honors tradition while pushing harmonic and rhythmic boundaries.

In addition to her signature model, Ida’s weapons of choice include Fender Jazz, Yamaha TRBS, and Eich amps and cabinets.

Among her nom de plumes include Bassida, Bass Ida, and Ida Funkhouser – no relation to the Curb Your Enthusiasm character.

Ms. Nielsen describes her music as “a mixture of old school funk and hip hop with reggae and world music pop ups, ear catching melodies, and lots of bass!”

Did Ida Neilsen and The FunkBots! https://youtu.be/wIo4kKRwVsY

Says Ida about her tenure with Prince: I have had the incredible big honor of working with the legendary musical icon PRINCE – since August 2010 and until his very tragic and untimely passing in April 2016… Playing with PRINCE has been the most magical musical journey ever, and an ongoing learning experience beyond all imagination!

So I want to acknowledge the importance of his impact on me through my life – first musically and later on as I got to know him – also in other aspects of life. And I want to acknowledge the fact that the place I am at today is because of him.

He taught me SO much about music and about life in general and was not only my teacher and mentor but also my friend. It has been such a huge gift and blessing to be able to sit on the front row and watch his genius work and I am eternally grateful for having had this precious time.

I would not be where I am today if it was not for him, and I will do everything I can to move on and honor him by keeping the musical standard high and my heart open and kind – just like he taught me.

“My older brother is the reason why I play bass.  He brought a bass home one day and told me not to touch it.”

A genre traversing composer, recording artist, educator, singer, and virtuoso who masters extended range and fretless – Rhonda Smith is among the top session players and side-women on the planet.  Her credits span Prince, Jeff Beck, Chaka Khan, Beyonce, Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Patti Labelle, Erykah Badu, and George Clinton in addition to numerous television and film soundtracks cite a very, very few.

A Jazz Performance graduate from Montreal’s McGill University,  Rhonda nailed a  Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for her work with Jim Hillman and The Merlin Factor.

Rhonda’s weapons of choice include Fender Jazz, PRS basses, Mesa Boogie, Aguilar amps and cabinets, and D’Addario strings.

Rhonda Smith Sound & Vision….

Live with Prince “The Everlasting” https://youtu.be/o07Q25LXg4Q

Live with Jeff Beck “Solo + People Get Ready” https://youtu.be/A5tvrqJlcg0

Watch Rhonda slappin’ and poppin’ on her PRS with D’Adarrio strings: https://youtu.be/O6nGOhtZsUc

Rhonda from her slab RS2 “Grind” https://youtu.be/jVLzaYnS1rs

By Thomas Semioli

Beat is gettin’ stronger, beat is gettin’ longer too, music’s soundin’ good to me, but I want to, said I want to, I want to take you higher…

Not only did he propel he instrument higher and higher as the anchor of Sly & The Family Stone and their crossover hits and album tracks – his creation of the slap technique afforded the electric bass its most potent identity. No longer was the electric bass perceived as the bastard child of the upright and /or electric guitar! As did Jamerson before him, and Jaco following him, Larry Graham Jr. forged a music (and cultural) revolution through our instrument. His influence on funk, disco, soul, dance, rock, contemporary pop, rap, jazz fusion, hip-hop and every permutation thereof is incalculable.

Bass icons Stanley Clarke, Prince, Marcus Miller, Bootsy, Flea, Verdine White, Mark King, Bernard Edwards, and Victor Wooten, to cite a few, all owe their watershed careers to Larry. And consider that Graham is among the “Godfathers of Funk” even metal prog gods such as Geddy Lee slap / pop given the opportunity!

Ironically, necessity was the mother of all popping – or as Larry says “thumpin’ and pluckin’. In brief, the ensemble that young Larry was working in with his mom, Dell Graham, lacked a proper percussionist, hence his thumb became a de-facto kick drum and his index finger assumed the role of the snare. Pop goes the bass string – it was that simple!

Graham is also a master finger-style player who employed a wide range of effects (flange, fuzz, wah-pedal, octave dividers, phase etc.) to further enhance his artistry. His pedal tones combined with his intuitive rhythmic variations afforded his bandleader’s vamp – single chord compositions a signature flavor.

Larry’s weapons of choice are the Fender Jazz, his Warwick Signature bass, along with a Vox Sidewinder, and a custom Moon Larry Graham bass, among others.

A gifted songwriter, vocalist, showman, and recording artist, Larry’s approach serves the song first and foremost. Unlike bassists who employ his slap technique as a platform for dexterity and flash, every note Larry thumps has a musical purpose. His lines sing and dance – as do the generations who have heard him since A Whole New Thing appeared in the magical year of 1967.

After his tenure with Sly, Larry kept the funk flag flying with his ensemble that continues to this day – Graham Central Station.

Dig Larry on these Sly anthems….

“Higher” https://youtu.be/BqWQzOzK3kw

“Thank You…” https://youtu.be/wj5VODa-eTY

“Everyday People” https://youtu.be/JJt-C6I6EDs

“Dance to the Music” https://youtu.be/N_LwJCxR7F4

Dig Larry with Graham Central Station:

“Can You Handle It” https://youtu.be/ck4AlFfu5pM

“The Jam” https://youtu.be/Is665CtmBUc

“Feel the Need” https://youtu.be/B10-z3dXDCg

Dig Larry and Prince:

“The Christ” https://youtu.be/NfqO-rt0BDI

North Sea Jazz Festival 2013 https://youtu.be/vweqb8xilWI

BB King’s New York City 2010 https://youtu.be/NfqO-rt0BDI