While recently sorting through a huge pile of magazines, I stumbled across an interesting case of different publications in different countries -- the United States and Japan, respectively -- using the same cover shot, and the same interview.

Here's how it likely worked: The U.S- published Bass Player ran an article on Flea and Charlie Haden in its June 2006 issue featuring pictures taken by legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower. Japan's Bass Magazine then bought the whole kit and caboodle from Bass Player and ran a translated version of the article three months later in its September 2006 issue.

The eagle-eyed among you may already have noticed that the U.S. publication airbrushed Joe Strummer from Flea's T-shirt to allow the white headline text to show clearly.

You may also be interested to learn that Flea is perhaps the most popular (i.e. sellable) bassist over here after Jaco. In a one-year period from June 2006 to June 2007, he featured on the cover of Bass Magazine three times! And yes, he's also featured on the cover since then -- as if you had to ask. ;-)

(Click photo to enlarge)

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After a long wait, "Next Life," the new album from guitarist Takahiro Haruta is finally available in all good record shops and the usual digital channels worldwide.

The twelve-track, primarily instrumental CD is sprinkled with guitar-based pyrotechnics, occasional lush vocals, keyboards, brass sections and even the occasional low-end solo!

I play on eight of the tracks, with 6-string bass maestro Atsuo Fukuoka strutting his inimitable stuff on the other four.

And, to add an extra layer of topping to an already cream- and vermicelli-laden musical cake, special guest Hiroshi Shibasaki (WANDS, Abingdon Boys School) contributes a couple of guitar solos.

Fans of instrumental guitar work by the likes of Steve Lukather, Michiya Haruhata and Joe Satriani will find plenty here to write home about.

My world recently flipped over like a musical pancake after learning that Chris Squire - practically synonymous with the name Rickenbacker - played a Fender Jazz Bass on "Parallels" from the seminal 1977 Yes album "Going For The One."

The source of this amazement was this YouTube video of the band (minus Jon Anderson) laying down THE ACTUAL TAKE that ended up on the album.

This low-end revelation sent me spinning back in time into an obsessive teen-like Yes-related listening frenzy, which happily inspired me to knock off a couple of Chris Squire transcriptions: "Parallels" and "Going For The One."

However, no matter how often I pore over this video, I still can't get used to seeing Chris Squire with a Fender...kind of like seeing a tuxedo-clad Keith Richards playing a sousaphone.

Just. Plain. Weird.

After proclaiming myself thoroughly sick of transcribing-related capers - at least temporarily - I suddenly found there was a massive hole in my obviously pathetic life without it.

Having transcribed all of Anthony Jackson's playing from Chaka Khan's "Naughty" and "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" albums, I felt strangely compelled ("I'm afraid you're borderline obsessive-compulsive Mr. Glasgow") to transcribe ALL the stuff he did with Chaka ("Thank you doctor").

So without further ado, why not take a trip to the transcriptions page for the first installment of this undertaking, which comprises the three tracks featuring AJ from Ms. Khan's eponymously titled 1978 debut solo album "Chaka."

While perhaps not as well-known as his subsequent work with Chaka, AJ's playing on these songs nevertheless offers some great insights into the mind of a master artist at work.

You'll also learn why a certain bass passage on one of these tracks makes me want to joyously kick a hole in a rainbow and high-five the whole of mankind... ;-)

I reckon I've gotten through at least 47,354 cheap pedalboards/cases since I started using effect units way back in the early 1720s.

As such, when my latest bargain-basement affair fell apart on the Tokyo underground, the old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" rang bitterly in my ears.

Finally deciding that enough was enough, I placed an imaginary call to my nonexistent offshore bank manager and splashed out on a Pedaltrain 2 effects pedalboard.

The Pedaltrain purchase also gave me a good excuse to overhaul my effects set-up and establish a semi-permanent entity that hopefully can be relied upon not to let me down on important occasions...

If so inclined, you can check out my remarkably tidy cabling job here - not bad, even if I do say so myself! ;-)

Feb. 14 - UPDATE! SHOW SOLD OUT!

Fresh on the heels of the release of his debut solo album and interview in this month's "Young Guitar" magazine, Masashi Maeda is set to treat Tokyo to a feast of guitar-based instrumental fireworks.

And, perhaps somewhat foolishly, he's roped yours truly in on bass for a live showcase at Grapefruit Moon on 20th February.

White primarily jazz-based, Masa's music also straddles a wide variety of other genres and often touches on pop, funk and hip-hop - think Allan Holdsworth jamming with 50 Cent while Oscar Peterson's cousin comps in the background. ;-)

Entrance isn't particularly cheap at ¥3500, but if you like top-quality music then you'll be getting a bargain. However, as it's an special all-ticket affair, tickets have to be bought in advance. Turning up on the night and claiming you know the bass player will, sadly, cut no ice - on this occasion anyway...

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