Matthew Edward Liston » Music

Release Me!

matthew — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:07:48 +0000

Release Me is the latest track from SIFER… check us out live Friday May 13th at Casey’s Billiards in Pittsfield, 8pm

Name that tune…

matthew — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:57:46 +0000

Here are a few tracks from my most recent studio project, playing bass for an instructional book/CD package by my friend Burgess Speed. Burgess was my (very patient) editor on last year’s The Total Blues Bassist project, so it was a pleasure to return the favor and help with his CD. It’s called The Beginner’s Guide to Electric Guitar and it’s available through National Guitar Workshop Publications.

I know from personal experience that it’s not easy to write original examples “in the style of” the classics. Burgess did a great job capturing the essence of these examples without ripping them off note for note. See if you can name the tunes; first person to respond correctly (in the Comment section below) gets a gold star!

Listen to The Beginner’s Guide to Electric Guitar.

ps Yes, that is Pete “Cowbell” Sweeney on the drums!

Jamaica!

matthew — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:25:06 +0000

I recently had the the opportunity to play bass for two Jamaican music CDs. Guitar Atlas: Jamaica by Raleigh Green and Drum Atlas: Jamaica by Pete Sweeney are instructional book/CD sets all about the musical history of Jamaica. From mento to dancehall, I really learned a lot of interesting beats and styles for these sessions. Raleigh and Pete were my backing band on the Total Blues Bassist project, so it was cool to return the favor.

Here are a few selected tracks from each CD, for your listening pleasure. Both are available through National Guitar Workshop Publications.

Guitar Atlas: Jamaica by Raleigh Green
Drum Atlas Jamaica by Pete Sweeney

The Total Blues Bassist

matthew — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:46:48 +0000

I am very pleased to announce my new instructional book and CD, The Total Blues Bassist, has been released by National Guitar Workshop/Alfred Publishing. Look for it at your friendly neighborhood music merchant. I also have a few copies available if you contact me directly (support the author!) for $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

Here’s what the experts are saying: “The Total Blues Bassist is a unique and exciting journey through the diverse world of blues bass playing. the blues has influenced countless styles of music–including rock, jazz, pop, and country–and is loved for the depth of feeling it captures. This book will teach you all the basics you need to master the blues, such as left- and right-hand technique, but also advanced concepts like using silence and dynamics to help you create more interesting bass lines. Learn how to lock in with the drummer, guitarist, and singer, and even how to play without a drummer. You will also discover many styles, like Delta blues, Chicago blues, Texas blues, rockabilly, funk, and jazz blues. A CD demonstrating the examples in the book is included.”